1938 Nazi propaganda praising the “Neues Volk” (the “New People”) of Nazi Germany.
Why Hitler chose to persecute the Jews of Europe when he did is puzzling.
It was very untimely!
If he’d delayed the murder of innocent Jews, dissidents, and other supposed inferiors—until after he had extended the borders of Germany—Hitler might have won the war.
Similarly, it’s puzzling why Donald Trump chooses to denigrate immigration, and immigrants, in the 2020’s.
All the statistics say that there’s no factual basis for his claims.
I guess it’s just another gambit in the culture war.
If he ever admitted that American big business is dependent on immigration—and that his “great wall” was just a scam—his chances to win (on November 5th) would go down.
Trump can’t help saying South American immigrants bring drugs and crime, just as Hitler couldn’t help saying that Jews were vermin.
Essentially, Fascists fought against globalism as well as equal rights for all peoples, from 1923-1945.
Right-wing movements (like MAGA and Putin’s Russia) are fighting against globalism, and equal rights for all, today.
Right-wing movements (like MAGA and Putin’s Russia) are fighting against globalism, and equal rights for all, today.
Hitler claimed that Jews were ruining Germany, despite the fact that many German Jews were patriotic veterans of WWI; made up only 1% of the population; and a share had intermarried with Christians, or converted to Christianity.
Perhaps, Hitler believed—that for his brand of politics to win—it required a scrape-goat to blame.
Maybe, his unreasoning resentment of Jews—plus his belief that Aryan people needed to be in complete control—turned Jewish destruction into a principal goal.
Did Hitler plot to become the ruler of Germany as revenge, for the way he was treated as an untalented art student, and as an inept foot soldier?
Is Trump plotting to become President once more, for revenge against those who don’t respect him?
Perhaps, Hitler believed—that for his brand of politics to win—it required a scrape-goat to blame.
Maybe, his unreasoning resentment of Jews—plus his belief that Aryan people needed to be in complete control—turned Jewish destruction into a principal goal.
Did Hitler plot to become the ruler of Germany as revenge, for the way he was treated as an untalented art student, and as an inept foot soldier?
Is Trump plotting to become President once more, for revenge against those who don’t respect him?
Hitler’s resentment of Jews is the chief reason why the German Fascists didn’t simply turn the Jews into second class citizens, as Mussolini did in Italy (until 1938), and as America has done with its’ Black citizens (and its’ immigrants).
In Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism, one story that Rachel Maddow tells, is that of Lawrence Dennis, an American diplomat who (in 1936) advised his Nazi friends to avoid American criticism, and “treat the Jews more or less as we treat the Negroes in America.”*
Mr. Dennis’ advice was not taken seriously.
In Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism, one story that Rachel Maddow tells, is that of Lawrence Dennis, an American diplomat who (in 1936) advised his Nazi friends to avoid American criticism, and “treat the Jews more or less as we treat the Negroes in America.”*
Mr. Dennis’ advice was not taken seriously.
During the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the German government put on a performance for the rest of the world.
All the signage against the Jewish population was removed, and foreign newspapers were sold once more at newsstands.
During the Olympics, shopkeepers and hotel owners were instructed to fake “extreme tolerance” to foreign visitors, even American Blacks and Jews.
All the signage against the Jewish population was removed, and foreign newspapers were sold once more at newsstands.
During the Olympics, shopkeepers and hotel owners were instructed to fake “extreme tolerance” to foreign visitors, even American Blacks and Jews.
Of course, the scheme worked!
Newspapers—like The New York Times—spoke glowingly of Hitler’s “great leadership,” and ignored all evidence of his treatment of minorities.
Newspapers—like The New York Times—spoke glowingly of Hitler’s “great leadership,” and ignored all evidence of his treatment of minorities.
Jesse Owens beating the German and Japanese runners, in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
The American Olympic Committee—so as not to “offend Hitler”—didn’t allow Jewish athletes, Marty Glickman and Sam Stoller, to compete in the 400-meter relay.
(Glickman and Stoller were replaced, at the last minute, by Jesse Owens and Ralph Metcalfe.)
Sad note: F.D.R. didn’t bother to send congratulatory telegrams to any of the eighteen Black athletes who participated in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Sad note: F.D.R. didn’t bother to send congratulatory telegrams to any of the eighteen Black athletes who participated in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Beginning about 1933, the German education system rewrote the textbooks, and taught its’ children, that all people—except Nordic or Aryan—were “bastard races,” incapable of civilization.
Jews were described as alien, and less than human.
These textbooks described made-up physical differences between Aryans and Jews (for example, that Jews had longer arms, and longer skulls).
Jews were described as alien, and less than human.
These textbooks described made-up physical differences between Aryans and Jews (for example, that Jews had longer arms, and longer skulls).
Another method that Nazis used to reshape society, was to separate German children emotionally from their parents (the people who could have taught them a moral code).
Boys and girls were placed in paramilitary groups, where they were instructed to trust the Nazi Party, more than their mothers and fathers.
Boys and girls were placed in paramilitary groups, where they were instructed to trust the Nazi Party, more than their mothers and fathers.
A painting of Gaius Scaevola, a Roman centurion who placed his arm in fire, and showed no pain.
Italian fascism began a bit earlier before German fascism, and it didn’t rely as much on blaming “the other.”
Instead, Mussolini tried “to improve” Italians, and persuade them to become more similar to the ancient Romans.
Partito Nazionale Fascista radio broadcasts talked about Gaius Scaevola (a Roman centurion, so macho that he was immune to pain) and turning the Mediterranean Sea into “an Italian lake.”
Instead, Mussolini tried “to improve” Italians, and persuade them to become more similar to the ancient Romans.
Partito Nazionale Fascista radio broadcasts talked about Gaius Scaevola (a Roman centurion, so macho that he was immune to pain) and turning the Mediterranean Sea into “an Italian lake.”
Mussolini didn’t pass his antisemitic racial laws until 1938.
However, scholars argue that Mussolini didn’t establish those laws just as a late concession to Hitler.
Despite all the intermarriage between Christians and Jews in Italy, antisemitism has long been an aspect of Italian culture.
(It also must have annoyed Mussolini that Italian Jews—for example, Primo Levi—were among the first to organize against his fascist government.)
However, scholars argue that Mussolini didn’t establish those laws just as a late concession to Hitler.
Despite all the intermarriage between Christians and Jews in Italy, antisemitism has long been an aspect of Italian culture.
(It also must have annoyed Mussolini that Italian Jews—for example, Primo Levi—were among the first to organize against his fascist government.)
Patriarchy and Fascism are hand in hand.
The Italian educational system underwent an overhaul between 1923-1928.
In 1923, Mussolini appointed Giovanni Gentile as the Minister of Education, a man who believed women were only fit to bear children.
As a result, Gentile made sure that women couldn’t be teachers at the higher grade levels, and that women would not be in positions of authority over men.
The Italian government wanted Italian boys to become citizen-soldiers, but mere girls were left in the hands of the Catholic Church.
In 1929, all teachers were required to take the Fascist oath of allegiance, and schools had to use the new Fascist textbooks.
By 1934, all Italian teachers were required to join Fascist militias, and to wear their uniforms during school hours.
The Italian educational system underwent an overhaul between 1923-1928.
In 1923, Mussolini appointed Giovanni Gentile as the Minister of Education, a man who believed women were only fit to bear children.
As a result, Gentile made sure that women couldn’t be teachers at the higher grade levels, and that women would not be in positions of authority over men.
The Italian government wanted Italian boys to become citizen-soldiers, but mere girls were left in the hands of the Catholic Church.
In 1929, all teachers were required to take the Fascist oath of allegiance, and schools had to use the new Fascist textbooks.
By 1934, all Italian teachers were required to join Fascist militias, and to wear their uniforms during school hours.
The Trisulti Charterhouse
The topic of Fascism in Italy reminds me of the school for right-wing American politicians (The Academy for the Judeo-Christian West) that political advisor Steve Bannon is planning to create in central Italy.
The site of the proposed “gladiator school” is an 800-year abandoned monastery called “Trisulti.”
(There’s been a dispute over this school since 2017. Recently, an Italian court ruled that it would be legal.)
The goal of the academy (according to an article in The New Yorker, quoting Bannon), is to create the next generation of Trump followers.
The site of the proposed “gladiator school” is an 800-year abandoned monastery called “Trisulti.”
(There’s been a dispute over this school since 2017. Recently, an Italian court ruled that it would be legal.)
The goal of the academy (according to an article in The New Yorker, quoting Bannon), is to create the next generation of Trump followers.
We’re engaged in a “culture war,” that’s dividing society into two camps.
Just as we would expect changes in how our health care is managed, a Trump presidency—along with a subservient Congress and a right-wing Supreme Court—would make unpopular changes in the educational system, the judicial system, and the criminal justice system.
(Have Libertarians really thought the Trump agenda through?)
Just as we would expect changes in how our health care is managed, a Trump presidency—along with a subservient Congress and a right-wing Supreme Court—would make unpopular changes in the educational system, the judicial system, and the criminal justice system.
(Have Libertarians really thought the Trump agenda through?)
Today, candidate Trump is demonizing “the other.”
Among others, his targets are immigrants, and those who refuse to be second class citizens to white wealthy Americans.
He proclaims that immigrants are escaped lunatics, sex criminals, Hannibal Lector types, and somehow poisoning American blood.
When he visited his Trump fence—at the Texas border (in 2024)—he accused immigrants of speaking intelligible languages.
(I wonder what Candidate Trump misheard, that he came up with that ridiculous remark?)
Among others, his targets are immigrants, and those who refuse to be second class citizens to white wealthy Americans.
He proclaims that immigrants are escaped lunatics, sex criminals, Hannibal Lector types, and somehow poisoning American blood.
When he visited his Trump fence—at the Texas border (in 2024)—he accused immigrants of speaking intelligible languages.
(I wonder what Candidate Trump misheard, that he came up with that ridiculous remark?)
It’s funny; Benjamin Franklin often complained that German immigrants didn’t assimilate quickly enough into American culture.
Did Donald Trump, and his father, ever truly assimilate?
Did Donald Trump, and his father, ever truly assimilate?
*Rachel Maddow reveals—in the epilogue of Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism—that Lawrence Dennis was a bi-racial man who lived as a white man.
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