I really hate to jump in on someone's post (RedNosedMoo') to say something less than complimentary when practically everybody has knelt at his altar... But the truth and historical revisionism are at odds, and the OP is quoting historical revisionism.
The section on Mussolini is generally correct, however, the following is not:
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Instead, Fascism was the (...) child of Aristocracy and Capitalism-- Corporatism, rather. Those in power had a right to live at the expense of those less wealthy.
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Mussolini was the first to codify fascism as state control over the people for the benefit of the people with all final authority resting in one "supreme" figure. Had nothing to do with capitalism. Capitalism is the entirely free market force of public economics and was the
target of both fascism and national socialism whenever it suited the purposes of either state (Germany or Italy).
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Fascism *was* diametrically opposed to Communism.
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This is a misleading statement and patently untrue when considering the qualifier "diametrically." Fascism was also the model of Stalinist Russia which was not a true communism. Remember, fascism = state authority residing ultimately in a leading figure, not the individual citizen (as in democracy or nominal communism). Since fascism was formulated politically by Mussolini, many historians will refer to his words on his idea of fascism. See
here.
On the subject of Hitler and the National Socialists, the OP uses tidbits of history without any reference to PSDs (primary source documents) to support a picture of naziism that is not factually correct, but rather the current flavor of historical revisionism.
For example, he claims Hitler wasn't really a socialist because he fought the socialist uprisings in Bavaria. The OP neglects to mention that "socialists" was used as a blanket term that included Marxists. In the early 1900s, Marxism was the precursor to communism. See
here. It is certainly true that Hitler hated communists. That does not, however, make him the exact opposite of communism or "psuedo-socialist." This was a very real power struggle between two conflicting power ideologies that were not so dissimilar except as to how power was relegated by the state. Whereas communism was nominally the power of the people to the state collectively for collectivism (to put it in a trite way), fascist socialism was the power of the state over the people for the welfare of the people, or socialism.
Hitler had this to say about communists: [ QUOTE ]
"I have learned a great deal from Marxism, and I do not hesitate to admit, that the difference between them and myself is that I have really put into practice what these peddlars and penpushers have timidly begin... National Socialism is what Marxism might have been if it could have broken its absurd and artificial ties with a democratic order." <Preussentum und Sozialismus>
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The OP made long post... I'll try to cut to the chase. The OP claims that Hitler was anything but a socialist, but refers to no documents - probably only what was heard on the History Channel. To understand where nazi political ideologies lay and to determine whether or not they were socialists requires a look at their doctrines and policies - without just claiming unsupported generalities. Following are the major platforms of the german National Socialist party and the policies they followed:
*WE DEMAND THAT THE GOVERNMENT UNDERTAKE THE OBLIGATION ABOVE ALL OF PROVIDING CITIZENS WITH ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT AND EARNING A LIVING. Equal Rights, Equal Opportunity Employment, Minimum Wage, Anti-trust - all socialist sacred cows.
*THE ACTIVITIES OF THE INDIVIDUAL MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO CLASH WITH THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT MUST TAKE PLACE WITHIN ITS CONFINES AND BE FOR THE GOOD OF ALL. Right out of the socialist handbook.
*WE DEMAND THE NATIONALIZATION OF ALL BUSINESSES WHICH HAVE BEEN AMALGAMATED (INTO TRUSTS). Very anti-capitalist. Nationalization of business is always communist or socialist.
*WE DEMAND THAT THE STATE SHALL SHARE IN THE PFOFITS OF LARGE INDUSTRIES. This alone qualifies National Socialism as socialism, and not "just in name only."
*WE DEMAND THAT PROVISION FOR THE AGED SHALL BE MADE ON A VERY GREATLY INCREASED SCALE. Nationalization of old folks homes. Only socialists make these demands.
*WE DEMAND A LAND-REFORM SUITABLE TO OUR NATIONAL REQUIREMENTS, THE PASSING OF A LAW FOR THE CONFISCATION OF LAND FOR COMMUNAL PURPOSES; THE ABOLITION OF INTEREST ON MORTGAGES, AND PROHIBITION OF ALL SPECULATION IN LAND. Very socialist fundamental belief - all land is at the disposal of the state.
*WE DEMAND AN AGRARIAN REFORM SUITABLE TO OUR NATIONAL REQUIREMENTS; THE ENACTMENT OF A LAW TO EXPROPRIATE WITHOUT COMPENSATION THE OWNERS OF ANY LAND THAT MAY BE NEEDED FOR NATIONAL PURPOSES; THE ABOLITION OF GROUND RENTS; AND THE PROHIBITION OF ALL SPECULATION IN LAND. Nationalization of farms... very anti-capitalist and only pursued in socialist or communist societies.
*...THE STATE SHALL ORGANIZE THOROUGHLY THE WHOLE CULTURAL SYSTEM OF THE NATION . . . THE CONCEPTION OF THE STATE IDEA (THE SCIENCE OF CITIZENSHIP) SHALL BE TAUGHT IN THE SCHOOLS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. WE DEMAND THAT SPECIALLY TALENTED CHILDREN OF POOR PARENTS, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR STATION OR OCCUPATION, SHALL BE EDUCATED AT THE COST OF THE STATE. Thought control, also known as political correctness. Believe what the state tells you - freedom of thought is discouraged.
*IT IS THE DUTY OF THE STATE TO HELP RAISE THE STANDARD OF THE NATION'S HEALTH BY PROVIDING MATERNITY WELFARE CENTRES, BY PROHIBITING JUVENILE LABOUR, BY INCREASING PHYSICAL FITNESS THROUGH THE INTRODUCTION OF COMPULSORY GAMES AND GYMNASTICS. . . . Only socialist and communist governments baldly declare to know how to raise all children.
* (WE) COMBAT THE MATERIALISTIC SPIRIT WITHIN AND OUTSIDE US, AND ARE CONVINCED THAT A PERMANENT RECOVERY OF OUR PEOPLE CAN ONLY PROCEED WITHIN ON THE FOUNDATION OF "THE COMMON GOOD BEFORE THE INDIVIDUAL GOOD." I'm not sure how anyone can read this and still say that the nazis were capitalists. Such claims are ignorant. This last statement is socialist to its core - the state knows better than the individual.
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From the "Twenty-Five Point" Programme of the German National Socialist Workers Party, authored by Adolf Hitler and others. (Konrad Heiden's translation in A History of National Socialism)
Many revisionists conveniently use modern terms to justify their re-write of history. For example, Mussolini and Hitler could say that they hated liberals. Yet the modern term bears no relation to their use in the classical term. Today we think of liberal as left wing, socialists. Back then, they referred to classical liberals - those who held forth that personal liberties and freedoms from the state were paramount considerations. Such classical liberalism is very anti-socialist.
The OP states that because Hitler and Mussolini strove against socialists that they must not therefore be socialists. As I said (and any reading of political terms of the times - consider Mussolini's writings) socialists came in several brands. Striving against socialists who were marxists makes sense to a fascist - since the power struggle was in how power was delegated and held. Hitler and Mussolini jailed people not because they were of opposite ends of the political spectrum, but because anyone who presented a threat to the perceived power was a threat to fascism.
Some more Hitler quotage:
"We are socialists, we are enemies of today's capitalistic economic system for the exploitation of the economically weak, with its unfair salaries, with its unseemly evaluation of a human being according to wealth and property instead of responsibility and performance, and we are all determined to destroy this system under all conditions." --Adolf Hitler (Speech of May 1, 1927. Quoted by Toland, 1976, p. 306)
Many might say that nazis couldn't be socialists because they fought against the labor unions. Unfortunately, such a statement glosses all the details of the political reality into a broad brush that sounds right but means nothing. Hitler strove against the labor unions because they were led by marxists. Again, we face the reality of the political situation and the relationship of power. Hitler would have jailed anyone that threatened his power and in so doing didn't make him not what he was. Remember the SA? When the labor unions interfered with the anti-capitalistic nationalization of industries, Hitler jailed them.
Hitler's incessant use of "bourgeois" and the constant reference to the "class struggles" in Mein Kampf are telling enough of his political leanings. See
here. Hitler's background and goals were entirely socialist.
His domestic policies, once in power, centered around price controls, central planning, expanded government welfare and government work programs, nationalized health care, pay equalization, etc.
These are the absolute antithesis of capitalism and freedom. There is nothing difficult here. Socialism is the antithesis of individual freedom. Left wing socialist politics pursues the expression of society as a whole. Right wing capitalist politics expresses the total freedom of the individual against the state.
Hitler
was a socialist. To claim otherwise is to ignore and re-write history. Even Time Magazine in the 30s labeled Hitler a left wing socialist. I was really brief. For far more detailed infor go
HERE.
As to roleplaying a national socialist... there is nothing inherently evil in national socialism. In fact, it's a great system, if you like socialism. Of course, I am talking about the politics and not the deluded racism that attached to naziism. National socialists believe in a strong state, protective of its people in the socialist manner, and proud of its heritage. It can and should be roleplayed without the racism. "Our nation, above all, for the good of the people."
Fascism is a strong government of almost any stripe (left or right wing) where power resides at the state level and culminating finally in one individual. "Follow the leader and follow orders."
