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Nazi Modernism By Maertz, Gregory
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Nazi Modernism is not a contradiction in terms, even if Nazi-era rhetoric and propaganda directed against Entartete Kunst powerfully suggested that this was the case. Indeed, in addition to inaugurating a new style of political leadership (borrowed from Fascist Modernism) based on myths of national regeneration and the exploitation of culture to achieve political ends, National Socialism left its indelible aesthetic imprint everywhere and became synonymous with all things new, technologically advanced, and ‘modern’, including the invention of the first operational jet fighter and ballistic missile, the ‘People’s Car’, the first national highway system, the Autobahn, and fashion and footwear innovations spearheaded by Hugo Boss and the Dassler brothers, Adolf and Rudolf.