A very simple proof that the 1920-1945 Nazi Party was not truly socialist

[steve2470]

Let's talk about whether the Germans were socialists....

Yes, the name was "National Socialist Workers Party" (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), but they did not RULE/terrorize as true socialists.

Text of the famous poem by Martin Niemoller:

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

or this version:

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me

Reputable and reliable historical accounts bear this out. Any friend, family member, debate opponent, Republican, conservative etc, if they really think long and hard and in a logical manner, will see that the Nazi Party was NOT socialist. It was fascist.

Just because a political party calls itself "socialist" means nothing. Just because they have socialist ideas in their 1920 political program means nothing. Look at the actions.

Yes, of course, the hard core proponents of the "Nazis were socialists" meme will scream fake history or something like that.

[Elessar Zappa]

1. There was a faction

of “left wing” Nazis early on but by the 30s they were mostly purged from the party.

[steve2470]

2. yes, correct nt

[Igel]

4. The "national" part of the title is important,

As opposed to the prevailing "international socialist" that was the usual default.

National socialism was a reasonably well thought-out political view by the early 1890s. Hitler was born in 1889.

The name stayed with the party as it "evolved" to what it became under Hitler, much like the Republican Party has changed since the 1850s. Nazism wasn't just a "social" or "cultural" thing, it was also economic and also very much not capitalist--it was corporatist.

Hitler hated capitalism.

[Metaphorical]

3. Much like the moderate Republicans in the 1970s

We often forget that there was a concerted effort to purge the Republican party of anyone with even moderate leanings from about 1969 to 1980. They didn't go full-bore fascist until this century, but the resemblance between the GOP of the 2010s+ with Hitler's party is not accidental.