Hitler’s Rise to Power

January 29, 2013

Defeat in WWI

• Germany defeated in WWI• Caused economic hardship• 1919: Weimar Republic set up– Germans not prepared for democratic government– Previously always had authoritarian leaders or

emperors– No elected majority, disliked by many sides– Seen as an interim government

Treaty of Versailles

• Weimar government signed treaty after WWI• Treaty fostered feelings of injustice• Many Germans wanted revenge• Germany was found responsible for starting the

war; therefore, responsible for Allied nation losses

• Germany forced to give up land and pay reparations– Germans found this excessive and unfair

Inflation in Germany

• After defeat, German mark became almost worthless• 1914: 1 dollar = 4 marks• 1921: 1 dollar = 191 marks• 1923: 1 dollar = 17,792 marksHitler benefited from the economic problems,Economic uncertainty + fear of communism = environment for fascism

fascism: a form of radical authoritarian nationalism.

Hitler

• Born April 20, 1889 in Austria• Applied for Academy of Art, but rejected

because lacked talent• Joined Bavarian army, fought in WWI• Wartime experiences reinforced ideals he

would pursue later: heroic virtues of war, instance that German army had never been defeated, belief in inequality of races and people.

Nazi Party formed

• 1919 Hitler returns to Munich where soldiers formed associations

• Groups blamed Jews for Germany’s defeat• Hitler joined German socialist Worker’s Party

and within a year transformed it to the National Socialist German Worker’s party, or Nazi party.

Nazi party grows

• By 1922, Hitler well known in Munich.• Rented beer halls, gave speeches that

repeated his basic themes:– Hatred of Communism and Jews– Injustice of Treaty of Versailles– Betrayal of German army by Jews and pacifists– Need to acquire large amounts of land for German

settlement

Mein Kamph

• Nov. 8, 1923 Hitler and followers attempted to take over the government of Munich– 5 year jail sentence for Hitler– Served 9 months due to judge decision– Wrote the first of two volumes of Mein Kamph

while in prison– Spelled out Hitler’s program:• Manipulate masses with propaganda, forecasted a

worldwide battle for racial superiority, promised to free Germany from Treaty of Versailles

Support

• Hitler found support among all classes• Early supporters were lower middle class.• Young Protestant men favored the Party, while women,

older socialists, and Catholics opposed it.• Most Germans were attracted to aspects about the

party that were not anti-Semite: return of German to glory, German race as saviors of the war

• Anti-Semites found Hitler’s look at the Jew as the common enemy and racial war as a way of life appealing

German Depression

• Early 1930’s German desperate, most people blamed the Weimar government– Six million people (1/3 workforce) was out of work– Hitler’s program appealed to these people, as it

was seen as a German issue rather than a world wide issue

Nazi Government

• 1930 Nazi party wins 107 seats in German parliament (Reichstag)

• 1932 gained control of 230 seats and became strongest party

• Jan. 1933 President Paul von Hindenburg persuaded to appoint Hitler as Chancellor, believing he could be controlled– Once in power, Hitler ended democracy by calling a new

election, the Parliament passed the Emergency Decree• All civil rights- free speech, freedom of press, right to assemble,

privacy of mail – suspended.

Enabling Act

• The Emergency Decree allowed Hitler the power to rule

• When Parliament (Nazi controlled) cam back in session passed the Enabling Act– Provided legal backing for Nazi dictatorship– No charges had to be filed to lock people up– Warrants not needed for arrest– “enemies of the state” sent to concentration camps– Parliament adjorned, and never met again under

Hitler’s rule

Third Reich to Power

• President von Hindenburg died August 1934• Hitler combined Chancellor and President into

the Supreme Head of State and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces.

• Officially killed the democratic state with this move and placed Germany into dictatorship