Nazism is an ideology and political movement that emerged in Germany in the early 20th century, specifically during the 1920s. Led by Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP), Nazism is characterized by its extreme nationalism, authoritarianism, and racist beliefs. Nazism's central tenets include ideals that promote Aryan superiority, anti-Semitism, and the pursuit of an ethnically pure society.
At its core, Nazism sought to establish a totalitarian state controlled by a single leader, or Führer, who held absolute authority. Hitler, as the embodiment of this ideology, aimed to unite all Germans under a unified racial, cultural, and political consciousness. Through propaganda campaigns and forceful repression, Hitler and his followers propagated their beliefs and sought to eliminate dissenting voices.
The Nazis' antisemitism was a cornerstone of their doctrine, which led to widespread persecution and ultimately culminated in the Holocaust. Under Hitler's regime, millions of Jews, along with other targeted groups such as Romani people, Poles, disabled individuals, and political opponents, were subjected to systematic extermination, forced labor, and brutal oppression.
Nazism's legacy is marked by its association with genocide, militarism, and the devastation of World War II. Following Germany's defeat in 1945, the Nazi regime crumbled, and its leaders were tried for crimes against humanity during the Nuremberg Trials. Today, Nazism is widely regarded as a reprehensible and discredited ideology, representing a dark chapter in human history.
