A Nazi Legacy: Right-Wing Extremism in Postwar Germany

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This volume offers an overview of the continuation of Nazi influences that permeated a small portion of postwar Germany's population. Rand C. Lewis traces the history of these influences, which resulted in a small, yet growing neo-Nazi militant movement that became far more visible in the 1980s. He chronicles the development of this militancy, and the evolution of its use of right-wing terrorism. Unlike other scholars who call neo-Nazism a modern phenomenon, Lewis argues that there is a direct link between the Nazis and the postwar right-wing extremist movements. Lewis' portrait of the evolution of neo-Nazism begins with a brief introduction, followed by a survey of the Nazi past up through World War II. A discussion of the post-war years covers 1945 to 1970, and develops such topics as the efforts to eliminate Nazism, the rise of right-wing political parties and militant youth. Subsequent chapters detail right-wing extremist politics and the growth of militancy, as well as the increased extremism of the 1970s and 1980s. Also addressed are the turn to terrorism, government responses, and international connections, while a concluding chapter looks to the future and the threat neo-Nazism poses to US forces and German unification. This work is designed to serve as a resource for students and scholars in the areas of European history, political science and terrorism.

Reviews

This volume provides a detailed account of the role of right-wing extremism in postwar Germany. Lewis furnishes a history that ranges from efforts to reconstruct a Nazi movement undertaken while the country was still under allied occupation to recent attempts to exploit the uncertainties caused by German reunification. There are really two stories that unfold. The first involves efforts by rightist leaders, often ex-Nazis, to create electorally viable political parties (the Republicans most recently) in order to win the support of voters for programs emphasizing xenophobia and national glory. The second tale is that of the small groups, often neo-Nazi, which, from time to time, have used terrorist violence against guest workers, American military personnel, and German Jews in hopes that by so doing they will promote a right-wing revival. Lewis analyzes the linkages between these violent units and like-minded organizations in the Middle East and in the US. In all, the book is an effective updating of such earlier work as John Nagle's The National Democratic Party and Kurt Tauber's Beyond Eagle and Swastika. Upper-division undergraduates and above.-Choice
"This volume provides a detailed account of the role of right-wing extremism in postwar Germany. Lewis furnishes a history that ranges from efforts to reconstruct a Nazi movement undertaken while the country was still under allied occupation to recent attempts to exploit the uncertainties caused by German reunification. There are really two stories that unfold. The first involves efforts by rightist leaders, often ex-Nazis, to create electorally viable political parties (the Republicans most recently) in order to win the support of voters for programs emphasizing xenophobia and national glory. The second tale is that of the small groups, often neo-Nazi, which, from time to time, have used terrorist violence against guest workers, American military personnel, and German Jews in hopes that by so doing they will promote a right-wing revival. Lewis analyzes the linkages between these violent units and like-minded organizations in the Middle East and in the US. In all, the book is an effective updating of such earlier work as John Nagle's The National Democratic Party and Kurt Tauber's Beyond Eagle and Swastika. Upper-division undergraduates and above."-Choice

Author Bio

RAND C. LEWIS is a U.S. Army Foreign Area Officer with a specialty in Western Europe. He has lectured and written in the areas of terrorism and issues dealing with U.S. military assistance. In the fall of 1991, he will become a Professor of Military Science at Duquesne University. Dr. Lewis has lived in Germany, where he became interested in studying terrorism due to the history of terrorist activities within the Federal Republic of Germany.