Adolf Hitler’s Rise to Power

Totalitarianism

Hitler

Fascism◻ “Nothing above the state, nothing

outside the state, nothing against the state.”

◻ Nazism is Fascism, only with an Anti-Semitic twist

Anti-Semitism

Anti-Semitic, or Anti-Semitism:

– suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic or racial group

Germany in the 1920’s• High unemployment rate & Hyper-Inflation• 1918 Germany was a republic known as Weimar Republic

The Weimar Republic -The government just after Wilhelm abdicated the throne.

• 1. The Weimar Republic signed the Treaty of Versailles which was extremely unpopular in Germany

• 2. It was associated with the massive inflation and economic ruin of the 20’s

• 3. Democracy was not running smoothly in Germany, there were too many parties and no clear majority

The Rise of Hitler

Hitler Leader of the Nazi Party • Joined the National Socialist German Workers’

Party: (Nazi Party)

• 1921 Hitler became leader of the Nazi Party

Hitler Leader of the Nazi Party• Adopt the swastika to tie his ideas to the past

and the occult • Established the SA or Brown Shirts

Beer Hall Putsch of 1923

• In 1923, he attempted a coup d'état in Munich, known as the Beer Hall Putsch.

• Hitler sent to prison– There he wrote his

memoir, Mein Kampf (My Struggle).

Hitler

Coup d’etat: A revolution to try and take over the g’vt

Mein Kampf (My Struggle) • Book that set forth Hitler’s beliefs and goals:

– Racial Purity – Aryans = “master race” those of Germanic decent,

blond hair and blue eyes – Non-Aryans = “inferior or subhuman races,” Jews,

Slavs and Gypsies

Mein Kampf (My Struggle) 1. Denouncement of the Treaty of Versailles 2. Lebensraum:

– “living space” Hitler called for an invasion of Russia to allow the German race to grow

3. The twin evils: – Communism and Judaism, his aim was to

eradicate both from the face of the earth

Hitler’s Rise to Power• 1933, To increase the number of Nazis serving

in the Parliament, Hitler calls a new election. • Six days before the elections the Reichstag

(House of Parliament) is set on fire

Hitler’s Rise to Power• The Nazis blame the communists and win a

slim majority in Parliament • Enabling Act 1933

– With a majority, Hitler asks to be given total control of the legislative power for 4 years only

Hitler’s Policies

Hitler’s policies• Banned opposition parties and arrested

opposition leaders • Created the SS (Hitler’s guards) led by

Heinrich Himmler, who arrested and murdered hundreds

Hitler’s Policies• Night of the Long Knives

– Hitler ordered the killing of many Brown Shirts leaders in order to keep the SA in line

• Gestapo: secret police that used brutality and terror to keep everyone in line

Hitler’s Economics • Banned Strikes and

dissolved labor unions

• Government took control over businesses

• Started many government jobs that put millions to work building public works

Hitler’s Social Rules • Propaganda: found in

the Press, Radio, Literature, Paintings and Films

• Book Burning, great classics were burned because they did not agree with Hitler’s ideas

Hitler’s Social Rules • Hitler Youth (boys) and League of German

Girls – Taught violence and struggle as part of life (Social

Darwinism)

Hitler Youth

• By 1938, military training was routine

• Girls were in the female division, known as the League of German Girls

– Had uniforms

– Also camped and hiked

– Taught domestic skills

– Women were expected to be faithful wives and dutiful mothers