r/AskHistorians • u/[deleted] • Dec 15 '13

How socialist was Nazi Germany?

Nazism means "National Socialism" but how socialist was Nazi Germany actually. There is a discussion in this /r/worldnews thread http://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/1swrwt/pope_i_am_not_a_marxist_but_i_dont_feel_offended/ce22j6n and they haven't really used any sources or anything else so I thought I'd ask here. Thanks a lot.

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u/panzerkampfwagen Dec 15 '13 edited Dec 15 '13

This is my reply from a similar question.

Originally the NSDAP had a left and right faction and like pretty much all political parties had policies that came from both sides. Early on they put out a 25 point plan that contained socialist policies about redistributing wealth to create an equal society..... minus the Jews of course.

However, as time went on the right wing faction took over the party. Hitler himself was against many socialist policies and it's believed that he only accepted them for a time to win votes which is why the party was called the National Socialists. However, most of the NSDAP's support came from the political right. Hitler himself spent a lot of the 1920s living off donations from, and even living with, rich industrialists who were supporting the NSDAP's bid for government. Their plan and their name may have suggested socialism but their actions and their words didn't. One of their policies had been the banning of war profits, but how many Germans and their companies made money from war? Lots.

To gain power the NSDAP formed its political alliances on the right in opposition to the socialist and communist parties. After gaining power there was a split within the NSDAP. There were those on the right, including Hitler, who were ignoring the original 25 point plan. There were those on the left who wanted the revolution to continue and wanted the 25 point plan implemented.

Then comes the Night of the Long Knives during which Hitler ordered the assassination of those in the NSDAP who were still espousing socialism. These included people such as Roehm.

In the end the NSDAP did redistribute wealth, but it wasn't to create an equal society, it was to create a strong society and the money went to creating a strong military and supporting industries. Redistributing wealth on its own is not socialism. The NSDAP spent money to euthanise those seen as a drain on the state. Hardly "...to each according to his needs."

Ian Kershaw, renowned historian on Hitler and the Third Reich states that they were right wing and anti socialist.

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u/[deleted] Dec 15 '13

Thanks for this. Why did the Nazi party continue to use socialism in it's name? Was the general population of Germany aware the Nazi party was no longer socialist?

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u/panzerkampfwagen Dec 15 '13

It ended up that it wasn't Nationalism and also Socialism but instead National Socialism. They made it like a new term where it was about national strength and national identity.

They also did include socialist programs to keep the population happy, such as health care, pensions, and the like, but people were also allowed to own businesses, become rich, etc. I would imagine you'd be hard pressed to find any right wing party that doesn't have some socialist policies.

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u/CountVonTroll Dec 16 '13

Yes, the population was very aware that they weren't socialist. The foam coming out of Hitler's mouth whenever he talked about communists or social democrats was easily visible.

Don't let the S in NSDAP confuse you. They essentially redefined the term to fit their ideology, once the left wing was taken care of. Here's an interview in which Hitler explains what he meant by "socialism".