NAZI, a popular abbreviation for a member of Adolf Hitler's National Socialist German Workingmen's Party (Na tionalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, commonly designated by its initials, NSDAP). The nickname originated from the Ger man pronunciation of the first two syllables of "National." The Nazi Party was formed by Hitler and six comrades at Munich in 1920. Its original programme, drawn up by Gottfried Feder, comprised twenty-five points. Six of these have been more or less completely realized : equal rights among nations for the German people and abolition of the Versailles Treaty restric tions; exclusion of Jews from German political, economic and cultural life; abolition of the "corrupting" parliamentary system by many parties; the replacement of the professional army by a people's army; regimentation of the press, which must be exclu sively in the hands of Germans, to prevent "deliberate political lies," and of art and literature, to prevent all tendencies disrup tive of German life; and the creation of a strong central govern ment. Six points have been partly carried out : restriction of the immigration of non-Germans and the deportation of non Germans who immigrated since Aug. 2, 1914; replacement of "materialistic" Roman by German common law ; an open road to higher education for all capable Germans; confiscation of war profits; unsparing prosecution of all who injure the common well being, such as common criminals, usurers and profiteers; and the promotion of health, physical training and sports. Two points
are still blocked by Germany's neighbours: the union of all Ger mans (outside Germany) ; and more land, including colonies. Five socialistic points seem to be tacitly abandoned, although there is some agitation for them: abolition of unearned income and the breaking of the "slavery of interest"; nationalization of trusts; profit-sharing in big businesses; municipalization of big department stores in the interests of the small shopkeeper; and the expropriation of land for the common good. One point ad vocates "positive Christianity," without binding the Party to any particular creed, but also combats "Jewish materialistic spirit"; in practice minor sects have been suppressed, and Roman Catho lics, Lutherans and Calvinists have been severely restricted. The remaining points are vague or of minor importance.
This Nazi programme has never been officially revised, but it is no longer of prime importance, and its author, Gottfried Feder, has been shelved with a sinecure. Today, just as Christians draw their faith from the Bible and the words of Jesus, so Nazis find the expression of their faith and beliefs in Hitler's book, My Battle (Mein Kampf), and in his speeches and decrees.