New Book Reexamines Nazism Rise
The book "The Retreat" by German artist and writer Philipp Rusch explores the reasons behind the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany, moving beyond traditional explanations that associate it solely with Adolf Hitler's charisma, Nazi propaganda machinery, or the economic crisis. Instead, the book focuses on the collapse of trust in traditional political parties and the increase in political violence, highlighting that the September 1930 elections marked a turning point: the Nazi Party made a significant jump from 12 seats in 1928 to 107 seats, even though Hitler was not actively involved at that time. The book dismisses the idea that Hitler was a political genius, arguing that the party's success resulted from a cultural and political shift, where violence and radical rhetoric were actually appealing elements for some voters rather than deterrents. It also emphasizes that the crisis of credibility faced by traditional parties and their loss of support strengthened the Nazis, and that recurring scandals did not prevent the party’s expansion—especially since right-wing parties were adept at absorbing crises and turning them to their advantage. The book suggests that the exploitation of violence and internal deception contributed to the Nazi rise, framing it as the outcome of a weak political system and diminishing legitimacy, rather than solely Hitler’s genius or propaganda machinery.
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