Why did the Nazi Party use socialist language in its early political program?

The Nazi Party did not use socialist language out of a commitment to socialist principles; rather, it was a calculated propaganda strategy designed to gain political influence. By incorporating socialist rhetoric, the party aimed to appeal to the suffering lower middle classes and expand its reach beyond its traditional base in Bavaria.1

Adolf Hitler and his propagandists utilized this language to portray the party as a champion of the common man, framing him as a victim of a world controlled by perceived enemies. This rhetoric served as a tool to channel societal resentments—including those against big business and big labor—into the party's racist and anti-Semitic agenda.12

While figures like Gregor and Otto Strasser were instrumental in growing the party through this socialist-leaning messaging, Hitler’s primary objective remained the acquisition of power. Once he achieved that goal, he abandoned these pretenses, purged the party's left wing during the Night of the Long Knives, and aligned himself with conservative industrialists to implement fascist policies.12