The idea that Germany was still in total economic ruin when the Nazis took power is a persistent myth. By the late 1920s, Germany had actually recovered. The Reality of Reparations and Recovery The war reparations imposed on Germany after World War I were a serious burden in the early 1920s, but by the late 1920s, they had been renegotiated and made manageable. The hyperinflation crisis of 1923 was real, but by 1924, the Dawes Plan stabilized the economy. By 1928–1929, Germany was one of the most advanced industrial nations in Europe, with rising wages, a booming industrial sector, and cultural progress. The Young Plan (1929) further reduced reparations. After the Great Depression hit, payments were first suspended by the Hoover Moratorium (1931) and then reduced by 90% at the Lausanne Conference (1932). By the time Hitler took power in 1933, Germany was already paying almost nothing. In 1934, the Nazis formally suspended most payments, but the process had already been set in motion. Despite this, the Nazis sold a false narrative of victimhood and decline, just as Trump did in the U.S. Parallels to Trump’s Playbook, history rhymes. Trump didn’t need to study Hitler’s ideology, just his techniques. Creating a false crisis. In reality, the USA in 2016 was the richest, most powerful country on Earth, but Trump convinced millions they were living in a failed state, just like the Nazis did with Germans in 1930. The Nazis scapegoated Jews and socialists (yes, despite socialist in their party name). Trump uses immigrants, “woke culture,” and globalists. Manufacturing a siege mentality. Both movements spread the idea that their nation was being “stolen” or “corrupted” from within. Positioning themselves as the only savior. Hitler and Trump both framed themselves as the last hope to "restore" their countries. The power of rhetoric. Trump didn’t just stumble into fascist tactics. He studied Hitler’s speeches, understanding their salesmanship value. Germany Had a Democratic Tradition A common excuse is that “Germany had no democratic tradition,” but this isn’t true. The Weimar Republic (1919–1933) was more democratic than many European nations at the time. Women had the vote. The press was free. It had one of the most progressive constitutions of its era. Germany didn’t fall to fascism because its people didn’t understand democracy. It fell because anti-democratic forces worked to destroy it from within, a lesson that remains relevant today
Imagine a doctor successfully treating a patient’s illness, but instead of celebrating the recovery, another doctor keeps showing the patient old X-rays and warning them they’re still on the brink of death. That’s what Hitler did with Germany, despite real economic recovery by the late 1920s, he convinced people they were still in crisis, still victims, still in desperate need of his cure. Fear kept them from noticing the progress right in front of them. Trump copied this.
No you're mistaken. Weimar Republic was a democracy. Here are the facts (scraped from the web): The Weimar Republic, established after World War I, was a democratic republic in Germany with a parliament (Reichstag) elected by proportional representation, and a president elected by the people, but it faced significant challenges and ultimately succumbed to authoritarianism. Here's a more detailed look at the democratic process within the Weimar Republic: Key Features of the Weimar Republic's Democratic System: Parliamentary System: The Weimar Republic had a parliamentary system with a president as head of state and a chancellor (prime minister) as head of government. Reichstag: The Reichstag was the central legislative body, elected every four years by universal, equal, secret, and direct suffrage. Proportional Representation: The Reichstag used a system of party-list proportional representation, where each party received seats in proportion to the percentage of votes it received. President: The president was elected by the people for a seven-year term and held significant powers, including the ability to dissolve the Reichstag and issue emergency decrees. Chancellor: The chancellor was appointed by the president and led the cabinet of ministers, but depended on the confidence of the Reichstag. Federal System: The Weimar Republic was a federal system, with the Reichstag and state Landtags sharing law-making power, and the national government having exclusive power in areas like foreign relations and defense. Rights and Freedoms: The Weimar Constitution granted significant new rights and freedoms to individuals and groups, including the right to vote for women for the first time. Challenges to Democracy: The Weimar Republic faced numerous challenges, including economic instability, political extremism, and the legacy of World War I and the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty of Versailles: The Treaty of Versailles, which imposed harsh terms on Germany after World War I, contributed to the political and economic instability that plagued the Weimar Republic. Hyperinflation: The Weimar Republic experienced hyperinflation in the early 1920s, further eroding public trust in the government and economy. Rise of Authoritarianism: The Weimar Republic's democratic institutions were eventually undermined by the rise of the Nazi Party and the appointment of Adolf Hitler as Chancellor, leading to the establishment of a dictatorship. The Enabling Act: The Enabling Act of 1933, passed by the Reichstag under pressure from the Nazi Party, granted Chancellor Hitler the power to draft and enforce laws as he pleased, effectively dismantling the democratic system. Paul von Hindenburg: The President of the Reich, Paul von Hindenburg, appointed Hitler as Chancellor in 1933, a move that ultimately led to the demise of the Weimar Republic.
The Nazis didn’t conjure their political strategy from thin air, they meticulously curated and amplified pre-existing movements and tactics, demonstrating a disturbing pragmatism rather than ideological originality. Their rise was not an anomaly but an escalation of established authoritarian, propagandistic, and racist methodologies. Key Influences on Nazi Strategy Italian Fascism (Mussolini’s Rise, 1920s): A Blueprint for Power Mussolini’s Fascist regime provided a practical template for leveraging mass propaganda, paramilitary violence, and fervent nationalism to achieve state control. The Nazis didn’t just admire; they adapted: The March on Rome (1922) served as a model for Hitler’s failed Beer Hall Putsch (1923) and, crucially, his eventual legal ascent to power. The Italian Blackshirts (Squadristi) demonstrated the effectiveness of organized street violence, inspiring the Nazi SA (Brownshirts). Mussolini’s cult of personality was foundational, but Hitler refined it into an all-encompassing, quasi-religious Führer-worship. World War I Propaganda (British & American): The Art of Mass Manipulation Nazi propagandists, notably Joseph Goebbels, rigorously studied British and American propaganda techniques from World War I. They recognized: The power of emotional appeals, as demonstrated by the Creel Committee (U.S.) and the British War Propaganda Bureau, in shaping public opinion. The strategic utility of the “Big Lie” (ironically used against Germany in WWI), which could effectively demonize both internal and external enemies. Anti-Semitic and Conspiratorial Tropes: Exploiting Pre-existing Hatreds The Nazis didn’t invent antisemitism, they weaponized it: The Protocols of the Elders of Zion (a proven hoax) wasn’t just cited, it was systematically disseminated to manufacture a narrative of Jewish conspiracy. Russian pogroms and anti-Jewish laws provided a model for escalating persecution into state policy. American Eugenics & Race Laws: A Pseudo-Scientific Justification for Racial Purity The Nazis didn’t just share ideas with American eugenicists, they implemented them: U.S. forced sterilization laws inspired Nazi racial hygiene policies. The U.S. Immigration Act of 1924, with its explicit racial hierarchies, provided a legal framework for constructing a “pure” Aryan nation. German Colonialism in Namibia: A Rehearsal for Genocide The German genocides in Namibia (1904-1908) weren’t historical footnotes, they were prototypes: The use of concentration camps and systematic extermination in Namibia provided a disturbing precedent for later Nazi policies. In essence, Nazi strategy wasn’t an original creation. It was a calculated and ruthless refinement of pre-existing systems, demonstrating their chilling capacity for adaptation and escalation.
And speaking of Goebbels, wouldn't you say Musk if doing a fantastic job as his replacement? It's music to Trump's ears.
Musk does throw his hat in the propoganda ring but I guess the closest comparison was Alfred Hugenberg who was chairman of Krupp Steel until 1918. During the economic upheavals after World War 1 and the Great Depression, he was able to buy multiple local newspapers which was the start of his media empire. For a time, he thought he was using Hitler to advance his own interests, he was discarded once the Reich controlled the media entirely. Goebbles was very quick to grab Hugenberg's spotlight as his own. This lady has an interesting ideas about Musk's archetypes. Though Elon was also influenced by Matilda? https://www.facebook.com/share/r/168SoH8waE/