History Mystery

Use the clues to solve the history mystery…Who am I?

Who Am I? I was born on April 20, 1889 in Braunau, Austria.

I had two older siblings who died when they were infants, one younger brother, Edmund, who died when he was six, and one younger sister, Paula, who outlived me.

My dad died when I was 13 and my mom died when I was 19…leaving me no relatives willing or able to support me.

I had a poor record in school and left before I graduated…I had ambitions to become an artist.

In 1909, I moved to Vienna, Austria in the hopes of making a living. I sold some paintings to provide a bit of money but it was not enough so I lived in homeless shelters and ate at soup kitchens.

Still penniless, I moved to Munich, Germany in 1913. When WWI broke out, I joined the army. I was a decorated soldier earning promotions and medals of bravery. My only injury was temporary blindness caused by a British gas attack in Ypres Salient.

I joined the National Socialist Workers Party in 1919 and by 1921 I was a formidable leader of the party.

In 1923, I was arrested for treason and sentenced to five years in the Landsburg Prison. While in prison, I dictated my thoughts and philosophies to Rudolf Hess who wrote a book.

I became a German citizen on February 25, 1932. I ran for president but lost the election to Hindenburg. Finally, in March 1934, Hindenburg died and I became “Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor,” abolishing the title of president. Now, I had total control of the Nazi Party and Germany.

May 7, 1945April 14, 1941April 13, 1936March 13, 1933December 21, 1931

Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler in His Teenage Years Didn’t work to earn his keep nor formally study Gained an interest in politics and history Twice denied admission to the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts,

rejections which angered him greatly

What if Adolf Hitler had been granted admission into this academy to study art?

Fought bravely in WWI and promoted to corporal Decorated with the Iron Cross Second Class and First Class Recommended for the award by a regimental captain who

was JewishWhy is this ironic?

Notice the change in the Iron Cross?

Hitler’s Service in WWI

Joined German Workers’ Party after WWI Responsible for publicity and propaganda

Presented to larger and larger audiences with great success February 1920: presented 25-point program of ideas which became the

party platform April 1920: changed party name to National Socialist German Workers

Party (Nazi for short)

Adolf Hitler the Orator

Why were Hitler’s oratory skills so important?

ORATORY: skill or eloquence in public speaking; the art of public speaking

Hitler continued to expand his influence in the party Formed a private group of thugs to quash disorder at party meetings and later to

break up rival party's meetings– Sturmabteilung or S.A. - Hitler's brown shirted storm troopers

Became regular main speaker at party events from then on Chose the swastika as the Nazi party emblem in summer of 1920

The word "swastika" comes from the Sanskrit svastika - “sv" meaning "good or well," "asti" meaning "to be,“ … translated as “that which is associated with well-being." Until the Nazis used this symbol, the swastika was used by many cultures throughout the past 3,000 years to represent life, sun, power, strength, and good luck. Because of the Nazis' flag, the swastika soon became a symbol of hate, anti-Semitism, violence, death, and murder.

The swastika is an extremely powerful symbol. The Nazis used it to murder millions of people, but for centuries it had positive meanings. Does it now represent good or evil?

Origin of the Nazi Swastika

The swastika in the decorative Hindu form. Swastika on the doorstep of an

apartment in Maharashtra, India.

A picture of a Red Swastika Society member in China. The group was active during the 1920s and 1930s, similar to the Red Cross.

The swastika is a holy symbol in Jainism. Jainism is an ancient religion of India, also now found in other countries around the world, that prescribes a path of peace and non-violence towards all living beings.

Native American basketball team in 1909

Matilde Moisant in 1912 wearing a “good-luck” swastika. Matilde was an American pilot, the second woman in the country to get a pilot’s license.

Hitler continued to build and strengthen Nazi Party up to November, 1923 Plotted to overthrow the German Weimar Republic by force:

– His overthrow (coup) was unsuccessful – Arrested for treason

While in prison, he dictated his thoughts and philosophies to Rudolf Hess which became the book Mein Kampf …meaning My Struggle.

Growth of the Nazi Party

Collapse of New York Stock Exchange on Wall St. in 1929 led to a world wide depression which hit Germany especially hard:

All loans to Germany from foreign countries dried up, German industrial production slumped, and millions were unemployed.

Hitler campaigned hard for Nazi candidates, promising the public a way out of their current hardship.

In the 1930s, many German people starved to death, like this little boy in the picture .

Adolf Hitler’s Rise to Power

Why would an economic depression lead to a

dictator like Adolf Hitler coming to power?

Hitler sets about the "Nazification" of Germany and release from Versailles Treaty restrictions:

– Censorship was extreme including the press, films, radio, books and art– All youth associations abolished and re-formed as Hitler Youth organization

Hitler Youth recruitment poster. The wording translates to: "Youth serves the leader. All ten year-olds into the Hitler Youth."

Jungvolk Oath (taken by ten-year-old boys on first entering the Hitler Youth)

"In the presence of this blood banner which represents our Führer, I swear to devote all my energies and my strength to the savior of our country, Adolf Hitler. I am willing and ready to give up my life for him, so help me God."

"Every girl belongs to us" League of German

Maidens poster

Hitler Youth and “Nazification” of Germany

Nuremburg Laws of September 1935 persecuted and ostracized Jews from society. Jews no longer considered to be German citizens and therefore had no legal rights. Jews were no longer allowed to hold public office. Jews not allowed to work in the civil-service, the media, farming, teaching, the stock

exchange and eventually barred from practicing law or medicine. Hostility towards Jews from other Germans was encouraged; even shops began to

deny entry to Jews.

SA men carry banners which read "Germans! Defend Yourselves! Do Not Buy From Jews!" Berlin, Germany, March or April 1933.

A motorcyclist reads a sign stating "Jews are not welcomed here." Germany, ca. 1935.

Another Impact of Hitler’s Nazification: Persecution of Jews in Germany

Cover of an anti-Semitic German children's book titled "Trust No Fox in the Green Meadow and No Jew on his Oath." Germany, 1936. Illustration from an anti-Semitic

children's primer. The sign reads "Jews are not wanted here." Germany, 1936.

Army secretly tripled in size:– from 100,000 man Versailles Treaty limit

to 300,000 men by October of 1934 Navy strengthened:

– Hitler ordered construction of submarines and large warships

Hitler ordered training of air force pilots and design of military aircraft

– creation of Luftwaffe (German Air Force)

Hitler Defies the Versailles Treaty

All the while, Hitler gave speeches proclaiming a desire for peace in Europe. A quote from Hitler at that time: "Whoever lights the torch of war in Europe can wish for nothing but chaos.“

Openly declared the introduction of military service and the creation of an army with 36 divisions (approx. 1/2 million men)

All of these actions received little reaction from Britain and France--appeasement

What if Britain and France had objected to Hitler’s breaking of the Versailles Treaty instead of following a policy of appeasement?

Hitler and His Actions are Appeased

APPEASEMENT is an approach to foreign relations which attempts to maintain peace by making concessions to the aggressor so as to prevent the aggressor from going to war.

So what was the big deal about the Treaty of Versailles?