Rise of the Nazi Party

Germany1919 - 1939

Hitler’s Influences• At the age of 18, Hitler moved to Vienna where he

was exposed to extreme Nationalism• Austro-German nationalists believed Germans to

be a superior people and the natural rulers of central Europe

• Advocated for an Austrian union with Germany• Advocated for the expulsion of “inferior” peoples as a means of

maintaining German domination of the Austro-Hungarian Empire

• Hitler eagerly absorbed Anti-Semitic sentiment and racist ideas while in Vienna

• He bought into a crude and distorted version of the Darwinian theory of survival

• The German race was superior

Hitler and WWI• When Germany was defeated in WWI, Hitler’s

world was shattered. Not only was he a fanatical nationalist, but war was his reason for living

• He was convinced that Jews and Communists had “stabbed Germany in the back” with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles and he vowed to fight

• Like many disenchanted German veterans, Hitler joined the German Workers’ party

• The party denounced Jews, democrats, and Communists• The party promised unity under a unique form of “national

socialism” that would abolish the injustices of capitalism and create a might “people’s community”

The Nazi Party

• 1919 – Hitler joins the German Workers’ Party and by 1921 he was the leader of the party

• He modifies the party, adds a military component, and renames it the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (the Nazi Party)

• Promises to get back land lost in WWI (remember the Treaty of Versailles)

• Promises to restore Germany to world leadership

• Pronounced that Aryans are “Master Race”

Anti-Semitism• Anti-Semitism is essentially the hatred of Jews• Grew in Europe throughout the 19th Century

• Fueled by biblical interpretations assigning Jews responsibility for the crucifixion of Christ as well as long existing prejudice against Jews which was reinforced and strengthened during the nationalist movements in Austria and Germany

• In the 1920’s, Hitler writes a book called Mein Kampf. In it he:– Expresses anti-semitic views– Describes Jews as “deadly poison”

and “vermin”

The Nazi’s Gain Control…• Nazi’s gain control of German Parliament in

1933• How?

– Appealed to the 43% of the German pop. who was unemployed in 1932

– In the early 1930s, Hitler appeared more “mainstream” – he played down his anti-Jewish hatred and racist nationalism

– Appealed to the youth – Hitler was only 40 and Nazism was seen in many ways as a youth movement (in 1931, 40% of party members were under the age of 30)

Hitler uses Propaganda

– Believed that all propaganda had to be limited to a few simple, endlessly repeated slogans

– Held mass rallies where he wowed audiences with his talented speaking ability.

• Appealed to people’s emotions rather than their reason

• Many uncertain individuals, surrounded by thousands of enthralled listeners, found a sense of belonging as well as hope for a better future

Hitler at a rally

in 1928

Some immediate changes with the Nazis..

• Other political parties are outlawed

• Force is used to keep control of opposition

• Round up opponents in public

• Armed force within Nazis set up – STORMTROOPERS or SA

• Newspapers and Radios tightly controlled

• Books with ideas that Hitler didn’t agree with are burnt

More restrictions…• Teachers required to be members of the

Nazi Party

• Students encouraged to join the Hitler Youth Movement

• Priests and clergy that challenge Hitler are thrown in jail

• Nazi Germany becomes a

totalitarian state

Hitler’s Anti-Semitism

• Jews banned from government jobs, teaching, banking, broadcasting, newspapers and entertainment!

• Banned from many shops and public buildings

• Nazis stand outside Jewishowned stores and threaten

customers

The Nuremberg Laws1935

Takes away all citizenship and civil rights of Jews in Germany

Illegal for Jews to marry non-JewsJews banned from parks, public schools,

parks and museumsVirtually impossible for Jews to earn a living

Lucky ones decide to flee the countryMany thrown in concentration camps

Kristallnacht1938

• Translated means “Night of the Broken Glass”

• 1938, German diplomat shot and killed by Polish-Jewish youth

• In response, Nazi soldiers loot 7000 Jewish shops and arrest 20 000 Jews; many beaten badly

• Looting not ordered by Hitler• Hitler not in favour because there is no

control