‘Hitler was a lazy criminal who slept in until noon’: why most of what we think we know about the rise of the Nazis is wrong
In a new book, German artist and writer Philipp Ruch argues that viewing the ascent of Hitler’s NSDAP through the prism of the Third Reich has distorted our understanding of fascism’s electoral breakthrough
TL;DR
- Philipp Ruch's book 'Der Rückfall' re-examines the rise of the NSDAP, focusing on the significance of the 1930 German elections.
- Ruch argues that conventional explanations for the Nazis' success, such as Hitler's charisma, effective propaganda, or economic crisis, are largely inaccurate for the 1930 period.
- The NSDAP saw a ninefold increase in votes between 1928 and 1930, transforming from a fringe party to a major political force.
- Evidence suggests Hitler was not a charismatic leader at this time, and Nazi propaganda was amateurish and ineffective, with low readership.
- Economic hardship and unemployment did not correlate with higher Nazi support in 1930; in fact, these regions saw poorer Nazi performance.
- Ruch identifies the NSDAP's consistent message of violence and execution of political opponents as a significant, though disturbing, factor in attracting voters.
- The author draws parallels to contemporary right-wing extremist parties, noting their apparent immunity to scandals and the continued appeal of violent rhetoric.