Fascism Versus Nazism

5 Similarities

• expansion of the nation
• unwavering loyalty to the state
• state organizes the nation
• totalitarism
• result of World War I

- "The activity of individuals is not to counteract the interests of the universality,but must have its result within the framework of the whole for the benefit of all" (25 Points)/"he rather conceives of life as duty and struggle and conquest, but above all for others" (What is Fascism).... both Fascism and Nazism were designed with the "greater good" in mind.

- "We demand substitution of a German common law in place of the Roman Law serving a materialistic world-order."(25 Points)/"Fascism combats the whole complex system of democratic ideology,and repudiates it, whether in its theoretical premises or in its practical application.Fascism denies that the majority, by the simple fact that it is a majority, can direct human society"(What is Fascism).... both deny any other form of government, especially democracy in place of a common law.

- "We demand that the state be charged first with providing the opportunity for a
livelihood and way of life for the citizens. If it is impossible to sustain the total
population of the State, then the members of foreign nations (non-citizens) are to be
expelled from the Reich."(25 Points)/"Fascism conceives of the State as an absolute, in comparison with which all individuals or groups are relative, only to be conceived of in their relation to the State"(What is Fascism).... everyone had to be a citizen with equal rights and for the state while everyone else was dispelled.

- "We demand land and territory (colonies) for the sustenance of our people, and
colonization for our surplus population."(25 Points)/"the growth of empire, that is to say the expansion of the nation, is an essential manifestation of vitality, and its opposite a sign of decadence"(What is Fascism)... both had the goal of expansion and that it was the "right" of the state to take the land for themselves.

- "We demand freedom of religion for all religious denominations within the state so
long as they do not endanger its existence or oppose the moral senses of the Germanic
race"(25 Points)/"The Fascist State organizes the nation, but leaves a sufficient margin of liberty to the individual"(What is Fascism)... both gave its citizens "freedom" as long as it didn't disturb the State and was under their control.

1. I believe Nazism does actually appeal to the adolescence. Throughout all of the 25 Points the underlying theme is national pride and integrity which brings out strong passions in young people and gets them fired up for things like expanding the nation, reinstalling the army, or focus on education. The idea that everyone is working for each other is also appealing and that there would be a strong middle class held together but a strong central government.

2. Getting the people to understand the idea, "Fascism, now and always, believes in holiness and in heroism; that is to say, in actions influenced by no economic motive, direct or indirect" would be difficult. People are selfish and greedy and convincing people to give in all their control and a lot of their freedom for the good of the whole might be a tough thing to explain.

3. Although Hitler somehow pulled it off, I think in the Nazi ideal that the German Race is the only thing allowed and that,"Consequently no Jew can be a member of the race" would be a hard thing to convince. I mean how do you blame something like this on one group of people? He appealed to them basically telling how perfect Germans were, but still convincing all those people to go along with Hitler's insane ideas is fascinating.