The Missing Theory Link Between Darwinism and Nazism is a theory called Social Darwinism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_darwinism
A typical European History course includes readings and discussion on the connection between the theory of Darwinism and Herbert Spensor’s theory of Social Darwinism; published in the 19th-century. The Eugenics movement was also inspired by Darwinism.
Social Darwinism is described in text books as an idea incorporated into Europe’s 19th-century claim to racial superiority and the right to colonize much of the world.
Note that not only Germans but much of Western Europe promoted the idea of racial superiority in relation to Africa, Asia and so forth. So, this concept was ALREADY embedded in German culture BEFORE Nazism. Nevertheless, the Nazis definitely absorbed this cultural myth, and promoted this belief as part of their Aryan superman myth. In other words, they were able to capitalize on an existing belief.
Does that mean that Hitler was inspired by Darwin? That depends on whether you think that Darwin is responsible for Spensor’s twist on his theory, and any other applications of the natural selection theory.
My main point is that this argument is an ongoing legitimate discussion in history departments. Why else would it be addressed in major textbooks? I’ve never heard it connected to some form of anti-semitism but rather to “European jingoism”. If historians trash anyone for racism or the Holocaust; it’s the Europeans. (blame the white guys, right?)
rags
I also have some university links on Spensor if you want to read something other than wikipedia.
That’s Herbert Spencer.