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What was Nazism?

Nazism was a political doctrine developed by the National Socialist German Workers' Party, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler (1889–1945). At first "Nazi," which is an abbreviation for the name of the party, was considered a negative term; but eventually it was adopted by party members. Nazism was based on three philosophies—extreme nationalism (devotion to one's own country), anti-Semitism (hatred of Jews), and anticommunism (opposition to communism, a government system in which the state controls the economy and only one political party holds power). After Germany was defeated in World War I (1914–18) and subjected to severe punishment under the Treaty of Versailles (1919), the nation's role in European affairs was greatly diminished. The doctrines of Nazism therefore took hold in Germany, appealing to the masses with promises of a revitalized country.

The "bible" of Nazism was Hitler's Mein...

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