Hitler and the Rise of Nazi Germany

Hitler and the Hitler and the Rise of Nazi Rise of Nazi

GermanyGermany

Spodek: 687-690Spodek: 687-690

Why Study Hitler/The Nazis?Why Study Hitler/The Nazis?

Why the Nazis could rise to Why the Nazis could rise to power in Germanypower in Germany

► Defeat in World War I Defeat in World War I ► Versailles Treaty—England and France Versailles Treaty—England and France

“Stabbed Germany in the Back”“Stabbed Germany in the Back”► Great Depression: High Unemployment, Low Great Depression: High Unemployment, Low

Profits, People Lose SavingsProfits, People Lose Savings► German Military Tradition: Frederick the German Military Tradition: Frederick the

Great—Prussia; Otto Von Bismarck—Unified Great—Prussia; Otto Von Bismarck—Unified Germany; Luddendorf; HindenburgGermany; Luddendorf; Hindenburg

► Anti-Semitism—Jews as Scapegoats: “Had all Anti-Semitism—Jews as Scapegoats: “Had all the jobs”; “Controlled Politics”; “Had all the the jobs”; “Controlled Politics”; “Had all the money” (None of the above was true but it money” (None of the above was true but it didn’t matter)didn’t matter)

Adolph HitlerAdolph Hitler► Emblematic of German Emblematic of German

Problem: Problem: Only success came in war—Only success came in war—

won a minor medalwon a minor medal Believed that Germany Believed that Germany

“stabbed in the back”“stabbed in the back” Germany should have won Germany should have won

the warthe war Unemployed after the war—Unemployed after the war—

no jobsno jobs Couldn’t get into art schoolCouldn’t get into art school

—claimed only Jews got in. —claimed only Jews got in. He had no artistic talentHe had no artistic talent

Formed a paramilitary group Formed a paramilitary group to substitute for Germany to substitute for Germany Army—National Socialists Army—National Socialists

Adolph Hitler (continued)Adolph Hitler (continued)►Hitler promised Germans:Hitler promised Germans:

StabilityStability JobsJobs To be Proud AgainTo be Proud Again To Reverse the Versailles TreatyTo Reverse the Versailles Treaty To End “Weak” DemocracyTo End “Weak” Democracy To “Get Rid of” the JewsTo “Get Rid of” the Jews Lebenstraum— “Living Space for Lebenstraum— “Living Space for

Germans”Germans”

FascismFascism► Nation comes firstNation comes first► Against Liberalism and Against Liberalism and

Liberal InstitutionsLiberal Institutions► Irrational Politics—Irrational Politics—

Emphasize Street Emphasize Street FightingFighting SA Storm Troopers (Ernst SA Storm Troopers (Ernst

Rohm)—they wanted to get Rohm)—they wanted to get rid of Nazi’s enemies. They rid of Nazi’s enemies. They were called the “Brown were called the “Brown shirts”shirts”

SS—Schutzstaffel (Heinrich SS—Schutzstaffel (Heinrich Himmler)—they were called Himmler)—they were called the black shirts.the black shirts.

Key DatesKey Dates►October 1929—Great DepressionOctober 1929—Great Depression►Summer-Fall 1932 –German Elections: Summer-Fall 1932 –German Elections:

Nazis 288; Nationalists 52; Center 74; Nazis 288; Nationalists 52; Center 74; Socialists 120; Communists 81; and Socialists 120; Communists 81; and others 23others 23 The main points: Nazis won 44% of the The main points: Nazis won 44% of the

vote; no center; Nazi’s powerful but can’t vote; no center; Nazi’s powerful but can’t form government.form government.

Key Dates ContinuedKey Dates Continued► President Hindenburg Names President Hindenburg Names

Hitler Chancellor in January Hitler Chancellor in January 1933.1933.

► Street ViolenceStreet Violence► Reichstag Fire—Legislature Reichstag Fire—Legislature

Building Burns DownBuilding Burns Down► March 23, 1933—Reichstag March 23, 1933—Reichstag

passes (with huge majority) the passes (with huge majority) the Enabling ActEnabling Act which made which made Hitler dictator until April 1, Hitler dictator until April 1, 19371937

► July 14, 1933—Nazi Party July 14, 1933—Nazi Party was made only legal partywas made only legal party

► November 12, 1933 Nazis November 12, 1933 Nazis win 92% of the votewin 92% of the vote

► Main Point:Main Point: Only at this date does Only at this date does

Hitler behave illegallyHitler behave illegally July 1934-SS and Army July 1934-SS and Army

purge the SA and they purge the SA and they begin to secretly arm the begin to secretly arm the armyarmy

1935 Denounces 1935 Denounces Versailles TreatyVersailles Treaty

1936 Remilitarizes the 1936 Remilitarizes the RhinelandRhineland

1936-1937 Four Year Plan1936-1937 Four Year Plan►War materialsWar materials► IndustrializationIndustrialization►AutobahnAutobahn►VWVW►Daimler-BenzDaimler-Benz►General MotorsGeneral Motors►FordFord

Racism in Nazi GermanyRacism in Nazi Germany► Belief German “Aryan” Race Belief German “Aryan” Race

Master RaceMaster Race Jews inferiorJews inferior Slavs inferiorSlavs inferior Gypsies inferiorGypsies inferior Eugenics-Social Darwinism run amokEugenics-Social Darwinism run amok

► 1935 Nuremberg Laws1935 Nuremberg Laws Identify Jews (with Yellow StarIdentify Jews (with Yellow Star Deprive Jews of CitizenshipDeprive Jews of Citizenship Allows only so many Jews in specific Allows only so many Jews in specific

jobsjobs Outlaw marriage and sex between Outlaw marriage and sex between

Jews and non-JewsJews and non-Jews

9 of November 19389 of November 1938► Night of Broken Glass or Night of Broken Glass or

KristallnachtKristallnacht In response to assassination In response to assassination

of German diplomat in Paris:of German diplomat in Paris:► Nazis set synagogues on Nazis set synagogues on

firefire► Broke Jewish shop Broke Jewish shop

windowswindows► Beat up Jews—91 killed; Beat up Jews—91 killed;

thousands injuredthousands injured► Confiscated Jewish Confiscated Jewish

propertyproperty► Jews forbidden to collect Jews forbidden to collect

insuranceinsurance► 20,000+ Jews sent to 20,000+ Jews sent to

concentration campconcentration camp

Why Hitler?Why Hitler?►War Vets—Hated Government for Losing the War Vets—Hated Government for Losing the

WarWar►Middle Class—Ruined by Inflation, Middle Class—Ruined by Inflation,

DepressionDepression►Workers—UnemployedWorkers—Unemployed► Industrialists—Hated Socialist Labor Industrialists—Hated Socialist Labor

StruggleStruggle►More than economy/defeat:More than economy/defeat:

Emphasized a cult of war, physical danger, Emphasized a cult of war, physical danger, sexuality, future, speed, a “new life”sexuality, future, speed, a “new life”

Airplanes, car, radioAirplanes, car, radio

Goebbels and RiefenstahlGoebbels and Riefenstahl► Goebbels was the Goebbels was the

Chief Propaganda Chief Propaganda Officer. He Officer. He promoted radios. promoted radios. By 1942, Germany By 1942, Germany had 23 million had 23 million radiosradios

► Leni Riefenstahl Leni Riefenstahl was Hitler’s was Hitler’s filmmaker. filmmaker. “Triumph of Will” “Triumph of Will” and “Olympiad”and “Olympiad”

Hitler’s Road to WarHitler’s Road to War►March 1938—Annexed AustriaMarch 1938—Annexed Austria► 1938 German minority in Sudetenland 1938 German minority in Sudetenland

(Czechoslovakia)(Czechoslovakia)► September 1938– “Munich Crisis”September 1938– “Munich Crisis”

AppeasementAppeasement Chamberlain— “There will be peace in our Time”Chamberlain— “There will be peace in our Time”

► Spring 1939 Annexed all of CzechoslovakiaSpring 1939 Annexed all of Czechoslovakia► Summer 1939—Nazi-Soviet “Non Aggression Summer 1939—Nazi-Soviet “Non Aggression

Pact”Pact”

World War II in EuropeWorld War II in Europe► 1 September 1939 Nazis 1 September 1939 Nazis

invade Polandinvade Poland► 3 of September 1939 England, 3 of September 1939 England,

France declare war on France declare war on GermanyGermany

► Hitler defeats Poland in a Hitler defeats Poland in a monthmonth

► ““Phony War” (September 1939- Phony War” (September 1939- May 1940)May 1940)

► May 1940 Germany invades May 1940 Germany invades the Netherlands, Belgium, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and FranceLuxembourg, and France

► ““Battle of Britain”Battle of Britain”► 22 of June 1941 Germany 22 of June 1941 Germany

invades Soviet Union.invades Soviet Union.► 1941 First Extermination Camp 1941 First Extermination Camp

CreatedCreated