Commentary
Exploring certain conservative narratives on social media can lead one to encounter a small faction that seeks to glorify Adolf Hitler and the National Socialists (the “Nazis”). This group often portrays Hitler as a defender of “the West” against a rising militant Left in Europe. For example, memes and comments suggest that Western Europe would be better off today if the National Socialists had implemented their regime across Europe. The underlying message is that Hitler was a defender of Europe against the Left’s revolutionaries.
However, it is important to note that the National Socialists were not proponents of traditional Western institutions. In fact, they were socialists who embraced a totalitarian model similar to Soviet totalitarianism. This is highlighted in Hannah Arendt’s book “The Origins of Totalitarianism,” where she explains that Hitler and the National Socialists admired the Bolshevik regime in Russia and were not interested in defending the West against Bolshevism.
Destroying the West to Save It
Hitler’s actions during World War II further illustrate his disregard for Western civilization. He ordered the destruction of Paris and issued the Nero Decree, which aimed to destroy German infrastructure to hinder the Allies, even if it meant starving the German population. Hitler viewed German civilization as unworthy of survival and harbored deep-seated hatred for those who did not adhere to his ideology.
If Hitler truly cared about preserving Western values, he would not have invaded Poland, as the Poles were the primary eastern defense against Soviet communism by the 1930s. In fact, it was the Poles who heroically halted the Soviet advance at the Battle of Warsaw in 1920. Hitler’s actions, such as signing a treaty with the Soviets to dismantle Poland, demonstrate his focus on personal ambitions rather than defending Western civilization.
The National Socialists’ disregard for Western values is further evident in their treatment of the Polish population. Nazi ideology explicitly deemed Poles racially inferior, leading to policies of extermination and subjugation. This contradicts any claim that the National Socialists were champions of traditional Western values, as Poland represented a significant outpost of Western civilization in eastern Europe.
During the Cold War, the Poles were a constant source of trouble for the Soviet regime, unlike the more compliant East Germans. The National Socialists, often mistakenly considered right-wing, were actually aligned with the revolutionary Left, as detailed by Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn in his book “Leftism: From de Sade and Marx to Hitler and Marcuse.”
Kuehnelt-Leddihn debunked notions of Hitler’s good intentions, describing him as a “basically mediocre neurotic” who embraced Mussolini’s totalitarian slogan. Hitler’s ideology, influenced by Czech national socialists, incorporated leftist beliefs such as anticlericalism, nationalism, socialism, and opposition to capitalism and the bourgeoisie.
Despite being labeled as right-wing, nationalism was not conservative in the European context, as Kuehnelt-Leddihn explained. The National Socialists’ disdain for traditional institutions, including the Catholic Church, reflected their anti-conservative stance. Hitler’s regime persecuted Catholics, targeting clergy and attempting to de-Christianize the population.
High-ranking Nazi officials embraced Germanic paganism and occult practices, demonstrating their departure from traditional European values. Despite evidence to the contrary, some still propagate the myth that Hitler was a defender of the West. In reality, the National Socialists were pawns used to undermine Western civilization.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of The Epoch Times. Please rewrite the sentence for me.
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