Ok, so here's my take on what Fascism is and where Nazi Germany stands with regards to Fascism:
Italy was Fascist no doubt about that and so was Franco's Spain. However Nazi Germany wasn't a Fascist state and i'll tell you why:
1). Fascism: Contrary to common misconceptions, Italian Fascism was not a racist ideology as it was conformed around the ethnic makeup of the Italian peninsula which was diverse where you had Germanic Italians in the northern provinces and as you made your way down to the southern tip of Italy and into Sicily you had Italians who looked very much like North African Arabs and Jews. In fact Fascist Italy, along with the Pope also had a Chief Rabbi of Rome who represented the significant Jewish population of the city. Fascism was based on National unity (thus its
symbol the Fasces),
not racial unity.
“Nothing will ever make me believe that biologically pure races can be shown to exist today.… National pride has no need of the delirium of race.” - Mussolini
The core of Fascism was its economic principles rather than race or religion. Fascism was not opposed to monarchy and aristocracy but rather worked in tandem with the former. Fascism was, in other words, just a economic and political system. Fascism was, however, vehemently anti-Communist, anti-Capitalist, anti-Liberal and pro-Nationalism. Also, Fascism was indigenous to Italy as it naturally conformed to its Imperial Roman past from which it derived considerable influence. Just like Imperial Rome was a ethnically/racially diverse state, so too was Fascist Italy.
2). Nazism: More Appropriately known as National Socialism. National Socialist Germany was a racial state. Its core principle which formed the foundation of its ideology was the race followed by a socialist economic model (not to be confused with Marxist socialism) in line with its racial and nationalist worldview. While Marxist Socialism did not distinguish the masses on the basis of race, religion, or nationality (thus 'International Socialism'), National Socialism did make such distinctions. Also, unlike Marxist Socialism, National Socialism encouraged private enterprise and property as long as the endeavors of the individual were in line with the interest of the national community (
Volksgemeinschaft). There was no concept of equality in National Socialism with regards to performance of each individual in society as it took into consideration the laws of nature wherein every individual performed according to their capacity and no two people were alike. If an individual performed better than others in a specific field they were rewarded accordingly with more pay, a promotion, a increase in paid vacation, etc. Similarly if an individual slacked or underperformed they were replaced by someone more qualified to hold their position and this rule applied to any position in society be it a company manager or a government official. Now this might sound similar to today's capitalist system and meritocracies based on capitalism however once again the major difference is that National Socialism puts emphasis on the common interests of the National Community (race) rather than of individuals, and thus the binding factor here is the race. Capitalism does not follow this rule. While capitalism's end goal is maximum profit by any means, national socialism's end goal is serving the interest of the national community by any and all means. Therefore merit based system plays a very important role in the national socialist worldview as long as it serves the interest of the national community.
"
We are always on the lookout for ability; especially capacity for leadership (Leitungsfaehigkeit). That precious quality confers upon an individual the right to an agreeable life, a fine mansion, and many other good things. But the instant he shows himself unworthy of his position he loses them all and is cast aside. National Socialism plays no favorites. While princes and rich men have not been deprived of their titles and wealth, none of them have any prescriptive right to prominence in the Third Reich. If a prince in the Party (and we have them) shows capacity for leadership, he goes ahead. Otherwise, he stays in the background." -
Dr. Robert Ley, Reichs Minister for Labor
National Socialism would be opposed to today's multibillion dollar corporations who's end goal is only to make as much profit as possible at as low a cost as possible (immigration for cheap labor, outsourcing jobs overseas for cheap labor, etc) even at the cost of the community they are profiting from. Also National Socialism opposes private banks and only the state is allowed to own the banks (banks are nationalized). In National Socialist Germany the state bank was nationalized once the Nazis took power and this was the first major step towards Germany's economic revival. Basically anything that was to the detriment of the national community was in opposition to National Socialist ideals.
"We are socialists, we are enemies of today’s capitalistic economic system for the exploitation of the economically weak, with its unfair salaries, with its unseemly evaluation of a human being according to wealth and property instead of responsibility and performance, and we are determined to destroy this system under all conditions.” - Adolf Hitler, in 1927 speech, as quoted by John Toland in his biography
Adolf Hitler: The Definitive Biography
Unlike Marxist socialism which puts considerable emphasis on class warfare, national socialism seeks to establish class unity/cooperation rather than class struggle. Class struggle only leads to chaos and bloodshed. But seeing that Marxism's goal is revolutionary this is understandable why class warfare would be given considerable importance from a Marxist perspective since communist revolutions have only been successful in times of chaos. National Socialism opposes class warfare as it only serves to divide a nation, leading it to instability and internal strife.
"We have not broken down classes in order to set new ones in their place; we have broken down classes to make way for the German people as a whole. Our education also trains men to respect intellectual achievement: we bring one to respect the spade, another to respect the compass or the pen. All now are but German fellow-countrymen, and it is their achievement which determines their value... What is necessary is to teach each class and profession the importance of the others. All together form one mighty body; labourer, peasant, and professional man."
- Adolf Hitler
A common misconception about National Socialism is that it's an offshoot of Fascism. That is historically incorrect. The only thing the Nazis took from Italian Fascists was their marching style (Hitler's brown shirts were influenced by Mussolini's black shirts). There is no connection between the two movements indicating that one was the offshoot of the other.
Both Fascism and National Socialism were indigenous movements of their respective countries and thus they easily molded to the prevailing mindset in the societies of those countries
Fascism and National Socialism are NOT the same thing. Many people have a tendency to label Nazi Germany as Fascist out of sheer ignorance. By doing so they are doing injustice to historical facts. The labeling of Nazi Germany as Fascist has its origins in Soviet WWII propaganda since the proper usage of National Socialism would have confused the Soviet people as to who they were fighting.
Today a lot of nations in the world have adopted certain principles from Fascism and National Socialism.
