Hitler’s Rise to Power

Hitler’s Rise to Power

Goal of Today

• At the end of this lesson you should be able to:

• Identify and explain a number of factors that led to the rise of the Nazi party

• Recognize that no single factor led to Hitler’s rise

• Know the difference between right wing and left wing

Overview

• The National Socialist German Workers Party or Nazi Party was formed in 1919.

• Hitler joined the party shortly after it’s inception

• Germany was in a state of disarray after WWI

• There were many extremist groups in Germany at the time.

Right Wing vs. Left Wing

• Right- Wing: a descriptive term for conservative or reactionary political views, particularly those supporting the current social order or call for a return to an earlier order.

• Left- Wing: a descriptive term for liberal, radical, or revolutionary political views, particularly the view that there are unacceptable social inequalities in present order of society.

Germany 1919-1923• Many Germans were disillusioned after the defeat in the

first World war. Ex-soldiers felt that they had been ‘Stabbed in the back’ and felt that they had not been defeated on the battlefield. Many of them joined Right Wing groups such as the Freikorps or the Nazi Party.

• The Spartacist rising, amongst others, led to many people fearing a Communist revolution in Germany. People looked to Right Wing groups to act against this.

• Economic hardship was coupled with humiliation as a result of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. Right Wing groups gained popularity by saying that they would not adhere to it’s terms.

Nazi Program1. A union of all German to form a great Germany on the

basis of the right of self determination of peoples.2. Abolition of the Treaty of Versailles.3. Land and territory for the surplus of people.4. German blood as a requirement for German

citizenship. No Jew can be a member of the nation.5. Non-citizens can live in Germany only as foreigners,

subject to the law of aliens.6. Only citizens can vote or hold office.7. The state ensures that every citizen live decently and

earn his livelihood. If it is possible to provide food for the whole population, the aliens must be expelled.

Nazi Program Continued…

8. No further immigration of non-Germans. Any non-German who entered Germany after August 2, 1914, shall leave immediately.

9. A thorough reconstruction of our national system of education. The science of citizenship shall be taught from the beginning.

10. All newspapers must be published in the German language by German citizens and owners.

By the end of the 1920 the Nazi Party had about 3,000 members.

How did the Nazi party gain support in this period?

• Military uniforms demonstrated strength at a time when the government was weak.

• Use of force against Communists and Trade unionists was popular with businesses.

• References to traditional values and reminders of ‘Who was to blame’ for the economic crisis builds support.

• Appeals to Nationalism.

• The appeal of the Nazis

• Socialist- eg farmers should be given their land; pensions should improve; and public industries such as electricity and water should be owned by the state.

• Nationalist - all German-speaking people should be united in one country; the Treaty of Versailles should be abolished; and there should be special laws for foreigners.

• Racist - Jews should not be German citizens and immigration should be stopped.Fascist - a strong central government and control of the newspapers.

• The Nazis did not appeal to:

• working men who voted Communist

• intellectuals such as students and university professors

• They were popular with:

• nationalists and racists

• Farmers

• lower middle-class people such as plumbers and shopkeepers who were worried about the chaos Germany was in

• rich people worried by the threat from Communism

• The SA (Brownshirts) were directed to keep order at party meetings.

• Later the SA were deployed to break up meetings of other parties (Thugs)

• Wore military style uniforms and used force to achieve ‘order’.

• Intended to provide a strong image.

1923: Violent Uprising• By 1923 the Nazi party had gained much support in

Bavaria. Now firmly under the control of Adolf Hitler the group attempts to seize control of the government through the use of force.

• On the night of 8 November 1923, Hitler and 600 storm troopers burst into a meeting that Kahr and Lossow (they were local Bavarian politicians) were holding at the local Beer Hall. Waving a gun at them, Hitler forced them to agree to rebel - and then let them go home. The SA took over the army headquarters and the offices of the local newspaper.

• The next day, 9 November 1923, Hitler and his Nazis went into Munich on what they thought would be a triumphal march to take power (Does that sound familiar?). However, Kahr had called in police and army reinforcements. There was a short scuffle in which the police killed 16 Nazis. Hitler fled, but was arrested two days later.

• Despite having many sympathizers the coup fails and Hitler is imprisoned for treason.

• The failure of the Beer Hall Putsch demonstrates that power needs to be taken through legal means

• The Nazi party was banned, and Hitler was prevented from speaking in public until 1927.

Regrouping• Hitler went to prison, where he wrote 'Mein

Kampf’. Millions of Germans read it, and Hitler's ideas became very well-known.

• Hitler decided that he would never come to power by revolution; he realized that he would have to use constitutional means, so he organized:

– the Hitler Youth

– propaganda campaign

– mergers with other right-wing parties

– local branches of the party, which tried to get Nazis elected to the Reichstag

– the SS as his personal bodyguard, which was set up in 1925

– It was this strategy of gaining power legitimately that eventually brought him to power.

1929-1931 A Change in Fortunes

• Wall Street Crash leads to end of effective financial assistance from USA.

• Unemployment rises rapidly- 3 million to 6 million

• Hyperinflation recurs.

• Threat of Communism increases.

• Coalition government fails to address problems successfully.

Nazi’s Move Into Government (1)

• Nazi’s use force to prevent uprisings.

• Rhetoric plays on peoples fears.

• Emphasis placed on military power wins support of many soldiers and traditionalists.

• Weak coalition government enables Nazi’s to gain political strength.

• Propaganda and shows of might impress the masses.

Nazi’s Into Government (2)

• Electoral support rises: In 1932 the Nazi’s become largest single party in the Reichstag gaining 37% of the seats.

• Continuing economic crisis leads to breakdown of faith in current government.

• Germany in desperate need of a strong leader.

Nazi’s In Power

• Hitler invited to become Chancellor on January 30th, 1933, by politicians who believe that Hitler can be manipulated easily.

• President Hindenburg’s death allows Hitler to assume presidential powers.

• Nazi Party’s rise to power is complete.

The Nazi’s in Power and How They Kept Power

Hitler becomes Chancellor

The depression after the Wall Street Crash made many more people vote for the Nazis. In 1933 Von Papen convinced Hindenburg that Hitler should become Chancellor.

January 1933

The Reichstag FireFebruary 1933

The Reichstag Fire The Reichstag building burnt down.

A Communist was found inside the building. He admitted responsibility for starting the fire.

Chancellor Hitler was able to convince people that the Communists were trying to take power by terrorism.

He was able to have the Communists banned from the Reichstag.

• Hitler used the fire to his advantage in two ways:

– It gave him an opportunity to imprison many communist leaders, which stopped them campaigning during the election.

– It allowed the Nazis to say that the country was in danger from the communists during its election campaign.

– Both these actions helped the Nazis to win more seats in the election.

With the Communists banned from the Reichstag Hitler was able to pass:

HITLER CANRULE ALONEFOR FOUR

YEARS. THEREIS NO NEED TOCONSULT THE

REICHSTAG

March 1933

• “Reichstag fire” gives Hitler total power

• In 1933, all parties were outlawed except the Nazi party

• People’s civil rights were suspended

• Political prisoners were sent to concentration camps

June 1934

Now I have got rid of opposition political groups, I can now deal with opposition in my party. Ernst Rohm (an old friend), head of the S.A. is very unpopular with the German army leaders. They have the power to overthrow me.I’ve been worried about Rohm for a while, so this is a good excuse.

The Night of the Long Knives• Hitler had to get rid of Rohm.

He was too much of a threat.

• On the night of 30th June 1934 Hitler’s S.S. killed over 1000 SA members including Rohm.

• The army was pleased and now supported Hitler.

A final note

PRESIDENT HINDENBURG’SDEATH GAVE HITLER THEOPPORTUNITY TO COMBINETHE ROLE OF CHANCELLORAND PRESIDENT. HE CALLEDHIMSELF ‘DER FUHRER’.

August 1934

Every soldier swore a personal oath of loyalty to ADOLF HITLER.

HITLERBECAMECHANCELLOR

THE REICHSTAGFIRE

THEENABLING

ACT

THE NIGHTOF THELONG

KNIVES

DEATH OFPRESIDENT

HINDENBURG

OATH OFLOYALTY

TOHITLER

• Keeping Control:Terror State

Key Quote

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

How did Hitler keep control of Germany?

Propaganda

Mass Rallies, Posters and Propaganda films.

Keeping Control of Germany

The Terror State

Secret police called the Gestapo would spy on and arrest enemies of

the state.

SS were responsible for running the

concentration camps.

Everyone was scared of being arrested by the

Gestapo and being put in a concentration camp.

Popularity

Ripping up the Treaty of Versailles.

Creating Jobs

The Nazis controlled and censored the radio

& newspapers.

School children were indoctrinated with Nazi

ideas at school.

Hitler Youth & the Young Maidens.

The Terror State• Both the Gestapo and the SS

were run by Heinrich Himmler.• The Gestapo employed an

army of spies who would inform on people

Enemies of the State

• Germans who bought from Jews

• Pacifists

• Radical Christian Organisation

• Anyone who criticised Hitler or the Nazi Party.

• Communists

• Social Democrats

• Jews

• Trade Unionists.

• Work Shy

• Homosexuals

• Gypsies

• A list of German women who were still purchasing goods from Jewish shops.

• Printed to scare or terrorise other people into not buying from the Jews.

Enemies of the State

How did the Terror State Work?Gestapo Spies inform on you

You are woken up by the Gestapo at 1 am in the morning and told

that you have 5 minutes to pack your bags.

You are arrested and thrown into a cell at the police

station

FearDays or maybe weeks

later you are interviewed and

asked to sign form D11

When you are released you tell

everybody what has happened to you

You are imprisoned for up to six months doing hard physical

labour.

You are handed over to the SS who

run the concentration

camps.

By signing this form you are giving your

consent to be put into a concentration camp.