Can history ever objectively evaluate National Socialism?

Question

Just to point out- I don't share those views- this is more of an academic kind of question- to stimulate thought and discussion.
Yes- Nazis were bad and Hitler was Satan.

I am referring to the concept of National Socialism- without the supposed white supremacy, racism, anti-Semitism & Nordic myth encumbrances.

What are your thoughts? Has it any value as a political concept?

Bob T- no- I'm referring to the internal Nazist argument/concept of racial supremacy being superior as 'alleged'- as it is totally baseless and unproven.
NOT the veracity that Nazism placed 'Aryans' and Nordics at the apex of a racial heirarchy- that is very well documented.
sorry- if I hadn't clarified myself.

Answer 1

"I am referring to the concept of National Socialism- without the supposed white supremacy, racism, anti-Semitism & Nordic myth encumbrances."

But what is left then? Most importantly you should define what is the "core" of national socialism. Europe and the US has protectictionist policies regarding agriculture. Is that national socialism?

On the other hand, I agree with you, that there are a lot of emotion attached to NS, when the media is covering those times, it's obligatory to every second sentence contain "evil" ot "terrible".

Answer 2

The real question is: how could a corked up political movement take over a hitherto civilized country like Germany (birthplace of Kant, Goethe, Schiller, and for that matter Marx and Freud – if you count Austria in), and why did the other civilized neighbours allow it ? The “National Socialist” manifest is anything but convincing, in a normal political environment and time. Unfortunately for Millions, including the Germans themselves, it came as an aftermath to the Versailles “mistake – uups”, the inflation, unemployment and “stab in the back” (Dolchstosslegende – Im Felde unbesiegt – unbeaten on the battlefield) events and had it all going it’s way. Can it happen again ? I sincerely hope not. Another current question is: how can Millions of sensible people still profess themselves “Communist” , after the unearthly mess left by Stalin, Mao, Ceaucescu and Polpot ? (I’ll leave Castro be, he had “his reasons”). This answer is definitely going to cost me points, but it’s a free country, thanks to the absence of both Nazism and Communism. Can history be objective about NS ? Yes if it condemns it, hands down, with no appeal.

Answer 3

I think it is rather difficult to even formulate National Socialism into a tenable political philosophy once the racism, eugenics, anti-semitism and extreme nationalism is removed.

Hitler was quite a wooly thinker and I doubt that we are in need of implementing any of his simplistic ideas. They were merely a vehicle to mobilise the people in order to reach his goal of Germania, lebensraum in the East and a Final Solution to those pesky Jews.

Out of interest, why do you say 'supposed white supremacy'? Are you suggesting that Hitler and the Nazi Party did not engage in racial stereotyping which placed 'white Nordics' at the apex of the human race?

Answer 4

"National Socialism without the supposed white supremacy, racism, anti-Semitism & Nordic myth encumbrances" makes about as much sense as a guillotine without the blade... National Socialist ideology borrowed heavily from The Völkisch movement and the Thule Society. In fact at least one of the Nazi party founders, Anton Drexler, was a member of Thule Society...

Answer 5

Historically? No. There would have to be a historical example of National Socialism without those hinderances before history could evaluate it as such.

Answer 6

To answer your question.
It is all okay to find something completely rotten and without anything worthwhile after examining it.
This is objective: they were murderous and flawed in their ideals. I worry when people try to excuse them or think some of things written about their recorded atrocities are re-evaluated or even dismissed.

Answer 7

Well, theoretically, you can take any ideology, remove its negative "encumbrances", objectively evaluate what's left and come to a conclusion that it is a good ideology.

Sorry, but those "encumbrances" you mentioned were integral components of national socialism.

Answer 8

No, unfortunately, we have very partial historians. There aren't enough good historians out there. I don't share those views either, but it's the same thing as when people confuse Church with God...they can't separate facts and their feelings.

Answer 9

no it can't because the nazis perpetrated horrible crimes in the name of ideology and the effect of these we still feel today, so there's no sufficient distance yet + the neonazis making it more difficult to be objective. but the ideology itself had good points and if used properly can be quite uselful and helpful

Answer 10

If you go by the nazi party's definition of "National Socialist" then I say NO, it won't ever happen again.