members of the National SocialistGerman Workers' Party which in 1933 seized political control of Germany under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. Desiring to form a master race, a pure white race, suited to rule the world, they fought the influence in Germany of peoples not of "pure" descent. Their power was particularly directed at controlling Jews in Germany and in the countries that Germany conquered in war. In alliance with Italy and, later, Japan, Nazicontrolled Germany entered into a large-scalewar with many other nations of the world, which came to be called World War II (1939 - 1945). The Nazi party was officially abolished in 1945 at the conclusion of the war. The word Nazi comes from the German word Nazi(onalsozialist). —PDC Volume 5 Approved Glossary