Why Did the National Socialist Party in Germany Come Into Power?

In order to explain the rise of National Socialism in interwar Germany, historians have proceeded from various assumptions. Their theories have ranged from the notion of an evil disposition inherent in the German character to the very differing one of the Germans as victims of the malefactor Hitler and his system. For a serious investigation about the origins of the Nazi movement, however, these two extreme standpoints have to be relocated. Both presumptions tend to consider National Socialism as an incident that erupted suddenly and without any relation to historical circumstances. Yet, Fischer points out that "human events in time and place are not inexplicable occurrences, wholly unexpected and unconnected to past forms of behaviour". Consequently, we have to consider the roots of the ideology "National Socialism" (section II). In section III, I will try to comprehend the evolution of "National Socialism" as a political movement. Section IV reveals the link between those two aspects in the person of Adolf Hitler and the way he promoted both. Finally, the contribution of the German population to the rise of the NSDAP will be investigated (section V).

Klappentext

Seminar paper from the year 2001 in the subject History Europe - Germany - National Socialism, World War II, grade: 1,00, University of Sussex, language: English, abstract: In order to explain the rise of National Socialism in interwar Germany, historians have proceeded from various assumptions. Their theories have ranged from the notion of an evil disposition inherent in the German character to the very differing one of the Germans as victims of the malefactor Hitler and his system. For a serious investigation about the origins of the Nazi movement, however, these two extreme standpoints have to be relocated. Both presumptions tend to consider National Socialism as an incident that erupted suddenly and without any relation to historical circumstances. Yet, Fischer points out that "human events in time and place are not inexplicable occurrences, wholly unexpected and unconnected to past forms of behaviour". Consequently, we have to consider the roots of the ideology "National Socialism" (section II). In section III, I will try to comprehend the evolution of "National Socialism" as a political movement. Section IV reveals the link between those two aspects in the person of Adolf Hitler and the way he promoted both. Finally, the contribution of the German population to the rise of the NSDAP will be investigated (section V).