Ideologue and Propagandist: Hitler in Light of His Speeches, Writings and Orders, 1925-1928
The Hitlerian refounding of the NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers’ Party) was of little significance between the years 1925 and 1928. However, it traces the development of Hitler’s ideology during this period. Banned from public speaking in Bavaria until 1927, he addressed closed party meetings, pursued his idea of a “Fuhrer” party, and consolidated his leadership within the party. The worldwide economic depression in 1929 led to the demise of the Weimar democracy, which the Nazi movement exploited to expand. Antisemitism and Jewish Bolshevism featured early in Hitler’s ideology. Later, in 1922, anti-Marxism outweighed antisemitism. Lebensraum (living space), the conquest of Russia, was Hitler’s next subject. The second volume of Mein Kampf was published at the end of 1926 and dealt mainly with foreign policy. During the next two years, Raumfragen (territorial issues) became a prominent element in his speeches. A shortage of territory could only be overcome by use of force led by an important personality — the Führer. He continually refers to ridding Germany of its decadent socialist bourgeoisie, to fuse nationalism and socialism into a racially homogenous “folk community.” He formulated the distant goal of the struggle for power. He combined demagoguery with fanatical belief and appealed to the basic instincts of his audience, by stirring up hatred. In short, he was a rabid, racial ideologue, and a convincing propagandist.