On the question of why the Nazis succeeded so rapidly in
Germany in 1933, without much resistance (in spite of 56% of voters voting
against the Nazis in 1932), one contemporary observer* suggested the main
reason was fear; go along to avoid being beaten up. But he posited other
reasons, such as the ‘intoxication of unity’; a betrayal by the weakness of
previous leaders causing going along as ‘revenge’; a jumping on the bandwagon;
and finally, the idea that they could change the direction of the Nazis from
within.
In the Trump era we are nowhere near an environment of fear
that Germany was in back then, but the intoxication of unity (Make America
Great Again – Hitler was pumping people up to Make Germany Great Again); the
vindictiveness of actions and policy from Trumpists reacting to perceived
weakness of Obama et al.; jumping on the bandwagon; and going along in hopes
that change, or moderation, can be effected from within - these seem to be
common characteristics of the rise of Naziism and the rise of Trumpism. They
are not unique to them though: Zumaism in South Africa, Mugabeism in Zimbabwe,
others). But Naziism was the most extreme expression the world has seen, and
Trumpism is the most extreme expression the US has seen.
The submergence of critical thought, of principles, the
anti-intellectualism and anti-science attitudes, and the denial of and
excuse-making for abhorrent actions and policies seem to be common as well.
There are enough differences in the character and
institutions of the US and those of Germany in the 1930s (and
in the historical conditions) to give me confidence
that we will not go down that road, but there are threads of similarity in the
two ‘movements’ that are still worth noting, and not forgetting.
*Referenced in ‘The Coming of the Third Reich’ by Richard J.
Evans (2003)
