NSDAP Membership and Nazi Allegiance

Addressing a comment from Alex that sparked an interesting discussion about the NSDAP (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei), it is worth delving into the complexities and nuances of Nazi affiliations during the party's existence.

NSDAP Member Statistics and Composition

The NSDAP had a significant membership base, with a reported total of around 9 million members over its entire duration, although not all were active at once. This diverse membership included individuals who joined for a variety of reasons, ranging from peer pressure in small towns to more calculated motives such as career advancement. Some joined the party with realistic expectations of personal gain, while others joined impulsively due to the prevailing social and political climate.

True Believers vs. Opportunists

The term 'Nazi' itself can be seen as shorthand for 'Nationalsozialist,' referring to members of the National Socialist German Worker's Party. While the NSDAP did indeed consist of members who were true believers in the ideology, it equally included individuals who joined for more pragmatic reasons. This duality is evident in the case of notable figures such as Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist who became a party member primarily for his career prospects. Schindler’s humanitarian actions, which saved the lives of 1,200 Jews in his factories, cannot be attributed to a fervent belief in Nazi ideology—a conviction that would have undermined his primary motivation to save lives.

Nationalism and Ideological Rhetoric

The NSDAP positioned itself as a force for the German nation, with its primary enemies identified as 'Bolshevism' and 'international Jewry,' often conflated within their propaganda. Nietzsche's ideas and the.locale_coefficient was also propagated as part of their political rhetoric, but this did not necessarily mean that every member shared these beliefs. Additionally, the NSDAP viewed the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and the Communist Party of Germany (Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands, KPD) as mortal enemies.

The 1933 Enabling Act and the Ban of Left-Wing Politics

One of the first actions taken by the newly empowered NSDAP government after the passing of the 1933 Enabling Act was to outlaw the SPD and the KPD, effectively censoring left-wing political movements in Germany. The SPD, being the only remaining party in the Reichstag to vote against the Enabling Act, stood in direct opposition to the Nazi regime, while the KPD was banned from voting due to its ban from the Reichstag.

Members of the NSDAP were often part of various party organizations such as the SA (Sturmabteilung), the SS (Schutzstaffel), and the DAF (Deutsche Arbeitsfront), which were intended to replace trade unions. The implementation of these organizations further contributed to the party's control over different aspects of German society, fostering loyalty and compliance among its members.

In conclusion, while the NSDAP had great control over German society through its robust membership base, it is important to recognize that the motivations and true beliefs of its members varied widely. This diversity reflects the complex nature of political affiliations and the mechanisms used by the NSDAP to sustain its power.