The White Council

Re: ME without Sauron

Tolkien and Inklings Discussion

: I don't think anyone can point to a certain reason for the Nazi's rise to power, and it is very unlikely it was beacause of the German people "humiliation" in the Treaty of Versai. After all- the Fascist party also rose to power in Italy, and Italy was on the winners side in WWI (and still felt underpaied).

Keep in mind that Germany was not the agressor in the begining of WWI. It was the smaller countries and all the secret treaties that led to Germany's, England's and France's ultimate involvement in the war. At the end, Germany was forced to take the blame for the war, and forced to make reparations and aquiences that were rather extreme. The Treat of Versailles was a very big slap in the face of the Germans, and when the details of the treaty were announced the German army very nearly went back to war.

The National Socialist Party arose not under Hitler but of its own volition as a direct answer to the Russian communism which was still in its infancy, and a rather frightening idea to many of the capitalist businessmen. It gained some power (though not much) from it's platform which included a very isolationistic premise. In the light of the forced Treaty of Versailles, placed on the Germans by England, the U.S. and especially France (who had always feared the German war machine . . . and with great reason too!) this doesn't seem that uncommon a response. The true rise of the National Socialist Party did happen under Hitler, as he directed the Party, and used his discovered tactics (as listed in Mein Kampf) to gain more and more influence. Isolationism (for the "common man")was a common theme during this era that had just seen the end of a war that everyone hoped would never occur again, and many people felt the way to avoid this was to focus inward instead of the expansionistic themes that had aided in the begining of WWI. There were fascist parties in many countries, including Italy. Mussolini saw the success of Hitler, and used many of his tactics to gain power in Italy (Hitler admired Mussolini because of his effective use of Hitler's own tools . . . being the highest form of flattery and all). Even the U.S. admired these men. Time magazine named Hitler its "Man of the Year" twice for his programs and policies in Germany. But WWII was borne (in part) out of the old humiliation the German people felt from the Treaty of Versailles, and the subsequent European Depression. Hitler gave them a renewed sense of pride in themselves and in their country. He rearmed and rebuilt the army, (a great place for pride stemming from the "our government can kick your government's butt) and turned it into one of the most powerful fighting forces ever assembled. When he annexed the Sudentenland, the feelings of the German people were ones of exaltation toward Hitler, as he was giving them back their pride. It was a simple matter then, like dominoes falling, for him to begin his bigger campaigns into Poland and ultimately into France.

I'm not saying the Treaty was the only reason WWII came about, (as Hitler was certainly power-hungry) but Hitler knew how to tap into the strong of the Germans, and that was certainly a sore point.

-RobRoy