East Tennessee State University Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University Electronic Theses and Dissertations Student Works 5-2013 A Problem of Perception An Analysis of the Formation, Reception, and Implementation of National Socialist Ideology in Germany, 1919 to 1939 Derrick Angermeier East Tennessee State University Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd Part of the European History Commons, Intellectual History Commons, and the Political History Commons Recommended Citation Angermeier, Derrick, "A Problem of Perception An Analysis of the Formation, Reception, and Implementation of National Socialist Ideology in Germany, 1919 to 1939" (2013). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1147. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1147 This Thesis - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Works at Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University. 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A Problem of Perception An Analysis of the Formation, Reception, and Implementation of National Socialist Ideology in Germany, 1919 to 1939 A thesis presented to the faculty of the Department of History In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in History by Derrick Angermeier May 2013 Stephen Fritz, PhD, Chair Brian Maxson, PhD Daryl Carter, PhD Keywords: Nazi Germany, Nazi Party, Nazi Ideology, Volksgemeinschaft, Volkspartei, Mittelstand, Adolf Hitler, Sonderweg, Burgfrieden, The Spirit of 1914 ABSTRACT A Problem of Perception An Analysis of the Formation, Reception, and Implementation of National Socialist Ideology in Germany, 1919 to 1939 by Derrick Angermeier This thesis seeks to dispel the notion that Nazi ideology was merely an afterthought to numerous actions taken by the Nazis. The first chapter discusses how Nazism’s earliest adherents internalized notions from World War I into an ideology that would motivate the early Nazi Movement to launch the Beer Hall Putsch. The second chapter focuses on the Nazi Party’s electoral tactics and how those actions correlated with entrenched Nazi ideological notions of recognition and community. Finally, the third chapter will seek to demonstrate that the numerous repressive measures implemented by the Third Reich were part of a general plan to prepare a future generation of Nazi citizens for, the worldwide struggle for existence. This work exists as a counter to a considerable amount of literature in the historiography that, by maintaining Nazi ideology and Nazi actions were two separate entities, belittles the importance of Nazi ideology thereby fundamentally misunderstanding Nazism. 2 DEDICATION This work is dedicated to Steven M. Enriquez, my most cherished friend. Much of this work had been discussed in considerable detail with Steven before any writing had ever occurred well in advance of his passing. His constant questions, musings, jokes, and analysis helped inspire me along every step of my historical career. During my sabbatical, Steven kept my interest in History sparked despite life’s efforts to distract me from this passion. In all actuality, I must attribute my focus on Nazi Germany to Steven, even if his urging was humorously unintentional. While visiting him in Virginia, he suggested that it would be amusing if I studied Nazi Germany as my name, Derrick Joseph Angermeier, was itself thoroughly German. He postulated that in researching Nazis, forced to purchase an abundance of books with buzzwords like “Nazi,” “Hitler,” “Reich,” and so on, my German name would be on numerous government watch lists. Although the suggestion was in jest, upon my return I turned my attention to a few works on Nazi Germany and the rest, as Steven would pun, is History. Steven was a vitally important soundboard and reviewer for my historical work who always had remarkable insights that improved my abilities by leaps and bounds. Without his constant endorsement and interest in my passion for History it is very doubtful that I would have pursued the opportunities at East Tennessee State University. Steven Enriquez was one of the world’s truly great people, completely unique from any other person that has or ever will exist. The phrase, “They don’t make them like that anymore,” fails to fully acknowledge just how fundamentally special Steven was to every single person he met. As such, it is an honor to have this work dedicated to my Best Friend, a person not only of considerable greatness and unbelievable talents, but somebody I was fortunate to have as a paramount part of my life, even if the span of our friendship was painfully short. Thank you for everything, old friend. You are truly missed. 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are numerous individuals to thank not only for this work, but the graduate career that it is attached to. First, I would like to thank the Faculty of ETSU’s History Department for all of their advice and guidance. I would particularly like to thank Henry Antkiewicz , Colin Baxter, William Douglass Burgess, Jr., Victoria Mayer, and Zachary Rupley for their personal involvement in my graduate career. A special thanks goes to Daryl Carter, Brian Maxson, and Stephen Fritz for not only their role on this work’s committee, but their constant willingness to help me navigate these pivotal first steps of what I hope is a long and successful Historical career. The depth of my appreciation cannot be expressed within the space I am allotted, thank you. I would also like to acknowledge my fellow graduate students who through peer reviews, conversations both historical and the many not, feedback on my work, rides, and numerous other interactions helped make the past two years some of the most cherished of my life. In particular I must thank Jacob and Eliza Bryant, Julia Dittrich, John Greenlee, Zachary Lizee, Julia Lyle, Brandi McCloud, Aaron Owens, Jason Phillips, Frederic Poag, Ashley Raines, Josh Savage, Alex Smith, Niklas Trzaskowski, and Kim Woodring. Other individuals deserve acknowledgement whose contributions to my work cannot be easily described in the present space. Thank you to Kirk Allen, Larry Anderson, Amanda Andrei, David Ardoin, Rusty and Jenny Bailey, Philip Banze, Chris Bland, Michael Bradley, Mike Cantrell, Levi Cody, Andrew and Amanda Daugherty, David Davis, Sean Durkin, Lisa Fairbanks, Jimmy, Jeff, and Kathy Fisher, Perry Gates, Mike Graves, Ben Greene, Vanessa and Finian Greenlee, Jon Gunter, Clark Hawkins, Eugene Kim, Marvel Lawson, Tara Lehman, Jacob Malik, Holden McNeal, Chuck Newell, Vishal Patel, Chris Peters, Michael Polcari , Justin Poinsatte, Justin Sammons, Tracey Smallwood, Justin Smith, Giselle Spahr, June Trinos, Matthew Vaughn, 4 Brandy Winston, the faculty and staff of Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga Tennessee, and finally, The Enriquez, Poinsatte, and Ardoin Families. Finally, I would like to thank my own family for all of their fundamentally important support of my work. In particular I would like to thank my Grandparents, Joseph and Joan Angermeier for all of their love and support. Most importantly, I must thank my little sister Taylor and my Mom, Deborah. They are by far the most fundamentally important people in my life for many reasons not least of which is the way they bend over backwards to support and encourage me as I progress through the sometimes frustrating path of professional History. Mom and Taylor deserve my deepest gratitude for every single moment we have shared, as each one has made me the person I am today. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………………….2 GLOSSARY……………………………………………………………………………………….8 Chapters 1. INTRODUCTION: WHAT WAS NAZISM?…….......………………………………..9 2. K ÄMPFEN: 19 TH CENTURY TO 1923……………………..……………………...23 The First World War and the Nazi Movement…………………………………...26 The Treaty of Versailles and Nazism’s Earliest Enemies………………………...42 The Second Reich and the Not-So-Sonderweg…………………………………..51 Ideology’s Influence on the Beer Hall Putsch……………………………………57 Closing Thoughts………………………………………………………………...61 3. ERKENNUNG: 1924 TO 1933…………..………………………………………….63 Non-Nazi Aversion to the Weimar Republic……………………………………...70 The Failures of the DVP and DNVP……………………………………………...77 Ideology and the Path of Legality………………………………………………...85 The NSDAP, the KPD, and Working Class Voters………………………………..90 Nazi Recognition of German Disaffection………………………………………..98 Closing Thoughts…………………………………………………………...........104 4. VOLKSGEMEINSCHAFT: 1933 TO 1938...……………………………………...107 Citizen Interaction or pacification?.......................................................................111 Goals of the National Community…………………………..………………….123 The Stark Implications of the Nazi Volksgemeinschaft…………...……………136 6 Closing Thoughts…….………………………………………………………...147 5. CONCLUSION: ANTRIEB...……………………………………………………149 BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………………………………………………162 VITA……………………………………………………………………………………………173 7 GLOSSARY OF TERMS Burgfrieden : Notion of German Identity that Called for Germans to forget divisive elements like class, race, and religion in order to unite. A unified Germany could accomplish anything, including defeat the enemies of Germany. DAP: German Worker’s Party; Predecessor of the Nazi Party DNVP: German National People’s Party; Right Wing Nationalist Party DVP: German People’s Party; Leftist Nationalist Party KPD: Communist Party of Germany Mittelstand Thesis: Argument that Nazi voter support