ADOLF HITLER ESSENTIAL QUESTION What led to Adolf Hitler’s rise to power and the Nazis ruling Germany?

ADOLF HITLERADOLF HITLER

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

What led to Adolf Hitler’s rise to power and the Nazis ruling Germany?

A DICTATOR IS BORN A DICTATOR IS BORN

♂ Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, near Linz, Austria on April 20, 1889

♂ Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, near Linz, Austria on April 20, 1889

KLARA and ALOIS:KLARA and ALOIS: THE PARENTS OF A THE PARENTS OF A

MONSTERMONSTER

HITLER AS A YOUTHHITLER AS A YOUTHAdolf was an

intelligent child, but a poorly performing student, both of

Adolf’s parents died when he was a

teenager, leaving him with a modest

inheritance; Adolf sought to become an

artist

LEFT: Hitler at age 13

BELOW: Hitler, part of a church choir group

LEFT: Hitler at age 13

BELOW: Hitler, part of a church choir group

THE YEARS IN VIENNATHE YEARS IN VIENNAIn January 1908, the 19

year old Adolf moved to the city of Vienna, the capital of Austria

In Vienna, Adolf is exposed to culture and life in a big city

Adolf tries to enter the Academy of Arts, but is rejected; his audition painting was deemed not good enough

THE ACADEMY OF THE ACADEMY OF ARTS IN VIENNAARTS IN VIENNA

This 1914 painting is titled:This 1914 painting is titled:"The Courtyard of the Old Residency "The Courtyard of the Old Residency

in Munich."in Munich."

A 1914 painting: A 1914 painting: "Ruins of a Cloister in "Ruins of a Cloister in

Messines."Messines."

SAMPLES OF HITLER’S ARTSAMPLES OF HITLER’S ARTSAMPLES OF HITLER’S ARTSAMPLES OF HITLER’S ART

ONE OF HITLER’S GREAT LOVES:ONE OF HITLER’S GREAT LOVES: THE THE MUSIC OF RICHARD WAGNERMUSIC OF RICHARD WAGNER

GERMAN COMPOSER GERMAN COMPOSER RICHARD WAGNERRICHARD WAGNER

♫Adolf enjoyed the opera music of Richard Wagner, whose stirring music glorified Germany and often had warlike themes (such as “Ride of the Valkyries”)

♫ Wagner’s music had a profound effect on the young Adolf Hitler

FIRST EXPOSURE TO POLITICSFIRST EXPOSURE TO POLITICS

Galician Jews are present in Vienna. As with much of Europe, there are anti-Semitic feelings in Vienna (it was Adolf’s first exposure to anti-

Semitism). The politics of Georg von Schoenerer (an anti-Semite) and Vienna’s mayor, Karl Lueger (who said the public would do without

freedoms for security), would have an influence on young Hitler.

KARL LUEGERKARL LUEGERGEORG VON SCHOENERERGEORG VON SCHOENERERGEORG VON SCHOENERERGEORG VON SCHOENERER

POLITICIZATION OF HITLER

It is while living in Vienna that Adolf first learns of

the ideas of mystical German nationalism and the “Aryan ideal”; these ideas would shape the Nazi ideology decades later, as exemplified in

this 1930s poster

THE FRUSTRATED ARTISTTHE FRUSTRATED ARTIST

Adolf is rejected a second time by the Vienna Academy of Arts in November 1908.

Hitler then earns his living as a street artist, making drawings and sketches for tourists and trying to sell them.

His inheritance money dwindled away quickly, and soon Adolf found himself living in various homeless shelters in Vienna.

A A FUGITIVEFUGITIVE

Adolf was supposed to serve in the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s army when he turned 20 years old, but he avoided military service. He was a fugitive from the Austrian police.

His motivation was not cowardice: Hitler hated the Austrian monarchy and did not want to serve in a heavily multi-ethnic army alongside Jews, Czechs, Poles, Hungarians, Slovaks, and other groups he deemed “inferior.”

When World War I breaks out, Adolf

Hitler finds a purpose; he

volunteers to be a soldier for the

country he adored: Germany

WARTIME SERVICE Hitler served as a dispatch runner (messenger) on the Western Front, carrying messages from headquarters to the trenches by bicycle.

It was often a dangerous assignment; Hitler was wounded twice in one week in 1916 and sent to Germany to recover.

Awarded medals for bravery (including the Iron Cross), he returned to fight in 1917.

Hitler served as a dispatch runner (messenger) on the Western Front, carrying messages from headquarters to the trenches by bicycle.

It was often a dangerous assignment; Hitler was wounded twice in one week in 1916 and sent to Germany to recover.

Awarded medals for bravery (including the Iron Cross), he returned to fight in 1917.

When the Great War ends in 1918, the Treaty of Versailles left Germany with huge war debts to pay; many restrictions were forced upon the defeated Germany by the victorious Allies

Germany felt humiliated and thought they were singled out unfairly as the only power to start World War I

Adolf Hitler never forgot the humiliation that Germany was served at the hands of the Allies.

Hitler was outraged by the actions taken to punish Germany after the war.

This outrage was shared with many Germans, especially the soldiers of World War I.

AN ANGRY YOUNG MANAN ANGRY YOUNG MAN

Corporal Hitler (right) with two fellow German soldiers, one of whom is missing a leg

Corporal Hitler (right) with two fellow German soldiers, one of whom is missing a leg

HITLER’S LIFE TAKES A FATEFUL TURN

As he recovered at a Stettin hospital As he recovered at a Stettin hospital from eye injuries suffered in an Allied from eye injuries suffered in an Allied poison gas attack in Ypres, Hitler heard poison gas attack in Ypres, Hitler heard about Germany’s defeat. His reaction:about Germany’s defeat. His reaction:

“ “The burning in my eyes The burning in my eyes could not match the hate could not match the hate burning in my heart. From burning in my heart. From that moment, I knew I that moment, I knew I should enter politics.”should enter politics.”

Many Germans were disillusioned after the defeat in the Great War and hated the democratic government that took power after WWI (the Weimar Republic)

Ex-soldiers like Hitler felt that they had been “stabbed in the back” by Jews and Communists back home in Germany; they felt that they had not been defeated on the battlefield

GERMANY AFTER THE GREAT WAR (1919-1923)

GERMANY AFTER THE GREAT WAR (1919-1923)

An anti-Communist posterAn anti-Communist poster

Extremist groups like the Nazis gained

popularity by saying that they would not

obey the Treaty’s terms and would restore Germany’s glory

Extremist groups like the Nazis gained

popularity by saying that they would not

obey the Treaty’s terms and would restore Germany’s glory

A SOLDIER WITHOUT A A SOLDIER WITHOUT A WARWAR

After the war, Hitler remained in the German Army; he acted as a “mole” and spied on various organizations suspected of being communist

From the military leaders, Hitler learned of the Germans’ destiny as the “master race” and of the “economic conspiracy” of the world’s Jews against the Fatherland

Hitler, now 30 years old, also discovered while at Munich that he had a flair for public speaking, delivering several passionate speeches at the local university and transfixing audiences

PARTY MEMBER #55

Continuing his work as amole, a group Hitler spied on was the German Workers’ Party; this group was anti-Bolshevik as well as anti-Semitic

Hitler agreed with the party’s views and became a member in 1920Later on, he became a party leader, recruiting many German

soldiers from his barracks; Hitler’s goal was to seize the German Workers’ Party and reshape it to his own ends

THE NAZI PARTY

With Hitler becoming its new leader, the German Workers’ Party later became the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (in German: Nazional Sozialistische Deutsche Arbeiter Partei). The

party’s name was abbreviated as NSDAP and shortened to “Nazi”

With Hitler becoming its new leader, the German Workers’ Party later became the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (in German: Nazional Sozialistische Deutsche Arbeiter Partei). The

party’s name was abbreviated as NSDAP and shortened to “Nazi”

THE SWASTIKA

NAZI USE OF THE SWASTIKA

The swastika is an ancient symbol that has been used for over 3,000 years by many cultures, representing life, strength, and good luck.

German nationalists in the mid-nineteenth century began to use the swastika; this made it seem the Germans had a long history with ancient Aryans (a culture that used the swastika)

NAZI USE OF THE SWASTIKA

What better image to use as a new political party's symbol? The swastika suggested that the Nazis were connected with ancient tradition

For Hitler, the new flag had to be "a symbol of our own struggle" as well as "highly effective on a poster." The simple yet strong swastika fit the Nazis’ needs perfectly.

THE MUNICH BEER HALL PUTSCHTHE MUNICH BEER HALL PUTSCH Viewing the Weimar Republic as weak and ready to be taken down, Hitler plotted a putsch (takeover) of Germany

After they marched into a Munich beer hall (where a political meeting was taking place), Hitler’s stormtroopers were met with a hail of bullets from the Bavarian police

18 Nazis were killed. Most of the others were arrested.

Apprehended shortly after the failed putsch, Adolf Hitler was put on trial.

Viewing the Weimar Republic as weak and ready to be taken down, Hitler plotted a putsch (takeover) of Germany

After they marched into a Munich beer hall (where a political meeting was taking place), Hitler’s stormtroopers were met with a hail of bullets from the Bavarian police

18 Nazis were killed. Most of the others were arrested.

Apprehended shortly after the failed putsch, Adolf Hitler was put on trial.

HITLER ON TRIAL FOR SEDITIONHITLER ON TRIAL FOR SEDITIONIn February 1924, Hitler was brought to trial.

The trial was a political circus: the judge was sympathetic to Hitler and allowed him to express his political views.

Hitler made statements during the trial that made him well-known nationally and increased his popularity with Germans.

In February 1924, Hitler was brought to trial.

The trial was a political circus: the judge was sympathetic to Hitler and allowed him to express his political views.

Hitler made statements during the trial that made him well-known nationally and increased his popularity with Germans.

Hitler and several of his fellow Nazis during a break in the trialHitler and several of his fellow Nazis during a break in the trial

Charged of treason against the unpopular Weimar Republic, Hitler proclaimed: “There is no such thing as treason against the

traitors of 1918.”

Charged of treason against the unpopular Weimar Republic, Hitler proclaimed: “There is no such thing as treason against the

traitors of 1918.”

MEIN KAMPF: “MY STRUGGLE” Hitler received a light sentence and

only served 9 months in a minimum security prison. He spent most of his time writing his autobiography.

Mein Kampf expressed Hitler’s beliefs

Two of the major issues he addressed in Mein Kampf were:

1. Lebensraum (“living space”): Germany must take over other countries, especially Russia, for the use of the German “master race”.

2. Anti-Semitism: inferior races, especially the Jews, must be destroyed.

Hitler received a light sentence and only served 9 months in a minimum security prison. He spent most of his time writing his autobiography.

Mein Kampf expressed Hitler’s beliefs

Two of the major issues he addressed in Mein Kampf were:

1. Lebensraum (“living space”): Germany must take over other countries, especially Russia, for the use of the German “master race”.

2. Anti-Semitism: inferior races, especially the Jews, must be destroyed.

“Ballots, not bullets.”“Ballots, not bullets.”

The failure of the Beer Hall Putsch demonstrates to Hitler that power needs to be achieved through legal means, not violent overthrow.

When Hitler leaves prison, the Nazis have a new approach to gaining political power: getting votes

When the Great Depression hits Germany, desperate, starving people were willing to give the Nazis their votes

The failure of the Beer Hall Putsch demonstrates to Hitler that power needs to be achieved through legal means, not violent overthrow.

When Hitler leaves prison, the Nazis have a new approach to gaining political power: getting votes

When the Great Depression hits Germany, desperate, starving people were willing to give the Nazis their votes

When times are bad……people turn to extremes for answers

The Nazis’ Power

Increases

CHANCELLOR HITLER

The aging German President

Paul von Hindenburg appoints Hitler as

chancellor in January 1933.

Hitler’s power was increasing (over one million members of the Nazi Party and 400,000 men in his

private army), so Hindenburg thought to contain the Nazis by offering Hitler a position in the government.

CHANCELLOR HITLER

When Hindenburg dies of old age, Chancellor Hitler takes the President’s role and power as well.

Combining the titles of president and chancellor, Adolf Hitler becomes Der Fuhrer (The Leader)

Using violent tactics against political opponents and telling the German people what they wanted to hear, Hitler increased his power.

Once he cemented his position as Der Fuhrer, Hitler used his power to turn Germany into a totalitarian state.

GAINING POWERGAINING POWER

THE REICHSTAG FIRE

Within a disaster lay an

opportunity for Hitler… an

opportunity to eliminate his

worst political enemies:

the Communists

Within a disaster lay an

opportunity for Hitler… an

opportunity to eliminate his

worst political enemies:

the Communists

ELIMINATING POLITICAL ENEMIES

On February 27, 1933, a “feeble minded” Dutch Communist named Martinus van der Lubbe set the Reichstag (Germany’s government) building on fire

Hitler used this fire as a reason outlaw the Communist Party and arrest their leaders

With the Enabling Act, the Reichstag gave Hitler dictatorial powers because of this “crisis”

CONSPIRACY: The Nazis may have helped start the fire in the Reichstag building

Hitler used his new powers to outlaw all other political parties and abolish trade unions

Hitler was now “Der Fuhrer” both in name and in fact

ELIMINATING RIVAL NAZIS

June 30, 1934: “The Night of the Long Knives” June 30, 1934: “The Night of the Long Knives” Hitler’s black-shirted SS murderers killed over 1000 Nazis who

were seen as threats to Hitler’s power in the Nazi Party

THE THIRD REICH

The Nazis identified their rule as the successor to the Holy Roman Empire (the First Reich) and the Bismarck-created German Empire of 1871 (the Second Reich)

The Nazis called their new empire the “Third Reich”

PURIFYING GERMAN CULTUREPURIFYING GERMAN CULTURE

Ideas thought to be “un-German” were outlawed. As a result, book burnings took place all over Germany. (May 1933)

““They that start by burning books will end by burning men.”They that start by burning books will end by burning men.” German-Jewish poet Heinrich Heine, 1821German-Jewish poet Heinrich Heine, 1821

THE WILL OF THE FUHRER

As Fuhrer, Hitler’s personal views on every aspect of German life (art, culture, the role of women, family, genetics, politics, Social Darwinism, economics, foreign policy, military strategy) was rigorously imposed on the German nation.

RAISING NAZI CHILDRENRAISING NAZI CHILDREN

Teachers had to join the Nazi Teachers Association; those

who didn’t were fired

The Third Reich carefully subverted the German

educational system to mold children into loyal Nazis

The Third Reich carefully subverted the German

educational system to mold children into loyal Nazis

School curriculum taught Nazi beliefs: history courses

blamed Communists and Jews for Germany’s problems

School curriculum taught Nazi beliefs: history courses

blamed Communists and Jews for Germany’s problems

Geography courses focused on lebensraum (living space)

Geography courses focused on lebensraum (living space)

Biology courses taught the “science” of Aryan

racial superiority

Biology courses taught the “science” of Aryan

racial superiority

VICIOUS ANTI-SEMITISMHitler’s racial views were

put in everything Germans read or saw

In this German children’s book, a pious mother teaches her little son,

““The Jew is the The Jew is the most poisonous most poisonous mushroom in mushroom in existence.”existence.” The children’s book “Der Giftpilz” The children’s book “Der Giftpilz”

(The Poisonous Mushroom)(The Poisonous Mushroom)

HITLER’S FIERY SPEECHES One of the greatest

weapons in Hitler’s arsenal as he battled for power was his ability to deliver apocalyptic and convincing speeches

He made a science out of rousing crowds into a frenzy

The crowds would react as if Hitler were a quasi-Messiah, come to bring glory to Germany

HITLER’S FIERY SPEECHES

Hitler’s speeches would begin calmly. He would speak slowly and quietly, his voice muted and emotionless.

HITLER’S FIERY SPEECHES

Hitler would closely watch the audience, looking for the right time to turn on the emotion and rouse the crowd.

Hitler would closely watch the audience, looking for the right time to turn on the emotion and rouse the crowd.

HITLER’S FIERY SPEECHES

Hitler’s voice would rise as he spat out accusations against Germany’s “enemies”.

Hitler’s voice would rise as he spat out accusations against Germany’s “enemies”.

HITLER’S FIERY SPEECHES

Usually, his speech would become enraged. As his speeches went on, Hitler would be gesturing furiously,

shaking with anger, and covered with sweat.

Usually, his speech would become enraged. As his speeches went on, Hitler would be gesturing furiously,

shaking with anger, and covered with sweat.

HITLER’S FIERY SPEECHES

Hitler would whip his audiences into a frenzy, pausing his speeches as the crowds would salute him and thunder with applause and

cries of “Sieg Heil!”, which means “Hail Victory!”

Hitler would whip his audiences into a frenzy, pausing his speeches as the crowds would salute him and thunder with applause and

cries of “Sieg Heil!”, which means “Hail Victory!”

“If the international Jewish financiers in and outside Europe should succeed in plunging the nations once more into a world war, then the result will not be the Bolshevizing of the Earth, and thus the victory of Jewry, but the annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe!"  

Adolf Hitler on January 30, 1939

HITLER’S FIERY SPEECHESMany of Hitler’s techniques in delivering speeches were learned in his church-going days: the power of the reiteration of key phrases, massed voices chanting and singing, the splendor of ritual and ceremony, and the use of powerful symbols.

Many of Hitler’s techniques in delivering speeches were learned in his church-going days: the power of the reiteration of key phrases, massed voices chanting and singing, the splendor of ritual and ceremony, and the use of powerful symbols.

THE POWER OF REITERATIONTHE POWER OF REITERATION

A commonly repeated phrase Hitler would use to hold sway over his audiences was “One People! One Empire! One

Leader!” It also made for effective propaganda on various posters.

A commonly repeated phrase Hitler would use to hold sway over his audiences was “One People! One Empire! One

Leader!” It also made for effective propaganda on various posters.

The devotion many Germans felt to Adolf Hitler was profound.

That devotion is apparent in this poster.

Hitler appears larger than life, being cast as a robust Aryan knight.

THE ADULATION OF HITLERTHE ADULATION OF HITLER

Hitler loved to show off the might of his rebuilt Germany, staging huge rallies and military parades

This Nazi propaganda poster reads,

“Behind the enemy powers:

the Jew”

Concentration camps were set up to enslave and exterminate the thousands upon thousands of

“undesirables”, especially Jews

The slogan that crowned the gates at the

camps displays a false promise: “Arbeit Macht

Frei”

“Work Sets You Free”

The reality was that you would not be set free, but exterminated. Hitler and the Nazi party labeled the mentally ill, communists, Gypsies, homosexuals and

Jews as subspecies of the human race.

These dead bodies are being burned to get rid of “evidence”.These dead bodies are being burned to get rid of “evidence”.

Cruel (and often deadly) medical experiments were performed on young boys and girls of the concentration camps.

“Angel of Death” Dr. Josef Mengele

Gold and silver teeth were extracted and collected from Gold and silver teeth were extracted and collected from gassed prisoners, then melted down for profitgassed prisoners, then melted down for profit

Adolf Hitler quickly became the most powerful and feared man in Europe. But about as swiftly, his

empire crashed and burned around him.