When did Hitler's "terrorism" become "war" then?
In the general election of January, 1933, no political party achieved a majority. Hitler became Reichschancellor as leader of a coalition of the NSDAP (Nazi Party) and German National People's Party (DNVP) (a conservative party). He was appointed by Hindenberg, the democratically elected leader of Germany, pursuant to German law. All completely legal.
After the Reichstag building was set on fire, ostensibly by terrorists, the Reichstag Enabling Act was passed by the Reichstag assenbly, and Hindenberg signed it. This act gave Hitler emergency authority to dispense with civil rights due to the widespread belief that the country was being attacked from within by Communists and Socialists.
The Communists and Socialists were rounded up and put in jail, which gave Hitler de facto control of the rest of the government, a majority of which supported him and his tactics.
He was, by the way, incredibly popular with the majority of the German people. Widely admired by people in other countries, too, including famous Americans like Charles Lindbergh and Joseph Kennedy (father of JFK.)
Calling Hitler a "terrorist" makes about as much sense as calling Napoleon a "terrorist."
The first invasion of another country by Germany was 1938, Czechoslovakia. This did not lead to general war, as the invasion of Poland 1939 did. Again, I would not call the invasion of one nation-state by another nation-state "terrorism" but just plain "war." |
