ABSTRACT
The conspiracy theory attracted many adherents outside Germany. Quisling spoke of ‘a gigantic international plot by the Jews and moneylenders to destroy nationalism’, and his views were by no means unique. The addition of anti-Jewish sentiment to the already powerful mixture opened the way for new recruits. Exactly how much the Nazis believed in the economic role of the Jews is debatable. The Nazis also profited from the agricultural depression which drove farm labourers into the towns where they joined the armies of the streets and graduated by this route to become members of the party. In economic terms, then, Nazi Germany failed to pursue an ideologically unified policy. The appeal to the general public of Nazi economic policy, its effects on industry and society, and its place in fascist ideology must, therefore, be seen in the larger context of Hitler’s commitment to expansionism. Unless this is recognized the contradictions between theory and practice become almost incomprehensible.
