The Failure to Find Reasonable Right-Wing Extremists: Lessons from History

It was a time marked by political unrest and uncertainty as Germany was trapped in the turmoil of the Weimar Republic. The idea of "integrating the reasonable right-wing extremists" was supposed to be the answer to the emerging threat—a risky experiment that would forever change the country’s history. Amid this dark era, General Kurt von Schleicher was a man with a dangerous vision. He believed in "taming through cooperation," a concept aimed at inviting the right-wing extremists of the NSDAP into the political arena. Schleicher was convinced that if these extremists were engaged in practical politics, they would lose their radical character and become more reasonable.

It was a time marked by political unrest and uncertainty as Germany was trapped in the turmoil of the Weimar Republic. The idea of "integrating the reasonable right-wing extremists" was supposed to be the answer to the emerging threat—a risky experiment that would forever change the country’s history. Amid this dark era, General Kurt von Schleicher was a man with a dangerous vision. He believed in "taming through cooperation," a concept aimed at inviting the right-wing extremists of the NSDAP into the political arena. Schleicher was convinced that if these extremists were engaged in practical politics, they would lose their radical character and become more reasonable.

It was an idea that fascinated not only Schleicher but also some bourgeois parties and the influential editor Hans Zehrer. Their hope was to split off the “left” wing of the NSDAP led by Gregor Strasser, who, while also antisemitic and antidemocratic, showed some anti-capitalist tendencies and signs of willingness to compromise. However, reality would shatter their hopes. The NSDAP united solidly behind the "unreasonable" faction led by Adolf Hitler, and the notion of integrating the “reasonable NSDAP” took a frightening turn.

This led to the breaking of the taboo in the autumn of 1932, allowing right-wing extremists to come to power. Schleicher's hesitant efforts further eroded President Hindenburg's resistance to involving right-wing extremists, and even Gregor Strasser was received by Hindenburg in an audience. However, the drama took an even darker turn when Schleicher's conservative archrival von Papen picked up the idea of “integration.” In a meeting with Hitler in January 1933, they decided to include the “unreasonable right-wing extremists” in the government, paving the way to Auschwitz.

The tragic consequences of this misguided policy were also reflected in Schleicher's own fate. In June 1934, he and his wife were murdered on Hitler's orders. The idea of “reasonable right-wing extremists” was flawed then and remains so today. For the question remains unanswered: If there are indeed “reasonable” extremists, why would they choose to join forces with the “unreasonable” in a political movement?