Nazism as a politcal religion

Student's Last Name 1
Morse 9
Deserea Morse
Janice Wendel
English122: Unit 5 written assignment
27 April 2014
Nazism: Political organization and Political religion
The Nationalist Socialist German Workers Party, a political organization within Germany, was formed in support of the Nationalism Socialism movement, and was vastly interrelated to a formation of sociological and psychological racial doctrine. Nationalism is an association which puts to use an obscure command over a country by creating restrictions and nationalistic limitations' for the nation (Marvroudi 221). Nazism was constructively grounded after preeminent pride in a definite national origin (Gates and Steane). This preeminent pride caused a racial superiority complex within the regime and led to the institution of a political religion. Germany as a nation succumbed toward the omniscience literature which referenced Adolf Hitler as the anti-Semitic Christ of the nation and held cited thought toward the Aryan superiority (Morris). Nationalist Socialist beliefs' within the Nazi party were a part of an outright racial religion, which can now be identified by group think, unity of just cause and the aggression of belief in a cult- like following.
Political religion is cited as a formed organization in which the government controls the unity of population and church, deriving extreme ultraism from the people. Political religion takes place when the authority over the population allows the political regime to control the nation with a sacred stature aimed toward this administrative association (Gates and Steane). Nazism was situated into this base meaning and therefore was countered by many political and religious organizations as being a political religion in and of itself. The political organization of the Nazi regime was based upon an Anti-religious ideology and found more favorable basis within a political-religious ideology.
Germany, before the Nazi party movement began, was subjugated by the religious upper middle class between the formative years of 1888-1920 ("Changing Life For The German People"). The churches at this time were predominantly 'Protestant based' followed in statistical numbers by Catholic Church (Gates and Steane). In the year of 1898, Adolf Hitler was born in a time period when much of the German population at this time was Catholic or Protestant based. Adolf Hitler was raised in an upper middle class family, one which adhered to the Catholic faith, which, at this time made up thirty percent of the German population (Gates and Steane). Being raised within the Catholic faith, as a boy, Adolf Hitler was devout in religion, alike to his mother Klara Hitler. Adolf Hitler was also involved in all religious activity of the Catholic Church (Koehne).
After the Nazi regime established political power, this organization held high command over the churches within Germany; the entire political basis for the Nazi regime was situated in the ultimate Aryan idealism and rooted further into the Anti-Semitic beliefs which had been instilled within the German peoples' minds'. Adolf Hitler did not allow participation in 'aggressive faith' from the Christian people, and stated that the German population should be more concerned with the German military efforts then religion. Adolf Hitler also made statements which were in favor of parts of the Catholic Church, though only in a certain theory.
The churches of Germany were highly in support of the Nazi regime after the political state gave no lenience to Churches within the country that did not take place in political activities (Longrich 222). The politic organization ran the German religious establishments with a political force ("Changing Life For The German People") The Catholic Church signed a Concordant with the Nazi party, a Concordant which agreed to allow the Catholic Church to stay in power alongside the political party ("Changing Life For The German People"). Once the Concordant had been signed, this document was dismissed when the Nazi Party seized power. The document was then further ignored once again by the Race and Settlement department of the Reichstag (Longrich 222).
Much of the religious basis to which Adolf Hitler used within his own personal doctrine, for the political party, was based after the Catholic scriptures, though in the same vein, Hitler believed that the Catholic faith created weak willed men and from this the created a large amount of non-nationalistic soldiers (Longrich 268). The Nazi party grew from the roots of Aryan based ideals and was originally created as an official political movement in the sixteenth of October in the year 1919, exactly a month after, and the same year which Adolf Hitler joined (Longrich 147). This party was Anti-Semitic previously and believed that the Jewish civilization was the cause of moral decay within German roots ("Signs Of German Anti-Semitism Before Hitler")
After the German Churches had been established under political party control, the Nazi party determined that the members of the organization, as well as the citizens of Germany, were to be completely proper and faithful to the ideals set forth by Adolf Hitler; at this point Adolf Hitler had been named the Messiah of the German people (Longrich 147). Adolf Hitler was seen as the ultimate dominating force now and therefore was termed "Furher" which in the German language references a title of 'Leader of men'. The term "Sieg heil" was also referenced as "Hail Victory'; this was a term which signified that the German population placed all hopes into one man and into one political view, based solely on the references of victorious achievement with Adolf Hitler in control.
Admissive proof toward the 'group think' aspect of the political religion which took place within the Nazi party is brought forth in reference to the Micro sociological perspective. Definition of group think is cited by Sociologists' as being established with an isolation approach and rooted within a social deviant grouping. From this there develops social class system, as well as social inferiority complexes ("Sociological Analysis Of The Holocaust"). Theory on sociological interference within the Nazi, Germany signifies that the political influences inflicted the individual or 'same thought' process was one which the German citizens. In sociological terms, the positive or negative appraisal of a leader to a certain people can either influence or decrease ultimate prejudice and 'status' outlook (De Tezanos-Pinto).
This advancement of group think was part of the sociological situation in Germany at that time. This sociological impact had a great influence on the superiority complex of the entire country ("Sociological Analysis Of The Holocaust"). Germany at this time had lost World War I and was still deeply troubled by this defeat of the country (Longrich 21). The sociological 'group think' was not only limited to the adult political followers though was soon aimed toward the children of the Nazi political reign; this massive movement was formed upon conclusively isolating the public away from the outside sentiments of enemy countries' ("Sociological Analysis Of The Holocaust").
In establishing the sociological 'group think' theory, Adolf Hitler was presented as a semi-God figure to not only the general adult public, yet also to the youth of the German nation. Paul Joseph Goebbels, Propaganda Minister of the Third Reich, was in charge of the thorough publications set forth to depict Hitler in a light of genius and honor. In mutual public and private schools throughout Germany and parts of the Austro-Hungarian Republic, children were taught from a young age to honor Hitler (Bejl). All of the school textbooks presented in the classrooms' described the glorious sensation which all German people acknowledged when Adolf Hitler, as the Messiah, showed his face to the public at large (Beasley).
'Group think' was prominent within the German organization earlier on within the formation; a formulized symbolism which was developed from this 'group think' was that of organizational oath directed toward Adolf Hitler, made by the German people. These oaths' took place in all military and citizen honor societies that were dedicated to Adolf Hitler. Many of these organizations determined if an individual adhered to the expectations' of the Nazi regime. Test were given on psychical aptitude to determine if this individual was a 'perfect Aryan male', a complete honor and loyalty toward Adolf Hitler was demanded before entrance into these organizations.
The organizations which were considered the 'elite' of the German party were the Schutzstaffel -S.S (Military police and protection), the Sicherheinsdients (S.D) (Security Intelligence), as well as the Hitler Youth (Youth Organizational Militia). These three societies were all based after the ultimate Aryan soldier ideal and were fashioned to teach and guide boys and men to become soldiers for the political era ahead. This political era was termed the 'One Thousand Year Reich' (Longrich 147).
Founded in the year of 1926, the Hitler youth (referred to as Hitler-Jugend) became an organization aimed toward the goal of militarizing the male German youth to obtain the war goals of Adolf Hitler (Beasley). This organization was a shaped society for the racially pure blooded German boys and girls whom were chosen to carry on the reign and the cultural ideals of the 'one thousand year Reich' into the next generation (Beasley). Each boy, before entering this organization, was made to pass rigorous tests of honor, development, and was looked over by a doctor who could spot the physical traits which determined the ultimate Aryanism expectation (Beasley).
As a miniature political organization, the Hitler Youth affiliates were made to take a vow of honor, subsequent to the vow of honor which the men of the Schutzstaffel were made to take; this oath claimed Adolf Hitler as the ultimate authority and messiah figure of Germany. This oath speaks of honoring the war effort, honoring the societal formation of a pure Germanic opinion and promising to view Adolf Hitler in the light of a divine and guiding leader and ends with thanking Adolf Hitler for their daily bread (Beasley). This vow is similar to the prayer "The Lords prayer" " from the Christian bible from Luke 11:2-4.
Heinrich Himmler, the Reich Furher Schutzstaffel, the minister of the interior of Munich Germany, and the head of the organization for the Schutzstaffel and the Gestapo (German Police), believed that the elimination of the Jewish population was the only means of establishing Adolf Hitler as the ultimate Supreme leader, the Demi-God of the German people (Longrich, 147). Heinrich Himmler also claimed that the ultimate Political organization was based after the Aryanzation of the immediate areas (Longrich 233).
The ultimate goal of Adolf Hitler during the years of 1931-1939, was to establish a unity with the German people, and procure a trust from the country onto himself, as a leader. Joseph Goebbels, Propaganda Minister, was in charge of writing much of the speeches presented by Adolf Hitler to the public With these speeches Joseph Goebbels included the unity passage and also included the use of symbolic language with statements such as; "Our country" and "Our Germany" into many of those speeches, for unified reference (Bjel). This unified reference secured Adolf Hitler into the homes of many dedicated Nazi members, and established a unified identity within the German population. Henceforth creating the unity to which a political religious stance is secured through.
Continuing, the basis of a cult-like following is established as such when; the conformity of a certain individualized group follows along with ultimate orders or demands of a higher authority figure, deeming this following in reference; a cult. Adolf Hitler established dominance over the German population. The German government deemed certain symbolic gestures appropriate for referencing Hitler.
Many cults are established through symbolism, gesture and other symbolic interpretation (Gates and Steane). Several symbolic interactions within a political cult establishment are based on control of individual The Nazi Salute was established to show honor and patriotism for Adolf Hitler. The common German greeting which was established and demanded of every citizen and guest whom appeared in front of Adolf Hitler. The Nazi salute was a form of respect and honor toward the German Messiah, and therefore was made a strict law within Germany; any one individual who was caught not using this salute was arrested (Little). The common spoken greeting which was allowed in Germany at this time was "Heil Hitler". In the year of 1936, In Munich Bavaria, a father of a German woman named Elfreida Little, who is now aged eighty five years old, was arrested in Germany for using a common Bavarian greeting in front of a man of the Schutzstaffel. This man spoke the words "Gruss Gott" which is Bavarian interpretation of the Germanic meaning; "Go with God". The man was immediately arrested and taken to a concentration camp on the outskirts of Munich, Germany (Little).
The Nazi regime was one of the fascist and totalitarian groups which aimed for control over the nation as a whole. Adolf Hitler used the architectural basis within the mass German empire to show his faith in the Nordic regions, depicting these statues of Nordic soldiers as heroic and pure blooded (Nelis). Hitler used these symbolic interpretations within all of his own face within all military officer and citizen homes as a type of icon to which the German people could use as an inspiration for the cause in which Germany strived toward (Nelis).
Adolf Hitler believed himself to be a man to which the German people could base moral standing after (Nelis). The ideology of Nazism was to unite the citizens and through this group unity and from this developed a cult-like expressionism in architectural design, physical symbolism, and iconic symbolism of Adolf Hitler. The cult like aggression to which many of the citizens ventured to obtain was based on the Aryan ideal cause to which all were fighting to maintain. Adolf Hitler reformed the religious outlook of Germany.
Conclusively, Adolf Hitler formed the basis of Nazism as a political and cult like religion through the ultimate promise of immortality for the German peoples, causing a hysterical 'group think' reaction. The certain organizations' of the state were created toward Adolf Hitler, as the ultimate Messiah. Adolf Hitler took over much of the religious organizations within Germany. The German State took parts away from the Christian religion which were deemed not appropriate. All ultimate faith, according to Heinrich Himmler, ReichFurher S.S, was to be placed upon Adolf Hitler and all loyalty was to be given to the political party (Longrich 274). Ultimately Adolf Hitler became the German religious figure and was revered as an Aryan God; placing Nazi, Germany into the hands of an ultimate political religion.
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