Man Must Kill

Man Must Kill [1929]

Adolf Hitler (1889-1945)

The leader of the German National Socialist (Nazi) Party, Adolf Hitler promoted his version of Social Darwinism in speeches that deeply appealed to many Germans of his day. The Holocaust, in which Hitler's forces rounded up and murdered six million Jews and others "unfit" types such as homosexuals, was a radical extension of Social Darwinist theory. In the following excerpt from one of these popular speeches, Hitler explains why he believes his politics are right and necessary--and how Germany intends to see them through.

If men wish to live, then they are forced to kill others. The entire struggle for survival is a conquest of the means of existence, which in turn results in the elimination of others from the same sources of subsistence. As long as there are peoples on this earth, there will be nations against nations and they will be forced to protect their vital rights in the same way as the individual is forced to protect his rights.

There is in reality no distinction between peace and war. Life, no matter in what form, is a process which always leads to the same result. Self-preservation will always be the goal of every individual. Struggle is ever present and will remain. This signifies a constant willingness on the part of man to sacrifice to the utmost. Weapons, methods, instruments, formations, these may change, but in the end the struggle for survival remains.

One is either the hammer or the anvil. We confess that it is our purpose to prepare the German people again for the role of the hammer. For ten years we have preached, and our deepest concern is: Now can we again achieve power? We admit freely and openly that if our movement is victorious, we will be concerned day and night with the question of how to produce the armed forces which are forbidden us by the peace treaty (Treaty of Versailles). We solemnly confess that we consider everyone a scoundrel who does not try day and night to figure out away to violate this treaty, for we have never recognized this treaty.

We admit, therefore, that as far as we are concerned the German army in its present form is not permanent. For us it will serve only as a great cadre army, that is, as a source of sergeants and officers. And in the meantime we will be continuously at work filling in the ranks. We will take every step which strengthens our arms, which augments the number of our forces, and which increases the strength of our people.

We confess further that we will dash anyone to pieces who should dare to hinder us in this undertaking... Our rights will never be represented by others. Our rights will be protected only when the German Reich is again supported by the point of the German dagger.

Questions for Discussion and Writing

1. Connect Hitler's image of the hammer and the anvil to Social Darwinist principles. What does it mean for a country or race to play the part of the anvil? The part of the hammer?

2. Hitler's speech opens with a major logical assumption. To what extent do you agree with his opening assertion?

3. Is Hitler's view of Germany's right to world domination an outmoded one, or is it conceivable for nations today to adopt a similar view of their own right to world power?

4. Why might the people of Germany have found Hitler's doctrine appealing? Consider the appeal of the doctrine in contemporary America: which group(s) might support it, and which group(s) might most energetically oppose it?

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