Hitler’s Rise to Power

Germany After the War

• After the end of WWI, Germany grew increasingly unhappy with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles

• It resented the “war guilt” clause that required it to make reparations (i.e. pay a fine) to other countries

• Germany’s economy had been ruined by war• To pay reparations - the Gov. began printing large amounts of money in

the early 1920s• As a result – the value of German $ declined and inflation spiraled (worst

inflation that any country has ever had!)• !923 – Went from 4 DM’s – 1 US Dollar to 20 billion DM’s to 1 US Dollar in 8

months• At one point money became so worthless that a whole wheel barrel of it

couldn’t buy a loaf of bread

Germany After the War (Continued)

• To control this inflation – Britain, France, and the US agreed to give better terms for Germany’s reparation payments

• Germany made a modest recovery• After stock markets crashed in 1929 – German economy was

affected more than most nations.

Hitler Comes to Power

• Since 1923 – Hitler and his followers had been gathering support by criticizing the weak German Gov. and humiliating Treaty of Versailles

• Depression provided the ripe conditions for Hitler’s rise• Hitler and his Nazi Party claimed they had solutions to:

• Bring Germany out of the Depression• Make it a great nation again

Who Was Hitler?

• Adolf Hitler was born in Austria, on April 20, 1889.• As a child, Hitler clashed frequently with his emotionally harsh

father, who also didn't approve of his son's later interest in fine art as a career.• Following the death of his younger brother, Edmund, in 1900,

Hitler became detached and introverted.• Hitler showed an early interest in German nationalism, rejecting

the authority of Austria-Hungary

Who Was Hitler? (Continued)

• In 1903, Hitler’s father died suddenly. Two years later, Adolf's mother allowed her son to drop out of school

• After her death in December 1907 - Hitler moved to Vienna and worked as a casual laborer and watercolor painter

• Hitler applied to the Academy of Fine Arts twice and was rejected both times

• Lacking money outside of an orphan's pension and funds from selling postcards, he stayed in homeless shelters.

• Hitler later pointed to these years as the time when he first cultivated his anti-Semitism

Who Was Hitler? (Continued)

• In 1913, Hitler relocated to Munich, Germany• He applied an was accepted in the German army in 1914 (though

he was still an Austrian citizen)• Hitler spent much of his time away from the front lines• But, he was present at some significant battles, such as Somme –

where he wounded and decorated for bravery

Who Was Hitler? (Continued)

• Hitler became resentful after Germany lost the War• The experience reinforced his passionate German patriotism, and

he was shocked by Germany's surrender in 1918.• Like other German nationalists - he believed that the German

army had been betrayed by civilian leaders and Marxists.• He found the Treaty of Versailles degrading – particularly:

• the forced demilitarization• And the war guilt clause

Who Was Hitler? (Continued)

• After World War I, Hitler returned to Munich and continued to work for the German military

• In September 1919, Hitler joined the DAP, which later became the Nazi party

• Hitler personally designed the Nazi party banner – taking the swastika symbol and placing it in a white circle on a red background.

• He soon gained notoriety for his vitriolic speeches against the Treaty of Versailles, rival politicians, Marxists and Jews

• In 1921, Hitler became the Nazi party chairman

Beer Hall Putsch

• On November 8, 1923 - Hitler and the SA (a paramilitary organization of the Nazi party) stormed a public meeting featuring Bavarian prime minister Gustav Kahr at a large beer hall in Munich

• Hitler announced that the national revolution had begun and declared the formation of a new government

• After a short struggle that led to several deaths, the coup known as the "Beer Hall Putsch" failed.

• In the aftermath of the failed coup - Hitler was convicted of treason and sentenced to five years in prison • He spent less than a year behind bars

Adolf Hitler and Co-Conspirators Tried for Beer Hall Putsch

Who Was Hitler? (Continued)

• During this time in prison he wrote “Mein Kampf” - his political autobiography.

• The book laid out Hitler's plans for transforming German society into one based on race

• It also shared his Anti-Semitic, pro-Aryan worldview along with his sense of “betrayal” at the outcome of World War I

Elected to Power

• With millions unemployed, the Great Depression in Germany provided a political opportunity for Hitler

• Germans were frustrated with the parliamentary republic and increasingly open to extremist options

• In 1932, Hitler ran against 84-year-old Paul von Hindenburg for the chancellor

• Hitler came in second in both rounds of the election, garnering more than 36 percent of the vote in the final count

• Hindenburg reluctantly agreed to appoint Hitler as chancellor in order to promote political balance.

Fascism is a form of government which is a type of one-party dictatorship. Fascists are against democracy. They work for a totalitarian one-party state... Such a state is led by a strong leader—such as a dictator and a martial government

While in Power

• In January 1933, Hitler became Chancellor of Germany – by March his party had won control of the German parliament

• Once in power – Nazi gov. refused to pay reparation payments• It started a massive expansion of armed forces (an action that

violated the terms of the peace treaty)• Hitler subsidized farmers to help rebuild their farms• Poured money into public projects such as the building of

Autobahn (a network of expressways running across the country)

Reichstag Fire

• On February 27, 1933, the German parliament (Reichstag) building burned down due to arson

• The government falsely portrayed the fire as part of a Communist effort to overthrow the state

• Using emergency constitutional powers, Adolf Hitler’s cabinet had issued a Decree for the Protection of the German People on February 4, 1933

• This decree placed constraints on the press and authorized the police to:• ban political meetings and marches• arrest and incarcerate political opponents without specific charge• dissolve political organizations• suppress publications

Hitler’s Dictatorship

• To the delight of the German, unemployment went down and the economy started to improve

• However – the Nazi’s abolished all other political parties in the country

• Trade unions were banned

• Hitler became known as der Führer (“the leader”)

• He was a ruthless dictator who ruled his country through intimidation and fear

• No one was free to oppose him or his party without risking severe punishment

The Nazi Party

• The Nazi Party was deeply racist – its members believed German people were a “master race” composed of Aryans

• Aryans – supposedly a “pure” race of northern Europeans• Non-Aryans, who included Jews, Roma (Gypsies), and Slovaks were

considered inferior• People with mental or physical disabilities were despised because they

destroyed the image of the “master race”• Communists and homosexuals were also targeted – they were prohibited

from teaching or attending schools, holding gov. office, practicing professions or writing books

• Nazi’s also encouraged mobs to assault members of these groups and destroy their property

Propaganda

• The Nazi’s were brilliant propagandists - presenting selected information and using symbols and pageantry to appeal to the emotions of the public