The Rise and fall of the Fourth Reich

Submitted by D Williams (United States), Oct 24, 2006 at 23:26

There are a number of factors that must be considered when comparing totalitarian regimes.

• Types of government
• Types of societies
• Driving forces
• Justice System
• System of laws
• Police system

The type of government in 1933 Germany became a totalitarian Government. Hitler became the ruler of a weak and militarily defunct country. After the prosperous late 20s the world was plunged into a global depression. It ravaged the world and Germany's war reparations were called in. This drove the German economy even lower than it the rest of the world. Hyper inflation began to take hold and it took a wheel barrel of money to purchase a loaf of bread.

Erroneously stated here by another poster is that this was the fault of the Weimar Republic. That is not correct; as the Weimar Republic was being undermined by a shadow government ran by Himmler and his brown shirts. Their job was to create instability in the Weimar government, and be ready to take over the government when that instability took place. The market Crash of '29 facilitated this instability. In 1933, Hitler hood winked a sick and dying Hindenburg to declare Hitler the Chancellor of Germany. This was the beginning of the high jacking the government.

In Iran in 1979 a revolution took place. It was a popular movement that was based upon theocratic principles rather than the traditional reason such as war, poverty, or the military. Still, some of the same factors were in place as they were in Germany. The people wanted a different direction in Iran than they had experienced under the rule of the Shah. In Germany the people were suffering under the grip of Depression and crushing war debt. Hitler promised to bring greatness back to the Country. The Ayatollah promised to bring the country back under the rule of Islam. The Ayatollah had his finger on the pulse of the people, while Hitler created the pulse of the people.

Both leaders set up rigid totalitarian regimes. These regimes warped the societies they professed to protect. They turned those societies upon themselves. In order for one to survive in either regime it was necessary to inform upon friends neighbors and family. It was inform upon, or be informed upon. Informing upon others allowed one not only to survive but also to attain certain immunity to other's accusations. This was/is true in both societies.

The driving forces of these societies is to find its rightful place in the world. Is it any wonder that both of these societies feel their place is to rule the world? Both Muslim and the uberman felt that their rightful place is atop the world. They feel they are right, and they feel that their point of view is purer. The Muslim's is based upon Islam, while the German's was based upon a pseudo religious/mythic religion that Hitler and Himmler based their philosophies. These were based loosely on the writings of Nietzsche.

The justice and legal system are founded upon each society's views of justice. Both were/are based upon their own philosophies of religion and mysticism. Both are convinced that no matter how brutal they must behave, they will ultimately be found as saviors of their own ideology. Neither believes that any other system of justice has any jurisdiction over them. The laws of the society are refined as time moves on. Neither government nor the leaders operate entirely within the system of laws.

Finally, both governments use a secret police to enforce the laws of the government. They operate without due process or morality. They consistently use torture and mutilation. They jail people who sometimes never again see the light of day. Conduct private executions, and retributions upon families and friend with whom "violators" have affiliated.

The similarities are clear between these two. Perhaps Iran learned from history how to successfully revive a country and create a nation that can make the world tremble.

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".