Recently I have been doing extensive reading about Adolph Hilter’s rise to power. The more I read, the more sense it makes, as tragic as it turned out to be.
Before saying anything else, though, I want to underscore the fact that I believe Hitler was personified evil, making any parallels to specific people today unjustified and irresponsible.
Yet there are lessons to be learned from that horrible chapter in history, not least the reasons why the German people failed to see who Hitler really was and/or chose to ignore all the warning signs.
Here is a brief summary of what happened. It is the story of someone rising to power by being both smart and sinister enough to use a convergence of economic, social, and political factors to his personal advantage.
By 1929 Hitler had become the leader of the National Socialists German Worker Party (National-sozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei), or the Nazi Party.
When the American Stock Exchange collapsed, and caused an economic depression, the U.S. called in all its foreign loans. The practical effect on Germany of that action was to destroy the economy of the Weimar Republic.
Unemployment shot up to almost 10 percent. Unfortunately German Chancellor Heinrich Brüning, appointed by President Paul von Hindenburg, made the fatal mistake of cutting government expenditures at the worst possible time, causing a dramatic drop in wages and pushing unemployment higher.
Almost overnight the government and the country were in chaos. Based on Article 48 of the German Constitution, dire circumstances allowed Hindenburg to invoke emergency powers to do what he wanted to without prior consent of the Reichstag, or German Parliament.
One of his first steps was to replace Brüning with Franz von Papen as Chancellor. Papen’s political support soon withered and he was in turn replaced by Kurt von Schleicher.
Needing Nazi support, the Hindenburg government negotiated a political deal with Hitler to name him vice-Chancellor in exchange for the Nazi Party’s political support in the Reichstag. Hitler refused, insisting that he be named Chancellor. Hindenburg finally agreed, convinced as he was, along with Schleicher and Papen, that together the three of them would be able to keep Hitler under their control.
They were wrong. Hitler immediately began to seize power in the government. Then, in 1934 Hindenburg died unexpectedly. Soon thereafter Hitler persuaded the German public to make him both President and Chancellor under a new title, “Führer und Reichskanzler (“leader and chancellor”), garnering 90% of the vote.
Later that year the Nazis killed Schleicher, and Papen left the government out of fear for his own life. In a time span of little more than a year, Hitler used Article 48 that Hindenburg had invoked to gain complete control of Germany.
What is striking are the reasons ordinary Germans proved so gullible to Hitler’s propaganda:
1 – They were angry and bitter because of the extreme reparations Germany was forced to pay based on the Treaty of Versailles that ended WWI.
2 – In the wake of economic troubles, they had grown disillusioned with Germany’s traditional political parties that seemed no longer capable of getting anything done.
3 – They had been inculcated with years of church teachings that nurtured an attitude of Christian exceptionalism that formed the basis for German Christians supporting religious discrimination in its many forms.
4 – Under economic distress, suspicious attitudes among non-Jews easily evolved into resentment of Jews because of the perception of their economic success.
5 – Alarmed by the rising influence of communism on workers, wealthy businessmen thought Hitler would be stronger against the communist movement than his opposition.
Does any of this sound familiar?
While there is no Hitler type leader among us ready to seize power and do what he did, are there lessons here for us in regard to how easily and tragically people can be persuaded to support extremism?
While most of us believe that nothing even close to what happened in Germany could ever happen here, can we really be sure we are not making many of the same mistakes ordinary Germans made before they realized what was happening?
I ask that question in light of the following.
The events of 9/11 scared us so badly that most Americans have been willing to give up constitutionally guaranteed rights in the name of national security.
Heinous actions such as racial and religious profiling and inflammatory rhetoric that seeks to turn us against one another have strong support among conservatives across the country.
White supremacist groups have been emboldened to promote their racists beliefs publicly because of sympathetic responses by politicians who welcome their support.
A growing acceptance of anti-government propaganda used by political and religious extremists who want people to believe the government is their enemy.
A news media easily manipulated by politicians and consumed by triviality because it has abandoned its commitment to reporting the truth with the bogus designation of “fair and balanced” news.
An easy acceptance by the public of stories that have no basis in fact, but which, once believed, cannot be corrected or erased.
Proposals by political candidates to politicize the relationship between the government and the military.
When I see all of this happen, I cannot help but worry about where we are headed as a nation.
I want to believe our nation will not give in to extremists.
I want to believe we are a better people than the demagogues who care more about winning than they do about our democracy.
And I absolutely want to believe not even a hint of what happened in Germany would ever happen here.
But I confess that I am worried. What about you?
linnposts.com 
Jan, thank you so much for all the research you do and your thoughtful blogs. I have thought many of the same things that you bring out in this blog, but have not done the research you have to provide proof for my thoughts. I too am worried, and at this point feel so helpless because most people seem so stuck on what they believe, or are so angry they do not want to listen, that when one tries to show them an idea they just dig in and become even more stubborn about their beliefs. What can be done? I pray every day for this nation and the craziness we’re experiencing. I also wonder what churches should be doing. I don’t know the answers. Coleen Myers
Coleen, you are feeling what so many of us feel. But we cannot give up yet. I still trust that in the end voters will see what is right and will do it. If they don’t, we will then deal with the aftermath. But that doesn’t change the fact that these are discouraging days for sure. Thanks for writing.
Jan, like you, I see disturbing parallels with the rise of NAZIism in Germany.
Like you, I fear that we have not learned, or have forgotten, the lessons of this history.
Like you, I am hopeful that the United States won’t fall to a similar fate.
But . . . there always seems to be a “but” . . . there is an instructive book by Sinclair Lewis entitled IT CAN’T HAPPEN HERE. It is a fictionalized speculation of how such a Fascistic leader could arise and be successful in the United States. It is worth reading and speculating.
Cheerz!
Gene
Thank you for your comments and the book recommendation, Gene. I have not read it, but certainly should have, so I will.
Good post Jan. Damn right in worried.
It’s unbelievable, isn’t it? That is what makes the parallels so striking. Thanks, Wilbur.
Thank you, Wilbur. We all should be!
Thanks for your sharing of extensive research. I’ve read some of the same things and have the same concerns. I too am praying that people will do the right thing and vote. Appreciate your insights and always enjoy reading your blog. Blessings as we all “live into” what will be…..
Colette, I don’t know if my initial reply to you got posted, but it is so encouraging to hear that you share my concerns. I just hope many others do as well. Thanks.
Thanks so much for your article, Jan and the work put forth! Always been stymied as to how Hitler rose to power. As our dear Lucille always said: “stand for nothing, fall for anything!!” Lots of nail biting come November! Va
Thanks, Virginia. One glimmer of hope is that VA will not be a Trump state. Maybe this bit of history might help.
I too see some parallels between Nazi Germany and the U.S. that are frightening, Jan. I see hints of fascism coming to America, not with jackboots and salutes (but it’s possible that may be part of the movement eventually if it is not squelched now) but through a television huckster, a phoney billionair, a textbook egomaniac exploiting popular resentments and insecurities, and with the Republican party — out of ambition or blind party loyalty, or simply out of fear — falling into line behind him. Oh how I hope and pray that America wakes up by election day. Trump is frightening, but that so many are falling for this phoney is even more frightening to me.
The last part of your final sentence is also my primary concern. How can people not see what is going on? Therein lies the parallel between Germany then and America now. Thanks. Rollie.
Bill Ayres was an extremist. Both Hillary and Obama studied/sound/act like him. Bernie Sanders is an Extremist, pushing Hillary even farther left than she originally was. I fear for the USA on account of those people. Nobody I know personally “likes” Trump, but he is the only alternative to the Far Extremist Left, which is totally scary. No socialistic state here, please! I really fear a Socialistic nation!
Paul, in the first place, there is no chance of the US becoming a “socialist state,” but my guess is, you don’t want to get rid of unemployment compensation, Social Security, Medicare, the Food and Drug Administration that makes sure your medicine is not laced with poison, with FEMA that comes to the rescue when disasters occur, yet all of these are “socialist” programs.
All European nations practice economic socialism and are as politically free as we are. That is because socialism is not a political system. Why would you fear our NATO allies.
You say Hillary will create what you are afraid of, but you don’t say how. You sound like so many other conservatives who listen to Fix News and others like them because they make false claims without evidence. Most puzzling, though, is why you think someone who is a narcissist, hasn’t show even once in his life that he cared about anyone but himself, knows nothing about government, is going to make a better leader than Hillary Clinton whose record as the Senator from New York and Secretary of State has shown her to be balanced, thoughtful, and quite able to work with Republicans.
What you say simple makes no sense to me when I look at the facts.
One more thing. Your reference to Bill Ayres is out of the blue, someone who was a distraction in 2008 promoted by Fix News, but had no influence on President Obama who has proven over the last eight years to be a balanced and moderate leader, not extreme in anyway. If you are thinking of Obamacare as “socialism,” do some reading. It is almost exactly what Republican President Richard Nixon proposed in 1973.
Your response to my comments give me lots of fodder to reply to; but to be brief: Readers can check out “RULES FOR RADICALS” on internet; there are a number of sites to go to, rather than take anyone’s “word” for it. Also, Hillary reputation for truth, transparency, etc. isn’t any good, news reports from everywhere (NY Times, ABC, NBC) are increasingly finding “fault” with her. Also, after checking out “Rules for Radicals,” here is a video 2011 to see:
Part I http://www.youtube.com/embed/3CmkbShVqNA?feature=player_embedded
Part II http://www.youtube.com/embed/gy6odnqyLeU?feature=player_embedded
If my comments gave you “lots of fodder,” you should have used it because what you have written is pure BS. The trouble with comments like yours is that you throw out claims without giving any facts to back them up. Unless you take the time to report exactly what “news reports from everywhere” are saying that show Hillary’s “reputation for truth, transparency, etc., isn’t good,” no one should take you seriously. What you have done is called subterfuge, turning attention away from answering what I said by suggesting she and President Obama are protégés of Saul Alinsky. If you persist in making claims without evidence, I will choose not to post any of your future comments.
Jan, I hope you DO reject the meaningless crap that Paul T. is sending to your blog. To dredge-up the ACORN “whistleblower” video from 2011, recalling events going-back to 2001, shows the desperation of Republicans who have no positive agenda and a monstrous candidate. Besides, Obama is not running for anything, and HRC is in no way a “socialist” as this guy fears! Bill
If he doesn’t listen to what you and I both have said, Bill, I will.
Jan,
I got to it a couple of days late, but your post is a fine summary of what took place in Germany — and a cautionary warning of what we might face in our country should the maniacal and dangerous Donald Trump have his way.
Your sanity and candor are so refreshing in a “mad, mad” world!
Bill
Thanks, Bill. I think I would pay big money for the some sanity among voters in this election. It is stunning what people are choosing not to see or acknowledge.
Well spoken. I too am worried about our future as a country for many of the same reasons that you list. I think a short summary is that extremism of any flavor, including religious, is bad news. A few months ago I was able to attend a series of Senior Learning lectures In my park about the rise of Hitler. Interesting and yes, scary. As you say, people will believe all sorts of crazy stuff, and once they believe, facts will have a VERY difficult time correcting the situation. Another example of the old rule: You cannot use reason to remove something from a person’s mind if reason did not put it there in the first place.
You are quoting me there, Wally. That is what I used to teach my students and preached at SOJ.