This essay will critically assess the usefulness of analysing the rise and success of fascism in Germany through a Marxist lens, and thereby, as a product of capitalism. It will use the theories of well-known Marxists such as Leon Trotsky, August Thalheimer, and members of the school of Austro-Marxist thought. Nicos Poulantzas’ view of fascism as a Bonapartist phenomenon and Trotsky’s Marxist interpretation of fascism as a reaction to the capitalist decline will be upheld throughout this essay. The primary focus will be on the role of capitalism in the rise and limited success of the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeitspartei (NSDAP). It is important when assessing the rise of fascism in Germany, to first identify the lens in which Marxists…show more content… The primary theory stemming from prominent Austro-Marxists takes a middle ground between Bolshevism and Reformism, differing only from Bonapartism through its distinctions between a fascist rule and a fascist movement. The official view of fascism according to the Social Democrats can be attributed primarily to Julius Braunthal, and Otto Bauer. Although the petty bourgeoisie and white-collar workers contributed to the eventual success of the NSDAP, the Austro-Marxist opinion is that capitalism was the driving force behind this support. To elaborate further, the capitalist class was the ruler of society, but it was not the governor. Through this, big business controlled the economy, but did not exert the control over the democratic government that they needed to continue to survive in a pre-fascist state. The capital-driven big business leaders attempted to secure political insurance and facilitate a shift in the party’s ideology by providing financial support to ‘sensible members’ of the NSDAP during its campaign. Using the Austro-Marxist theory, an understanding of fascism as a product of capitalism can be established, if ‘product’ can refer to financial aid. Most Marxist writers strongly upheld the belief that the NSDAP was heavily funded by the bourgeoisie and leaders of big business; however, Henry Turner and Ernst Nolte claimed to have…show more content… National Socialism as a movement was once aligned with Marxism. Due to this, it was originally heavily opposed as the bourgeoisie found conflict with the merging of Nationalism and Socialism. Where anti-capitalism was proposed, anti-communism stood in its place. To combat the disillusionment felt by the people, the NSDAP had to reform its socialist policies, reflecting the interests of the independent business sector – who were not uncomfortable with its anti-Semitic, anti-parliamentarian rhetoric, but its anti-capitalist agenda – securing a mass following within white-collar ranks. Despite the alterations made, the National Socialist party of Germany remained contradictory, attempting to create widespread appeal to each sector of society. National Socialism, in theory, was hostile towards monopoly and finance capitalism, along with the labour movement, and the democratic state; once it gained power, however, it was under the thumb of the ruling economic class – the high finance sector. Trotsky summarises the contradictions of the NSDAP in his view in “The German
