Nazism in GermanyNazism in Germany

© 2011 Clairmont Press

NazismNazism• Nazism is the ideology of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Nazism is the ideology of the Nazi Party and of Nazi

Germany.Germany.

• The government ideology of Nazism was Fascism.The government ideology of Nazism was Fascism.• FascismFascism is the belief in putting the welfare and needs of a is the belief in putting the welfare and needs of a

nation above the individual and is controlled through the nation above the individual and is controlled through the use of a unitary autocratic government headed by a use of a unitary autocratic government headed by a dictator.dictator.

• The social ideology of Nazism was the belief in a The social ideology of Nazism was the belief in a mythical supreme race called the Aryan race.mythical supreme race called the Aryan race.• Nazi’s believed the Germanic and Scandinavian peoples Nazi’s believed the Germanic and Scandinavian peoples

were the direct descendants of the Aryan race.were the direct descendants of the Aryan race.• The purest Aryan was German, blond, and blue-eyed. The purest Aryan was German, blond, and blue-eyed.

• This led to anti-Semitism in Germany, along with This led to anti-Semitism in Germany, along with prejudice against the Roma ethnic group and other prejudice against the Roma ethnic group and other ethnicities.ethnicities.

• This ultimately led to the Holocaust, the systematic This ultimately led to the Holocaust, the systematic genocide of Jews.genocide of Jews.

• The goal of Nazism was to establish an agrarian The goal of Nazism was to establish an agrarian utopia.utopia.• The obtaining of The obtaining of lebensraum,lebensraum, or “living space” became or “living space” became

the the goal of Nazi Germany. the the goal of Nazi Germany. • This explains Hitler’s obsession with conquest of lands This explains Hitler’s obsession with conquest of lands

to Germany’s east, especially the lands that were once to Germany’s east, especially the lands that were once part of the German Empire.part of the German Empire.

The RiseThe Rise• Germany was in the midst of the Worldwide Germany was in the midst of the Worldwide

Depression.Depression.• Citizens were desperate for work, food, and Citizens were desperate for work, food, and

stability.stability.

• Adolf Hitler, an Austrian born German Adolf Hitler, an Austrian born German politician and decorated soldier of World War I, politician and decorated soldier of World War I, wrote a book from prison in 1924 called “Mein wrote a book from prison in 1924 called “Mein Kampf” or “My Struggle.” In this book he Kampf” or “My Struggle.” In this book he outlined his beliefs in National Socialism.outlined his beliefs in National Socialism.

• After his release he starts the National After his release he starts the National Socialist Party. Socialist Party. • They directly oppose both Capitalism and They directly oppose both Capitalism and

Communism.Communism.• They choose the government control of the They choose the government control of the

economy and the earning of a fair wage for economy and the earning of a fair wage for contributions to the nation.contributions to the nation.

• Hitler is a pronounced anti-Semite; he Hitler is a pronounced anti-Semite; he believed the Jews were responsible for the loss believed the Jews were responsible for the loss of World War I and conspired to destroy of World War I and conspired to destroy Germany from within.Germany from within.• He also blames German Communists who he will He also blames German Communists who he will

later arrest and include in the Holocaust.later arrest and include in the Holocaust.

The Rise The Rise • Over the next 8 years, the Over the next 8 years, the

Worldwide Depression ravaged Worldwide Depression ravaged Germany and the National Germany and the National Socialist Party grew to Socialist Party grew to enormous size and power.enormous size and power.

• In 1932, the German people In 1932, the German people knowingly gave up personal knowingly gave up personal freedoms with the election of freedoms with the election of the National Socialist German the National Socialist German Workers’ Party representatives Workers’ Party representatives to the Reichstag.to the Reichstag.

• The Reichstag then appointed The Reichstag then appointed Hitler as chancellor. Hitler as chancellor. Mysteriously, the Reichstag Mysteriously, the Reichstag caught fire and in an caught fire and in an emergency session, Hitler emergency session, Hitler moved to unite the country moved to unite the country under his rule. under his rule.

The EffectsThe Effects• Hitler keeps his promise and Hitler keeps his promise and

immediately puts Germans to immediately puts Germans to work.work.

• He refuses to obey the accords He refuses to obey the accords of the Treaty of Versailles.of the Treaty of Versailles.

• The European leaders do not The European leaders do not want to fight another war; Hitler want to fight another war; Hitler uses this against them.uses this against them.

• He agrees to peace treaties with He agrees to peace treaties with Allied nations in Europe he never Allied nations in Europe he never had plans to keep.had plans to keep.

• Prime Minister Neville Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin trusts Hitler’s Chamberlin trusts Hitler’s agreement to peace; history agreement to peace; history would prove him naïve.would prove him naïve.

• Hitler builds the strongest army Hitler builds the strongest army in the world in a matter of years.in the world in a matter of years.

The EffectsThe Effects

• Germany moved to retake Germany moved to retake lands lost in the Treaty of lands lost in the Treaty of Versailles.Versailles.

• Nazi Germany changed its Nazi Germany changed its name from the Weimar name from the Weimar Republic to the Third Reich.Republic to the Third Reich.

• Hitler moved to “purify” Hitler moved to “purify” German lands and restricted German lands and restricted Jews to live in ghettos. Jews to live in ghettos.

• Europe came to the brink of Europe came to the brink of war. Many Germans wanted war. Many Germans wanted revenge and they trusted Adolf revenge and they trusted Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.Hitler and the Nazi Party.

• In four years, from 1932-1936, In four years, from 1932-1936, Hitler delivered Germany out Hitler delivered Germany out of a depression into all out war.of a depression into all out war.

Images of Nazi Images of Nazi GermanyGermany

Adolf Hitler stands with Adolf Hitler stands with thousands of members of the thousands of members of the

Nazi Party in September of 1935 Nazi Party in September of 1935 at a political rally.at a political rally.

Adolf Hitler stands with Adolf Hitler stands with thousands of members of the thousands of members of the

Nazi Party in September of 1935 Nazi Party in September of 1935 at a political rally.at a political rally.

Images of Nazi Images of Nazi GermanyGermany

A march of SA Troops through A march of SA Troops through Nurnberg in a parade to display Nurnberg in a parade to display the most powerful army in the the most powerful army in the

world in 1935. Germany was not world in 1935. Germany was not supposed to have a military supposed to have a military according to the Treaty of according to the Treaty of

Versailles. European leaders Versailles. European leaders moved to “appease” Germany moved to “appease” Germany

by allowing concessions.by allowing concessions.

A march of SA Troops through A march of SA Troops through Nurnberg in a parade to display Nurnberg in a parade to display the most powerful army in the the most powerful army in the

world in 1935. Germany was not world in 1935. Germany was not supposed to have a military supposed to have a military according to the Treaty of according to the Treaty of

Versailles. European leaders Versailles. European leaders moved to “appease” Germany moved to “appease” Germany

by allowing concessions.by allowing concessions.

Images of Nazi Images of Nazi GermanyGermany

A Nazi German display of the A Nazi German display of the military might at a political rally military might at a political rally in Germany. The people stand in Germany. The people stand

and salute the soldiers with their and salute the soldiers with their right arm extended straight out, right arm extended straight out, a sign of submission to Hitler’s a sign of submission to Hitler’s

Nazi Party.Nazi Party.

A Nazi German display of the A Nazi German display of the military might at a political rally military might at a political rally in Germany. The people stand in Germany. The people stand

and salute the soldiers with their and salute the soldiers with their right arm extended straight out, right arm extended straight out, a sign of submission to Hitler’s a sign of submission to Hitler’s

Nazi Party.Nazi Party.

Images of Nazi Images of Nazi GermanyGermany

A formal ceremony of the SA A formal ceremony of the SA Troops and the SS Troops in Troops and the SS Troops in

September of 1934. Carefully September of 1934. Carefully planned, decorated, and planned, decorated, and

orchestrated rallies were meant orchestrated rallies were meant to display Nazi superiority and to display Nazi superiority and

to stir national pride in to stir national pride in Germans. Germans.

A formal ceremony of the SA A formal ceremony of the SA Troops and the SS Troops in Troops and the SS Troops in

September of 1934. Carefully September of 1934. Carefully planned, decorated, and planned, decorated, and

orchestrated rallies were meant orchestrated rallies were meant to display Nazi superiority and to display Nazi superiority and

to stir national pride in to stir national pride in Germans. Germans.