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Springtime for Hitler:

The Rise of the Nazi Party in the 1920s

Who is Adolph Hitler?

Was born in Austria in 1889, Came from a parents each with multiple

marriages; most of his half-brothers and sisters died in childhood,

Was smart, but did not apply himself in school and failed out as a teenager,

Moved to Vienna, and was rejected by art schools,

Joined the German army at the outbreak of World War I

Was almost killed in a poison gas attack…

A terrific biography of Hitler can be found at:http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/GERhitler.htm

Hitler is believed to have three “heroes” who shaped his worldview:

“The only teacher Hitler appeared to like at secondary school was Leopold Potsch, his history master. Potsch, like many people living in Upper Austria, was a German Nationalist. Potsch told Hitler and his fellow pupils of the German victories over France in 1870 and 1871 and attacked the Austrians for not becoming involved in these triumphs. Otto von Bismarck, the first chancellor of the German Empire, was one of Hitler's early historical heroes.” (http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/GERhitler.htm)

In Vienna Hitler became interested in the “Pan-German Movement” that stressed the superiority of the Germans, inferiority and fear of the Jews, and the need for all Germans to combine into one super-state…all ideas Hitler would adopt as a Nazi.

Hitler was also an admirer of Vienna’s popular mayor Karl Leuger, who rose to popularity by stirring up Anti-Semitism (the hatred of Jews) .

Hitler’s Influences

After World War I, Hitler stuck around in Berlin, Germany and became disgusted with the new “Weimar Republic” that had overthrown Kaiser Wilhelm II, signed the humiliating Treaty of Versailles, and failed to improve Germany.

Like many other Germans, Hitler believed in the “Stabbed in the Back” theory that the Jews and Social Democrats (Socialists) in the new government had sold it out to achieve power just as it was on the verge of an (imaginary) military victory in WWI.

After WorldWar I

Heil Kitty!

Problems of the Weimar Republic 1: The Communist Threat

During the war and inspired by the successful 1917 Communist Revolution in Russia, German Communists under the leadership of Karl Leibknecht and Rosa Luxemburg (who was Jewish…as were many German Communists.)

In early 1919 three German cities including Munich were taken over by Communists. They were overthrown by armed groups of WWI veterans called the Free Corps.

The Free Corps thugs used violence to break up large Communist rallies in Berlin, and murdered Luxemburg and Leibknecht. After that, the threat of a German Communist Revolution lessened…but the fear of such a revolution by the upper classes remained.

Problems of the Weimar Republic 2: The Right-Wing Threat

The “freikorps”—note their symbol

The Free Corps refused to disband once the Communist threat had ended, and they become a second, unofficial military of Germany using weapons taken during the chaos at the end of WWI.

In March, 1920 they marched into Berlin and declared themselves the official government. The “real” army initially refused to fire on the Free Corps. Only a wave of workers’ strikes saved the Republic.

This episode showed how unpopular the Weimar government was, and how willing the German people were to see it fall and be replaced with anything else. If only the “right wing” had a popular leader….

In the 1920s…even before the Great Depression made everything worse…the German economy had little hope of prospering.

Britain and France insisted on reparation payments from the Treaty of Versailles even when it was clear Germany could not pay.

Germany still owed its war debts to foreign banks.

Hyperinflation came about when the German government kept printing more money to cover its debts.

The Treaty of Versailles closed German arms factories, and forced Germany to greatly downsize its military. This double-whammy caused massive unemployment even with so many dead from the war.

The price of coal skyrocketed with France controlling German coal mines.

The United States helped stabilize Germany’s economy…mostly by loaning it money and getting Britain and France to lower reparation payments, but that stopped after the Great Depression began.

Problems of the Weimar Republic 3: The Economic Crisis

Results of the Economic Crisis

In the crisis’ worst days, it took a wheelbarrow full of bills to buy the groceries.

Unemployment soared, and the once-proud country was on its knees.

If only someone would come up with some new ideas…

Problems of the Weimar Republic 4: The Moral Crisis

Bread line, Munich

Germany was clearly a country that had lost its way.

The once-proud champion of Europe under Bismarck had turned into an economic basket-case full of beggars.

Many children were fatherless from the war, and did not have a parent with a job.

If only someone could restore their greatness…

A House that Looks Like Hitler

In 1919 Hitler joined a small political party called the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (called the Nazis as a nickname).

Hitler quickly assumed leadership of the struggling party, and began putting out a lot of mass propaganda.

Hitler’s amazing ability to stir a crowd in a speech made him a person of interest and entertainment, but few at the time took him seriously let alone voted for the Nazis.

Rise of Hitler 1: The Nazis

In the early 1920s, Hitler and his Nazis did not say much about what they would do if they ever took power, but he spread the hatred of the following “enemies” of Germans:

1. The countries that made Germany sign the Treaty of Versailles. He vowed revenge.

2. The “November Criminals”, meaning the Weimar government that overthrew Kaiser Wilhelm II, signed the Treaty of Versailles, and presided over Germany’s ruin.

3. Marxists and Communists, which Hitler saw as a Jewish plot for world domination since so many Communists were Jews.

4. Rich bankers who Hitler blamed for ruining the economy, many of whom were Jews.

5. Jews.

Rise of Hitler 2: The Hate List

In 1923 Hitler and his Nazis jumped the gun. They came up with a plan…organized in a beer hall in Munich…to take over the city government building, which would serve as a signal for others fed up with the existing Weimar Government. They falsely believed others would rush to support them both in Munich and throughout Germany.

The plan failed, and Hitler and his Nazis were put on trial. Amazingly, it would not be the last of him….Rise of Hitler 3:

The 1923 Beer Hall Putsch

Rise of Hitler 4: Hitler on Trial

Hitler’s trial was a sensation in Germany, and gave him a ton of publicity. He used the trial to publically rail against the government and the Treaty of Versailles, and to express the importance of racial nationalism.

His speeches in court became public sensations, and made Hitler a household name. Frightened by Hitler’s new-found popularity, he received only a five-year jail sentence and was released in fewer than two.

The failed Beer Hall Putsch also taught Hitler that armed overthrow of the government would not work, so the Nazis would have to gain power through the ballot box. It would take them less than a decade to succeed.

Rise of Hitler 5: Hitler in Jail

Hitler used his months in jail to write his book “Mein Kampf”, meaning “My Struggle”, or “My Mind”. In this rambling tome he outlined his four main points with which he would rule.

1. The importance of racial purity,2. Anti-Semitism,3. Propaganda,4. “Lebensraum”, or “living space”

In other words, almost 15 years before World War II, Hitler wrote a book telling the world he would brainwash the Germans, racially cleanse Germany, get rid of the Jews, tear up the Treaty of Versailles, and expand Germany’s borders.