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There was only the choice between Communism and Hitler, and I will tell you why Hitler won. People will not give up religion, rights, freedom of personality, the opportunity to develop by individual effort - which includes private property. And the other reason for Hitler's winning is that if a whole people is treated as the Germans were, everyone will say, 'Are we worse people than others? Are we of a minor race?' Just as every single individual needs and must have self-respect, just as every family is proud of decent traditions, so every nation wants to maintain her individual manner, culture, language, and customs. It was in these respects that Communism failed. The Communists said that God was nonsense and stupidity and preached internationalism without maintaining the natural national feelings of a nation.

Hjalmar Schacht#7

PoliticsIdeologyNationalismRights

About this quote

What does it mean?
Hitler won over Communism because people value religion, rights, and national self-respect which Communism denied.
In plain terms
People chose Hitler because he preserved religion and national pride.
What can you take from it?
Movements succeed by respecting individual and national dignity.

Where it applies

  • political campaigns
  • ideological debates
  • national movements

Putting it to work

  • respect cultural values
  • assess ideological appeal

Questions to consider

  • What makes an ideology appealing?
  • How do rights compare to order?

Another view

This ignores the violent methods used to secure that appeal.

More from Hjalmar Schacht

  1. One thing I fear, that you Americans will do the same thing that you did after the last war. I mean that you will pull out of here and leave Europe, then Russi…

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  2. I was never in the army - I never had a uniform - I was never a soldier. I detest uniforms because they make one unfree. There is an old quotation that goes so…

    Permalink to quote #8
  3. Colonies are necessary to Germany. We shall get them through negotiation if possible; but if not, we shall take them.

    Permalink to quote #5

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