Was Hitler economically left wing?

[© tweed]

whenever we get one of these threads I look forward to reading Al's posts.

[© tweed]

You have to take a look at Bismarck in his time.  He was by no means a conservative, economically after the Empire was formed.

Bismarck was a 19th century conservative straight out of the textbook. He opposed parliamentarianism, he criminalized unions and the worker's movement, and he was a staunch monarchist.

The difference between him and some more stubborn conservatives in his time is, that he was smart.
For example he implemented universal male sufferage - but just to keep the liberal bourgeoisie down with the help of conservative poor peasantry.

And what is "economically conservative" even supposed to mean in the 19th century?

Defending the privileges of landlords and gentry? Bismarck did so.
High tariffs? Bismarck implemented such.

His cooperation with the moderate liberals in the 1870s was just a temporary solution forced by the fact that Old Conservatives were unwilling to deal with him, because they still opposed the formation of the Empire.
As soon as conservatives accepted the status quo and became a party supportive of the Empire, he sided with his true political camp again.

smart dude.