Nazi Germany, the beginning of a pristine brand for pure evil (1925-1932)

Bad well marketed – More about me at Kampf

While Hitler dictated what would become his political platform and excuse for the extermination of his people, the people of Europe, the Jewish population, and the Communist Party, he remained in prison and dictated the book to his personal secretary, Rudolf Hess. Due to overwhelming sympathy for Hitler and the Nazi cause, Hitler was allowed constant visits during his imprisonment at Landsberg; this included Hess, who was present most of the time to help with Hitler’s daily work.

From a marketing perspective, Mein Kampf was a masterpiece of hatred, a compelling case for war, and a strong mark of the Jewish population as evil, greedy, and the one who fuels German society. Hitler’s ideal world was a world full of German Aryans and his team was prepared to begin the uphill battle of marketing (better known as Nazi propaganda) towards the final solution.

Through his brand of the Jews in Mein Kampf, he laid the groundwork for early racist activity like Kristallnacht, pronounced in German as “Crystal Night.” However, the Holocaust did not begin until the end of the war, as Hitler and the world were too focused on the outcome of their Russian invasion, which gave the Nazis a great distraction for the mass murder of many unwanted Europeans.

A terrible economy, a perfect time for Nazi ideology, October 29, 1929

Although the aforementioned date is best known for the collapse of the American stock market, it was also the increased effectiveness of Nazi propaganda. At an alarming rate, jobs were lost in Germany and inflation was unlike anything Europe had ever seen before.

Overnight, a German worker’s life savings could no longer buy bread. Hitler, citing his publication, was able to convince the German workers to believe that the Treaty of Versailles and the supporters of the pact (Jews and Marxists) were the reason for this depression. Although the Treaty of Versailles contributed to the ruin of Germany’s economy, much more was at stake. Regardless, Hitler commercialized his hatred and people felt safe having a scapegoat.

During this time, Hitler successfully called himself the “good boy” or “savior” of the German people. At this time, the Nazi party was still small, however, the public perception of it was increasingly positive. Hitler used this popularity to begin calling the Nazi party the answer to both Germany’s problems and the “Jewish problem.” Although, at this point, a possible Holocaust or annexation of Eastern European territories were a long way off. The Nazi party had more to convince and more political opponents to defeat.

Hitler and his Cronies attempt maximum political glory – 1931

After spending about three years away from politics in which Hitler fell in love with a niece (of course) who would later commit suicide during their courtship, Hitler, Goebbels and their cronies began their presidential ambitions. To those who knew him through political ranks (outside of the Nazi party and some internally), they viewed Hitler as a bully and viewed him as pure evil in human form.

Still, the Führer’s speeches somehow gave the German people hope. When the current government was crumbling, the Nazi party was formed and closely interwoven with a strong hierarchy that was evident to the German people. At that time, Hitler and the Nazi party seemed like it was becoming the only solution.

It was almost too perfect when an old, outdated President Hindenburg ran again. After all, he was the same old candidate. Hitler had a new marketing slogan that read “Freedom and bread.” Of course, it could be assumed that the “Freedom” aspect of this phase signified the annulment of the Treaty of Versailles.

In the presidential elections of March 1932, Hitler obtained a disappointing 30% of the votes, however, President Hindenburg obtained 49% of the German votes; this meant that they had to have a second round. While Hindenburg was old-school and relying on his name and quasi-royal status, Hitler and the Nazis got their pristine marketing and advertising back on track. The Nazi Party started with a stronger brand that successfully targeted female support.

“In the Third Reich every young German woman will find a husband,” proclaimed the party throughout Europe. The Nazi party was even able to ignore the fact that one of its highest-ranking officers, SA chief Ernst Rohm, was homosexual. Letters between him and his male lover were discovered and quoted in the German press.

At this time, however, the Nazi brownshirts led by Rohm had the numbers to allow scare tactics to those who did not vote for the party. However, Hitler, who now knew the political game, asked the brownshirts to take a break; they did it. After all, during a formal election, Hitler did not want to promote himself as a common bully. This worked to win popular support from the German worker, but it would not gain ground with German political figures if the brownshirts did not rest; they did it.

Although Hitler had opponents during this period, he ended up gaining control of Germany. Although he convinced the German people of his political prowess, he failed to convince the German intellectuals. A political opponent of his named Kurt van Schleicher, who was the last chancellor of Germany during the Weimar Republic era, fled the country after Hitler’s race to become the top political figure. Hitler not only wanted the presidency, he wanted to be the Führer of Germany; got what worked.

Before fleeing, Schleicher made a comment that did not resonate well with the Nazis, yet they were able to ignore it; their marketing and propaganda put them in too positive a light for anything to ruin it. In derogatory terms, Schleicher called Hitler an Austrian who was a liar, called Rohm a “pervert” and called Goebbels what he hated the most (even more than being mocked for his Jewish appearance during childhood), a clubfoot. Needless to say, the Nazis wanted to make Schleicher disappear, but they never made him a priority and he seemed to disappear.