How widespread was support for the Nazi party around the world?

by [deleted]

[deleted]

unveiledignorance

So this is quite a broad question, and one I can't really answer definitively as the answer will depend upon social/political/geographic contexts.

There was certainly some support for the Nazis around the world within certain circles, particularly within right-wing nationalist groups. Although it should be noted that being right-wing/nationalit/fascist did not immediately entail support for the Nazis, the fascist Vaterländische Front party from Austria for example was not on good terms with their northern counterparts.

The most explicit international support from the Nazis can be seen in a number of political groups which either took direct inspiration or influence from National Socialism. In Norway Vidkun Quisling led a party known as Nasjonal Samling which took inspiration from the Nazis and held a similar ideological stance. During the German occupation of Norway, the Terboven government was mainly staffed by members of the NS party. In the occupied countries it was often members of such parties that were the most prolific collaborators with the Nazi regime.

In Britain Oswald Mosley organised another party, the British Union of Fascists, which was likewise influenced by and supportive of the Nazis. The BUF attempted to gain a foothold in British politics but was largely unsuccessful. The BUF is often best known for the Battle of Cable Street, a street fight between BUF members trying to march through the east end of London, police, and antifascist protestors. At one point the BUF claimed to have a membership of around 50,000 or so, however the party was effectively dismantled during the war as many of its senior leadership were interned as security risks. The recruiting success of the BUF was varied based upon location within the country, it is interesting for example the lack of success at mobilising support in Scotland. The antifascist activist Bob Cooney in his memoir Proud Journey shared an amusing anecdote on the BUF's activities in Scotland:

“In 1935, one or two black-shirted individuals appeared on the streets with fascist literature. We acted promptly. Their literature was “confiscated” and the sellers beat a hasty retreat. A short time later, they imported a number of thugs from Edinburgh who made it known that they were to have a mass sales campaign that weekend.

 Their campaign flopped before it even started. A huge pile of Fascist literature arrived at Aberdeen Station but, before the Blackshirts could collect it, by some mischance it found its way to the bottom of the deepest quarry pool in Aberdeen.”

So broadly, explicit support for the Nazis was often a more or less fringe movement. However, the question of implicit support (perhaps acceptance would be a better word) is slightly more complicated. Implicit support and sympathies for the Nazis was certainly more common, however to what extent is impossible to say. For a wide range of reasons many different people found reasons to have sympathy with some elements of the Nazi cause. Some felt that Germany had been treated unfairly by Versailles, some were charmed by Hitler's leadership style or by the aesthetic of Nazism, some supported the economic and social efforts of the Nazi state, and of course some had support for the Nazi's racial politics and antisemitism.

Julia Boyd has recently brought out a book, Travellers in the Third Reich, which recounts the experiences of visitors to Germany during the pre-war Nazi period. Certainly an interesting read if you're curious about the topic. In the book it's quite remarkable how many people were taken in by the Nazis, and seemingly oblivious to evil beneath the facade of utopia.

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