Is It Really Rightwing?

While performing research and refinement for another post, this author noted that most media outlets, leftists, and their institutions refer to Fascism and Nazi ideology as Rightwing. But is this true? 

Well, one could simply look at the source and know it is not true, given the history of inaccuracy. 

This author believes that Naziism was Leftwing. A subdivision of Socialism. And that revisionist historians, mostly from the past 5 years or so, have tried to redefine it as being Rightwing. But, let's test that hypothesis. To do so, we must first define terms. These terms gathered from a Google search. 

Fascism

But let's dig deeper. First off, the tenets of Fascism:

• Dictatorial leader
• Centralized Autocracy (usually in the dictator)
• Militarism (usually to enforce the edicts of the dictator)
• Forcible suppression of opposition.
• Belief in a natural social hierarchy
• National (or racial) interests are more important than the individual.
• Control of the society and economy.

To be fair, these are neither Rightwing, nor Leftwing ideologies. Also to be fair, we have seen far more Leftwing governments employ these techniques. Here's looking at you, Communism and Socialism! 

Socialism

Now, let's define Socialism. Along with it, we will define Communism and Marxism. Tenets of Socialism:

• Collective or public ownership: 
• Egalitarianism: redistribution of wealth. 
• Economic democracy and planning: still state mandated, but under the guise of "democracy."
• Anti-capitalism: State control as opposed to individual or free market control. 

Of note: Communism is a type of Socialism. Whereas Socialism socializes both production and consumption, Communism socializes production.

Also of note: Marxism is a type of socialism wherein capitalism falls into socialism, then communism, by way of dictatorship. It is a fascist socialism. 

Right Wing Ideology

Now, let's define Right Wing tenets:

• Moral order / emphasis on virtue
• Reduced government size / fiscal responsibility
• Individual liberty
• Free markets
• Individual freedom
• Property rights for individuals

Nationalism

It is important to define nationalism for this exercise. It is universally agreed that Nazi Germans were nationalists. But what are the tenets of Nationalism? Note: none of these are inherently Right Wing or Left Wing. Like Fascism, they can exist within all political spectrums. 

• Self-determination (of a nation, as opposed to an individual necessarily)
• Loyalty to one's nation
• Sovereignty of one's nation. 
• A sense of national unity or pride based on shared culture, national interests, language, or history. 

Nazi Ideology

Now, lets look at the 25 points of Nazi Germany. After each, this author shall place in bold italics the ideology it most resembles. 

1. We demand the union of all Germans in a Greater Germany on the basis of the right of national self-determination.
Nationalist

2. We demand equality of rights for the German people in its dealings with other nations, and the revocation of the peace treaties of Versailles and Saint-Germain.
Nationalist

3. We demand land and territory (colonies) to feed our people and to settle our surplus population.
Nationalist

4. Only a member of the nation [Volksgenosse] may be a citizen of the State. Only someone of German blood, whatever their creed, may be a member of the nation. Accordingly, no Jew may be a member of the nation.
Nationalist. Antisemitic.

5. A Non-citizen may live in Germany only as a guest and must be subject to laws for aliens.
Nationalist

6. The right to vote on the State’s leadership and legislation shall be enjoyed by the citizens of the State alone. We demand therefore that all official appointments, of whatever kind, whether in the Reich, in the states or in the smaller localities, shall be held by none but citizens.

We oppose the corrupting parliamentary custom of filling posts merely in accordance with party considerations, and without reference to character or abilities.
Nationalist

7. We demand that the State shall make it its primary duty to provide a livelihood for its citizens. If it should prove impossible to feed the entire population, foreign nationals (non-citizens) must be deported from the Reich.
Socialist

8. All non-German immigration must be prevented. We demand that all non-Germans who entered Germany after 2 August 1914 shall be required to leave the Reich forthwith.
Nationalist

9. All citizens shall have equal rights and duties.
Nationalist. Socialist.

10. It must be the first duty of every citizen to perform physical or mental work. The activities of the individual must not clash with the general interest, but must proceed within the framework of the community and be for the general good.
Socialist


We demand therefore:

11. The abolition of incomes unearned by work, breaking the slavery of interest.
Capitalist.

12. In view of the enormous sacrifices of life and property demanded of a nation by any war, personal enrichment from war must be regarded as a crime against the nation. We demand therefore the total confiscation of all war profits.
Socialist. Communist.

13. We demand the nationalization of all businesses which have been formed into corporations (trusts).
Socialist. Communist.

14. We demand profit-sharing in large industrial enterprises.
Socialist. Communist.

15. We demand the extensive development of insurance for old age.
Socialist. Communist.

16. We demand the creation and maintenance of a healthy middle class, the immediate communalizing of big department stores, and their lease at a cheap rate to small traders, and that the utmost consideration shall be shown to all small traders in the placing of State and municipal orders.
Socialist. Communist.

17. We demand a land reform suitable to our national requirements, the passing of a law for the expropriation of land for communal purposes without compensation; the abolition of ground rent, and the prohibition of all speculation in land.
Socialist. Communist.

18. We demand the ruthless prosecution of those whose activities are injurious to the common interest. Common criminals, usurers, profiteers, etc., must be punished with death, whatever their creed or race.
Fascist

19. We demand that Roman Law, which serves a materialistic world order, be replaced by a German common law.
Socialist

20. The State must consider a thorough reconstruction of our national system of education (with the aim of opening up to every able and hard-working German the possibility of higher education and of thus obtaining advancement). The curricula of all educational establishments must be brought into line with the requirements of practical life. The aim of the school must be to give the pupil, beginning with the first sign of intelligence, a grasp of the notion of the State (through the study of civic affairs). We demand the education of gifted children of poor parents, whatever their class or occupation, at the expense of the State.
Socialist

21. The State must ensure that the nation’s health standards are raised by protecting mothers and infants, by prohibiting child labor, by promoting physical strength through legislation providing for compulsory gymnastics and sports, and by the extensive support of clubs engaged in the physical training of youth.
Socialist. Fascist.

22. We demand the abolition of the mercenary army and the formation of a people’s army.
Fascist.

23. We demand legal warfare on deliberate political mendacity and its dissemination in the press. To facilitate the creation of a German national press we demand:
Socialist. Communist.

a. that all editors of, and contributors to newspapers appearing in the German language must be members of the nation;
Socialist. Communist.

b. that no non-German newspapers may appear without the express permission of the State. They must not be printed in the German language;
Socialist. Communist.

c. that non-Germans shall be prohibited by law from participating financially in or influencing German newspapers, and that the penalty for contravening such a law shall be the suppression of any such newspaper, and the immediate deportation of the non-Germans involved. The publishing of papers which are not conducive to the national welfare must be forbidden. We demand the legal prosecution of all those tendencies in art and literature which corrupt our national life, and the suppression of cultural events which violate this demand.
Socialist. Communist.

24. We demand freedom for all religious denominations in the State, provided they do not threaten its existence nor offend the moral feelings of the German race.
Socialist. Communist

The Party, as such, stands for positive Christianity, but does not commit itself to any particular denomination. It combats the Jewish-materialist spirit within and without us, and is convinced that our nation can achieve permanent health only from within on the basis of the principle: The common interest before self-interest.
Communist. Antisemitic.

25. To put the whole of this program into effect, we demand the creation of a strong central state power for the Reich; the unconditional authority of the political central Parliament over the entire Reich and its organizations; and the formation of Corporations based on estate and occupation for the purpose of carrying out the general legislation passed by the Reich in the various German states.
Socialist. Fascist.

Summary

There are 25 tenets of Nazi Germany. Tenet 23 has three additional subpoints, and 24 has an additional sub point. That brings the number of points and sub points to 29 in total. 

7 of the first 8 tenets were purely Nationalist. This is neither Left nor Right. 

Tenets 18 and 22 were purely fascist. This is neither Left nor Right. 

Therefore: 

• 9 points were neither Left nor Right. 31%
• 18 of the points and sub points were Socialist in nature. 62%
• 1 point was Capitalist in nature. 3%

Now, let's adjust for the points that were Left or Right. There were 19 such points. 

• 18/19 points were Left Wing. 95%
• 1/19  points were Right Wing. 5%

Thus, the only responsible conclusion is that the Nazi party was, as its name suggests, Left of Center. 

What say you?