Hitler and the third Reich, used Socialism in Nazi in an Orwellian way. Certain types of people name everything the opposite of what it is, Patriot Act is a good example. You see it all the time when programs or even Bills are named. It is a common practice of a deceptive organization.
Those that do good, call it good, those that do bad, call it good.
If you actually look at NAZI Germany, it was Fascist not Socialist.
Look how this definition of Socialism leads towards Marxism. (Note that this dictionary site is supported by ask.com a company started by same guy that started fox news)
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/socialism 1. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
2. procedure or practice in accordance with this theory.
3. (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles. I like this definition that gives a little more information including today's non communist forms of socialism
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/551569/socialismthe Soviet Union was the principal model of strictly centralized socialism, while Sweden and Denmark were well-known for their noncommunist socialism.Origins
The origins of socialism as a political movement lie in the Industrial Revolution. Its intellectual roots, however, reach back almost as far as recorded thought—even as far as Moses, according to one history of the subject. Socialist or communist ideas certainly play an important part in the ideas of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, whose Republic depicts an austere society in which men and women of the “guardian” class share with each other not only their few material goods but also their spouses and children. Early Christian communities also practiced the sharing of goods and labour, a simple form of socialism subsequently followed in certain forms of monasticism. Several monastic orders continue these practices today.
It could be said that Hitler used the idea of 'a greater good', like socialism to promote or sell horrible ideas to the Germany people, mixed with Nationalism, and dehumanization of groups based on belief systems, while arguing need for survival of fittest Natural Laws, in some weird form it allowed him to create support and actions that would not other wise have seemed possible in any rational population.
Hitler demonized groups, gays, immigrants, and people with non standard beliefs as defined by him, including the Jewish people. This ability to create different groups and segmenting society, allowed his followers to lose all empathy for people in other groups and allowed once normal people, to become monsters.
That approach could be done to lets say Muslims, or Immigrants in modern countries, or it could be done to Christians or Jews in other countries, it is a method of creating groups, hate and fear added, then total loss of empathy or identification with other people.
But back on the topic of Socialism... Hitler, hated the politics of the Soviet Union, that used a form of Socialism called Communism. But Fascism and Communism are considered opposite ends of the spectrum. Or are you saying NAZI was to transition Germany to be like the USSR and become Communists? To be more clear, communism is communal owned everything with central authority to manage. Communism also uses a form of Athens democracy for elections, but is many times corrupted. Fascism in Germany was Industrialist class control with monopoly, and state central authority to promote or protect that rule under a dictatorship.
The poster did not realize that Hitlers lie machine, like many other lie machines through history, still have effects if you do not realize that propaganda exists. He used the term Socialism, because it promotes the idea of community and general welfare of all, but used the means of Fascism, because we all know from history, his rule was to elevate a few, and dictate, or worse, to the many. He also worked with industry, and used those industry in monopoly form to control production, a common method of fascism. The top to bottom, feudal like system that can be created with monopoly controlled capitalism, is usually well liked by dictators, because it creates a series of feudal like barons in the private sector. Its structure of leader, nobles, and peasants is well liked by authoritarians.
I found an article written on Germany in 1940, it explains some of the economic systems of the time from the perspective of Marxist, relevant to show the difference of fascism and socialism (Since socialism says it wants to move to Marxism.)
Article on 1940 Germany from a Socialist/Marxist perspective.
http://www.marxists.org/history/etol/newspape/ni/vol06/no07/robbins.htmInfo on Source of article
http://www.marxists.org/glossary/periodicals/n/i.htmNow lets look at the word fascist, what 1940 Germany, and Italy were considered to be.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fascistoften capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascist) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
2: a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control Now lets look at today, and US politics.
President Obama, and the Democrats are not socialist
However, some areas where social programs exist to limit unbridled capitalism are supported.
For instance many do advocate, as most Americans do, some social programs to protect the people in society. Things like Child Labor Laws, Social Security, Having a Police and Fire department paid by taxes, Protection of rights of disabled, and even a legal system, are all social programs paid by taxation, that could be called part of socialism.
What many don't know, is Bush's destruction of government is because there are some that want everything ran by companies, so Police would be hired security forces for individual communities, and policy would be determined like in the mining towns of 1900s were company owned the housing the stores and hired Pinkertons for security. This was why KFC advocating filling pot holes in a recent story, because filling pot holes is a symbol for the first and basic task of government. It is an example of a move for companies to replace government.
More examples are when the Company town existed where CEO set the moral standards of the community he built for the factory workers, he decided when people could drink or socialize, and set standards on Religion and other elements of community. If people did not like it, they could move out of company housing and find another job.
This is because company ran system is the feudal model, a few CEO's elected by 'Nobles', people with large shares of stock, rule the peasants. Like how the industries that supported Hitler in 1940s created autocratic rule under him in Germany.
So if you want to compare to 1940 Germany.
The democrats and President Obama are on the side of America, and the British, while the Right, libertarian, authoritarian, company firsters, would side with Germany and Italy.
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