What is Nazism: differences from fascism and nationalism

In modern society the terms "Nazism", "nationalism" and "fascism" can often be perceived as synonyms, but this is not so. Two terms, namely Nazism and fascism, were identified by the ideology of the USSR during the Great Patriotic War, since Italy and Germany acted on the same side in this war. It was then that the phrase "fascist Germany" appeared, which the captive Germans did not like very much. Nationalism and Nazism are in fact virtually indistinguishable to the average person. But if the meaning of these concepts is one, how do you distinguish between them and what is fascism and Nazism?

Fascism and Francoism

Fascism in translation from Italian means "unification" or "bundle". This term means a generalization of extreme right-wing political movements, as well as their ideology. It also refers to political regimes of a dictatorial type, which are headed by these movements. If we take a narrower concept, then fascism means a mass political movement that existed in Italy in the 1920s and 1940s under the leadership of Mussolini.

In addition to Italy, fascism also existed in Spain during the reign of General Franco, which gave him a slightly different name - Francoism. Fascism was also in Portugal, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, as well as in many countries of the third world. If you believe the work of Soviet scientists, then fascism should be attributed to National Socialism, which existed in Germany, but to understand this, it is necessary to understand what is Nazism?

Signs of the Fascist State

How to distinguish the fascist state from the others? Undoubtedly, it has its own characteristics, which make it possible to separate it from other countries where the dictator rules. The main features of the ideology of fascism are:

• Leadership.
• Corporatism.
• Militarism.
• Extremism.
• Nationalism.
• Anti-communism.
• Populism.

Fascist parties, in turn, arise when a country is in a state of economic crisis, and if it affects the state of the political and social sphere.

After the end of the Second World War, the concept of "fascist" acquired a very negative color, so it became extremely unpopular for any political group to relate itself to this direction. In the Soviet media, all anti-communist military dictatorships were traditionally called fascism. An example is the military junta of Pinochet in Chile, as well as the Stroessner regimes in Paraguay.

Fascism is not synonymous with the word nationalism, so do not confuse these two concepts. You just need to understand what nationalism and Nazism are.

Nationalism

The next term to be learned in order to understand what Nazism is is nationalism. It is one of the directions of politics, the basic principle of which is the thesis of the primacy of the nation in the state. This political movement seeks to uphold the interests of any particular nationality. But this does not always happen. Sometimes nationalism can form people not only on the principle of one blood, but also on the principle of territorial belonging.

How to distinguish nationalism from Nazism?

The main differences between Nazism and nationalism are that representatives of the latter are more tolerant of other ethnic groups, but do not aspire to approach them. In addition, they, as already mentioned above, can be formed on the basis of territorial or religious grounds. Also this political movement is less likely to contradict the economy, free thinking and freedom of speech. It is able to penetrate into the legal field of the state and is able to cope with constructive criticism. Anyone who understands what Nazism is, should know that with him the state follows totalitarian foundations, and there is no place for free thinking.

Nazism

What is Nazism? The definition of this concept became widely known throughout the world after the end of World War II. It is the Third Reich that is the main example by which one can understand what Nazism is. This term is understood as the form of the social structure of the state, in which socialism combines with an extreme degree of racism and nationalism.

The goal of Nazism was to unite on a vast territory a community of racially pure, Aryan people who could lead the country to prosperity for centuries.

According to Hitler, socialism was an ancient Aryan tradition. In the opinion of high-ranking officials of the Third Reich, it was their ancestors who first began to use the lands together, diligently developing the idea of a common good. Communism, they said, was not socialism, but was just a disguised Marxism.

The main ideas of National Socialism were:

• Anti-Marxism, anti-Bolshevism.
• Racism.
• Militarism.

Thus, it is possible to understand what fascism and Nazism are, and also nationalism. These are three completely different concepts, which, despite some similarities, are not synonymous. But, despite the facts, many people still consider them to be one.