Page "Fascism" Paragraph 38

Similar political ideas arose in Germany after the outbreak of the war.

German sociologist Johann Plenge spoke of the rise of a " National Socialism " in Germany within what he termed the " ideas of 1914 " that were a declaration of war against the " ideas of 1789 " ( the French Revolution ).

According to Plenge, the " ideas of 1789 " that included rights of man, democracy, individualism and liberalism were being rejected in favour of " the ideas of 1914 " that included " German values " of duty, discipline, law, and order.

Plenge believed that ethnic solidarity ( volksgemeinschaft ) would replace class division and that " racial comrades " would unite to create a socialist society in the struggle of " proletarian " Germany against " capitalist " Britain.

He believed that the " Spirit of 1914 " manifested itself in the concept of the " People's League of National Socialism ".

This National Socialism was a form of state socialism that rejected the " idea of boundless freedom " and promoted an economy that would serve the whole of Germany under the leadership of the state.

This National Socialism was opposed to capitalism because of the components that were against " the national interest " of Germany, but insisted that National Socialism would strive for greater efficiency in the economy.

Plenge advocated an authoritarian rational ruling elite to develop National Socialism through a hierarchical technocratic state.