Nietzsche and the Nazis Essay Example for Free

Nietzsche and the Nazis EssayThe volume Nazi has been recal direct with feelings of regret, fear, horror and the threat of violent crimes throughout hu valet de chambre history. However, nothing can conceal or change the reality of the period of Nazi Weltanschauung and its consequences for humanity and gloss. It was a deep refreshment of German souls as the Aryan race and a collective bm of apts, writers and social leaders in condescend of Christian and Protestant society against Jews. Nevertheless, the appealing eccentricity of the growing ideology among anti-Semite writers and thinkers genuinely much attracted the struggleiness of the Nazis. They examined the complex philosophical works of Nietzsche, Hegel, Fichte, Treitschke, and Huston Stewart Chamberlain, and ultimately concluded with the hard philosophical organization of Nazism, including racist, nationalistic, and anti-Semitic attitudes (Aschheim, 1992, p. 123).It was not very difficult for Nazis to find a wa y to utilize many intellectuals ideal systems, philosophies and literature as they proceeded in the way that led to the holocaust and racial racial extermination. For instance, Wagner hated Jews, thus, his operas contained myths, fighting, pagan gods, heroes and demons. As an artist, Wagner had bred the growing hunger of anti-Semitism with his art to a groovy extent. Besides Wagner, Huston Stewart Chamberlain, the British author who was the composer Richard Wagners son-in-law, deeply influenced Hitler with his fundamentally racist text edition Foundations of the 19th Century, and understanding this helps to explain why the Holocaust took place (Harms, 2001).Nonetheless, Hegel believed that the state was everything and war was a great purifier. Thus, the idea of restoring the ethical health of people was borrowed from Hegels ism by the Nazis. On the new(prenominal) hand, politicians like Georg von Schnerer, a German nationalist and a pie-eyed anti-Semite, and Karl Lueger, the m ayor of Vienna, supported Nazi Weltanschauung from the heart by their political policies and notions. However, unlike the other cultural icons Nazis utilized, the relationship between Nietzsche and the Nazis developed in an odd, but astray effective manner.Nietzsches influence as a philosopher and a writer was apparently limited to his closest friends and roughly intellectuals in Austria, France and Denmark (Canada, 1997). His books were not widely read or considered by publishers. However, after becoming insane by the end of the 1890s, his fame immediately spread around Europe and he became a figure of considerable grandness in German history. Macintyre states in his book The Forgotten Fatherland (as cited in Canada, 1997) that Nietzsches name started to appear in popular German journals and newspapers as well as numerous books, which collectively promoted him as the philosopher of the time, whose influence is soul-stirring the entire cultural humanness.This shift in the attitu de toward Nietzsche and his work was a bit because of the ideological movement from rationalism and empiricism to romanticism during the end of the eighteenth century and the beginning of the nineteenth century, match to Hintons Nietzsche in German Politics and Society (as cited in Canada, 1997). Consequently, suffering the subjugation of Napoleon as well as witnessing the growing strength of the West, the German population, experiencing a sense of inferiority, attempted to assure itself of its innate transcendency by glorifying its history and culture with no doubts, according to the point of view Kohn (as cited in Canada, 1997). At this point, Nietzsches mental remnant made him a prime target for this German myth-making project.Nietzsche and his philosophys affiliation with the Nazi movement occurred as a product of the need for raw material to build a new valid consciousness for humanity under the unity of a superior nation. Hitler and other Nazi leaders made use of Nietzschea n philosophy wherever possible. In other dustup, Nietzsches philosophy was a blueprint for the Nazis war, and they took Nietzsches logic to drive the atheistic world view to its legitimate conclusion (Krueger, 2001). Nietzschean phrases and themes, such as lords of the earth, the forget to power, herd instinct, were most often utilise in public speeches, and written expressions of Nazi leaders, furthermore, appeared even in Hitlers book, Mein Kampf, many times. Nietzsches open-ended philosophy gave Brobdingnagian opportunities to Nazis as a means of support for their war.For instance, in The Will to Power, Nietzsche exclaims (as cited in DeLong, 1959) A daring and regulation race is construct itself up. The aim should be to prepare a transvaluation of values for a particularly strong kind of man, most highly gifted in intellect and will. This man and the elite around him will move the lords of the earth. Ultimately, the idea of superior German nation, the idea of superior ind ividuals overmans, in other words as members of that nation and the idea of exerting extreme power over others that were inferior and weak, emerged as the fundamental codes of Nazi culture, and keywords for their aim. Nietzsche compete a key role in the development and preservation of the cultural and ideological foundations of the Nazis (Canada, 1997). In short, in terms of political culture, with his peculiarity Nietzsche had a significant role in German history by having an important effect on the Nazi movement.As Crane Brinton states (cited in Geib, 2001), Nietzsche called for the superman Mussolini and Hitler answered the call. Nazis and other anti-Semites perceived Jews as scapegoats in every situation, even for their suffer personal failings. They never forgave the Jews for possessing spirit and money, and named them as unfortunate (Canada, 1997). This notion was very similar to the one that Nietzsche used to describe his overman in Thus talk Zarathustra (1967) For that man be delivered from revenge that is for me the bridge to the highest hope and a rainbow after long storms (127).At this point, it is clear that, according to the point of view of the Nazis, Nietzsches open-ended philosophy was working for them and their goal, while making Nazis ideologies concrete and reliable. The Nietzschean overman was the model of the Aryan race, which was destined to conquer other lesser races in the global struggle for racial supremacy (Canada, 1997). Nietzschean intrepid idealism embodied the virtues of hardness, masculinity, leadership, courage, power, struggle, and the various other characteristics promoted by the Nazis. By introducing the overman to humanity, Nietzsche advised people to challenge themselves, not to live passively. It was a good reason for anti-Semites to seize on action and responsibility in the way that led toward creating a high against reproducing a lower.Having a great willingness to be powerful in order to take possession of the life and destiny of a superior race, Nazis needed the cooperating hand and inspiration of Nietzsches philosophy, and Nietzschean themes and phrases, such as the will to power. Because Nietzsche cried out for the survival of the strongest, thus, a strong world while building his philosophy and creating the overman, at the same time, he supplied Nazis with a strong argument that they later used to reinforce their ideological system and movement. As Nietzsche exclaimed for the masters and slave morality, anti-Semites perceived themselves as the master of the world, commanding the rest as unkept slaves.They treated people other than anti-Semites as dangerous creatures or obstacles threatening the cultural and racial superiority of the Aryan state. By exerting force on them, Nazis kept themselves safe from the misfortune and curse of declining Jews. They stepped forward in every situation that gave them the chance to realize the Nietzschean slogan Whatever does not kill me makes me str onger. Moreover, they preferred war and courage to charity, with the illumination of the Nietzschean phrase, Ye shall love peace as a means to new wars (as cited in DeLong, 1959). They fought for years, lived dangerously and tried to become hard in terms of the Nietzschean will to power. War against the lower to attain the higher was a kind of ritual for the purpose of the Nazi movement.Besides all the inner attractive forces of Nietzsches philosophy for the Nazis, Nietzsches Sister Elizabeth (who was a radical anti-Semite), had a vital influence in the affiliation of Nietzsche and the Nazis. She interpreted everything in Nietzsches philosophy as creating a perfect accord with Nazi ideologies and values. In other words, she served Nietzsches philosophy on the ideological plates of the Nazi leaders as the main food of their meal. After the death of Nietzsche, Elizabeth took over the mince of Nietzschean ideas and themes, and immediately hurled them upon the Jews with ideal appropria tions she could succeed in making legitimate.For instance, as Kaufmann states, Elizabeth published new editions that incorporated her own introductions, which were intended to explain those passages that seemed antagonistic to the pro-German image of Nietzsche she was attempting to create. In many instances, Elisabeth rearranged material and included new passages in her editions of her brothers work (as cited in Canada, 2001). In short, Elizabeth reflected Nietzsche as a German patriot and a heroic warrior in the Nazi movement (Aschheim, 1992, p. 47-48). After all, Elizabeth Nietzsche became an important icon for the Nazis as both the sister and a howling(prenominal) follower of Nietzsche. Rosenbergs elaborate funeral service for Zarathustras sister was the best example of Elizabeth Nietzsches importance.On the other hand, anti-Semitism was the sand of the Nazi movement, and the structure of the Nazi movement was shaped completely according to the spirit of anti-Semitism. The Nazi s built their knowledge and jurisprudence system upon the basis of the Nietzschean philosophy. Heroic idealism and the will to power were the basic themes of the Nazi educational activity system, where they perceived Nietzsche as their teacher (Aschheim, 1992, p.234). In this way, the objective of education was fairly clear Nazis wanted to represent efficient, clever, and brave soldiers and leaders of tomorrows Germany.Under the direction of Rosenberg, Hitlers appointed supervisor of German educational activities, along with Bernhard Rust, the Reich subgenus Pastor of Education, the Nazi educational system was inundated with Nietzschean literature. Parts from such works as Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Beyond Good and Evil, and The Will to Power were heavily integrated into the school system as demand reading (Aschheim, 1992, p.245). Too much of Nietzschean strong, meaningful, encouraging phrases and slogans like whatever does not kill me makes me stronger or I have a why of living an d can put up with any how were repeated ceaselessly and drawn into the mainstream thought of Nazi youth.Besides the influence of Nietzschean doctrines in the education system, the jurisprudence and judgment system were inspired by Nietzsches philosophy, as well. Hans Frank, the Reich Commissioner for Justice, once commented, Both personally and objectively, it is of importance to me that Nietzsche of all people has become the mentor of German jurisprudence (as cited form Macintyre in Canada, 2001) As in the case of education, thoughts and writings of Nietzsche were alter and appropriated to the Nazis legal and judicial objectives.In terms of these, violent punishments of anti-Semites were understood as being advocated in the words of Nietzsches philosophy. For instance, having experienced life in the concentration camps of the Nazis, Dr. Victor Frankl asserted (as cited in Geib), I am utterly convinced that the gas chambers of Auschwitz, Treblinka and Maidanek were ultimately pre pared not in some ministry or other in Berlin, but rather at the desks and in the lecture halls of nihilistic scientists and philosophers. As it is clear in the preceding quotation, the educational system based on Nietzschean doctrines was inevitably one of the main points of argument for the reasons of genocide and other violent acts committed by Nazis.Without a question, Nietzsche was perceived by the Nazis as being the intellectual and spiritual pillar of their regime (Canada, 1997). Such a creative policy gave the Nazis an intellectual justification and reputability to their ideology, while being the source of legitimization to their actions as well. Perhaps the most telling explanation of Kohn (as cited in Canada, 1997) concerning the Nazis motive for appropriating Nietzsche, was that the former were attempting to create a mythical continuity in German history that would serve as a means for legitimizing the Nazi Weltanschauung.. As a result, with the great desire of being the biggest power not only in Germany, but also in the rest of the world, the Nazis made use of everything that would serve their purposes. And building upon a philosophical basis of a very appropriable scheme of Nietzsche, Nazis managed to draw their political culture upon vital foundations of one of the turning points of German history.BibliographyAschheim, S. E. (1992). The Nietzsche Legacy in Germany, 1890-1990. Berkeley University of California Press.Canada, G. (2001). Nietzsche and the Third Reich. In Nietzsche online. available http//student.vwc.edu/phialpha/%5CGreg.html (December 8. 2001).DeLong, J. B. (1998). William L. Shirers Take On The Relationship Between Friedrich Nietzsche and The Nazis. In Nietzsche and Hitler online.Available http//econ161.berkeley.edu/TCEH/Nietzsche.html (December 12, 2001)Geib, R. J. (2001) Frederick Nietzsche Religion, Imagery and Politics online.Available http//www.rjgeib.com/thoughts/nietzsche/nietzsche.html (December 1, 2001).Harms, W. (2001) Be rnard Silberman. In University of Chicago Quantrell Award Winner Bernard Silberman online.Available http//www-news.uchicago.edu/resources/quantrell/silberman.html (December 7, 2001).Krueger, D. (1997). A Review of Zachariass A Shattered Visage The palpable Face of Atheism. In That Colossal Wreck online.Available http//www.infidels.org/library/modern/doug_krueger/colossal.html (December 12, 2001).Nietzsche, F. W. (1967). Thus Spoke Zarathustra. unexampled York Heritage Press.