Heinrich Härtle and the National Socialist Nietzsche

Following one of our research topics we present here the first English translation of the text ‘Nietzsche and National Socialism’, written by Heinrich Härtle, former student of philosopher Alfred Baeumler. The author clearly indicates that his article is neither a profession of faith by National Socialist youth to a Nietzsche movement of the future nor an allegiance to a Nietzsche cult. He recognizes that attempts to equate Nietzsche and National Socialism are wrong because, in doing so, ‘one necessarily becomes dishonest towards Nietzsche and presumptuous towards National Socialism’. The great difficulty, if not the impossibility, of moving from the individual in Nietzsche to the collective of National Socialism is recognized. The knowledge we have today of all or almost all of Nietzsche's writings raises the question of whether or not Härtle's contribution will withstand reexamination with this new material.