Martin Heidegger, the German philosopher, actively supported the Nazis in the early 1930s, joining the party in 1933 and serving as rector of Freiburg University, where he implemented anti-Semitic policies.[en.wikipedia]
His motivations stemmed from a deep belief that Nazism represented a revolutionary “awakening” aligned with his philosophy of Being, rootedness in German soil (Bodenständigkeit), and rejection of liberalism, metaphysics, and modernity.jacobin+1
Influenced by his World War I experiences, Nietzsche, Heraclitus, and his wife Elfride, Heidegger saw Hitler as a leader embodying the “Führer principle” and praised Nazism’s “barbaric principle” as essential for historical greatness, while holding antisemitic views that linked Jews to rootless cosmopolitanism.theconversation+1
Philosophical Alignment
Heidegger integrated Nazi ideals into his thought, viewing Germans as a metaphysical people destined to reconnect history with authentic Being through National Socialism’s “inner truth and greatness”.jacobin+1
He endorsed concepts like heroic violence (“War is the father of all things”) and supported racial theories, eugenics lectures, and euthanasia indirectly via university actions.wikipedia+1
This wasn’t mere opportunism; his Black Notebooks and speeches reveal a profound, ongoing commitment, critiquing Nazis only later for diluting their revolutionary potential.reddit+1
Key Actions
- Joined the Nazi Party on May 1, 1933, and gave pro-Hitler speeches.[en.wikipedia]
- Issued decrees barring Jews from university aid and privileges.[en.wikipedia]
- Remained a party member until 1945 without public regret, later claiming it was to protect the university or spark a national “Aufbruch”.theparisreview+1