How do you take this - I take it as a loss of connection to WWII to young people?

Question

Neo-Nazis win seats in German election
Berlin -- The neo-Nazi National Democratic Party won seats in a second German regional parliament yesterday, confirming it is an emerging force in the economically depressed east of the country.

The party, which has a strong anti-immigration stand, took around 7 per cent of the votes in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. It was a stunning improvement on its performance five years earlier, when it won less than 1 per cent, and it was all the more embarrassing for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is from the state.

The NPD made inroads by capitalizing on discontent in a region where about 18 per cent of the work force is out of work. Its candidates have also reached out to a new audience by ditching skinhead haircuts and steel-capped boots in favour of smart suits.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060918.WORLDREPORT18-2/TPStory/International

Answer 1

I feel the same way that you do about it.

Answer 2

Well, if you really get into the history, the fuel for the fire the first time through was high unemployment. After WWI, germany had to pay war damages to France, and they about went broke, at one point, million-mark notes, and so forth. Then, along came this stove-up war veteran, with a Shining Vision For The Future...
a lotta people followed him, and his entourage of thugs took care of the opposition....finally they went 'over the top' and took over the whole country, then started working on the rest of the continent. I think that's a history re-enactment the world can do without...

Answer 3

In the early 20th century, the Nazis were able to develop a stronghold in Germany in large part because they gave people "hope" in a country that had a terrible economy with little prospects at improving.

Considering the results of the election cited, and in light of 18 PERCENT unemployment, it would certainly seem like the cycle is ripe to begin again.

But I don't think we can blame these results on "young people" unless virtually ALL of the 7% who voted in favor, are in fact young people. The vote is more likely a result of economics than age.

Answer 4

Sounds like history beginning to repeat it self, smart move on the part of the skin heads to, begin wearing nice suits. No one ever took the dorky looking , combat boot wearing skin heads seriously. They are anti immigration, huh.....
Maybe we need a new political party in this country with that view.
Thye would have my vote.

Answer 5

What is scarier is that when trouble does start, the US will do the same thing and "pretend" they don't know about it. Not that the same thing will, as email and cell phones, along with other technologies, will make it impossible for something to happen along the lines of concentration camps and such, but on a smaller level - no one will care until it's too much of a problem. That's the world for you.

Answer 6

Some things never change! That is exactly what happened the first time around in Nazi Germany....They had run away inflation and needed a strong nationalist leader, enter Hitler and it was a marriage made in heaven! Scary, if you don't learn from the past, you are condemned to repeat it..

Answer 7

Alot of the increase in neo nazi activities is because of government failure to put a lid on the immigration of those who cannot or will not assimilate.

Answer 8

I wonder what they stand for, these days?

It is east Germany that is letting this grow. Remember they didn't have free access to history in their schools until fairly recently. It was behind the iron curtain.

Answer 9

History does tend to repeat itself.

Think of it like a cycle...better yet a pendulum.

When things swing to far in one direction, they don't just swing back to the middle they pass the middle and go too far in the other direction...then they swing back the other direction again.

Answer 10

What country are you in?
If your in the USA, tell me this.
How in the hell did one became Governor of California?