Hitler’s Early Life and the Rise of the Nazis

Rise of the Nazis

• A Hindu swastika from ancient India

• A sign of fertility and the cycle of life

• The universal symbol of the Nazi Party

Aryans• Hitler uses racist politics

• Germans are a master race

• Linked to the ancient Aryan warrior culture

• Evolved from the thought that European civilization should rule the world

• Germans should rule Europe

• Blond Hair, Blue eyed, Nordic master race

Hitler’s Early Life• Born in Branau, Austria

• Mother Klara, Father Alois

• Average childhood

• Becomes a wanderer then joins German Army in WWI

Hitler in WWI• Moves to Germany

• Fights the French, British, and Americans

• Wounded twice (shot, eyes from gas)

• Decorated for bravery

• Hitler far left with wartime friends

Hitler after WWI• Moves to Munich, Bavaria, Germany

• 1919 joins NSDAP (Nazis)

• Quickly rises to the top

• He turns it into a paramilitary group known as the Brownshirts or SA

• Hired thugs who intimidate and political opponents

Hitler Develops the SS• His personal bodyguards

• Blackshirts to imitate Mussolini’s men

• Also mimic Praetorian Guard of ancient Rome

• This group is largely responsible for the mass killings of the Holocaust

Beer Hall Putsch• November 1923

• Nazis attempt government takeover

• Fail miserably, Hitler imprisoned

• 1924 Hitler writes Mein Kampf

• 1925 Hitler released from prison a hero

Nazis Appeal to:• Middle class, nationalists, small business

owners, anti-capitalists

• 1929 stack market crashes-Weimar Govt collapses as a result

• 1930-32 Paul von Hindenburg rules

• May 1928 Nazis get 800,000

• September 1930 6.4 million

• July 1932 13.7 million

• May 1933 17.3 million

Reichstag Burned• Jan. 1933 Hitler elected Chancellor

• Fire Feb, 2, 1933

• Communists blamed and imprisoned

• Hitler given legislative power

• Nazis only legal party July 1933

Night of the Long Knives• Hitler eliminates his political opposition

• Heinrich Himmler, Reinhard Heydrich and Sepp Deitrich use the SS to arrest and murder leaders of the SA

Long Knives cont.• Ernst Rohm, leader of the SA arrested and

killed- he was openly a homosexual

• 85 other top political opponents of Hitler were killed immediately

• Ultimately over 1,000 arrested

The Third Reich Begins• Hitler has complete power by 1933-34• He declares his 3rd Empire will last 1,000 yrs• He believes he is an heir to Rome the 1st Empire

and the 2nd Holy Roman Empire• The Roman Salute is used along with other

“Roman” customs and badges

Creating the Nazi State• Aryan Race building begins

• Minorities become isolated

• Nazis dominate every facet of life

• Gestapo (Secret Police) are everywhere and they institute a reign of terror