In what sense was Hitler an advocate of socialism?
He believed in lower class ownership of all the means of production.
He believed in subordinating all economic enterprise to the welfare of the
nation as he determined it.
He advocated a violent proletarian revolution against capitalism.
He belonged to an international movement of socialists and communists.

Hitler’s interpretation of socialism was heavily tied to his notion of nationalism. He aimed to subordinate economic enterprises to the needs of the state, promoting a form of “national socialism” that sought to control economic activities while maintaining private ownership. This meant that while individual capitalists could still own businesses, their operations were regulated and directed towards national interests as dictated by the regime, rather than being genuinely socialist in the sense of equitable wealth distribution.

The irony in Hitler’s association with socialism lies in the fact that he vehemently opposed Marxist socialism and communism, which promoted class struggle and international solidarity. Instead, his regime was more about promoting Aryan supremacy and militarism. While he claimed to advance the welfare of the people, it was primarily to further the interests of his totalitarian state rather than any true socialist ideals of equality or community ownership.