Politics of Big Business' During the Rise of the Nazi Party

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Turner argues that the representatives of big business did not support Hitler financially on his rise to power because the fear of a Nazi socialist government. Business representatives used their money and political power to keep a government free of Marxism. They realized their businesses would not thrive when politics totally controlled the economy. Turner says that big business' role in politics where to preserve a nonsocialist government by forming nonsocialist parties, funding nationalist candidates, and by supporting the conservative wing of the Nazi party.

The German population was split in supporters of Nationalism and Socialism. Marxism and socialist government would eliminate competition between businesses and take profits out of the hands of business owners. Because of this, wealthy businessmen who entered politics would back a nationalist party. In an effort to increase the nationalist party's political power, several businessmen formed a single nonsocialist party known as "burgerliche Einheitspartei." Through this party, big businesses could put weighty pressure on politics candidates.

Parties formed on the behalf of big businesses supporters never found a strong voice in politics. Instead of creating their own political power, businesses could influence politicians with their money. Contributions were made to campaigns of nonsocialist candidates in return for policies that would benefit businesses. Some candidates that were receiving contributions were running against Adolph Hitler (Turner 94).

When it appeared inevitable that Hitler was going to come into power, some businessmen became supporters of the Nazi party even though they feared a Nazi socialist nation. The reason businesses would sponsor a socialists party was so that the government could help a company profit as a sort of business insurance if it were to financially contribute to who was in power. Support was given to the conservative wing of the Nazi party because they were more likely to share in the interests of big business representatives rather than the more radical Nazis (Turner 95).

It was apparent that businesses would pay for political power. In an attempt to gain from business' political money, a pamphlet was distributed through out German businesses that explained that businesses should not fear a Nazi government. The pamphlet idea came from a businessman who was a member of the Nazi party (Turner 93).

Big business' influence in politics was aimed at preserve a nonsocialist government by forming nonsocialist parties, funding nationalist candidates and by supporting the conservative wing of the nazi party.

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