Final answer:
The Nazis, under Adolf Hitler's rule starting in January 1933, adhered to extreme racist ideologies, believing in the supremacy of the Aryan race, implementing anti-Semitic policies like the Nuremberg Laws, and striving for a totalitarian state. They promoted Lebensraum, condemned the Weimar Republic, and adopted violent strategies and symbols, such as the swastika, characteristic of fascist movements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nazi Beliefs and Ideologies
The Nazis, who came to power in Germany in January 1933, held a set of extreme ideological beliefs that were reflected in the policies they enacted once they controlled the German state. The core tenet of their ideology was the concept of a racial hierarchy with the Aryan race being seen as the 'master race.' This belief system was outlined by Adolf Hitler in Mein Kampf and later became government policy, affecting particularly the Jews and other minorities whom the Nazis considered inferior. The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 are one such example of anti-Semitic policies that stripped Jews of German citizenship and curtailed their civil rights.
Another essential aspect of Nazi belief was the idea of Lebensraum, the need for 'living space' that justified Germany's aggressive expansionism. The Nazis also heavily criticized the Weimar Republic, blaming it for the economic turmoil following the Treaty of Versailles. They opposed democracy and communism, advocating for a totalitarian one-party state. The Nazi state sponsored a full-scale attempt to recast German culture and society according to its vision, which included warfare, racial purification, and a nationalistic zeal.
Despite their modern industrial approach, the Nazis held regressive views on modernity itself, opposing the freedoms of the Weimar era and seeking to consolidate power around their central ideology. The intimidation and violence against Jews and political opponents became key to consolidating Nazi power. At its core, Nazism shared many elements with Italian fascism, including hyper-nationalism, anti-Semitism, and the pursuit of totalitarian control. A notable symbol of this ideology was the widespread use of the swastika.