The Rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazism

1. The Rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazism

2. The Life of Adolf Hitler • His Early Years • The development of his racial attitudes • His World War I experience • After the war, moved to Munich in Bavaria

3. The Life of Adolf Hitler • In 1919, he joined a struggling group called the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazis) • Failure of Munich Beer-Hall Putsch (November 9, 1923) demonstrated that power must be taken through legal means.

4. While in prison, Hitler analyzed the party’s strategy Political strategies developed and refined. Shift to winning electoral support Development of propaganda tools. While in prison, he wrote Mein Kampf: “My Struggle” (published in 1925) Imprisonment

5. Hitler’s Beliefs • Nationalism - He wanted to unite all German-speaking people under one Empire • He wanted racial purity – “inferior” races such as Jews, Slavs and all non-whites were to form a work force for the “master race” – blond, blue-eyed “Aryans”

6. Lebensraum • Hitler believed that for Germany to thrive it needed more land at the expense of her neighbors • Hitler called it “Lebensraum” or living space

7. Economic Instability • Unemployment • Inflation Exchange rates, US Dollar to Mark, 1918-1923

8. Ruhr Crisis • Loss of Territory • Lost 13.1% of its territory and 10% of its population • These territories were rich in agricultural and mineral resources • Reparations: Allies announced in 1921 Germany had to pay almost $34 billion • Germany's economy weak and it could not pay all the reparations. • 1923, France occupied industrial Ruhr region of Germany.

9. Ruhr Crisis • German government ordered Ruhr people to stop working & passively resist French occupation. • Runaway inflation occurred when Germany printed money to pay reparations • Brought about social revolution in Germany: Accumulated savings of many retired and middle-class people were wiped out; middle-class resented gov't; blamed Western gov't, big business, workers, Jews, and communists for nation's woes

10. Dawes Plan 1924 Restructured Germany's debt with U.S. loans to Germany to pay back Britain and France, who likewise paid back U.S.; resulted in German economic recovery

11. Focus on traditional values Built fear of Left Wing groups Continued use of military imagery Lack of electoral support due to prosperity in Germany at the time May 1928 election: Nazis get 2.6% national vote 1924-1929 – Growing Support

12. 1929-1932 - A Change in Fortunes • Wall Street Stock Market Crash led to end of financial assistance from USA • Unemployment rose rapidly • Hyperinflation • Threat of Communism increased • Government failed to address problems successfully • Depression after the Wall Street Crash made more people vote for the Nazis.

13. The Wall Street Crash 1929

14. How did the Nazis Gain Support? • Military uniforms demonstrated strength when the government was weak • SA – paramilitary unit of Nazi party • SS – elite group within the SA • Use of force against communists and Trade unions was popular with businesses. • Rhetoric was employed as reminders of ‘Who was to blame’ for the economic crisis built support.

15. Nazi Propaganda • The Nazi’s quickly recognized the value of the media. From the early days of the party they used aggressive advertising to promote the Nazi ideology • Joseph Goebbels was in charge of ‘enlightening’ the German public

16. Propaganda The essence of propaganda consists in winning people over to an idea so sincerely, so vitally, that in the end they succumb to it utterly and can never escape from it. Joseph Goebbels The receptive powers of the masses are very restricted, and their understanding is feeble. On the other hand, they quickly forget. Such being the case, all effective propaganda must be confined to a few bare necessities and then must be expressed in a few stereotyped formulas. Hitler, Mein Kampf

20. Weimar Republic • Democratic Government established in Germany following World War I • Was a multiple party system, based on “Proportional Representation” • Each part was allowed representation based on the amount of support it won in elections. • This system allowed Nazis to gain control of the government.

22. Hitler Gained a Following • Hitler’s ability as a public speaker and organizer drew many followers • He quickly became the Nazi Party leader • He promised to return Germany to its old glory

23. Hitler rose to power in part by criticizing the Versailles Treaty as unfair and humiliating to the proud German nation

24. By mid-1932, the Nazis had become the strongest political party in Germany In January of 1933, Hitler was appointed Chancellor Once in office he quickly dismantled Germany’s democratic Weimar Republic and replaced it with a totalitarian government Hitler Appointed Chancellor Hitler was appointed chancellor by the aging President Hindenburg of the Weimar Republic

25. A communist was found inside the building. Hitler convinced people that Communists were trying to take power by terrorism Communist Party banned from the Reichstag Reichstag Fire (February 1933)

26. Hitler can rule Germany for four years No need to consult Reichstag The Enabling Act (March 1933)

27. The Night of the Long Knives • Hitler had to get control of the German Army (SA) – A threat. • June 30, 1934 - Hitler’s S.S. killed over 1000 SA members including Ernst Roehm. • Hitler had gained the support of the army.

28. Death of Hindenburg (August 1934) • Hitler combined positions of President and Chancellor • Der Führer • Third Reich • Oath of Loyalty: Every soldier swore a personal oath of loyalty to Hitler: "I swear by God this sacred oath that I shall render unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler, der Führer of the German Reich, supreme commander of the armed forces, and that I shall at all times be prepared, as a brave soldier, to give my life for this oath."

29. HITLER BECAME CHANCELLOR THE REICHSTAG FIRE THE ENABLING ACT DER FÜHRER OATH OF LOYALTY TO HITLER THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES DEATH OF PRESIDENT HINDENBURG

31. Nazi Germany Keeping Control: Terror State

32. “Terror is the best political weapon, for nothing drives people harder than a fear of sudden death.”

33. How did Hitler keep control of Germany? The Terror State Propaganda Secret police called the Gestapo would spy on and arrest enemies of the state. Mass Rallies, Posters and Propaganda films. Keeping Control of Germany The Nazis controlled and censored the radio & newspapers. SS were responsible for running the concentration camps. School children were indoctrinated with Nazi ideas at school. Popularity Ripping up the Treaty of Versailles. Everyone was scared of being arrested by the Gestapo and being put in a concentration camp. Hitler Youth & the Young Maidens. Creating Jobs

34. Both the Gestapo and the SS were run by Heinrich Himmler. The Gestapo employed an army of spies who would inform on people. The Terror State

35. Jews Communists Social Democrats Trade Unions Work Shy (Lazy) Homosexuals Gypsies Germans who bought from Jews Pacifists Radical Christian Organization Anyone who criticized Hitler or the Nazi Party. Enemies of the Nazi State

36. Propaganda

37. Between 1932-9 the number of families with radios rose from 25% to 70% Hitler is considered to have been one of the greatest public speakers of all time. Radio

38. Film was used to show Hitler in a positive light as often as possible. Film: The Triumph of the Will

41. 1933 - 4,700 daily newspapers, 3% controlled by Nazi Party 1944 - 997 daily newspapers, 82% controlled by Nazi Party Censoring newspapers ensured that only the news you want people to read is available to the public Nazi party members wrote many articles for the press, ensuring that the message was always positive Many publications were banned Newspapers

42. Germany Under the Nazis 1933-1938

43. On April 7, 1933 Hitler ordered all non-Aryans removed from government jobs Thus began the systematic campaign of racial purification that eventually led to the Holocaust – the murder of 11 million people across Europe (more than half of whom were Jews) Title:“Away with him” The long arm of the Ministry of Education pulls a Jewish teacher from his classroom. April 1933 (Der Sturmer Issue #12)

44. Syllabus & textbooks changed to reflect Nazi ideas on race & German history Compulsory membership of German Teacher’s League Use of Schools

46. 1935 Schedule for a Girls’ School in Nazi Germany

47. Boycott of Jewish Businesses April 1933

48. "Where they have burned books,they will end in burning human beings."Heinrich Heine Book Burning 1933