Why the Nazis Weren’t Socialists - ‘The Good Hitler Years’ | BETWEEN 2 WARS I 1937 Part 2 of 2

💬 Comments

From an intellectual viewpoint, this is perhaps the most challenging episode I have written in this series. First of all it's hard to make economic policy interesting, even when it's about the Nazis. It tends to get, well... grey. Second of all it's not that easy to simplify things without completely losing the essence of what was going on. Third of all, I'm fighting an uphill battle against a post truth, political talking point based on... let's just call it less than ingenious purposes. 

Obviously that's the idea that the Nazis were Socialists. And perhaps that is not so far fetched when you think of the name of their party, the way they framed their anti-semitic rhetoric in a way that it would sound friendly to the working class, and their absolute disregard for telling the truth about anything, and everything. But although we have painstakingly showed you the facts, I am painfully aware that it won't make a difference to stop the nonsense out there and in here - some pundits will religiously stick to their ideas, because if they don't, they might have to face that some of the ideas they have are mutual with the people they so desperately want to distance themselves from. The same happened with the far left between the 1930s and 1970s, when they tried with cramped desperation to frame Stalinism as a right wing, Fascist movement - Red Fascism was the term - obviously as much nonsense as the alt-right idea that Naziism is Socialism.

And is it important? Well yes and no - the dumbos will probably get worn out at some point, it's after all quite challenging to look for ways to distort the record over, and over again. I don't really care if the extremists try to push their mutual garbage in each other's lap - as a supporter of democracy and humanism, I have no regard for either end. I do however have an incredible amount of respect for conservatives, liberals, and progressives who are equally dedicated to democracy and human rights - and there is where it matters. 

When the far left tries to frame Stalinism as right wing, and the far-right tries to frame Naziism is left-wing, they are trying to co-opt a position of less extremism. It's an invasive attempt for Communists and (real) Socialists to just look like regular Progressives, and Fascists and Nazis to just look like regular Conservatives. And that my friends is dangerous, to all of us, regardless of our nationality, creed, political affiliation, or opinion - because it is specifically our individual rights and democracy that is at stake in this game. That's what they want to take away, or in some places stop from developing.

*RULES OF CONDUCT*
STAY CIVIL AND POLITE we will delete any comments with personal insults, or attacks.
AVOID PARTISAN POLITICS AS FAR AS YOU CAN we reserve the right to cut off vitriolic debates.
HATE SPEECH IN ANY DIRECTION will lead to a ban.
RACISM, XENOPHOBIA, OR SLAMMING OF MINORITIES will lead to an immediate ban.
PARTISAN REVISIONISM, ESPECIALLY HOLOCAUST AND HOLODOMOR DENIAL will lead to an immediate ban.

Author — Spartacus Olsson

I think the problem with this debate is that every single person has their own definition of "socialism".

Author — AFGuidesHD

Thumbnail makes Hitler looks like the Monopoly Man.

Author — flyingkoopa45

Little known fact: Conrad von Hotzendorf's remains are interred in that porcelain pagoda behind Indy.

Author — CyberProto TikiHead

It seems like the nazis ran their economy more like a drug cartel than an actual functioning government.

Author — Jeff Duncan

Between Two Wars and The Great War 1919 have convinced me that the interwar years are the true deep cut on the album of the 20th century

Author — William Speck

"But as long as they're in that tunnel, they'll resort to burning the only fuel they have on board - the passengers." summed it up perfectly

Author — Eloquin

All this lacked was a cat and I would've expected Don Indy presenting us with a deal we cannot refuse. As always a interesting video showing the nuances of this period of history!

Author — MrHaunter88

"He was opposed to this action/plan...that he was instrumental in creating" is the quote that defines 90% of nazi leaders tbh

Author — Comrade Ivan

Just seems like a large ponzi scheme of an economy.

Author — gem lord

I expected to hear the word “kleptocracy, ” an apt description of the regime.

Author — David Koyzis

Wow, great conclusion with the train analogy. Good writing, that.

Author — Tom Mosher

What a perfect episode! Finally somebody has found a way to explain the myth of, ,Great Nazi Economy" in really simple way to understand and in really nice amount of time. Love this channel!

Author — David Szabó

I think we can safely say that the comment section is actually worse when talking about how the Nazis weren't socialists rather than when we discuss the Balkans.

Author — TheBreadBaron

19:30 - 20:07 indie would make a good politician

Author — Curium 96

"Wages of Destruction" by Adam Tooze makes a really good case as to why Nazi Germany was an economic failure even before the war and adds a lot more context to this video. If you like economic history and WW2 it is a must-read.

Author — Jose Ramon Pineda

This material is particularly instructive to me because I was taught all my life that the Third Reich was an economic superpower and only Martin Kitchen's book "Speer" that I read last year opened my eyes to the economic meanders of this war. Especially in Germany. It is fascinating to me how on earth they was able wage this war for so long.

Author — Döckálfr

That train fueled by burning its passengers metaphor is grim but powerful. Great work.

Author — Kamil Krupiński

So you are socialist?
National socialist: actualy no.
So you are capitalist?
National socialist: nope
*confused screaming*

Author — ??? ¿¿¿

In 1934, the legend goes, a Russian, American, and German were in a car. They reach an intersection where they can only go forward. The German asks where he should turn. The Russian says, "Communism is the way, Tovarisch, turn left." The American says, "Capitalism is the way, turn right." The German says, "Screw it, I'm gonna steal some land, " and drives straight into the wall across the street.

Author — Julian Ochoa Gavilano