"Nazi" is a short term for the National Socialist German Workers Party,
a right-wing political party formed in 1919 primarily by unemployed German
veterans of World War I. Adolf Hitler became head of the party in 1921,
and under his leadership the party eventually became a powerful political
force in German elections by the early 1930's. The Nazi party ideology
was strongly anti-Communist, antisemitic, racist, nationalistic, imperialistic
and militaristic.
In 1933, the Nazi Party assumed power in Germany and Adolf Hitler was
appointed Chancellor. He ended German democracy and severely restricted
basic rights, such as freedom of speech, press and assembly. He established
a brutal dictatorship through a reign of terror. This created an atmosphere
of fear, distrust and suspicion in which people betrayed their neighbors
and which helped the Nazis to obtain the acquiescence of social institutions
such as the civil service, the educational system, churches, the judiciary,
industry, business and other professions.