Merchant of Ideologies: Erich Ludendorff (1919-1937)

Despite Erich Ludendorff’s prominent role in Weimar, there exists no deeper analysis of his ideological development after 1919. After participation in two failed putsches and a failed attempt as a politician, he became a commercially successful publicist. Ludendorff published—in his own publishing house—an astonishing number of books and essays based on an idiosyncratic ideology: he augmented the myth of the Jewish-Masonic conspiracy by adding the Jesuit Order to give a triad (`supranational powers’). As an ideologist, Ludendorff held a unique position in the völkisch movement. However, due to his narrowmindedness and since he regarded the NSDAP as an extension of the Vatican, he ran into conflicts with the regime. This book analyses the ideological development of Ludendorff, his activities as a publisher and their role in the radicalization process, and his conflicts with the NS regime. The main approach, a new contribution to the literature, is to obtain a comprehensive view of Ludendorff’s publications: their creation, production and impact. The book also offers case studies of Ludendorff’s interactions with conservative associations, thus illustrating the methods behind his `struggle’ against the `supranational powers.’