World War II Hitler & the Rise of Nazism Adolf Hitler was the dictator of Germany from 1933 to 1945. He was also the leader of a political party called the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, known as the Nazis. Hitler was born in Austria in 1899, but moved to Munich, Germany, later in life. Hitler joined the German army after World War I began in 1914. During WWI he became a strong German patriot and fell in love with war. When WWI ended, Hitler, like many other Germans, were upset they had lost the war. They were also upset with the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty of Versailles had been signed on June 28, 1919, to end World War I. The treaty was negotiated by the leaders of the Allied Powers with very little German representation. The provisions outlined in the treaty held severe consequences for Germany. The major points of the treaty stated that Germany would lose all its worldwide colonies and land, reduce the size of its military and weapons, accept full blame for WWI, and pay reparations to the countries devastated by the war. Many believe the Treaty of Versailles was a major contributing factor of Adolf Hitler gaining power in Germany and for World War II beginning. After WWI ended, Germany fell into a deep economic depression. Germany was paying reparations to other countries damaged by the war and was unable to rebuild itself. Hitler, extremely irate with the situation in Germany, decided to enter politics. He gave powerful speeches that many Germans believed. He soon became the leader of the Nazi Party. Hitler led a coup in 1923 in an attempt to gain control of the German government, the Weimar Republic. His coup failed, and he served nine months in prison. While in prison, he wrote Mein Kampf, which was filled with his solutions for a better Germany. His ideas included expanding German lands, elimination of “impure” races, and dictatorship. After he was released from prison, his speeches ignited the German people. The people of Germany were angry, hungry, and poor, and the 1929 Stock Market Crash in the United States only made the economic situation in Germany worse. Hitler and the Nazi Party took advantage of the fact that Germans were growing increasingly unhappy with the Weimar Republic. Through his fiery speeches lashing out against the Weimar Republic, many Germans pledged to support Hitler, and his Nazi Party grew. Hitler promised to restore Germany to a powerful country not only in Europe but in the world. He offered solutions for Germany’s economic problems. Hitler was also able to unite Germans against the Jewish people by blaming them for Germany’s problems. Hitler called for an increase in Germany’s military forces and convinced Germans he could protect them from other countries. He promoted nationalism by calling for an increase in Germany’s lands. In 1932, the Nazi Party won 37% of the legislative vote in the Reichstag, the German Parliament. This was more than any other political party. In 1933, Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany. Once Chancellor, Hitler began to implement his ideas from Mein Kampf . Germany was a democratic country when he became Chancellor. However, he strategically had laws passed and changed Germany’s constitution so that he had complete control. Hitler turned Germany into a fascist state, having a strong central government controlled by the military and led by a dictator. As Germany’s new dictator, Hitler banned © 2016 Brainy Apples/Heather LeBlanc, LLC Swastika, Nazi symbol Hitler gave many speeches that rallied the German people. Hitler gave every couple a copy of his Mein Kampf on their wedding day. Adolf Hitler as a WWI soldier