Maggie's Farm

I think Trimegistus is correct. The conflict was between International Socialism (Soviet Communism) & National Socialism/Fascism. When Stalin's faction adopted the "Socialism in one country" (i.e., Russian Fascism) the infamous show trials were held to purge those who held to International Socialsim (Communism) i.e. the anti-Fascists.

German National Socialism and Fascism in general were hated not because of their differences from Communism, but because of their close similarities. The key difference was in the nationalistic aspect. The economics were similar, though the socialism practiced by Communists was much more rapid and extreme; however, the goal--state control of the economy to benefit the elite few--was identical. Social issues were marked by (official) prurience, ideologically-based education, and state control of the individual and all educational, media, and cultural institutions. Officially, Fascism emphasized the traditional family, while Communism was sexually egalitarian, but in reality, this mean that women were still expected to perform all their family obligations as well as have a full-time job.

For intellectuals, the critical difference was that National Socialism and Fascism in general were much less friendly to their ambitions and aspirations than was Communism. A simple look at their modern equivalents will clarify the differences between a fervent nationalist politician and a transnational bureaucrat.

For example, look at the differences in the core constituencies-AND I AM IN NO WAY comparing their political beliefs to those of fascists and communists; this it to show the difference in the TYPE of politician--between Sarah Palin and President Obama, then imagine them transformed into totalitarian socialists, and you can see the difference between Fascism and Communism.

Both were very appealing to Europeans, and Nationalism tends to appeal to more people, except intellectuals of a certain type, than Internationalism, hence the death struggle between the two, until Stalin's faction transformed the Soviet Union from Socialsim to "Socialism in One Country," climaxing with Soviet/Nazi non-agresssion pact (i.e., alliance).

The hatred of Jews by German National Socialism needs no explication, but the Soviets persecuted any Jew who attempted to in any way remain Jewish. Interestingly, not all Fascist movements hated Jews, most famously the Italian Fascists, which had some Jews in very prominent positions. This changed, of course, as Mussolini lost power to Hitler.

There is one circumstance in which the Left would have unreservedly admired the Nazis: if they had won and the Soviet Union had lost. Then the six million we would hear about would have been the Ukranian Holocaust. Put the words "National Socialism"place of "Communism," "Marxism," et al, in modern rhetoric and you'd about have it.