Overview:
Fascism is an authoritarian political philosophy rooted in social-Darwinism and theories of racial hierarchy. Fascists seek to elevate their nation or race group by creating a totalitarian state that seeks the mass mobilization of a nation or race through mass discipline, indoctrination, physical training, and eugenics. Fascism seeks to eradicate foreign influences that are seen as harmful to the nation, often by means of violence. Fascism emerged out of the ruins of World War I; it combines left-wing and right-wing political views. To achieve the goal of national or racial dominance, fascism seeks to purge any ideas, races, and systems which they believe are causing decadence and/or degeneration. Fascism promotes political violence and war to promote national rejuvenation. Fascists commonly use paramilitary organizations to use violence as a core aspect of their political method.
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Nazism was not only a political philosophy; it was a theory of history. Where Communism sees history as a being rooted in economic conditions and the relationship between classes, Nazism sees history through the lens of racial history. As such, Nazi History was obsessed with the idea of tracing the history of the “Aryan race” to its point of origin in modern-day Asia. One famous incident was a trip sponsored by the Nazi Party, to visit Tibet where scientists studied the local population in hopes of discovering the origins of the Nazi’s imaginary racial history.
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Adolf Hitler: SPEECH OF APRIL 12, 1922
AFTER the War production had begun again and it was thought that better times were coming, Frederick the Great after the Seven Years War had, as the result of superhuman efforts, left Prussia without a penny of debt: at the end of the World War Germany was burdened with her own debt of some 7 or 8 milliards of marks and beyond that was faced with the debts of 'the rest of the world' - the so-called 'reparations.' The product of Germany's work thus belonged not to the nation, but to her foreign creditors: 'it was carried endlessly in trains for territories beyond our frontiers. Every worker had to support another worker, the product of whose labor was commandeered by the foreigner. 'The German people after twenty-five or thirty years, in consequence of the fact that it will never be able to pay all that is demanded of it, will have so gigantic a sum still owing that practically it will be forced to produce more than it does today.' What will the end be? and the answer to that question is 'Pledging of our land, enslavement of our labor-strength. Therefore, in the economic sphere, November 1918 was in truth no achievement, but it was the beginning of our collapse.' And in the political sphere we lost first our military prerogatives, and with that loss went the real sovereignty of our State, and then our financial independence, for there remained always the Reparations Commission so that 'practically we have no longer a politically independent German Reich, we are already a colony of the outside world. We have contributed to this because so far as possible we humiliated ourselves morally, we positively destroyed our own honor and helped to befoul, to besmirch, and to deny everything which we previously held as sacred.' If it be objected that the Revolution has won for us gains in social life: they must be extraordinarily secret, these social gains - so secret that one never sees them in practical life - they must just run like a fluid through our German atmosphere. Someone may say 'Well, there is the eight-hour day!' And was a collapse necessary to gain that? And will the eight-hour day be rendered any more secure through our becoming practically the bailiff and the drudge of the other peoples? One of these days France will say: You cannot meet your obligations, you must work more. So this achievement of the Revolution is put in question first of all by the Revolution.
Then someone has said: 'Since the Revolution the people has gained Rights. The people govern!' Strange! The people have now been ruling three years and no one has in practice once asked its opinion. Treaties were signed which will hold us down for centuries: and who has signed the treaties? The people? No! Governments which one fine day presented themselves as Governments. And at their election the people had nothing to do save to consider the question: there they are already, whether I elect them or not. If we elect them, then they are there through our election. But since we are a self-governing people, we must elect the folk in order that they may be elected to govern us.
Then it was said, 'Freedom has come to us through the Revolution.' Another of those things that one cannot see very easily! It is of course true that one can walk down the street, the individual can go into his workshop and he can go out again: here and there he can go to a meeting. In a word, the individual has liberties. But in general, if he is wise, he will keep his mouth shut. For if in former times extraordinary care was taken that no one should let slip anything which could be treated as lèse-majesté, now a man must take much greater care that he doesn't say anything which might represent an insult to the majesty of a Member of Parliament.
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After
reading the speech, please answer the following questions on the blog, (250-750
words) be prepared to discuss your post in class.
A.
Why
does Hitler reference Frederick the Great?
B.
What
was Hitler’s opinion of parliaments? Why?
C.
Knowing
what Hitler eventually did, can you trace any of his later atrocities to
elements in this speech?
16 comments:
Hitler references Fredrick the Great at the beginning of his speech to remind his listeners how good Germany was and how different it is now. “Frederick the Great after the Seven Years War had, as the result of superhuman efforts, left Prussia without a penny of debt: at the end of the World War Germany was burdened with her own debt of some 7 or 8 milliards of marks and beyond that was faced with the debts of 'the rest of the world' - the so-called 'reparations.'” He continues to talk about how difficult it will be and how long it will take for Germany to free itself from this debt. Hitler makes a point to say how badly the government is working to solve their massive amount of debt saying, “'What will the end be? and the answer to that question is 'Pledging of our land, enslavement of our labor-strength. Therefore, in the economic sphere, November 1918 was in truth no achievement, but it was the beginning of our collapse.”
Hitler comments how people are saying “we have freedom” “we have rights” and says that ultimately the power resides in the parliament despite Germany having a democracy. Democracy by definition is “government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system” (Dictionary.com). I believe that Hitler is arguing that Germany isn’t truly a democracy and the parliament is to blame for that. He says, “[s]ince the Revolution the people has gained Rights. The people govern!' Strange! The people have now been ruling three years and no one has in practice once asked its opinion. Treaties were signed which will hold us down for centuries: and who has signed the treaties? The people? No! Governments which one fine day presented themselves as Governments. And at their election the people had nothing to do save to consider the question: there they are already, whether I elect them or not. If we elect them, then they are there through our election. But since we are a self-governing people, we must elect the folk in order that they may be elected to govern us.”
In talking about Germany and how it “was faced with the debts of 'the rest of the world' - the so-called 'reparations'” shows Hitler’s pride for his country and disgust that it has gotten so out of control. I think the knowledge that Germany is indebted to other countries disgusts him and he feels the need to change that, no matter the cost.
Frederick the Great was the King of Prussia from 1740 to 1786. Prussia was later united with other states forming the German Empire, tying it to German history. Hitler references Frederick because he wants to show how different the outcome of the war could have been. Frederick “left Prussia without a penny of debt” after the Seven Years War, but after World War I Germany had millions of marks of their own debt plus the reparations they owed to other countries. Hitler uses this contrast in debt levels to show how great Germany used to be.
While some people said they had more rights because of the war, Hitler argues that parliament took away their freedoms. He says, “The people have now been ruling three years and no one has in practice once asked its opinion. Treaties were signed which will hold us down for centuries: and who has signed the treaties? The people? No!” Furthermore, he believes that while people have the liberty to go about their daily business, they must keep their opinions to themselves to avoid saying anything that “might represent an insult to the majesty of a Member of Parliament.” Hitler clearly believes that the government was not representing the people but repressing their freedom.
Hitler’s dissatisfaction with the parliament correlations to the government reforms he implements later on. By April 1922, the time of the speech, Hitler was already the chairman for the Nazi party, and he was working to make Nazi beliefs more widespread. In addition, by comparing his modern Germany to the rule of Frederick the Great, Hitler shows his desire to bring Germany back to its “former glory.”
"Frederick the Great after the Seven Years War had, as the result of superhuman efforts, left Prussia without a penny of debt: at the end of the World War Germany was burdened with her own debt of some 7 or 8 milliards of marks and beyond that was faced with the debts of 'the rest of the world' " This quote clearly shows the stark contrast between that of former and latter Germany. Hitler displays with this example that Germany used to be a great nation, and how it is now in shambles. He sees no end to this massive problem and believes that every effort will result in general collapse of the system. "We have contributed to this because so far as possible we humiliated ourselves morally, we positively destroyed our own honor and helped to befoul, to besmirch, and to deny everything which we previously held as sacred.'"
Hitler states that the supposedly democratic country of Germany is no longer so. Parliament was certainly the power player in 1922. 'Since the Revolution the people has gained Rights. The people govern!' Strange! The people have now been ruling three years and no one has in practice once asked its opinion. Treaties were signed which will hold us down for centuries: and who has signed the treaties? The people? No! Governments which one fine day presented themselves as Governments..." The freedoms of individuals were repressed by Germany's government as the use of the parliamentary system grew.
Hitler is notorious for his terrorist like behavior in the Nazi movement. By his wish to return to the ways of old when war left a country free of debt, the brutality required follows. We see the result of this horrid brutality in the countless Nazi concentration camps such as in Belzec, Chelmno and Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Hitler references Fredrick the Great because he wants the German people to know and understand that Germany was once a great and powerful country. "Frederick the Great after the Seven Years War had, as the result of superhuman efforts, left Prussia without a penny of debt:" Hitler does also compare Germany now after the consequences of World War I. "at the end of the World War Germany was burdened with her own debt of some 7 or 8 milliards of marks and beyond that was faced with the debts of 'the rest of the world' - the so-called 'reparations.'" Clearly, Hitler wanted to show the formerly good Germany, and the present bad Germany.
Hitler clearly does not like parliaments. "Then someone has said: 'Since the Revolution the people has gained Rights. The people govern!' Strange! The people have now been ruling three years and no one has in practice once asked its opinion. Treaties were signed which will hold us down for centuries: and who has signed the treaties? The people? No!" He states that there used to be a time when the people governed the country, but after the implementation of parliaments, the country has become corrupt and the people's rights have declined.
"The product of Germany's work thus belonged not to the nation, but to her foreign creditors: 'it was carried endlessly in trains for territories beyond our frontiers. Every worker had to support another worker, the product of whose labor was commandeered by the foreigner." Hitler makes clear that Germany will no longer be controlled and governed by foreigners. Knowing what he eventually did, it is easy to see that he was contemplating world domination and elimination of those who presented a threat to him and his power.
Hitler references Frederick the Great to emphasize the greatness of German history. Nazism like we read, is a also a theory of history and so Hitler drew the reference of a great leader as an introduction to his argument of the problems of restoration and the ideas of revolution. "Nearly all 19th century German historians made Frederick into a romantic model of a glorified warrior, praising his leadership, administrative efficiency, devotion to duty and success in building up Prussia to a leading role in Europe” (Revolvy.com). This was Hitler’s motives especially since Frederick stressed the idea of an absolute monarchy, something that Hitler desired.
He believes that parliament does not benefit that people. 'Since the Revolution the people has gained Rights. The people govern!' Strange! The people have now been ruling three years and no one has in practice once asked its opinion” He believes that although the parliament claims that it is representing the people, in reality, it is doing no such thing. He also believes that the people are not electing people from the parliament who will be wise leaders, but are simply choosing people because they are already there. “And at their election the people had nothing to do save to consider the question: there they are already, whether I elect them or not. If we elect them, then they are there through our election. But since we are a self-governing people, we must elect the folk in order that they may be elected to govern us.”
Throughout the speech Hitler talks about reviving and continuing Germany’s power and glory. He blames the foreigners for the Germany’s problems. “The product of Germany's work thus belonged not to the nation, but to her foreign creditors…Every worker had to support another worker, the product of whose labor was commandeered by the foreigner….therefore, in the economic sphere, November 1918 was in truth no achievement, but it was the beginning of our collapse.”He believes that being tied to foreigners loses the strength of their military, the sovereignty of their state, and their political and financial independence. These beliefs connect to Hitler’s ideas that Germany’s power and glory will only be revived if the people are of pure Aryan race. And so he murdered millions of Jews, mentally and physically disabled people, gypsies, and anyone who did not fit his standards or did not agree with his standards of a pure Aryan race.
I believe that Hitler references Frederick the Great because he is recalling how Germany used to be in great hands due to Frederick's tireless efforts. He then contrasts his reference of this great leader with modern Germany and its government. He speaks about modern Germany, "In the economic sphere, November 1918 was in truth no achievement, but it was the beginning of our collapse.' And in the political sphere we lost first our military prerogatives, and with that loss went the real sovereignty of our State, and then our financial independence," he continues, "We have contributed to this because so far as possible we humiliated ourselves morally, we positively destroyed our own honor and helped to befoul, to besmirch, and to deny everything which we previously held as sacred..." He almost sounds ashamed to be associated with Germany today, but also includes a tone of hope to return Germany to its former glory and successful government.
I do not believe that Hitler liked their system of government at all. He hated that people could claim control because they simply announced their authority over other people. "And at their election the people had nothing to do save to consider the question: there they are already, whether I elect them or not." Hitler's ideal system for government was democracy- election by the people in order to govern the people. He believed, "If we elect them, then they are there through our election. But since we are a self-governing people, we must elect the folk in order that they may be elected to govern us." Hitler was not the tyrant dictator as he is so often stereotyped. Instead, he was in favor of democracy. He believed people should have the power.
Although Hitler publicly said he believed in giving people the power, he became a hypocrite by taking matters into his own hands without any outside consultation. Hitler became the very thing that he originally "hated"- a government who answered to no one but itself. In the end, Hitler's efforts by taking matters into his own hands only shamed Germany further rather than regain it's long lost honor.
As Hitler said, “Frederick the Great after the Seven Years War had, as the result of superhuman efforts, left Prussia without a penny of debt” this is in great contrast to the end of the first world war with Germany “burdened with her own debt of some 7 or 8 milliards of marks and beyond that was faced with the debts of 'the rest of the world'”. This is why Hitler referenced Frederick the Great, to show the contrast between coming out of war with no debt and coming out of war with a large debt.
Hitler finds it ironic that parliaments are supposed to represent the people but yet carry out decisions without the input of the people. He says, “Treaties were signed which will hold us down for centuries: and who has signed the treaties? The people? No! Governments which one fine day presented themselves as Governments.” Hitler clearly shows contempt for parliaments because they pretend to be the people without actually representing them.
Because Hitler believes in the supremacy of the Nazi’s, he tries to make Germany great again after its failure in the First World War by wiping out everyone who is not a part of the Nazi race. Instead of making Germany great again, it further humiliated it and put Germany in greater debt to other countries because of the Second World War. It’s ironic because in the end, the people never ruled like Hitler described. Instead, he only did what was best for the Nazi’s, not everyone living in Germany.
In Hitler’s speech he references Frederick the Great. Perhaps this is because Frederick was such a strong leader and Hitler was saying that it took another great leader (himself) to make it through the war. He said that Frederick made it out "as a result of superhuman efforts." It's more of the ends justify the means. So long as Germany came out ahead, it didn't matter what atrocities Hitler committed.
Hitler did not like parliaments. He thought that the people had no say in who elected them. The people were not asked their opinions on anything but must keep their mouths shut so as not to insult members of parliament. According to Hitler though the people had so called freedoms they were not free if they had no say in the government.
“We are already a colony of the outside world.” Here Hitler has already developed the idea that Germany is different, seperate. This follows along with his reasoning later on that Germans, specifically Arian's, were superior. Another statement from the speech indicates an idea that was acted upon. “But since we are a self-governing people, we must elect the folk in order that they may be elected to govern us.” This quote from Hitler might be the beginning of his plan to create a Arian race which would run the world. This goes back to his issue with parliaments. He didn't agree with their methods because the people didn't pick them in the first place. To ensure that no one he disliked could be in charge, why not kill off those he disagreed with so only the superior would be left.
In the beginning of his speech Hitler references Fredrick the Great and how after the 7 year’s war he left Persia without any debt. He brings this up to contrast this incident with Germany’s circumstances after World War I in which the country “was burdened with her own debt of some 7 or 8 milliards of marks and beyond that was faced with the debts of 'the rest of the world”. When He reminds the people of Fredrick the Great Hitler is showing them that all the debt they received after World War I might have been prevented, if it were not for the “foreign creditors” who placed this debt upon them.
Hitler does not hold Parliament in very high esteem. In his opinion they are not really chosen by the people, have done nothing for the people, and do not really have the best interests of the people in mind. He believes that it is not a fair and freeing system, but a flawed system of government that the people would be better off without.
One can see some for-shadowing in Hitler’s speech from his statement, “What will the end be? and the answer to that question is 'Pledging of our land, enslavement of our labor-strength.” Hitler did not want his people to end up like this, and in a way to prevent it he later does what the people of Germany fear will happen to them, to the people of the surrounding nations. The German land will stay free if everyone around them is subdued and their land pledged to Germany.
I think that Hitler referenced Frederick because he wanted to bring to mind the idea of greatness. He wanted to put the idea of comparing Frederick and himself. He also wanted people to give people faith for the future.
He doesn't like parliament. Because he thinks that it is slow and useless. He thinks that parliament doesn't actually reflect the peoples wants and needs.
I don't think this truly reflects what Hitler ended up doing to the country. Instead of doing what the people wanted he did what he wanted. This ended up making the country poor beyond belief. To be honest I don't even think at the point in time that this was written he even intended to do half the stuff he actually did.
A. Frederick the Great was a great leader. Has Hitler said in his speech “…Frederick the Great after the Seven Years War had, as the result of superhuman efforts, left Prussia without a penny of debt…” Frederick managed to keep his people from falling into worse times after the Seven Years War. Hitler references him because he believes Germany needs a great leader. Right now, Germany is being led astray and being poorly led.
B. Hitler doesn’t like parliament. He believes parliament has taken the people’s rights and freedom. He thinks the people need to rule and that the government just came in one day and took over. Also, the people may be allowed to go about their daily lives, but they are not entitled to an opinion. Hitler says, “…now a man must take much greater care that he doesn't say anything which might represent an insult to the majesty of a Member of Parliament.” He is saying that if a man were to speak ill of a member of parliament then something bad might happen to that man. Hitler is also being sarcastic when he says “the majesty of a Member of Parliament.” Clearly, he thinks very little of his government!
C. There are many times in this speech where he says the government is doing something wrong, but when he comes to power, the same thing happens. As mentioned in the paragraph above, the common people need to be careful with what they say, or else. Hitler reprimands that action, but the same thing happens when he is in power. You speak an ill word of Hitler or what he stands for, and you’re in trouble. Also, in his speech, he believes the people should govern. When he comes to power, what he really believes is he should govern. Lastly, he is complaining about the state the government left the German people in after World War 1, but he does the same thing. Germany ends up worse than it started.
A: The fact that Hitler hung a famous portrait of Frederick the Great on the wall of his bunker and even traveled with the portrait (which often times took president over many generals and some of Hitler’s close friends) is enough evidence to see why Hitler would reference this historical role model in his speech on April 12, 1922. Frederick the Great was more than just a role model to Hitler, but instead Hitler considered him to be the epitome of a “great man.” Hitler believed there were three things in order to become a great man; theoretician, organization, and leadership in which Frederick the Great acquired all three. Hitler strove to be a great German leader like Fredrick the Great and wanted to continue his legacy throughout WWII, so it is only fitting that he would be included in many of Hitler’s speeches. Unfortunately Frederick the Great’s reputation became far less favorable in 1945 throughout Germany after the fall of the Nazi regime, due to his status as a favorite icon of the Nazis.
B: Hitler developed quite a strong opinion of parliament which ultimately drove him to rule under a dictatorship. Hitler believed that individuals operating in a democracy are not brought to their fullest potential due to the challenges that commonly occur in parliament. Adolf Hitler once described parliament as this; "Democracy is the canal through which bolshevism lets its poisons flow into the separate countries and let’s work there long enough for these infections to lead to a crippling of intelligence and of the force of resistance." (My New Order, 405). Throughout his speech Hitler stresses that parliament leads to inadequate leaders and miscellaneous governmental decisions by the people. “And at their election the people had nothing to do save to consider the question: there they are already, whether I elect them or not. If we elect them, then they are there through our election. But since we are a self-governing people, we must elect the folk in order that they may be elected to govern us.” But in the end Hitler states that with all the liberties an individual might have that individual must be aware of how he uses them and, “in general, if he is wise, he will keep his mouth shut.”
C: After WWI Hitler’s ultimate goal was to blind the people of Germany of his ultimate goal, total world domination and the extinction of unfit races, by being elected democratically and then ultimately shift gears and rule over Germany as Dictator. Hitler wanted to protect and refine the Aryan race, keeping it pure and uncorrupt from those who did not fit within the margin (Jews, the disabled, gypsies etc.). Germany no longer wanted to be bound by other countries, but instead be a dominant force that stood alone. “What will the end be? and the answer to that question is 'Pledging of our land, enslavement of our labor-strength. Therefore, in the economic sphere, November 1918 was in truth no achievement, but it was the beginning of our collapse.'” Here Hitler shows all that has corrupted Germany and the only solution is to regain a pure Aryan race. Later is history we see Hitler “accomplish” this by wiping out all other races or identities that are considered unfit for the Aryan race.
- In Hitler’s speech on April 12, 1922 he references Frederick the Great as an example of what he wishes Germany to be like. Hitler talks about how Frederick the Great’s strong and wise leadership had lead to Prussia having no debt after the war. Hitler talked about Fredrick the Great in order to show the German’s that with better leadership, descions, and better system of government they could follow the advice and wisdom Fredrick showed for his country. In learning form their mistakes and seeking wisdom from past influential leaders such as Fredrick the Great Germany could possibly try to over come their millions in debt and become a more successful state.
- Hitler had strong opinions against parliament, “ It is of course true that one can walk down the street, the individual can go into his workshop and he can go out again…In a word, the individual has liberties. But in general, if he is wise, he will keep his mouth shut…. now a man must take much greater care that he doesn't say anything which might represent an insult to the majesty of a Member of Parliament.” Hitler is against parliament because he feels as though they give the people little to no rights or say in decisions. Government says that the peoples opinion counts and rights matter but really government overrules them all and decides on its own. He thinks parliament is working against the people rather than with and for the people.
- Throughout Hitler’s speech he repeatedly mentions how in order for Germany to retain its past traditions and remain stable, powerful, and debt free it needs to change the faults in the leadership and government of the state, “ Treaties were signed which will hold us down for centuries: and who has signed the treaties? The people? No! Governments which one fine day presented themselves as Governments.” Later on Hitler wants to change the leadership, present Germany, and government into what he thinks will be better and more successful for Germany. Hitler becomes determined to accomplish building Germany into more of a successful, well governed, and powerful state. Hitler tries to get rid and destroy anything that he considers useless, not able to impact the state, disabled, or in his mind in the way.
Hitler respected Frederick the Great for leading Prussia through the Seven Years War without creating debt, and he wished to emulate Frederick’s leadership in Germany’s government. Because of World War I, Germany built up millions in debt within their own government in addition to the money they owed other nations, an economic issue that had many negative repercussions. Hitler used Frederick as an example of Germany’s successful past, and he wanted Germans to remember and be proud of what their nation used to be, and could be again.
While many in Germany thought that Parliament was the best option and produced more rights for the people, Hitler believed that Parliament was doing more harm than good. Hitler said, “The people govern!’ Strange! The people have now been ruling three years and no one has in practice once asked its opinion. Treaties were signed which will hold us down for centuries: and who has signed the treaties? The people? No! Government which one fine day presented themselves as Governments.” He was exasperated and angry with the way Parliament governed. Hitler believed that Parliament did not liberate the people, but rather, as Emily said, repressed their freedom.
The driving message of Hitler’s speech was that change needed to happen. Hitler wished to bring Germany back to her former glory. He referenced Frederick the Great because he wanted the German people to remember what Germany had achieved. He argued that Parliament was not giving the people the freedom they deserved. Clearly Hitler was dissatisfied with the way Germany was governed and spoke for change. Hitler had a lot of pride for Germany, and he was willing to take extreme measures to create what he considered a great nation.
Frederick the Great was, in short, a role model to Hitler. Fascinated with the idea of glory, power, and dominance, it was only natural that Hitler should desire to emulate Frederick the Great’s rise to success. Hitler refers to his hero’s efforts as “superhuman” and describes in positive language how Frederick “left Prussia without a penny of debt”. After opening his speech with a riveting picture of glory, he paints another picture, this one dark and depressing. He laments the fact that Germany was laden with “her own debt of some 7 or 8 milliards of marks and beyond that was faced with the debts of the ‘rest of the world’-the so-called ‘reparations’”. Hitler references Frederick the Great in order to show the German people how Germany was once great, and that the Revolution hurt their Germany more than helping it.
Hitler’s opinion of parliament was negative. His frustration stemmed from the fact that Germany’s democracy wasn’t a democracy at all; the parliament had complete control. The people had been fooled into thinking they had a say in what was going on. They held the power to elect officials, yet the very same officials they voted into office were already there. Hitler argues that the parliament was giving just enough power to the people so it could get away with anything.
“We have contributed to this because so far as possible we humiliated ourselves morally, we positively destroyed our own honor and helped to befoul, to besmirch, and to deny everything which we previously held as sacred.” Hitler’s words hold bitterness and determination. From these words, we see clearly the motivation behind his later atrocities. Hitler longed for the “great” Germany under Frederick the Great. When Germany became burdened with debt, both of itself as well as those of other countries, Hitler saw this as humiliating. “Therefore, in the economic sphere, November 1918 was in truth no achievement, but it was the beginning of our collapse… we are already a colony of the outside world.” His pride dictated his actions; he would be outdone by no one. He wanted complete independence and world-wide renown. We see these motivations brought to horrifying light later on, when Hitler attempts to exterminate any “lesser” race and make the Germans the one pure people.
I believe that Hitler referenced the great King Frederick to remind the German people of how much they have fallen but also how much they can accomplish. Hitler believed in the supremacy of the German people, so even though their country is in shambles now and something must be done, they clearly have the potential for “superhuman efforts” because their predecessor Frederick the Great did just that.
Hitler had no respect for parliaments. He believed they were dysfunctional and accomplished nothing. “If it be objected that the Revolution has won for us gains in social life: they must be extraordinarily secret, these social gains - so secret that one never sees them in practical life - they must just run like a fluid through our German atmosphere.” The Weimar Republic was a weak democracy and Hitler highlights these flaws and expounds upon them. “The people have now been ruling three years and no one has in practice once asked its opinion … And at their election the people had nothing to do save to consider the question: there they are already, whether I elect them or not.”
I think the fact that Hitler disliked the parliament gives us a bit of a peek inside his mind. What are the other options if you erase democracy? Monarchy? Dictatorship? Hitler was trying to send the German people down the path of a dictatorship so one person (himself most likely) could have complete control over a nation. Also, Hitler talks about how the Germans have been mistreated by “her foreign creditors.” What happens when you believe you have been treated with severe injustice? I think it is easy to then believe that you are better than that person because you did not commit this terrible crime.
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