Was Hitler Far Left, or Far Right?

I was sitting in my 10th grade Comparative Political Systems class years ago when suddenly something the teacher said made me interrupt and ask a question. It went like this,

"And so on the far left you have the Communists and on the far right you had the Nazi's." 

But we had just learned that Nazi was an abbreviation for National Socialists, the political party Hitler founded and wrote extensively about in Mein Kampf.  So I asked, 

"Mr. ____, how can they be far right if they are Socialist?"

He paused briefly and admitted he didn't know, but that that was what his source for the class had said.  Then he continued to the next point. Matter dropped.

Since then I've seen countless main stream sources claim that indeed Hitler and the Nazi's were "far right" but NEVER with any analysis at all. They merely state this and move on, as if you must just accept their label as correct.

But are they?  Let's look first at what it means to be "far right," or even "right" for that matter. And also, what does being conservative or on the right not mean.

In the West "far right" and conservative from at least the 20th century on have meant:

• Smaller government, decentralized government whenever possible, and as little government intervention as possible.
  
• More individual freedom.
• Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and opinion. These are especially protected when they may be unpopular or against the government's own actions or policies. That's the whole point of a law protecting free speech--somebody wants to shut it down because they don't like it.
  
• Free enterprise where government does not play favorites with certain corporations and where there are basic laws to prevent fraud or manipulation or cornering of the market.
• Private property - no one can take what is yours without just compensation
  
• The rule of law, meaning that no one is above the law or exempt, nor can it favor certain people or groups over others. Equal justice.
  
• The ability to defend oneself, and in the US the right to bear arms
  
• Democratically elected leaders and fair free elections
• Government accountable to the people
• Provide for the common defense
  
• People should be judged on the content of their character not the color of their skin
  

We could go on but the above give you an idea. The Nazi's rejected all of those points above!

So a "far right" person would be one who thought little Central government was needed and the individuals should for the most part govern themselves. 

"But doesn't far right mean nationalism?"  

You hear that sometimes.  Yet nationalism in fact is a trait more common of the far left. North Korea is extremely nationalistic, as is China, Putin's Russia, Cuba, Venezuela and the like.  So nationalism is clearly not a "far right" trait as it's at least equally true of far left.

Now let's look at Hitler's writings in Mein Kampf, his own words.  They depict an absolute centralized one-party government where the individual exists only to serve the State. This is the opposite of "far right."

In the second volume of "Mein Kampf," titled "The National Socialist Movement," Adolf Hitler describes his vision for the future of the Nazi Party and its role in German society. This volume, written during his 1924 imprisonment after a failed coup, outlines the structure, strategy, and tactics that Hitler sought to implement:

• State Control and Centralization: Hitler supports the idea of the state having total control over all aspects of life, including economic activity, cultural institutions, and social systems. Centralization of power, he believes, is essential to effectively implement the policies and maintain the purity and strength of the nation. This is the opposite of far right.
  

• Racial Purity and Anti-Semitism: At the heart of Hitler's ideology is the belief in the supremacy of the "Aryan race" and the necessity of maintaining its purity.  He propounds that Jews must be completely eradicated to protect the German race. The far right believes a person should be known for the content of their character not the color of their skin and laws should not favor one race over another.
  

• Führerprinzip (Leader Principle): Hitler advocates for the hierarchical structure within the party and the state, with absolute obedience to superiors. He promotes the concept of the Führer (Leader), who should hold supreme power and be obeyed without question. Far right believes in limited government and individual freedoms.
  

• Propaganda and Mass Manipulation: Hitler believes in the power of propaganda, seeing it as an essential tool to spread the National Socialist ideology. He discusses how effective communication can manipulate the masses and influence public opinion. The role of the media, art, literature, and culture is highlighted as a means of indoctrination. We see the progressives doing this today via media, social media, Big Tech and the schools.
  

• Destruction of Democracy and Marxism: Hitler vehemently criticizes democracy as a political system, claiming it leads to the rise of parties focused on particular interests rather than the nation as a whole. He also identifies Marxism as a threat, claiming it to be a part of a Jewish conspiracy to control the world. This is why Hitler opposed the Soviet and Marxism while embracing socialism itself, be it on a German national scale, not global. The far right is pro-democracy.
  

• Education and Youth Induction: Hitler sees the indoctrination of youth as crucial to the longevity of the National Socialist Movement. He emphasizes the importance of instilling nationalist and racial ideology in the education system to mold future generations. The far right believe in critical thinking, reason and honest dialogue.