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Adolf BormanSon of Martin Bormann
Country:
 Germany |
Content:
Biography of Adolf Bormann
Adolf Bormann, the son of Martin Bormann, was born as Martin Bormann Jr. He was the first of ten children of "Nazi No. 2," with Adolf Hitler as his godfather. After the war, he became a priest. At the age of 78, Bormann agreed to an interview with "AIF" to discuss why Nazism is still popular many years after the war.
The Danger of Nazi Popularity
Bormann believes that one of the main problems is the dulling of the sense of danger associated with Nazism. Surveys in Europe have shown that a certain percentage of people doubt the existence of concentration camps, where people were burned in ovens and poisoned with gas. In a prosperous society, this truth seems like a scary fairytale. Another reason is that young people are often attracted not necessarily to fascist ideas, but to the spectacle of it all: the stylish black SS uniforms, torchlight processions, and stirring marches. In show business, Nazism is presented as amusing. There are plenty of comedies where Hitler appears as a fool, and his entourage as clowns. The youth watches and thinks, "Oh, Hitler is so cool." Bormann, however, gives lectures in schools and explains that there was nothing amusing about this person. National Socialism was a real death machine.
The Rise of Neo-Nazism
When asked why neo-Nazis are growing everywhere, Bormann points out that even in Israel, a neo-Nazi group has been exposed. The reasons for this are several. Anti-Nazi propaganda has weakened. For example, in Germany, a film about the crimes of the SS is shown on TV every week, and German schoolchildren are taken to visit former concentration camps like Dachau and Sachsenhausen. When they see gas chambers, the children return shaken. Bormann believes that this helps to at least reduce the number of neo-Nazis. Furthermore, the fascination with Hitler comes from ignorance of the atrocities committed by his regime. Forbidden fruit is sweet. The youth adores illegal things. It is forbidden to wear a swastika, so they will wear it anyway. But it all starts from there.
The Future of Fascism
Bormann does not believe that a full-fledged resurgence of fascism is likely. However, the embers will continue to smolder for a long time. Nazism thrives on society's problems. Germany suffered a defeat in World War I, and its economy was in a terrible state. This was the reason for Hitler's immense popularity, as he blamed all problems on "Bolsheviks and Jewish capital." Nowadays, neo-Nazis score points by capitalizing on dislike towards immigrants living on welfare and migrant workers who "take away your money and your jobs." The essence remains the same; only the subject matter changes. But this is not the main issue. Most skinheads are young people. How many forty-year-old Nazis do you know? Hardly any. They eventually "wake up" and move on to build careers and start families. Without a new Hitler, they cannot become a force. The most important thing is to ensure that this Hitler never reappears.
