Interview: Historikerin sieht Parallelen zu 1933: „Es gibt ein Gefühl, dass demokratische Parteien es nicht mehr hinkriegen“

Historikerin Frau Schneider-Braunberger notes parallels between today's society and the period prior to 1933. While the current economy is better than during the 1929 Great Depression, the widespread uncertainty for employees and employers generates societal tension. Political extremes, such as the left-wing call to confiscate wealth and the right-wing call to deport foreigners, profit from this atmosphere.

Although the AfD is not a successor to the NSDAP, it references the former regime and the SED, which led to the "dramatic" situation where people forget history.

The historian advises that the supposed benefits of joining a political party don't always result in real advantages, and parties should be understood in their entirety, not just in terms of narrow interests. In the case of the NSDAP, some initially accepted its radicalism as long as the economy functioned, but by 1936/37, shortages of raw materials, labor, and foreign currency highlighted the need for cooperation with the party.

Under these circumstances, companies entered the party en masse in 1937, fearing the collapse of their businesses if they didn't align with the regime.

To learn from history, the historian warns that a party with non-democratic foundations can quickly undermine democracy if it comes to power. An entrepreneur must not only be committed to their business success but also bear responsibility for the societal and political environment in which they operate. One concrete action for an entrepreneur could be to support liberal democracy, which would allow their industry to function.

Historically, before 1933, the economy wasn't entirely aligned with the NSDAP. Some supporters were motivated by a desire to influence economic policy, while others genuinely believed in National Socialism. The membership of private individuals and journalists in the NSDAP doesn't necessarily reveal their ideological stance, but the timing of their entry into the party does. Those who joined in 1926 did so for ideological reasons, indicating a strong ideological alignment with the regime from the start.