Introduction
Many historians believe that, Communism and Nazism (Socialism) are ideological doctrines with many similarities and differences. Nevertheless, the process of identifying the real differences and similarities of the two has never been easy. Some nations and societies have at one point tried to apply the two doctrines but failed to co-exist peacefully. In practice, the two doctrines arose at the closing stages of World War I.
The main reason why some extremists introduced these doctrines was to challenge democracy in Europe. Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin came into the center of European administration promising to unite European nations in order to have resembling economic ideologies. In their own views, Hitler and Stalin never believed that civilians could rule themselves and make concrete choices. Instead, they believed in an all-powerful leader who will make all decisions and choices on behalf of civilians.
In Germany, the Nazi Party did bicker in opposition to liberalism and democracy and fought hard for partisan nationalistic interests aimed at Germany superiority. On the other hand, the Soviet Union chose Communism in order to dispel capitalism based on workers’ revolution and instead, deployed a doctrine where communities own property rather than individuals. The two systems almost the same albeit some ideological differences.
Similarities between Nazism and Communism
There were similarities between the two doctrines based on leadership styles though the similarities were few. For example, both Nazism and Communism believed in a superior government, which will control the economy. In Nazism and Communism, workers did not enjoy much, as labor laws seemed so harsh.
Additionally, there were government-controlled unions that controlled workers and discouraged them from strikes. Additionally, the two doctrines Nazism and Communism assert that, it is the economy, which is responsible for all goods and services, and therefore, the public should plan, control and own these goods and services through a central organization called government.
What mattered most in Nazism and Communism was the loyalty accorded to the government as state interests always came first. Nazism and Communism characterized with brutality and pseudo-intellectualism in length. While Communism tamped the chest on Marx writings, eerie theoreticians and appalling men formed Nazi pseudo-intellectualism.
It came out that, the Nazi pseudo-intellectualism produced the best scientists like Robert Einstein. Both Communism and Nazism associated themselves with brutality behind the veneer of sham eggheads. By the end of the twentieth century, the two doctrines claimed over 150 million lives.
Differences between Nazism and Communism
On the other hand, the differences between Nazism and Communism appear diverse. This means, the two systems cannot coexist because of varied doctrines. In general, Socialism (Nazism) refers to an economic system, which seeks to administer the economy based on premeditated and combined social control measures.
In contrast, Communism combines political and economic systems aimed at controlling property distribution, and ensuring that, groups own property rather than individuals. In this case, the government has control on the system of allocating property through centralization to provide the desired stateliness and egalitarianism. Ironically, the two doctrines discourage capitalism.
Under socialism (Nazism), the doctrine dictates that, people own property according to the amount of effort they labor in production. This means that, the more a person engages in productive work, the more properties one owns. This is not the same case with Communism. The doctrines in Communism assert all members of the society to be equal. Therefore, distribution of goods and services depend on wholesome individual needs.
Given these two warring scenarios on Communism and Nazism, it is hard for the two doctrines to co-exist peacefully. Nazism creates a sense of hard work paid by individual material possessions. On the other hand, Communism generates into laziness and burglary. Indeed the two doctrines cannot coexist because; there will be communal property and individual property amounting to social conflict.
On capitalism, Communists believe in a communist ideal where, private ownership and capitalism dwell no more, the reason being, to achieve a classless society. They believe that, an egalitarian society provides equal opportunities to all members and that, every member in a society is entitled to access property irrespective of individual efforts.
In practical Communism, the government owns land, pays people to produce and them distributes these goods and services to civilians. On the contrary, Socialists demand capitalism and yearn for a capitalistic society.
They believe that, an ideal and stable society must have rich and poor people. One advantage associated with capitalism in Socialism doctrine is that, at least every member from a society will benefit indirectly or directly from capitalism so long as, the central planning system, government, joystick the avenues of capitalism.
How the two Doctrines Cannot Peacefully Co-exist
In communism, small groups control the economy of a country while in Nazism; the system allows many people to own property hence, control the economy. Thus, the two doctrines though based on economic philosophies, cannot coexist under one social spectrum. The mix of the two in Germany led to privatized and state Capitalism and tension in the Nazi party. In U.S.SR, socialism turned out mixed with Socialism where the government became an oppressive bureaucracy.
It is important to note that, Nazism sired Communism as a sub-ideology. In 19th century, Marx and Engel applied Communism and Nazism interchangeably. However, after getting a loss from their agricultural based industry, they aborted Communism and instead, welcomed Nazism and asserted that, it will turn them back to Communism. This never happened; creating an assumption Communism and Nazism cannot peacefully coexist.