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The Nazis, Capitalism and the Working Class
Many historians explain the brutal emergence of the Nazi party in Germany in terms of national prejudices or Hitler's charismatic demagoguery. In this extraordinary Marxist analysis, Donny Gluckstein take issue with such arguments, demonstrating that at the height of an economic crisis in one of the most advanced countries in the world, it was the Nazis’ commitment to annihilating the gains of working-class organizations that made their political platform attractive to the German ruling class.
Though anti-Semitism was at the center of Nazi ideology, it was not enough to propel the party to popularity; the Nazis were a minor, politically irrelevant force until the collapse of the German economy. Only then did their promise of relief from the hardships of the Depression pave the way for fascism's wider appeal and ultimate rise to power. Yet this rise did not go unchallenged. Gluckstein also provides an analysis of working-class resistance to the Nazis.
As the global economy careens into a new period of crisis, far-right and explicitly fascist parties are gaining ground across Europe. The urgency of preventing a resurgence of fascism in the twenty-first century makes it more necessary than ever to understand the political and social context of the Nazis’ ascent to power in Germany.
Though anti-Semitism was at the center of Nazi ideology, it was not enough to propel the party to popularity; the Nazis were a minor, politically irrelevant force until the collapse of the German economy. Only then did their promise of relief from the hardships of the Depression pave the way for fascism's wider appeal and ultimate rise to power. Yet this rise did not go unchallenged. Gluckstein also provides an analysis of working-class resistance to the Nazis.
As the global economy careens into a new period of crisis, far-right and explicitly fascist parties are gaining ground across Europe. The urgency of preventing a resurgence of fascism in the twenty-first century makes it more necessary than ever to understand the political and social context of the Nazis’ ascent to power in Germany.
300 pages, Paperback
First published October 22, 1999
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About the author
Donny Gluckstein
21Ìýbooks13ÌýfollowersDonny Gluckstein is a lecturer in history in Edinburgh and is a member of the Socialist Workers' Party (UK).
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 10, 2017
I read this several years ago and at the time it blew my mind. I only knew the story of Nazi Germany as regurgitated in basic history classes and mass media. This thoroughly researched book reveals a different side of this history, showing how economic crisis and class struggle impacted the rise and reign of this genocidal regime. The lessons this history offers us are so critical at this moment in time. Over the past few years, Europe has seen an alarming resurgence of neo-Nazi groups, and now they are gaining momentum in the U.S. as well. This book provides us with an important tool for understanding current events and, hopefully, to stop history from repeating itself any further.
December 11, 2012
perfect primer making the case that fascism has specific roots in capitalist ideology and did not simply arise because hitler was a lunatic or that germans are particularly fond of anti-semitism and extreme repression. very well researched and constructed. a must read for anyone looking to understand fascism then and now.
July 27, 2018
We live in extremely troubling times. Small Nazi groups are marching in the street in Australia. Much larger Nazi and far-right groups are marching in the US and the UK. There are mass demonstrations of Nazis in Europe, and actual Nazi parties are in government in Germany and several other European countries. Nazis and Klansmen are running for state positions in the US.
We need to understand what fascism and Nazism are, where they come from, and most importantly of all, how to defeat Nazism before they are able to completely take power.
More than any other book, Donny Gluckstein’s ‘Nazis, Capitalism and the Working Class’ is able to provide that understanding.
I would recommend that literally everyone read this book, take its lessons to heart, and then act on them.
We need to understand what fascism and Nazism are, where they come from, and most importantly of all, how to defeat Nazism before they are able to completely take power.
More than any other book, Donny Gluckstein’s ‘Nazis, Capitalism and the Working Class’ is able to provide that understanding.
I would recommend that literally everyone read this book, take its lessons to heart, and then act on them.
March 19, 2025
"Within the broad spectrum of resistance in Germany itself it was the working class that distinguished itself as the most important and chief obstacle to the monstrous ambitions of the Third Reich."
This book got more and more interesting the further I read. It has definitely introduced me to a perspective of World War II that I have been largely unaware of until recently. I am so interested in reading more works similar to this
This book got more and more interesting the further I read. It has definitely introduced me to a perspective of World War II that I have been largely unaware of until recently. I am so interested in reading more works similar to this
May 8, 2020
Donny Gluckstein’s 'Nazis, Capitalism and the Working Class’ does not mince words and forcefully argues that at the center of Nazism is class and the totality of Nazi polices and history is inseparable from capitalism. He disputes the claims by other historians that Nazism somehow over came class division and became some type of classless popular movement.
He argues that if we fail to understand the class nature of nazism we cannot accurately understand Nazism as a historical movement or occurrence, nor can we understand how to stop the re-emergence of fascism as a global counter-revolutionary movement. Gluckstein’s published this book in 1999 and, unfortunately that fear of the re-emergence of fascism appears to be more poignant now than when it was originally published.
It is no surprise that Gluckstein invokes Trotsky as a sort of guide to the class point of view given that Gluckstein is the son of well-known Trotskyist Tony Cliff. His use of Trotsky might scare some away, but the book never devolves into any sort of sectarianism. In fact, his list of seven essential lessons for today’s resistance can easily be accept by anyone opposing fascism and are often invoked such as: ‘no platforming’, refusal to rely on the law/constitutional guarantees, the necessity of working class resistance organization, and some kind of united front.
As a way to demonstrate the class point of view, Gluckstein briefly explains the class disputes going back to at least 1848 as a way to show that the rise of Nazism was not ahistorical; the relationship between the state and capital, anti-semitism, hatred for the working class, and imperialism or desire to expand German nation was not unique to Hitler/nazism. He continues by explaining the development of the Nazi party its policies, tactics and strategy, its class make up, its connection to the military and big business (which intensifies over time), and who its enemies were. Gluckstein often quotes primary sources material including Hitler’s book and speeches and the diaries of leading party members a means to establish that the Nazism themselves were explicit about their class enemies, as well as, their virulent antisemitism. Besides their written confessions, unfortunately, there is also the tragic history of their actions and the failure of the German working class to successfully resist them, which he also outlines.
Gluckstein’s engages with other explanations, but strikes the right balance of engaging with other sources without becoming too academic. He offers a general summary of certain positions and then offers a rejoinder, rather than getting bogged down in the extensive details of long running academic disputes. This approach makes the book a fast read and a good primer in general for anyone wanting to understand the rise of nazism, the tragic failure of the working class to stop it in its tracks, and the lessons we should learn to fight it today.
He argues that if we fail to understand the class nature of nazism we cannot accurately understand Nazism as a historical movement or occurrence, nor can we understand how to stop the re-emergence of fascism as a global counter-revolutionary movement. Gluckstein’s published this book in 1999 and, unfortunately that fear of the re-emergence of fascism appears to be more poignant now than when it was originally published.
It is no surprise that Gluckstein invokes Trotsky as a sort of guide to the class point of view given that Gluckstein is the son of well-known Trotskyist Tony Cliff. His use of Trotsky might scare some away, but the book never devolves into any sort of sectarianism. In fact, his list of seven essential lessons for today’s resistance can easily be accept by anyone opposing fascism and are often invoked such as: ‘no platforming’, refusal to rely on the law/constitutional guarantees, the necessity of working class resistance organization, and some kind of united front.
As a way to demonstrate the class point of view, Gluckstein briefly explains the class disputes going back to at least 1848 as a way to show that the rise of Nazism was not ahistorical; the relationship between the state and capital, anti-semitism, hatred for the working class, and imperialism or desire to expand German nation was not unique to Hitler/nazism. He continues by explaining the development of the Nazi party its policies, tactics and strategy, its class make up, its connection to the military and big business (which intensifies over time), and who its enemies were. Gluckstein often quotes primary sources material including Hitler’s book and speeches and the diaries of leading party members a means to establish that the Nazism themselves were explicit about their class enemies, as well as, their virulent antisemitism. Besides their written confessions, unfortunately, there is also the tragic history of their actions and the failure of the German working class to successfully resist them, which he also outlines.
Gluckstein’s engages with other explanations, but strikes the right balance of engaging with other sources without becoming too academic. He offers a general summary of certain positions and then offers a rejoinder, rather than getting bogged down in the extensive details of long running academic disputes. This approach makes the book a fast read and a good primer in general for anyone wanting to understand the rise of nazism, the tragic failure of the working class to stop it in its tracks, and the lessons we should learn to fight it today.
June 18, 2021
Gluckstein provides a powerful inquiry into the role capitalism, specifically in regard to the upper class's desire to maintain cultural dominance in Germany, played a role in Hitler's ascendance and the mainstream acceptance of the Nazi Party. Gluckstein may downplay the full impact of Antisemitism in the Nazi Party's rise, yet his call for readers to consider how Antisemitism intersects with hegemony in capitalism is worthwhile for those wanting to consider how hate-centric movements gain efficacy when they serve to generate profit for a given status quo.
May 10, 2019
Illuminating Marxist analysis of Hitler and the Nazi party. Helpful in that it exposes the link between capitalism, fascism and the driving forces behind both.
April 29, 2021
Some issues around the fringes but overall an eye-opening and bracing read full of solid anlysis
January 19, 2023
I'm a little embarrassed about how scarce my actual knowledge of the conditions contributing to the rise of fascism in Germany from the 1920's onward was- thankfully, this was a great read to rectify that lack. Arguing against the dominant beliefs of historians on how Hitler rose to power (and the supposed "classless-ness" of Nazi society), Gluckstein thoroughly establishes that Nazism was not a "third way" movement untethered to either socialism or capitalism, but a "grotesque expression of capitalist ideology" in the extreme. I think Gluckstein falters somewhat with certain arguments he makes- he waffles about too much with Trotskyist critiques of the supposed "state capitalism" of the USSR and over-estimates influence of Moscow on the KPD. I think Dimitrov's analysis of German resistance (and the failures of the left) is much better on these points. Overall though, the rest of his arguments are really solid and instructive.
May 4, 2025
I wanted to read this book to understand what fascism is and I found it really useful.
This book blew 💥💥 my mind bc I haven’t read or seriously thought about nazis and the holocaust since high school. At school It’s taught as if every German just hated Jewish people. Reading this book i was lowkey shocked how wrong that is. Antisemitism is just one aspect of the extreme capitalist ideology of Nazism that aimed to completely crush the working class and any dissent against the system.
This book blew 💥💥 my mind bc I haven’t read or seriously thought about nazis and the holocaust since high school. At school It’s taught as if every German just hated Jewish people. Reading this book i was lowkey shocked how wrong that is. Antisemitism is just one aspect of the extreme capitalist ideology of Nazism that aimed to completely crush the working class and any dissent against the system.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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