"Mein Kampf" - back in Germany!

[HarmanKardon]

Time for a PC break.

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by HarmanKardon

Time for a PC break.

Sorry, Chris.

Yes, taking a break from this place once in a while is a help.

John

[BlueStreak]

I read most of Mein Kampf, once. What a poorly written rag full of hateful bile and uber-Patriotic horseshit. No doubt Germany had as many simpleminded stooges that fell easily for that sort of garbage in the 1930s as America has today. As a Hungarian holocaust survivor told me long ago;

"It's when they start up with the flags and brass bands, calling you unpatriotic if you don't go along, that the trouble starts."

Words to live by.

Dave

[Dondilion]

It is instructive to note however that the highest percentage the Nazis got in the reichstag elections was 37%.

Hindenburg, president and beloved war hero, disliked Hitler and was the only person with the power to derail him. Hindenburg was very old and getting senile and for a long time resisted the pressure to appoint Hitler chancellor.

Hitler master pieces were "the night of long knives" and the burning of the
reichstag. Once he got Hindenburg to sign on to the enabling acts it was
much easier to control Germany...he wiped out the oppositions, including the
troublesome "Red Front Fighters", got the regular army to fall in line (especially after Hindenburg's death). In fact he got control of all the organs of security which he wielded with ruthless efficiency.

[donquixote99]

Good summary. I regard tha Nazi ascent as a coup, by stages, due to the continuous use of violence and terror.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

It is instructive to note however that the highest percentage the Nazis got in the reichstag elections was 37%.

Hindenburg, president and beloved war hero, disliked Hitler and was the only person with the power to derail him. Hindenburg was very old and getting senile and for a long time resisted the pressure to appoint Hitler chancellor.

Hitler master pieces were "the night of long knives" and the burning of the
reichstag. Once he got Hindenburg to sign on to the enabling acts it was
much easier to control Germany...he wiped out the oppositions, including the
troublesome "Red Front Fighters", got the regular army to fall in line (especially after Hindenburg's death). In fact he got control of all the organs of security which he wielded with ruthless efficiency.

Sort of like the last round of elections, wherein state level offices went red during low voter turn out? I understand how it works in the real world, but is it a true "majority" to win 51% of the vote with a 37% turnout? So, ~18% of eligible voters constitutes a "mandate"?

We accept apathy as passive consent. But, that is a slim win, to say you won because most people don't care. Hardly a "mandate."

Dave

[Dondilion]

Note after 9/11 we gave the government a lot more freedom to mess with our
freedom.

Lucky for us so far we still have many institutions and traditions to counter any evil designs.

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

It is instructive to note however that the highest percentage the Nazis got in the reichstag elections was 37%.

Actually, they got around 44% in the 1933 election, up from about 33% in the previous election. It's also important to note that both the 44% in 1933 (and the 33% previously) constituted a plurality among the 14 parties contesting seats. This gave the National Soci@lits and Hitler control of the Reichstag.

Also, as to the consequences of low turnout on elections, the turnout in the '33 election was 89%.

[EDIT] 44% of 89% is 39%, meaning 39% of all eligible voters in 1933 voted for the NSDAP

John

[Dondilion]

The formation of the SS was a further security bulwark against the regular army. Hitler and his cronies were really adept at cement their regime.

[icenine]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

Good summary. I regard tha Nazi ascent as a coup, by stages, due to the continuous use of violence and terror.

I am really worried about you.

The only coup attempt he attempted was in 1923.

Why do you not accept that he was popular in Germany?