Quote:

If communism and nazism are two sides of the same coin, why did German industrials led by Fritz Thyssen donate three million marks to the NSDAP to help them consolidate power in March 1933? Although Hitler did sponsor some state-owned enterprises (Kraftdurchfreudewagen/Volkswagen) for the most part the Nazis were a friend of German big business. Nazism is also distinct from Communism in that it preaches the national and ethnic superiority of the Aryan race and hatred of Jews as a race.




I said Fascism, not Nazism, which was an offshoot of Fascism which was an offshot of Socialism. But I'll play. The Holocaust is their (the Nazi's) greatest claim, to fame. But at the time, rthey were known for a few other things. The Holocaust wasn't general knowledge until 1943ish. That's 10 years of Nationasl Socialism running the show, and 20 years since they were a major force in German politics. That said, the Communists weren't very kind to religious Jews.

Now, can't speak for the motives of someone who lived 60 years ago, but there could be a few reasons. They knew which side of the struggle was most likely to win the battle for power in post WW1 Germany. And they were going to be sure to be on that side, because all sides had made it very clear that they didn't suffer those who weren't with them lightly. Maybe they were fellow travellers, who knows? The fact is, if you didn't play ball with the Nazis, the best you could hope for was being an official puppet as opposed to an unofficial one. The head of Krupp was run out when he started to speak out that der Fuhrer might be a bit meshuggah and replaced by a nephew or something who was a bit more pliable. A dirty secret of politics is that big corporations give money to both side, so no matter who wins, they still come out on top. In Thyssen's case, I think he had drunk the KoolAid. Maybe not. I really don't know. But I think it's safe tom say it was more than one thing that made his decision for him. It's never as easy as "oh, that Dolfy is a hoot. I'll give him cash, then have a bratwurst and kraut while I wear my lederhausen (jondra)".

It was a no win for anyone. The Nazis or the Communists would win. And at least with the Nazis you muight be able to stay alive and be the presumptive head of your company, if you followed the Party line. With the Communists, you were pretty likely to be put up against the wall as an Enemy of the People.

Barry
_________________________
Having killed someone doesn't make you a killer- @KINGROCHE