The Nazi Seizure of Power by William Sheridan Allen, was very different than the other books we are read which were mainly focused on Hitler’s rise through the ranks and his ascension into power. It gave us a look at a specific town that had many different political views and none of them were predominant. The town was very nationalistic at its core and believed in the state of Germany. The Nazi influence in the town at first was just like everywhere else in Germany. It was just a small party that no one paid attention too. “Among the many was the infant Nazi party, which grew rapidly in southern Germany but hardly at all in North, including the area around Northeim.. (Allen 25). It did not have much influence until things started to change in Germany.
“Yet behind the façade of calm prosperity, conditions were developing that would stimulate a regrowth of Nazism in the region. Even before the depression the middle classes, especially farmers, felt themselves to be in trouble… (Allen 28). Then the depression hit the town just like everywhere else in Germany. Like most Germans the people of Northeim needed change, they needed someone to get them out of their current economic situation. The Nazis used propaganda to their advantage, they made all of the townspeople and Germany think that Hitler was the savior of the depression they were currently in. The people were done believing in the current government because the current government led them to an economic downturn.
The people felt that the Nazis would take care of them, that they were the ones that could change Germany for the better. Hitler and the Nazis were there to pick up the pieces of the broken Germany. The German people wanted to see the light at the end of the tunnel and the Nazis made people believe Hitler would be standing there.
I agree that fear made the Nazi Party more attractive. The workers were the main group being affected by the Depression because of the growing unemployment. The uncertainty of how the Depression would continue and what would happen next concerned all people. “Only the workers were directly hurt, but the rest of the townspeople, haunted by the tense faces of the unemployed, asked themselves, ‘Am I next?’ (Allen, 1984: 24).” In this time of instability the Nazi Party appeared very stable, which probably gave many hope. The Nazi Party was continuing to gain support and votes, had all the propaganda posters all over Northeim, held public meetings and rallies, had parades and other events. The Nazis were stable and radical in these radical times. “They were seen as patriotic, anti-Socialist, and religious. … But at the same time the Nazis appeared to be vigorous, determined, and, above all, ready to use radical means to deal with the crucial problem - the depression (Allen, 1984: 92).” The people of Northeim could see a future with the Nazis and hopefully a solution to the national problem. Their dominating presence, with swastika flags and propaganda all over the town, must have convinced many people of this.
ReplyDeleteAllen points out that the Social Democrats had quite a strong presence in Northeim as well, even before the Nazis were gaining power. What is key is that the Social Democrats made a couple of mistakes that alienated, or "rubbed salt in the wounds of the middle class," (43). These included the Socialist publication The Volksblatt attacking nationalist leaders, as well exploiting and manipulating economic misfortunes. There was also an embarrassing episode when the SPD was accused of dragging partisan politics into the church when it was fighting for increased representation in the Church Board. This gave the Nazis the opportunity to capitalize on religion and nationalistic feelings. I think that much of the appeal of the Nazis for those in Northeim was not so much the popular appeal of Hitler himself. The local chapter of the party was extremely effective and tireless with campaigning and propagandizing. They were also able to put a lot of pressure on the members of the SPD, essentially terrorizing them. The situation was more complex than a glorified Hitler offering the solution to the poor townspeople's problems.
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