Hitler's view on improving society Mein Kampf

[RedSquare]

When I started reading this lately to get a grip on where so-called national socialism originated, one particular line of reasoning stood out to me which Hitler proclaims to have held:

Between pages 25-28, Hitler outlines one theory that social improvement is only possible through preventing spreading of the defects inherent in the current generation with the aim of removing these defects and thus changing social conditions for the better. He contends it's impossible to change the current generation, that the improvements can only be reaped by the second generation.

What do people here think about that? It sounds like some kind of misguided view of solving the social problems inherent in society (especially capitalist society) with some kind of pseudo-eugenic revolution rather than a here-and-now working class revolution?

[khad]

Eugenic thought was extremely widespread during the 20s, to the point where many, if not most, socialists at the time were influenced by it. Socialism and eugenics were not mutually exclusive; rather, they were parallel discourses. This was before WW2 when everyone saw the path that eugenics would lead societies.

There were even distinctively socialist eugenics arguments, such as how the bourgeoisie is inherently less fit than the working class since they can't even feed themselves by their own labor.

[RedSquare]

Well Hitler certainly gave everyone a good example of where eugenics eventually leads. While I'd read a bit about the right supporting eugenics in the 1920s, I was surprised to read Hitler putting it in such a utopian way, I suppose some could be taken in by the idea that their own generation is already screwed, so the aim should be the next one.

[khad]

Well Hitler certainly gave everyone a good example of where eugenics eventually leads. While I'd read a bit about the right supporting eugenics in the 1920s, I was surprised to read Hitler putting it in such a utopian way, I suppose some could be taken in by the idea that their own generation is already screwed, so the aim should be the next one.
Soft or "reform" eugenics was actually more linked with the left progressive types more than the right. In fact, the only group that had a staunch position against eugenics was religious conservatives.

Almost anyone interested in reforming society for the better would have been aware of eugenic arguments.

[RedSquare]

I also notice that a lot of Hitler's early policies sound quite left-wing, you know the whole idea of no class rather than class war, that all the elements of the nation unite together behind the common cause to bring about an end to both poverty and capitalist exploitation while still maintaining incentives for technological progress.

It's the first time I've actually got down to the actual theory behind national socialism, and it seems to be a blend between capitalism and communism, incorporating bits of each. I have to admit some of it sounds almost positive, but then when you see how it ended up it's hard to reconcile that ending with the seeming nobility of some of the ideas.

[Commissar Rykov]

I also notice that a lot of Hitler's early policies sound quite left-wing, you know the whole idea of no class rather than class war, that all the elements of the nation unite together behind the common cause to bring about an end to both poverty and capitalist exploitation while still maintaining incentives for technological progress.

It's the first time I've actually got down to the actual theory behind national socialism, and it seems to be a blend between capitalism and communism, incorporating bits of each. I have to admit some of it sounds almost positive, but then when you see how it ended up it's hard to reconcile that ending with the seeming nobility of some of the ideas.

The reasoning behind that is Hitler was quite Left Wing early on. It wasn't until his interaction with high ranking military officers and Prussian Junkers that he took a dramatic right wing swing. This was a major reason behind the Night of the Long Knives. Hitler had abandoned Left Wing agitation tactics and ideas and needed to wipe it from the party to cement his ties with military conservatism and reactionaries. Goering is the perfect example of the Right Wing shift of the party and their attempt at slowly trying to push the left out only to have to kill them.

Even then the Left of the NSDAP were still rabid anti-semites like the Strassers they just happened to believe in a Proletarian Revolution. Such views weren't exactly unfamiliar amongst the German Center-Left of the time or anywhere else on the spectrum except the Far Left. Even then you still had some members of the Far Left who had some bizarre racial views.

[RedSquare]

The reasoning behind that is Hitler was quite Left Wing early on. It wasn't until his interaction with high ranking military officers and Prussian Junkers that he took a dramatic right wing swing. This was a major reason behind the Night of the Long Knives. Hitler had abandoned Left Wing agitation tactics and ideas and needed to wipe it from the party to cement his ties with military conservatism and reactionaries. Goering is the perfect example of the Right Wing shift of the party and their attempt at slowly trying to push the left out only to have to kill them.

Even then the Left of the NSDAP were still rabid anti-semites like the Strassers they just happened to believe in a Proletarian Revolution. Such views weren't exactly unfamiliar amongst the German Center-Left of the time or anywhere else on the spectrum except the Far Left. Even then you still had some members of the Far Left who had some bizarre racial views.

So Hitler and the NSDAP while being left wing racists at the start, were hijacked by the bourgeoisie which supported him to power, a lot of which was brought in by links with Goering, Ernst Hanfstaeng, etc. and he essentially became their tool along with the continuation of his racist ideas.

That would explain the close links between large multi-nationals like IG Farben, Bauer, Bosch, Siemens, etc. during the industrialisation of Germany prior to and during the war. How these companies can still exist to trade is beyond me, when you see images like this: A Siemens truck used as a PA system for Adolf Hitler's campaign (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-R97782%2C_Berlin%2C_Wahlwerbung_der_NSDAP_in.jpg)

[Ocean Seal]

I also notice that a lot of Hitler's early policies sound quite left-wing, you know the whole idea of no class rather than class war, that all the elements of the nation unite together behind the common cause to bring about an end to both poverty and capitalist exploitation while still maintaining incentives for technological progress.

It's the first time I've actually got down to the actual theory behind national socialism, and it seems to be a blend between capitalism and communism, incorporating bits of each. I have to admit some of it sounds almost positive, but then when you see how it ended up it's hard to reconcile that ending with the seeming nobility of some of the ideas.

Actually when viewing his policies, its important to address them as a sea-wall against the tides of Leninism. So when they sounds more left-wing than neo-liberal capitalism, in certain aspects you have to see that this is because capitalism was in collapse, and fascism was in a way meant to appease the working class into collaborating with the ruling class and creating this national harmony where class warfare is eliminated in the state interests of Germany.

It would be like calling Lenin more right wing than other socialists because of the NEP and comparing him to the likes of Deng. Lenin instituted the NEP because socialism was nearing collapse in the Soviet Union.

[Commissar Rykov]

So Hitler and the NSDAP while being left wing racists at the start, were hijacked by the bourgeoisie which supported him to power, a lot of which was brought in by links with Goering, Ernst Hanfstaeng, etc. and he essentially became their tool along with the continuation of his racist ideas.

That would explain the close links between large multi-nationals like IG Farben, Bauer, Bosch, Siemens, etc. during the industrialisation of Germany prior to and during the war. How these companies can still exist to trade is beyond me, when you see images like this: A Siemens truck used as a PA system for Adolf Hitler's campaign (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-R97782%2C_Berlin%2C_Wahlwerbung_der_NSDAP_in.jpg)
I personally doubt he was very committed I think a large point of his adhering to some left wing rhetoric is it allowed it to attack the Bourgeois and Prussian Aristocracy. Yet when asked for an alliance by the Weimar Republic in an attempt to create a united front against Leftists he quickly abandoned all fiery rhetoric and killed some of his closest associates without batting an eye. I don't think Hitler was ever much of an ideologue I think he was just a power hungry parasite that would use whatever side he could manipulate. He used the Workers by using Leftist Rhetoric to rally a violent base for his SA only to just as quickly abandon them to promote Traditional Prussian Values once the people in power gave him the nod.

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Opportunism at it's best.