PDF The Nazi Conscience by Claudia Koonz in History

Review

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Fascinating but Chilling Study of Nazi Psychosocial MethodsBy H. F. GibbardThis book is an interesting sociological study of "soft" or "persuasive" power exerted by the Third Reich over the German populace. It provides a look at how the Nazi party; which never won a majority of the German electorate; attempted to infiltrate German public opinion and to advance its bizarre and extreme social and racial policies. Koonz suggests that the Nazis tried to meet the average German on common ground and to coax him or her into accepting the Nazi world-view by appealing to existing prejudices and fears.The Nazis not only monopolized social interaction by eliminating all rival forms of organization and information; but also by emphasizing the more benign and socially desirable aspects of their program and its consistency with traditional values. This strategy operated with surprising flexibility; and it often involved retreat and compromise. When it became clear that the German people disliked public displays of violence against Jews; for example; the Nazis reined these in and focused instead on more orderly and legalistic forms of persecution. Thus; the Nazis could actually pose as a "reasonable" and "law-abiding" party that sought to curb extremists within their own ranks and to solve the "Jewish problem" in a rational manner. Hitler also downplayed anti-Semitic remarks in his speeches. Nazi propaganda focused instead on improving the German volk or race and played to a form of "polite" anti-Semitism that allowed non-Jewish Germans to feel socially superior to the Jews among them. Nazis emphasized the duty carried by Germans to keep their blood-lines "pure;" thus casting their program in terms of a hygenic model. In the end; Germans could actually be made to feel guilty for tolerance expressed toward Jews.Koonz also shows how the Nazis differed from their Stalinist enemies. Though both were totalitarians; Nazi party officials were free to disagree and debate details of the Nazi program without risk of reprisals. Often these debates were so severe as to paralyze party initiatives; at least in the short run. This is a far cry from the monolithic system of oppression one might have expected.One thing I really appreciated about this book was the impressive illustrations that appear throughout. There are photos of many actual posters; magazines; brochures and cartoons that were in wide circulation during the Third Reich. These help the reader to see how the Nazis used imagery and loaded language to subvert resistance to their policies.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Thorough; interesting studyBy ChrisClaudia Koonz did a fantastic job with this eye-opening book. She looked at Nazi Germany from 1933-39; and while Hitler was an important part of her study; she gave ample space to other key figures and rank-and-file Nazis. The book is perfectly organized so that each chapter is distinct from the others.Koonz looks at the way youngsters were indoctrinated and the way the Nazis used "science" to "prove" many of their racist views and justify their policies. Yes; the Nazis believed that they were doing important work and that the German Volk needed to be purified; but they also knew that what they were doing would not fly with most people. That's why they were so careful about what information was released and to whom.The book is a fairly easy read; especially for a scholarly study. There are a few chapters that drag a bit toward the end; but if you're interested in this period of history; you'll learn some things here that go beyond the concentration camps and Hitler's aggressive military strategies. It's an interesting book and it includes many photos and other images that help the reader get a better feel for pre-war Nazi Germany.1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. a chilling image of the unchecked results of a disastrous combination of hate; power; authorityBy NS HuttoOverall; Claudia Koonz proves an incredibly apt researcher of NaziGermany. She delivers in The Nazi Conscience a raw; unabashed look into an evilempire; one that ostensibly preached an emphasis on Volk and Vaterland yet subtlyincreased the euphoria of “comfortably numb.” This enabled the German people toignore or embrace absolute and undisguised racism. The anti-Semitic Naziprinciples of racism and hate were slowly accepted as normal German values. TheGermans began believing that in order to support the Volk and thus; the Vaterland;they must embrace Nazism; and through a process of self-Nazification(Selbstgleichschaltung); Koonz shows that the “citizens of the Third Reich wereshaped by a public culture so compelling that [they] . . . came to accept theexistence of a hierarchy of racially based human worth; the cult of the Führer; andthe desirability of territorial conquest” (p. 273).As a parting thought; Koonz argues that the racist ideology and politicalstrategy of the Nazis’ quest for “an exclusive community of ‘us’ without‘them’” (p. 274) has not ended with the defeat of the Third Reich. In the 1930s;“Many Europeans looked on from neighboring countries with envy even if theydeplored the Nazi state” (p. 163). Today; the currents of racial hatred and ethnicpurity once espoused by the Nazis continue their manifestation in our globalsociety. One needs only to read the headlines emerging from the Middle Eastdescribing the horrendous conduct of the Islamic State to see the warning withinThe Nazi Conscience. Koontz provides a chilling image of the unchecked results ofa disastrous combination of hate; power; authority; and the psychologicalvulnerability of a defeated people.(I actually wrote a full book review for Koonz's work here: [...]