Unit: Between the WarsUnit: Between the WarsTopic: The Rise of Nazi Topic: The Rise of Nazi

GermanyGermany

In November 1923, a German army In November 1923, a German army veteran and leader of an extremist party, veteran and leader of an extremist party, Adolf Hitler, tried to follow Mussolini’s Adolf Hitler, tried to follow Mussolini’s example. His brown-shirted thugs burst example. His brown-shirted thugs burst into a beer hall in Munich, where a into a beer hall in Munich, where a political meeting was set to start. “The political meeting was set to start. “The Nationalist Socialist revolution has Nationalist Socialist revolution has begun!” he shouted. begun!” he shouted.

The coup failed, and Hitler was soon The coup failed, and Hitler was soon behind bars. But Hitler was a power that behind bars. But Hitler was a power that could not be ignored forever. Within a could not be ignored forever. Within a decade, he made a new bid for power, decade, he made a new bid for power, and succeeded. Hitler’s rise to power and succeeded. Hitler’s rise to power raises disturbing questions that we still raises disturbing questions that we still debate today….debate today….

1. The Weimar Republic 1. The Weimar Republic StinksStinks

A.A. The new The new democratic democratic government, the government, the Weimar RepublicWeimar Republic, , was weak.was weak.

B.B. Inflation caused Inflation caused major economic major economic problems; Germany problems; Germany fell behind in fell behind in reparation reparation payments.payments.

D.D. Germans Germans blamed the blamed the Weimar Weimar Republic for Republic for Versailles, and Versailles, and longed for longed for another strong another strong leader like leader like Bismarck.Bismarck.

Inflation and DepressionInflation and Depression

2. Here Comes Hitler!2. Here Comes Hitler!A.A. Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler

promised to promised to provide jobs and provide jobs and rebuild German rebuild German pride.pride.

B.B. He believed the He believed the Germans were a Germans were a superior race superior race who would build who would build a new empire, a new empire, the the Third Reich.Third Reich.

C.C. In 1920, he headed the In 1920, he headed the National Socialist National Socialist German WorkersGerman Workers, or , or NaziNazi, party; Nazi , party; Nazi “storm troopers” fought political enemies.“storm troopers” fought political enemies.

In 1923, Hitler wrote In 1923, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf (My Mein Kampf (My Struggle)Struggle) in prison; it in prison; it would later become would later become the basic book of Nazi the basic book of Nazi goals and ideology. It goals and ideology. It reflected Hitler’s reflected Hitler’s obsessions – extreme obsessions – extreme nationalism, racism, nationalism, racism, and antisemitism. and antisemitism. Germans, he said, Germans, he said, belonged to a belonged to a superior “master superior “master race” of Aryans, race” of Aryans, whose greatest whose greatest enemies were the enemies were the Jews.Jews.

D.D. Although they despised him, Weimar Republic Although they despised him, Weimar Republic leaders felt they could control Hitler and leaders felt they could control Hitler and helped him to become chancellor in 1933.helped him to become chancellor in 1933.

E.E. Within a year, Hitler was dictator of Germany. Within a year, Hitler was dictator of Germany.

Hitler Comes to Hitler Comes to PowerPower

3. Hitler’s Third Reich3. Hitler’s Third Reich

A.A. Hitler ended civil Hitler ended civil rights, silenced his rights, silenced his enemies with force, enemies with force, and put businesses and put businesses under government under government control.control.

B.B. He also He also repudiated repudiated the the Treaty of Treaty of Versailles, Versailles, rearming rearming Germany, Germany, rebuilding its rebuilding its military, and military, and stopping stopping reparation reparation payments.payments.

C.C. Hitler, believing Jews to be the cause of Hitler, believing Jews to be the cause of Germany’s problems, instituted anti-Semitic Germany’s problems, instituted anti-Semitic policies.policies.

D.D. The The Nuremburg Laws of 1935Nuremburg Laws of 1935 took away took away German citizenship and rights of Jews, and German citizenship and rights of Jews, and allowed the sale of their property.allowed the sale of their property.

The Dark Side of Nazi RuleThe Dark Side of Nazi Rule