Nietzsche and Nazism
Nietzsche and Nazism Some New Meanings on the 100th Anniversary of His Birth By Dr. Oscar Frankl FROM Kant to Schopenhauer, Fichte, Hegel, and and Nietxsche, down to their innumerable...
...it was a vicious attack on the "un-Qerman" Nietzsche, who dared to write: "Germany hat only produced one pert betidtt Goethe: /feinric* Heine, and he viae a Jew!.,, He had the finest instinct for the 'blue flower Germany, but also, it is true, for the 'gray ass' Germany...
...And Nietxsche, with his slogans of "Aryanism,"* of "master morals" and of the "superman" fitted so well into their scheme...
...First, his "aphoristic" method, his "maxims" written in a poetical, picturesque language, appealed to the Germans...
...Beyond 1lood and Evil...
...Likewise among Mexican middle-class people there is great admiration for everything Russian...
...The Germans like to quote their poets, particularly their classics, and Njetxsche was a thinker who was eminently quotable, who had not established a close-knit system of thought which was difficult to follow, but had proceeded by striking, well-written maxims and slogans which could easily be memorized...
...Otherwise, as the Wail Street Journal comments, "eastern Germany might well become separated economically from Western Germany...
...But the rate against rubles has not been determined...
...He placed the Jews, the hated, despised Jews, high above the Germans...
...Thus he seemed to support, for the careless reader, the pseudo-scientifc racist school and to provide the philosophical missing link between the French aristocrat Gobineau and the English student who had discovered his "German mission" in Austria...
...The deepest concepts of these thinkers were mostly neglected, of course, but many of their ideas were used as slogans...
...And their laziness, their need for vacations, their disgusting excitation and over-excitation through alcohol...
...They dimly realized that his auperman was a vision ef the far future, and that he saw him as the result of centuries of human development, and that he did not believe the German race or nation likely to start this evolution...
...It seems likely that the special invasion dollar will be fixed at a ratio of one dollar to five reichsmark, and 20 reichsmark to the pound sterling...
...The average German was familiar with the Nietzschean concepts, which could all too easily be distorted to support their thesis...
...The very titles of his books (The Will to Power...
...Another element of his popularity was his opposition sgainst any over-estimation of "mere knowledge...
...He did look in the far future when he said: "Man is something that is to be surpassed" and when he declared: "Whoever is only patching up in dealing with cultural and social problems is sinning against the highest endeavor: the further development of civilization and humanity...
...Moreover, he had soon broken with Wsgner, because he objected to the Wagnerian glorification of the "German Myths" of the past, and because the composer' was a pupil of Gobineau...
...An in beautiful words, he announced the Europe ©f tomorrow: "We homeless people, our races and national origins are too mixed to be tempted, as modern men, to join in the chorus of lies and of racial self-admiration, which is now the stamp, in Germany, of 'German consciousness.' We are...
...It was in 1937 that Curt von Westernhagen, a prominent Nazi in the field of "Kultur," published, with official blessings, his book Nietxsche, Jews, and Anti-StmUet...
...Friedrich Nietorhe had this appeal horeaa* he ranged outside the narrow limits ef technical philosophy and dealt with the nature of tragedy, the deliniation of evil, the role ef myths— fanciful and ''mysterious" subjects that captivated the romantic-hungry generations of the late nineteenth century...
...He said for example, in the same book: "The Jew ie e blessing for the Germans," and, in the appendix: "It is a magnificent experience to meet a Jew, provided one lives among Germans," and, again: "The Jews are the oldest, the pureet and the strongest race in Europe...
...NEWS ON THE FOUR WINDS U. S. Sets Invasion Ratio For German Mark w 1TH Allied troops in Germany, the Allied government* now face the problem of what currency to use and on what basis it is to be exchsngesble against the reichsmark...
...Athong the Mexicans, Moscow's prestige is increased by the hatred for Yankee imperialism which persist* despite the good neighbor policy, by their admiratioi for Stalin as a he-man, hard-boiled chief, by Red Army victories, and by their revolutionary romanticism...
...Outnanaxy ia a hero...
...It is the best vindication of Nietzsche's memory, written by one of the "leaders" of Nazi thought...
...This is true of Kant's "categorical imperative," of his "critique" of pure and of practical reason, as well as of his "critique of judgment" and his concept of "eternal peace...
...And in words which seem as prophetic today, he said: "From within the European culture a new skive revolt is prepared...
...Nietzsche looked forward, towards "the light of dawn...
...His ideas, too, appeared new, his insistence upon revolt, upon force, upon powerful individualities...
...Nietzsche's strong words against the Germans were, little by little, discovered...
...NaZI Germany will certainly not celebrate the 100th anniversary of Nietzsche's birth...
...Tot) knew the stories would probably not pass the ceiuwri in various countries, but would create the impress** upon the censors themselves and through them arooal other officials, that maybe there is some truth in thii slander...
...What were the reasons for his popularity...
...Will to Power...
...Goebbels, in their system, together with the misinterpreted laws of heredity discovered by Gregor Mendel...
...in one word—and it should be t title of honor—GOOD EUROPEANS...
...The Nazis, on their own authority, nominated the Germans to the status of "supermen " All other peoples and races were described as slave races...
...reports that these Socialists are agents of Hitler...
...1 It seems fantastic at this late date, with occupation of Germany at hand, that the United States and Great Britain have not been able to mesh their plans with Russia...
...ThE Nazis found him ideal for their puposes...
...Liberals and democratic socialists find it increasingly difficult to get anything published in the Mexican press...
...Thus he is associated with Nasi* philosophy, which has aaed the Supermen ss a propaganda mm bo I But early in their exploitation of Nietscbe, the Nssis found thst he wss too much of sn individualist to he harnessed to propsganda...
...Hegel's philosophy was the basis for at least three different schools of political, economic and philosophical thinkers, and Fiehte's "national culture state"—which, according to him, the Germans alone were chosen to establish- played an important role as a German mind-set...
...It is celled anti-Semitism...
...FkIEDKK H NIETSCHK was a philosopher who had a wide grip e* the pa kite—A rare iotolleetaal phenomenon...
...The prewar rate was 11 reichsmark to the pound sterling, so this represents a cheapening of the German currency and a step towards its inflation...
...Moscow is the "savior of democracy...
...And Nietzsche, during the first years of Nazi rule, was the undisputed, classic Nazi philosopher...
...Again and again he opposed the racial concepts and the concepts of nationalism: "Thin nationalism of cattle, which stirs up ahabby superiority complexes...
...It was indignantly pointed out that 6,000,000 volumes from this "unGerman" philosopher had found a place in German homes...
...Where races are mixed, a great civilization originates," and he said: "What Hew and what stupidity mast be stirred np to dare apeak about races in this racial mix, tare called Europe...
...It is the duty of the civilized world, therefore, to recognize his true character, to understand him as a great philosopher whe early recognized the German danger and the trendi of their warped spiritual and intellectual development and who, looking in the far future, opened new vistas to the mind of man...
...He hss promised scholarships in Russian colleges to students...
...He seemed to indicate that this semimytholcgical Agure, the founder of the Persian religion and ancestor of "Aryanism," was the representative of the "master-race," and that the non-Aryan "races" were on a lower, inferior level...
...Srolinism Grow/no lm Mexico . . . * From Mexico City come reports that the foreign colony there is overwhelmingly pro-Stalin, particularly the Frenchmen...
...Fixing of the exchange rate is bound to influence' Germany's chsnces of escaping another monetary collapse following this war...
...He said for example: "How stupid they are, how blond their hair, how blue their eye, arid how much they lack wit and understanding, how common are their faces, their words, their attitudes...
...indicated this tendency, which sppealed directly to the tendency of the average German to boast of his "power" and to bask in the contemplation of might...
...Nat only that...
...So, on the 100th anniversary of Nietsche's birth it is fitting that we print a re-evaluation by the ('xerh scholar Dr...
...fM leaders of this revolt, according to Nietzsche, were to be "dissatisfied and unintelligent" people -especially from Germany...
...There are uncountable examples of his unfavorable judgments about Germans in his works...
...He advocated the creation of a strong European race, by mixing the races with each other...
...Human, all too Human, etc...
...His books could be found in most German homes, and they not only filled the book-shelves, but were even read and sometimes understood...
...Soon, some Germans, reading Nietzsche, were wondering whether he actually was a pure-blooded Nazi...
...Victor Serge, Marceu Pivert, Julian Gorkin, ass other Socialists who are opponents of Stalinism, lir* under the constant threat of violence...
...Oscar Frankl FROM Kant to Schopenhauer, Fichte, Hegel, and and Nietxsche, down to their innumerable satellite!, commentators and "popularisers,' the line of influential philisophical thought is unbroken in Germany...
...Ruttian intentiont, however, are unknown...
...They did not care about one lie more...
...He haa promised Mexican business men t lot of Russian trade, and hinted that Russia might make capital investments in Mexico...
...In the public stereotypes, Nletache is known for his glorification of the Superman...
...ftn employee >« the censor's office spilled the story, in drunken boastinf, of how the campaign against them was begun...
...Nietxsche, moreover, did not only appeal through his form...
...Moreover, at the time when countless pseudo-scientific studies pretended to demonstrate the fundamental inequality of all races, with the so-called "Aryan race" at the top, Nietzsche published (1883) his Thut Spoke 'Larathuttra...
...They wondered why Nietzsche, described as the uncompromising fighter for the Aryan concept, had so often pointed to the Bible—to the "Old Testament...
...The words and the ideas of these philosophers had the broadest circulation among the German people...
...In eastern Germany there is likely to be a Russian military currency which must be coordinated with Anglo-American currency...
...Nietzsche's attacks against the Christian ethical concepts of pity, and against the socialist brand of "pursuit of happiness" became also very popular...
...The effectiveness of the GPU apparatus is heightened t»J voluntary espionage by members of trade unions controlled by Tofedano and other Communists and felloetravelers, and by government employees...
...Tea Russian agents, Potemkin and Dashkevitch, arrived with orders to wire TASS, Russian news*agency...
...He rained his voice agaiast the German dreams of world eeaqnest with the famous and deatmctlve worda: "Wherever Germany estestda bar sway, she ruins culture...
...The Germans became the chosen people, the followers of the "Aryan tradition," as represented by their version of Zarathustra, and the only true people of "Aryan" blood...
...This study, of exceptional interest, is unfortunately not toe well known outside of Germany...
...Nietzsche's popularity, however, overshadowed them all...
...The Russians have made an agreement with the Czech government in London under which- invading armies will be supplied with new Czech currency...
...Against them he molded words like "master morals" (in opposition to the reigning "slave morals") and "superman" the strong-willed man of the future who says "yes" to life, and who is "beyond good and evil...
...Ths main anti-Stalinist papers are sinarchist or fsciit, which helps the Stalinists in their pose as leaders *' the fight for democracy against totalitarianism...
...He hsi offered Russian Jews special Soviet citizenship through their grsndfsthers, so that they will be in sn sdvsntageoua position to get business, it is rumored...
...as the foundation of our civilisation...
...At first, there was a silence, and then, suddenly, all German newspapers and "specialists" began to attack Nietxsche, to call for the destruction of his work*, the eradication of his memory...
...The Nietxsche Archives were closed, and tkt most popular philosopher who had molded many mindi all over the world to better ways of thinking, had become a "degenerate" overnight...
...v But there was too much truth in Nietzsche's real doctrines...
...When the N azis had been ruling Germany for four years, they estimated that the time had rome to deal with their "official" philosopher...
...Readers found hosts of remarks castigating the German peraonality and aiaxilar remarks...
...His writings, and the ideas he had originated, played a It-ading role in the intellectual life of the German middle classes from IKKO on...
...The Nazis fought for "the new theories of cosmic philosophy" of the Florentine Macchiavelli and the Frenchman Georges Sorel—with suitable distortions, of course—and incorprated the ideas of Nietzsche, as interpreted by Dr...
...This appesled to every half-educated German philistine...
Vol. 27 • October 1944 • No. 43
