Hitler's Alliance with power

Submitted by Joan Francis (United States), Feb 20, 2009 at 12:38

Though the true name of Hitler's party was the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) they abandoned all pretense of socialism after 1924 and accepted Fascism which is at the opposite end of the political spectrum. Hitler forced this change in the party against strong opposition because he understood that to seize power he needed the backing, not of the people, but of the institutions of power: the church, the military, the industrialist, the financial institutions, the right wing politicians, and the aristocrats. These powers would never back a socialist and their fear of Communism was Hitler's most powerful tool. He waged a ten-year campaign to establish an alliance with power. His success is described in my book, Silent Coup:

"Hitler convinced the church that all SPD (Social Democrats) were really godless Communists and would destroy the church as they have done in Russia. Now the church pushes the Nazi cause. Alliance with power.

"Hitler told the Right Wing that he would destroy all the Communist, socialists, taxes and social welfare laws. So Papen and his ilk invited Hitler in, believing they could use him and control him. Alliance with power.

"Hitler promised the rich industrialist that he would restore the industrial Rhineland, end reparations, and destroy the unions and socialism. The industrialists gave him money and helped him by firing any employee who refused to join the NSDAP. Alliance with power.

"The military was humiliated and largely disarmed at the end of the war. (WWI) Hitler promised to restore and rearm. They do not attack him when he attacks democracy. Alliance with power.

"You get it? No election mattered. No law mattered. Our vote didn't count for a damn. By the time Hitler struck his blow that wiped out our democracy, he had already seized the real power of Germany. It was a silent coup that took place before he was ever named Chancellor."

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".