History Identity Essay - The Nazi Party 2

So continuing in the spirit of my study, here I am typing out (as revision) what I so far know of my essay. I will get up at 6am to learn the conclusion and then I should be set! (you have to click the title of this post to actually see the essay.) This is written off by heart.

The Nationalist Socialist German Workers Party, the Nazi Party, was an identity dedicated to the supremacy of the Aryan race and the suppression of the foreign blood of Lebensunwertes Leben (lives not worthy of life). Although Hitler was not the first leader of the Party, he did have a profound impact upon it through his ruthlessness, anti-Semitism and oratory skill. The identity of the Nazi party exploited the long history of anti-Semitism in Europe, and drew on the period of instability caused by the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic. The actions taken by the Nazi Party after Hitler became Chancellor, such as the persecution of the Jews and the suppression of all opposition, further influenced the identity of the group. The Nazi Party demonstrated the characteristics of national pride, militarism and a dedication to a racially pure Germany.

A long term factor contributing to the identity of the Nazi Party was the long history of anti-Semitism in Europe, for example, the expulsion of the Jews from England in the C13th. This was evidence that the concept of anti-Semitism was not invented by the Nazis, but it was a fundamental aspect of the Nazi Fascist ideology. Hitler affected the formation of the group through delivering powerful messages that swept up Germany in Nazi ideas. These became a fantastic way for Hitler to spread his ideas because of the massive crowds that attended each of his speeches.

An extremely important factor that developed the identity of the Nazi Party was Hitler's book "Mein Kampf" (My Struggle). This used the concept of Social Darwinism to argue that "might makes right" which became an ideology base for the Nazi's racist beliefs and premediated genocide. This became another successful way in which Hitler could spread his ideas because the book went on to become a best seller as a result of the high public interest in Hitler, himself.

The Nazi identity was also informed by the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic after the loss of WWI and therefore drew on the myth of "Dolschtoss", the stab in the back by the Social Democrats, which helped increase their powerbase in the Reichstag. The Great Depression, caused by Germany's dependancy on US loans and the 1929 Wall Street Crash had an impact, offered the Nazis an opportunity to increase their popularity by offering solutions while the Weimar Republic was powerless. The Great Depression was a gift to the Nazis as while the Weimar Republic was impotent, Hitler was seen as a strong, decisive leader in the tradition of great Kaiserine Germany. Hitler did not believe in "laissez-faire" and decided that in order for the country get itself out of the depression, it would need to spend its way out.

The Nazi Party's actions contributed to the formation of it's identity by taking advantage of the 1933 Reichstag Fire, consolidating their authority and tightening the screws on Communist opposition. An emergency decree, declared after the fire, stayed in place for 12 years and became a legal base for the Nazi's reign of terror. In only three months, Hitler had made over 25,000 arrests in Prussia alone of, mostly, Communists and Socialists.

Hitler's introduction of the 1933 Enabling Act had an impact on the identity of the Nazi Party as it established the way to a Nazi dictatorship. As a result of the act, Hitler was able to make laws without the approval of the President or Reichstag, which had effectively voted itself out of existence. Similarly, the Night of the Long Knives was a contributing factor to the Nazi identity as it eliminated all military opposition to Hitler's authority. The final nail in the coffin came when Hindenburg died weeks later. Hitler declared himself President and made the army swear an oath of allegiance. This ensured Hitler that the military would not attempt to overthrow him and ensured his place of power as the President.

Arguably the most significant actions taken by the Nazis which informed their identity involved the isolation and persecution of the Jews. Germans now believed, through propganda, that Aryans were the master race the their lives as Volk were less important then their contributions to Germany as a whole. As a result of the carefully orchestrated 1938 Krystallnacht pogrom, 400 synagogues and 7500 shops were destroyed, 91 Jews were killed and many thousand were sent to concentration camps. The likely, most infamous action taken by the Nazis was the 1942 Final Solution and genocide of the Holocaust. Although this is certainly an extremely famous action taken by the Nazis, it must be remembered that they took numerous actions regarding anti-Jewish population, for example, the instigation of the Hitler Youth. This ensured Hitler that future generations would continue the ideas and beliefs of Hitler, and the Nazi Party.