4 ms·
Well, remember that the Nazi government did not have power for quite some time. It was only when the German government itself could no longer control the popula
by tomphoolery 13y ago
Well, remember that the Nazi government did not have power for quite some time. It was only when the German government itself could no longer control the populace (remember, humanity was in the middle of a Great Depression, and Germany was hit extra-special-hard due to the world blaming them for WWI), that the Nazis really took hold. Unlike most capitalist nations, the people with all the power in Nazi Germany were those who were more loyal to the Nazi party, not the richest members of the German society. That is of course contrast to the way America works.
Until the US government completely collapses, and power falls into the hands of some crazy person, I'm pretty sure we won't have to worry about any kind of "Kristallnacht" taking place.
- anigbrowl 13y agoFor many WSJ readers, that has already happened - their editorial board is heavily invested in the idea that Obama is just about the worst thing ever to happen to the US.
- rdl 13y agoUSG -> Weimar Republic is seeming like a pretty legitimate parallel in a lot of ways; ineffective, etc. More so in 2008; that the world economy seems to have mostly survived makes it much less of a risk, but if China imploded and/or 2008 repeated itself, I would be extra suspicious of someone promoting a State-led program of national renewal.
- cafard 13y agoI would suggest that it seems the more legitimate the less one knows about the Weimar Republic. The US has never been through a catastrophe such as WW I and its immediate aftermath were in Germany; and for all the lively efforts here and there, the US government is generally perceived in the US as the legitimate government, as the Weimar government was not perceived by large portions of the governing classes--the courts and the military, notably.
- rdl 13y agoI don't know as much as I'd like about Weimar; is there a "standard" good book on it in English? I know WW2 and WW1 a lot better, but the Weimar-and-rise-of-Nazis part always falls into the cracks.
- dredmorbius 13y agoStandard I'm not so sure. Eric D. Weitz, Weimar Germany covers the period, focusing extensively on the cultural and artistic aspects. http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780691157962-0 http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780691157962-0 Related, from Powells: http://www.powells.com/subjects/history-and-social-science/europe/germany/weimar-republic/ http://www.powells.com/subjects/history-and-social-science/e...
- cafard 13y agoGordon Craig's history of Germany 1867-1945 is worth reading, not just for its coverage of the Weimar Republic.
- mjn 13y agoThe US also doesn't have nearly the problem with paramilitary groups that the Weimar Republic had. Their official control over even the capital was so tenuous that they in effect resorted to setting up their own "pro-government" paramilitary group to counter the left- and right-wing anti-government groups: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichsbanner_Schwarz-Rot-Gold http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichsbanner_Schwarz-Rot-Gold