https://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/11/21/2025/feed/PJ Media is a leading news site covering culture, politics, faith, homeland security, and more. Our reporters and columnists provide original, in-depth analysis from a variety of perspectives.en-usWed, 10 Jun 2026 21:10:01 -0400<![CDATA[Although Ludendorff warned that &#8220;by naming Hitler as Reichschancellor, we have delivered up our holy Fatherland to one of the greatest demagogues of all time&#8221; it was not apparent at the time how extremist the new leader would be. It is largely forgotten that there were only two Nazis in HItler&#8217;s first cabinet,  Wilhelm Frick, minister of the interior and Herman Goering, who was initially a minister without portfolio.  The Nazification of the state apparatus took several years and was largely facilitated by the unstable condition of German politics.  The emergence of totalitarianism took place under the pretext of meeting emergencies as successive crises had to be met and things had to be &#8220;regulated&#8221;. Stability and prosperity are inherently inimical to totalitarianism because a functioning status quo makes people reluctant to take chances with unusual political figures.]]>Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:35:03 -0500<![CDATA[Richard Fernandez]]>https://pjmedia.com/richard-fernandez/2008/11/21/2025-n186605