The business leaders who funded Hitler's election campaign
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- Опубликовано: 28 авг 2024
- It has often been asserted that the Nazis were funded by big business, however this is nonsense - except for one occasion and that was the March 1933 elections. On 20 February 1933, Hitler and Goering met leaders of German industry in order to point out the dangers of Marxism and that there is no cash to fight the forthcoming elections.
Of course this effected the other parties as well, but one thing that the Nazis were good at was public relations and they managed more rallies than any other party. A Nazi rally was not just a political event, they would also arrange some entertainment such as a band, a dance and some beer or food. Whereas the events were usually not free, they were not money spinners either. Today this is a normal part of electioneering, but then it was quite revolutionary. To ensure they got their point across, the Nazis brought in their big names to ensure a bigger crowd, something other parties did not do as a rule. In this photograph, for example, we can see WW1 hero General Litzmann addressing the audience. President Hindenburg had considered electioneering below him. He won the 1932 presidential elections without making a single public appearance.
A number of industrialists were invited by Hermann Göring to his official residence in the Reichstag presidential palace. The stated purpose was that Hitler would like to explain his ideas and as he was then Chancellor, attendance cannot be seen as showing support for either his party or his policies.
The list of invitees was drawn up by Göring and his adjutant. Hjalmar Schacht later said “almost all the men in German industry from all sectors were represented”
On 18 February a letter was sent out by Gustav Krupp, Ludwig Kastl and Jacob Herle to various industrialists suggesting that attendees do what they can to ensure that the economic policy of the new government takes into account the justified demands of industry. The letter suggested that all of them should work for a stable government but left the “practical conclusions from this general principle” to the “sense of responsibility of every individual industrialist”. Krupp had even planned a small speech for the event.
The meeting kicked off with Hermann Göring keeping everyone waiting for 15 minutes . When he eventually turned up, he was accompanied by Walther Funk. They said a few words about the ongoing election campaign. Then Hitler appeared in a respectable business suit with his adjutant shook hands with everyone gathered. Behaving quietly and in a defential manner, he took a seat at the head of the table. He spoke softly for 90 minutes. The most important points of his speech being his belief in private property, something that must have worried those present given not only the risk of the communists winning an election but also the original programme of the Nazi party itself. Hitler outlined some of his economic ideas which according to the notes of some of the attendees showed no understanding of economic matters. Hitler promised that there would be no economic experiments which just went to show that he had no idea on how to turn the economy around and indeed his recipe would be to continue as before. However he did have ideas on government. Bearing in mind that many of those present believed in the establishment, were opposed to the Weimar Repbulic and probably were monarchists at heart, Hitler pointed out the benefits, as he saw them, of an authoritarian regime over democracy. Weimar, he said, brought about the risk of communism. He claimed that the only the Nazis could save Germany from the Bolshevik threat. He promised to increase military spending, something which would appeal to those in heavy industry claiming that only a well-defended nation can have a flourishing economy, although he said nothing of territorial expansion. Hitler wanted to use all of the power of the state to overthrow communism.
Once Hitler had finished, Krupp expressed his thanks and emphasized the commitment to private property and defence. Hitler then politely left and Goering once more pointed out that the Nazi piggy bank was empty. Then Goering left the meeting and Hjalmar Schacht said: “And now, gentlemen, to the cash register!” Schacht demanded that three million Reichsmarks be raised.
It appears that none of the invitees had understood that they were being invited in order to make donations although no doubt they were used to such requests.
When President Paul Hindenburg appointed Hitler to the post of Chancellor at 11:30 AM on 30 January 1933, there were only two other Nazis in the cabinet. The other eight cabinet members were conservatives around Franz von Papen and Alfred Hugenberg who were trusted by business.
In his memoirs, Hjalmar Schacht wrote about the meeting and states that 3 million Reichsmarks was raised as a result of it.
I love that you are so passionate about dispelling the obscure facts about such a crucial turning time in the world theater of politics, economy, and human rights. I'm still trying to catch up on everything you produced before I found your channel. But I am keen to also follow the journey you continue to embark on. Even if you enlighten one kindred spirit, you done a life's work complete justice. Keep on keeping on, my friend! 💜💙
Thank you very much Linda. Getting comments like this inspires me to do more!
@@HistoryonRUclips I will be right here watching!! It's really fascinating getting to watch a truly passionate historian in the process of recording his chronicles. It's far superior to reading stale text books in school!
Facts cannot be dispelled if they are indeed facts.
He somehow misses how much US capitalists propped up Hitler and the Nazi party. Henry Ford, one of Hitler’s close friends, bankrolled his political campaigns beginning in 1922.
He misses the U.S. capitalists that played a large role, also. Specifically Henry Ford funding his political campaign since 1922. Henry ford was also considering running for president in the US. Hitler promised to endorse his campaign if he did.
This is fascinating and crucial part of the history of Hitler's Germany. My first serious introduction to it was when I read William Manchester's great book "The Arms Of Krupp". There is so much more to this story. When Hitler got the backing of the biggest German industrialists it gave him a licence to carry out his full program. We must also not forget the involvement of American/European industrialists like Henry Ford, one of the world's most notorious anti-Semites and a Hitler favourite, and General Motors, ITT and others. Wikipedia has a comprehensive "List of companies involved in the Holocaust".
As well as popular Americans supporting Hitler including Joseph Kennedy, aviator Limberger, owner's of the New York Times (Jewish), and many others.
Indeed and amen to all that, especially Lindbergh, AND never overlook Stalin’s summoning order to the German electorate NOT to vote for the Socialists aka according to his branding, « the social fascists », nor his acceptance of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact…
Nor either that had Hitler not been « stark ravin’ bonkers mad » Stalin would have blithely carried on so happy to supply Hitler with all the oil he wanted without wasting his worries on Romanian oil wells being bombed or not bombed by Britain in despair. With all that trade giving work and relative prosperity Stalin would have become « the People’s Idol », and more profitable escorting of German Raiders by the North East Passage at one million RM each time and all to further Japanese war aims in the Pacific, with Stalin’s pathetic grovelling assurances to the Japanese against Britain, China and USA, he might even have joined the Axis, to be « rewarded » by the latter with the gift of British India, as suggested in their talks. Butyouwon’t find any of thé Woke degenerates to understand let alone admit any of this.
Woke degenerate here who was never a fan of Stalin.
What is also fascinating is how the Soviet Union allowed the Germans between 1922 and 1932 to use their territory to develop new weapons, train officers, and develop new tactics. This was key to the Germans rearming so rapidly in the 30’s.
Many people of various economic and political stripes helped create the conditions that led to World War Two.
Antisemitism is a millennias-old problem. Ford’s antisemitism wasn’t particularly unique. Do remember that FDR did nothing to save European Jews when he had the means to do so. Nor did anyone else in Europe or the West.
@@wolverineeagle Both fascinating and ironic (in regards to the Soviet Union).
Brilliant stuff , overflowing with little known facts and information
Thanks Iain!
Thank you for all the uploads! Always looking forward to watch!😺👍
Glad you like them!
A fantastic presentation! Very important to understand how political power flows through corporations to dangerous demagogues
Thank you but it needs to be pointed out that earlier no major companies financed Hitler.
To answer your question-I believe that the political situation in Germany at the time you’re referring to was such a mess (beyond dirty politics, defamation, etc.) that, even if there had been less donations, it was possible for even someone like Hitler to come to power. However, one mistake I think people tend to make, in terms of culpability here, is to blame one person, entity, atmosphere, etc. Essentially, the perfect ingredients presented themselves for perhaps the perfect recipe for disaster.
Mary Seay, Absolutely a 'Perfect Storm'
And history continues to repeat itself. Again and again and again. With predictable consistency
Always CULPABILITY! 👍
Really appreciate your videos. Super enlightening and answered my curiosity about how Hitler & the NSP gained power and many more questions about how it could even happen, hoping you'll continue to make more videos, curiouser and curiouser
Politics and money go hand in hand. War, destruction, victims are only collateral effects.
Excellent appraisal, address and vocal delivery …and countdown analysis. A breath of fresh air, and pertinently apt reminder of our need to be kept aware of what happened then and what might happen again where extremities meet after extreme enmity to catch broadly tolerant moderately inclined opposing forces with their pants down! Never underestimate the apparent losers! They don’t change anything but their masks! Never underestimate the opposition especially at the extremes of both sides, or dismiss them as insignificant.
Hey, I'm missing all the wall street money via IG Farben, Ford, GM, IBM, ... mentioned equally.
And where are all the east coast authors and thinkers mentioned that made it as inspiration into his infamous Mein Kampf book.
Great vid by the way. Such detail is new to me.
Businesses are dictatorships whether benign or other. Business leaders and totalitarian politics have a natural affinity that is often toxic for regular people who have little say in policy and just want the economy to keeping lurching along.
Many business people were involved with the SS. Party membership was almost a must. Heydrich and new business have in the view of some historians been the prime movers for war to establish German business dominance in Europe.
The Third Reich was built on borrowed and printed money, to pay for it a War of appropriation was Hitler's strategy. The system lasted longer than Bankers expected before the war because of Totalitarian State control and Slave Labour in Concentration Camps.
At the end of the day, support for Hitler in the election was "strictly business" in my opinion.
Also German business didn't want to compete with foreign businesses, it's that basic. Also participating in the theft thereof.
Love the videos. Just keep doing you, sir. Love the way you handle the trolls.
Thank you for this enlightening episode on how Hitler managed to drag in some astute business leaders. Today we also see businesses donating sometimes hundreds of millions of $$$$ to their preferred party. Makes one wonder what the kick back is.
I think, certainly in the UK, we can see what the kick back is - many times the value of the original donation.
Yes, truly the gift that keeps on giving, wherever you live in this world. You do our bidding while in power, and when you leave politics, you get to play, "How Many Corporate Boards Can I Sit On?".
Drag in? They all wanted to make money. What did they get drug into? You wonder what the kick back is? Holy shit people really are so stupid.
This documentary get's it backwards. It was astute business leaders that dragged Hitler into power, not the other way around. de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treffen_Papens_mit_Hitler_im_Haus_des_Bankiers_Schr%C3%B6der
One thibg is foe sure,he didnt do the war alone!!
What great subject! Von Papen and Kaas also brokered the deal with Eugenio Pacelli / Pius XII
Indeed they did but that is not mentioned here!
Thank you!
These videos are amazing. I wish I could find a video on how Germans reacted to Hitler’s death. Have you considered making that video?
I have a lot of notes on that subject - I might put them together. However this is second hand research - not mine!
@@HistoryonRUclips I think Ian Kerschaw (sp?) thank explores the topic in many of his works
They cry!😢😢😢
Unrealistic wage demands - unrealistic for whom?
Yes the Petrochemical and Pharmacetical industry have a lot to do with Hitler.
Hitler is just a pawn.
I don't think you listened to the video.
Thank you for your study of how and who financed Hitler and his party. One thing that was not analyzed and mentioned were the financial institution and the name of the people of these institutions who were financially supporting these industrialists. ! Who were they?
They got their money from their clients!
@@HistoryonRUclips well you haven’t done a thorough research, permit me to say. From your point of view all those industries had no loans to keep them afloat...???? You didn’t scratch the surface, I would add.
@@suzanneguiho4882 Instead of throwing out accusations, why don't you try backing up your claims with facts? My guess is that you won't be able to.
@@HistoryonRUclips M’y claim is one of good old common sense....! Your are the « expert ».....your study did not cover that aspect present in all businesses.
Now it's facebook and Google fundind fascists.
I would agree that Facebook certainly promotes fascism. I got a six month ban, including my professional sites for posting a picture of a cat that looked like Hitler but every time I report race hate to Facebook, it apparently does not go against their community guidelines.
Nice chanell good work
Thanks for visiting
Prescott Bush, Henry Ford?
What about them?
Will watch later. Time for bed
It's funny how this video has no adverts, especially with all the talk of irresponsibility of big buisness, almost as if someone doesn't want people to have knowledge of these things...
That is bad news Thomas, particularly considering how long it took me to do it.
@@HistoryonRUclips trust me keep making these, the videos you are making right now are pure gold and will benefit history
Thank You.....!!👁️👃👁️
👅
As an American and one that is fimular with American labour history . What you described is typical of the reaction of ( industrial capitalism ) when faced with Labour unrest and a strong and growing Labour movement.
The capitalist do what is necessary to protect there self interests.
It was true in France / Spain / USA in the 1920-- 30's just to mention a few cases which there are many examples.
As far as Nazi Party rallies with free food and entertainment, looks like either they hired an American political consultant of observed first hand American politics.
The food and entertainment was not free Richard, but it was not expensive. However, if they had one of their 'stars' like Hilter at a rally, they could charge quite a lot for entrance.
Americans do not spell labor with a U. Also, familiar is spelled incorrectly.
@@nickdanger3802
Hum really : is your name really nick danger
Your reply is topical, if you can't address the logic of my statement you attack something else
My spelling was good enough to serve 8 years in the navy.
What was your contribution to your country??
You're missing the point
@@richardgietzen4591 Which navy? Five years USAF, twenty years DoD.
Where's the oil industrialist?
There wasn't one as such.
Henry Ford ?
Where did Hitler and the Nazis get fuel for the war? From one of those guys?
Germany produced only synthetic fuel but there were considerable oil reserves in Rumania, Hungary and the USSR. Until 1941, a very large amount of fuel came from the USSR.
National Socialists.
Dutch Royal Shell
We are reliving this today the Germans were defeated but not the nasis they just regrouped and moved to the United States,Canada,south America and now back in Europe and Ukraine
Those Nazis in Ukraine are mainly those that are in the Russian army.
It would be interesting to have a video on the business leaders who are funding the Tory Party.
I would say that the current Tory party is anti business.
@@HistoryonRUclips like fascist authorities, the Tory Party is hostile to small privately owned businesses. However, they are compelled to shore up the super profits of foreign owned energy companies with taxpayer paid subsidies. They would rather spend vast fortunes on the military, the £37 billion track and trace disaster and the £100 ppe contracts given to cronies.
Wrong. The Nazis were financed all along by the magnates of heavy industry (Thyssen, Kirdorf), whose fixed-capital costs were threatened the most by the radicalizing workers movement. But they had withdrawn it as the German economy stabilized in the late 1920s. Only with 1930s crisis did they step back in as both the Nazis and the Communists gained popularity. Their cash tipped the scales in February 1933.
I suppose you have evidence of this alleged funding from Thyssen in the 1920s or did you just make it up?
@@HistoryonRUclips Thyssen and Kirdorf openly proclaimed their admiration of Hitler during the 1920s--"Fascism and Big Business" (Daniel Guérin, 1983) pp, 39-40. Only source of vast funds needed to mobilize, equip SA, rent offices, finance campaigns, fund Hitler and staff full-time, etc. Liberals whitewashing this is the real fantasy here.
@@nikhtose I don't think that's Liberals doing the "whitewashing". Honestly, just more partisan politics.
This presenter adopts the view long advocated by Yale professor of German history, Henry Ashby Turner. His 1987 book "German Big Business and the Rise of Hitler" is the standard work advancing the view that German capital only reluctantly assisted in the consolidation of Hitler's power. A few things of note that you left out: seven days after the meeting, the Reichstag fire happened. This was the pretext the Nazis used to imprison the Communists and most of the Socialists just prior to the March 5 election. Also you mention Von Papen was tried at Nuremberg. You failed to mention he was acquitted. Why? His judges found the defense he advanced, i.e; he was only a coerced supporter of the Nazis, to be convincing. I say hogwash. He should have been hanged. Your video is an attempt to also excuse the crimes of the industrialists in backing Hitler. They new full well that the hourse could end up riding them. They didn't care, as long as he exterminated the threat of Communism.
There is a limit to what can be put in a video and I thought one was long enough and I did mention that I might do something on the post war fates of some of these people - or maybe that got cut in the edit too. As for them knowing that the horse could end up riding them and they did not care, some of them had their businesses completely destroyed by Hitler so it was not a very good deal. Furthermore, at the time there was little to distinguish communism from Nazism.
@@HistoryonRUclips There was a great deal to distinguish communism from Nazism. If there hadn't been, Churchill and Roosevelt would not have allied with Stalin. Thanks goodness they did, or I might have grown up speaking German. (I'm an American.)
Excellent video! I have been an armchair student of 20th century history for over 60 years and have learned much from your presentation. I quite understand that corporations have their chief allegience to their shareholders so it would seem to be that these wizards of finance realized that the NSDAP was not a passing fancy but was likely to be in for the long haul. Now, a generation before this, certain titans of Wall Street helped to finance the bolshevik revolution because they hated Holy Russia and her Christian Tsar Nicholas II but what possible benefit would their support of Lenin and Trotsky have been to shareholders? I ask this because I am not an economist. Moving on to the present day, in the last two American elections, major corporations and financial institutions have donated mega-millions to the presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden. Since the Democrat party has shifted so far left as to be practically Marxist and therefore (supposedly) anti-capitalist, what can possibly be their motivation? The politicians are screaming "Tax the Rich" while the rich are financing their cause. These are serious questions and I would appreciate your views. Thank you.
If I may, during WW1 4 Empires fell, privately oened central banks could take over. In 1913 it was the US turn, they didn't have a king, thay had democracy, it's worse, Then, Russia still had a king, they funded his murder. Hitler kicked those bankers out of the country as soon as he got elected, Germany became very rich, Germany had to be destroyed, a very bad example. These speculators take about 40% on each transaction we make, 40% saved is a lot. "Tax the rich" is ment for us, emply promises, they have to give the appearance that they're still working for us, the real deals are secret, the elections have been stolen at least since Kennedy, a two party system don't work and Elvis didn't do no drugs! : )
"Washington is the entertainment arm of corporate America"
--Frank Zappa
Exactly what I question; namely, what does a billionaire such as Zuckerberg, expect from Biden’s election?
@@rosesprog1722 Thank you for your response. Very good points you have made. The bankers are behind most wars and finance all sides. It matters not who wins the wars because the bankers never lose. True, Hitler hated international bankers and severed Germany's association with them. I believe the German currency was based on units of work rather than gold but I must confess I have no idea how it worked. Also, I read once that the idea of debt-slavery (interest or usury) was abolished in the 1930's. It seemed to function well at least until war broke out. One thing that amazed me was that the Reichsmark coins in different denominations were minted in real silver, unlike the coins currently issued in most countries today which have no intrinsic value but are nothing more than debased garbage metal. Your quotation was very apt. I had no idea who Frank Zappa was so I had to look up his name! Thanks again.
@@eleanorkett1129 As I understand it, the democrat party, mainstream media and Silicon Valley nabobs are all intricately connected and working together and NOT for our benefit. It is all about power and control. George Carlin put it very well years ago when he said: "It's a big club and you ain't in it"! The poor deluded fools who buy into socialism don't realize this. Socialism is run by the elites for the elites. That is why they want to deprive you of protection by defunding the police and disarming you while they live in gated communities with security men armed to the teeth. That is why you are lectured about your "carbon footprint" while they fly everywhere in private jets and are driven in gas-guzzling limos. That is why walls and borders are being abolished while President Potato has a $450,000 fence built around his property. I could go on but that should give you some idea.
@@jacksonreilly3441 Hitler's ideas came from a book written by one of the founding members of the party who was also treasurer at the beginning, it is him who spoke the first night Hitler went to see what they were all about, Gottfried Feder and his book was joyfully titled: "Manifesto for the Abolition of Enslavement Through Interest on Money" He he, no possible confusion here! Sadly Hitler fired him when Hjalmar Schacht became available, I don't really know the details, all I know is that Schacht was working for the elite so although his measures did improve the situation, he was also a traitor and that Hitler had regrets for Firing Feder for the rest of his life. Another strange lack of honesty: it is also Feder who wrote the 25 points program but the credit always went to Hitler, I will have to look into thie.
Thank you for your kind words, I hope one day justice will be done and the real bastards will finally be exposed, for over a hundred years now the German people have paid the highest price a nation ever paid for crimes they never committed, enough is enough so I am doing my little thing, it's not much but I know it's the right thing to do, and hope is still a word! : ) Cheers.
In every republic politics is financed by big business in exchange for some favors. Buying influence is not wrong. Using influence the wrong way is evil. German industrialists could have manufactured Volkswagens. They chose to manufacture Stuka dive bombers.
This sounds like modern day America
Jack, there is something worth considering which is in this video. Goering promised that if businesses pay now, there will not be any more elections for maybe 100 years for them to worry about. I believe a similar comment was made by a politician in the US not so long ago.
Look to the same sources of funding for anti Democratic today
I wonder if Klaus Schwab's father was in attendance.
Who is he?
@@HistoryonRUclips Klaus Schwab is the head of the World Economic Forum and the Nazis considered the Escher Wyss factory his father ran in Ravensburg a "National Socialist Model Factory". Scary to think someone like Klaus Schwab would be in such a position of power in today's Europe.
I think you know who he is now.
Buy read the book Trading With The Enemy.
Sounds familiar
I would say in the light of current events, it is very familiar!
A helpful book is 'Who Financed Hitler', Power and Power authors.
Ps the murder of the Strasser brothers.
Thanks for the suggestion John!
An awful lot of facial hair on these men. While beards have become acceptable again. The moustaches should be a warning to all of how dangerous these people are.
Can you explain a little bit more ?
I presume that Jewish business people were not invited?
Probably just an oversight John!
Great work. So was the Nazi party Nasjonalist or a sosialist parti? In the USA they call Hitler a Sosialist, but in Europ he is a Exstrem Nasjonalist. If you look at the time Hitler was inn power, i would called him a Sosialist.
To some degree the economy was run on socialist lines.
Both lol read the party name
Socialism is an anti-idealism.
Natsism is not based on economy
@BjartheRønhovde I'm an American, and I see Hitler as an extreme nationalist, and very right wing. From my understanding, the Nazi party (meaning Hitler) used some aspects of Socialism to attract more voters, including the word "Socialist" in the party name, but it isn't at all what Hitler was about. In fact, it was a Socialist leaning, in part, that got Rohm and other S.A. leaders killed. Goebbels was a Socialist when he first met Hitler, but he changed his views to be in line with Hitler's views---I believe he wrote about it in his diary.
@@paigetomkinson1137 At the same time there was private company where the private owner was running the buisnes, but the Nazi was in charge. The Nazi party was the State, Sosialisme goal is to run country by the State.
18:46 how many ?
How many what? Or how much? If the latter, around two million Reichsmarks.
@@HistoryonRUclips oh okay, but was it a lot ?
@@pierren___ Good question, now I understand! In 1933, there was approximately 3.3 reichsmarks to the dollar, so it was roughly USD600k. In Germany the average wage of a worker was around RM132, one litre of beer cost around RM0.80, one litre of milk RM0.29.
@@HistoryonRUclips alright thanks
@@HistoryonRUclips To clarify, was the average wage for German workers you mentioned was per week, hour, day? Thanks!
11:12 where there any jews who contributed
Not that I am aware of - but there were those that contributed that had good cause to regret it later.
... and Rothschilds?
Well, they held one hostage till his ransom was paid. The rest weren't in Europe.
what is this in todays $
Put it this way to work out a comparison. According to the German statistical office, the average gross wage in 1933 was the equivalent of EUR69 and today it is EUR4,100.
The Enabling act is what got Hitler into power; while the financiers got the Nazi's many seats in the Riechstag; they were unable to get a majority; the Nazi's could not pass the enabling act by themselves. The Nazis were able to get Hitler appointed Chancelor; but Chancelor was a very weak position with little power, like the American Vice President. March 20th 1933 The International Jewish Congress did the Nazi's a great favor; they started a world wide Boycott against German goods in the middle of the depression; costing Germans billions. This angered average Germans who didn't care about Jews before; ironically this likely got the votes for the Enabling act.
Not much as changed look who's in the White house now.🤔
Yes we know who's in, what's your point...
Just your opinion.
@@jupitorious7925he Is nowhere to respond kkk
Deluded