Nazi Law: Legally Blind
The insidious transformation of Germany's legal landscape under the Nazi regime serves as a chilling reminder of how easily justice can be perverted into a tool of oppression. In the aftermath of World War I, the law was a beacon of stability, a testament to the nation's resilience, and a testament to the contributions of capable lawyers and judges, many of whom were Jewish. However, the rise of the National Socialist Party in 1933 marked a catastrophic turning point, a systematic dismantling of constitutional law that would plunge Germany and, subsequently, Europe into the abyss of totalitarianism.
Hitler's ascent was a calculated campaign, a gradual erosion of democratic norms cloaked in the rhetoric of national revival. His failed Beer Hall Putsch in 1923, though a momentary setback, provided a platform for his radical ideology, which he meticulously outlined in Mein Kampf. Upon assuming the chancellorship, he skillfully exploited the Reichstag fire, a moment of national crisis, to suspend civil liberties and consolidate his power. The subsequent passage of the Enabling Act effectively transformed Germany into a dictatorship, granting Hitler unchecked authority to reshape the nation according to his twisted vision.
Central to this transformation was the systematic persecution of Jewish citizens, a campaign of dehumanization and disenfranchisement that unfolded under the guise of law. The Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service and the infamous Nuremberg Laws of 1935 were instrumental in stripping Jews of their fundamental rights, barring them from professions, prohibiting interracial relationships, and ultimately relegating them to the status of outcasts. This persecution was rooted in a racist ideology that defined Jewishness as a biological trait, not a religious affiliation, demonstrating the regime's commitment to a racially pure national identity.
Beyond the Jewish community, the Nazis targeted a wide range of groups deemed incompatible with their vision of a homogenous society. Political opponents, individuals with disabilities, and religious dissenters were subjected to relentless persecution. The plight of Hans Litten, a courageous lawyer who dared to challenge Hitler, exemplifies the regime's ruthless suppression of dissent. The T4 program, a horrifying manifestation of the regime's eugenic ideology, involved the forced sterilization and euthanasia of those considered "unworthy of life," revealing the chilling extent to which the Nazis were willing to manipulate the law to serve their twisted vision.
Religious institutions, too, faced relentless pressure. Figures like Bishop Clemens von Galen, who bravely spoke out against the euthanasia program, demonstrated the moral courage that stood in stark contrast to the regime's brutality. Jehovah's Witnesses, who refused to compromise their faith, were also targeted for their unwavering commitment to their beliefs.
"Democracy" = rule by consensus. Rule = The initiation of deadly force.
If that coercion is irrational, unjust, inhuman, so be it. The constantly changing consensus is the standard that the totalitarians claim to serve. In fact, they serve themselves at the expense of the majority. How do they get blind obedience, personal sacrifice? FEAR! The rulers promise "to protect & serve". They offer psychological certainty for the price of your criticism, your own thoughts, your sovereignty. Renounce that. Replace it with faith in their control, their force, their rule.
Never doubt and you will never fear again. Are you willing to pay that price?
Typical one eyed propaganda. Hitler was banned from speaking publicly by the authorities in the "democratic" Weimar Republic. In some areas national socialist gatherings were also banned. In Austria before the Anschluss the national socialist party was banned outright. This country was classified as a "democracy" as well. The main enemy of the ns party were the communists. Needless to say whenever they have gotten into power they abolish all other parties and turn the country into a one party dictatorship. The makers of this documentary have no sense of objectivity or even handedness. Do they realise that World War 2 ended 80 years ago ?