Nazi Germany & HitlerBy: Megan Bedford

Third Reich The Third Reich was the country name of

Germany while it was ruled by Adolf Hitler and his National Socialist German Workers’ Party from 1933 to 1945.

Nazi Germany arose in the wake of national shame, embarrassment, anger and resentment from the Treaty of Versailles (end of WWI). This gave Germany the responsibility for causing WWI, territory loss, payment of reparations, and unilateral German disarmament and severe military restrictions.

The Nazi party was an outlet for the frustrations of many voters.

Gaining Power Once Hitler began governing, a

totalitarian dictatorship was quickly installed.

In 1933, the Enabling Act conferred dictatorial powers to Hitler, and four years of political power authorizing him to deviate form the Weimar Constitution.

All other opposing parties were forced to disband, making Germany a single-party state.

Propaganda The Nazi government began

introducing Nazi symbolism to the public and private German life.

Textbooks were revised, foreign films were illegal, headlines in newspapers and pictures were monitored in order to promote Nazi related ideas. (Negative attitudes towards the Treaty of Versailles, positive affiliations with war, etc.)

Propaganda was used as an instrument for acquiring and maintaining power.

WWII•During the war, Germany occupied most of Europe. Nazi forces defeated France, Norway, invaded Yugoslavia and Greece, and occupied most of the European portion of the Soviet Union.

•WWII culminated in Germany’s unconditional surrender to the Allies, which came with it the fall of Nazi Germany and the death of Adolf Hitler.

Death of Hitler April 1945, Adolf Hitler committed

suicide by gunshot and cyanide poisoning in Berlin.

Hitler had been in hiding in his bunker underneath the Reich Chancellery building.

He committed suicide because it was then clear that they had lost the war and many of the soldiers were surrendering to the Allies. Hitler could not bare the embarrassment so he chose suicide.