THE RISE OF HITLER

THE RISE OF THE RISE OF HITLERHITLER

The Rise of HitlerThe Rise of Hitler

Hitler was a brilliant orator who was very effective at public speaking

Public meetings were carefully staged managed with floodlights, military music and marches by nazi supporters

To rouse the people into supporting Hitler without the faintest idea of what they were agreeing to

The Rise of HitlerThe Rise of Hitler

Hitler managed to get the support of some wealthy industrialists

Thought that a Nazi Germany would be strong and thus good for the economy

Worried also about the growing support for communism

Thought that Hitler would be the best defence against communism

The Rise of HitlerThe Rise of Hitler

Eventually Hitler came to power

Other parties could not resolve their differences to unite against him

The President, Hindenburg, had no choice but to appoint Hitler as Chancellor in Jan 1933

Beginning of the end for Weimar Germany and the start of the “Third Reich” (the third German empire)

The Rise of HitlerThe Rise of Hitler

The First ReichFirst Reich refers to the rule of the Holy Roman Empires (800-1806)

The Second ReichSecond Reich refers to the rule of the German Emperors (1871 – 1918)

The Third ReichThird Reich refers to the rule of Adolf Hitler (1933 – 1945)

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You will learn……..You will learn……..

• How Hitler established political How Hitler established political control (power)control (power)

• How Hitler established social How Hitler established social controlcontrol

• How Hitler established How Hitler established economic controleconomic control

POLITICAL CONTROLPOLITICAL CONTROL

A “thousand year Reich”

But Hitler’s Third Reich only lasted 12 years

Ended with Germany’s defeat and Hitler’s suicide amidst the ruins of Berlin

This lesson looks at what happened inside Germany in the years before WWII broke out

Why Hitler was supported?Why Hitler was supported?

Hitler : Chancellor in Jan 1933

Supported by President, German army and many politicians

Hoped for a strong govt and a solution to Germany’s economic problems

Then they will get rid of Hitler

How Hitler consolidated his How Hitler consolidated his power?power?

Hitler, however, was determined to stay

Went about making sure he had complete power

How?

1.1. Use of ViolenceUse of Violence

Stopped newspapers from criticizing the Nazis

Dismissed officials who opposed him

Use his unformed followers to break up meetings of other parties and beat up his opponents (SA & SS)

Extreme Nazi violence throughout the election campaign, especially against the communists

2.2. The Reichstag FireThe Reichstag Fire

A week before the elections, the Reichstag building in Berlin went up in flames

Hitler blamed the fire on the communists

Used this as an excuse to issue an emergency law

The Reichstag FireThe Reichstag Fire

This law removed freedoms promised by the Weimar Republic Right to a fair trial Free press

The fire was almost certainly started by the Nazis though the Germans did not know this then

3.3. Election CampaignElection Campaign

Called for new elections for the Reichstag (parliament)

Although the Nazi Party was the single largest party in the Reichstag, Hitler wanted an overall majority

Results of the Election Results of the Election CampaignCampaign

Results of election Nazis obtained 43% With the help of the

Nationalist party, managed to scrap through an overall majority of 51%

4.4. The Enabling Act, 1933The Enabling Act, 1933

Hitler now schemed to Hitler now schemed to have the Reichstag have the Reichstag give up its powers and give up its powers and rule as a dictatorrule as a dictator

To do this, the To do this, the Reichstag had to pass Reichstag had to pass an “Enabling Act” an “Enabling Act” which required 2/3 which required 2/3 majoritymajority

Hitler achieved this.Hitler achieved this. How do you think he How do you think he

did it?did it?

The Enabling Act, 1933The Enabling Act, 1933

3 WAYS3 WAYS

1.1. Banned communist Banned communist deputies from coming to deputies from coming to the Reichstag so they the Reichstag so they could not use their votes could not use their votes – Reichstag Fire– Reichstag Fire

2.2. Persuaded the Centre Persuaded the Centre Party to vote for the Act Party to vote for the Act by giving vague promisesby giving vague promises

3.3. Using the votes of his Using the votes of his allies, the Nationalist allies, the Nationalist PartyParty

Effects of Enabling ActEffects of Enabling Act

Because of the Enabling Because of the Enabling Act, democracy died in Act, democracy died in GermanyGermany

Other political parties Other political parties were bannedwere banned

Trade Unions taken over Trade Unions taken over by the Nazisby the Nazis

Press, radio and cinema Press, radio and cinema placed under total Nazi placed under total Nazi controlcontrol

The End of Democracy in The End of Democracy in GermanyGermany

Opponents arrested, Opponents arrested, imprisoned or killedimprisoned or killed

Concentration camps Concentration camps and forced labour campsand forced labour camps

SS and Gestapo struck SS and Gestapo struck terror into many Nazi terror into many Nazi opponentsopponents

Many fled the country eg Many fled the country eg Albert Einstein and the Albert Einstein and the writer Thomas Mannwriter Thomas Mann

5.5. The Night of the Long The Night of the Long Knives Knives 19341934

• Hitler wanted to have complete power Hitler wanted to have complete power within his own partywithin his own party

• Ernst Rohm, leader of the SA, was Ernst Rohm, leader of the SA, was disappointeddisappointed– Not given a more important role in the new Not given a more important role in the new

governmentgovernment– Started to create trouble for HitlerStarted to create trouble for Hitler

• Hitler decide to get rid of him and many Hitler decide to get rid of him and many of his followersof his followers

• How would you do that if you were How would you do that if you were Hitler?Hitler?

The Night of the Long Knives The Night of the Long Knives 19341934

• Hitler called the leaders of the SA to a Hitler called the leaders of the SA to a special conferencespecial conference

• During the night, he had them dragged During the night, he had them dragged out of bed and shotout of bed and shot

• On the same night, many other On the same night, many other opponents all over Germany suffered the opponents all over Germany suffered the same fatesame fate

• No public protests – demonstrated No public protests – demonstrated Hitler’s power and the people’s fearHitler’s power and the people’s fear

• This became known as the This became known as the Night of the Night of the Long KnivesLong Knives

6.6. Establishing post of Establishing post of FuhrerFuhrer

• 2 months later, President 2 months later, President Hindenberg diedHindenberg died

• Hitler combined the jobs of Hitler combined the jobs of Chancellor and President – Fuhrer Chancellor and President – Fuhrer (Leader)(Leader)

• He also became commander in chief He also became commander in chief of the armed forcesof the armed forces

• He was now the supreme dictator of He was now the supreme dictator of GermanyGermany

1.1. EducationEducation Aim of education – train

young people up to be Nazis and loyal citizens of Nazi Germany

Education was carefully controlled There was Race

Studies as well as German History and Geography

Strict curriculum’ indoctrinated with Nazi ideas

2.2. Youth MovementsYouth Movements

Hitler Youth Movements: Girls and boys (14-18

yrs) encouraged to join this organisation

Divided into different sections according to age

Those who did not join found it difficult to get in the University or to find jobs after leaving school

Military styled training / motherhood – women to stay at home and produce babies

3.3. PropagandaPropaganda

Controlled by Ministry of People’s Enlightenment and Propaganda

Helped Germans agree with Nazi Germany

E.g. posters – images of Hitler throughout Germany

E.g. Radio to broadcast Hitler’s ideas, books, music, etc.

4.4. CensorshipCensorship

Banned undesired books

Burnt books Newspapers tightly

controlled News slanted in

favour of the Nazis

5. Strict control of people5. Strict control of people

Nazi Party – many ways of controlling the lives and influencing the thoughts of the German people

People were watched everywhere – at work, at school, even at home!

A PARTY REPRESENTATIVE in every street

Gestapo or Secret Police SS – security forces as

well as control of the police force

Strict control of the peopleStrict control of the people

Declared Nazis the Aryan race – against undesirable – Jews, homosexuals, disabled people, etc.

Nazi controlled National Reich Church – celebrated Aryanism

The JewsThe Jews

Nazis had always attacked the Jews

Jews were blamed for all of Germany’s problems

Once in power, the Nazis began a campaign of anti-anti-semiticsemitic persecution

The JewsThe Jews

Jews were arrested and beaten up

Many forced out of their jobs

Jewish shops had slogans painted over their windows

People were discouraged from buying their goods

Many left Germany but most stayed

They had nowhere else to go

The JewsThe Jews

Between 1933 and 1938, laws discriminating against Jews were passed Jews were not allowed in

the civil service and the judiciary

Jews were not considered German citizens

Jews could not take part in economic activity

Jews had to carry identity cards and passports which identified them as Jews

The JewsThe Jews

1935 – Nuremberg Laws forbade Jews to marry

non-Jews Persecution turned

violent in 1938 Mass murder of Jews –

what the Nazis called “The Final Solution” to the “Jewish problem” did not take place until after the outbreak of WWII

The EconomyThe Economy

Hitler needed a strong economy to sustain his large army

He knew his Nazi Party would win more support if he could revive the economy and reduce unemployment

The EconomyThe Economy

Introduced road-building as one measure to solve Germany’s economic problems

Provided jobs for large numbers of people

Had the income to buy more goods which provided work for others

Other measures : reclaim waste land and pull down slums in the cities

In this way, Hitler was able to reduce the number of unemployed

Bridge over Rhine River near Köln-Rodenkirchen (A4)

(photo taken in 1995)

The EconomyThe Economy

Rearmament started in 1934 - Greater demand for armaments – jobs for people in the arms factories

A large party bureaucracy was set up, providing thousands of jobs

Purges of Jews and anti-Nazis from the civil service created more jobs for the other Germans

The EconomyThe Economy

Growth in German army also provided jobs Conscription reintroduced

in 1935 6 million unemployed in

1933 reduced to 2.5 million in 1935 to 250,000 in 1939

Made Hitler immensely popular with many Germans

ConclusionConclusion

Having fulfilled his promise of economic recovery, and knowing he had the German people’s support, Hitler was now ready for his next plan of action

To extend Germany’s border and prove to the world Germany’s superiority