They called themselves that because the Nazis were, in large part, a reaction against the threat of communism. It was becoming scarily popular, and what better

They called themselves that because the Nazis were, in large part, a reaction against the threat of communism. It was becoming scarily popular, and what better way to pre-empt the revolution than become an early, sorta-kinda-but-not-really incarnation of it? As in: "yeah sure socialism is good but OUR kind, not that kind".