Nazism Before and After the Seizure of Power
Nazism Before and After the Seizure of Power

Summary/Abstract: The legacy of the German past was an onerous one in more than one regard. One of the questions that have seldom and legitimately been asked is whether the German peculiarities and political culture made the rise and victory of Nazism unavoidable. It still remains an open question whether the twinges of uncompleted nation-building during the Bismarckian period would have eventually dispersed had they not been markedly expanded by the legacies of the First World War. What remains beyond doubt though is that the devastating effects of the war at the level of the German society and political system boded ill for the future. Therefore, allegations about where the accountability for Germany’s defeat should be positioned only added to the general conflicting frame of mind; the humiliating peace settlement aggravated the situation, leaving the majority of ordinary Germans infuriated; leading to political fragmentation, lack of legitimacy of the Weimar Republic and to the feebleness of the whole political system.

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