Nazi Rise to Power After World War I, the Kaiser stepped down. Germany was in chaos. The new democratic government, called the Weimar Republic, was politically weak. Political and economic problems arose. This led to the rise of Nazism. World War I German war debts   Loss of German colonies Wish for revenge Weak Government Doubts about the Weimar Republic Political quarrels Wish to return to Strong leader Economic Problems Inflation: Worldwide depression Unemployment Leadership Use of terror and force Idea of a super race Shift of blame to minority groups, specifically the Jewish people

Adolf Hitler Comes to Power:   As an ex-soldier, he despised the Weimar government. In 1919 he joined and became leader of an extremist group of the National Socialist German Workers, or the Nazi party. Like Mussolini, he organized an army. He first tried to seize power in 1923. He failed and was placed in prison where he wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle). This book contained goals of the Nazi party. It reflected Hitler’s obsessions; extreme nationalism, racism and anti-Semitism. He encouraged the German race to unite so that Germany can become one great nation. Nazi membership grew. Hitler gained support from people of the military, and the working and business classes. Hitler promised to provide jobs and rebuild German pride. He stated that the Germans were a superior race who were destined to build a new empire. With so many supporters he became chancellor, head of the state through legal means.

Hitler as Dictator   Politically: Hitler’s Germany was called the Third Reich, a totalitarian government Built a one-party government He rebuilt its military, which violated the Treaty of Versailles Economically: Placed businesses under government control Put people to work: rebuilding roads, housing, and replanting forests Standard of living rose

 Socially:   Educated the youth on Nazism Limited rights Women were dismissed from upper-level jobs Used propaganda to encourage love for the German Aryan Race and hatred for the Jewish people

In the 1920’s and 1930’s, the rise of totalitarian governments in Germany, Italy, and Spain was largely the result of  1.  the success of the Communists in establishing a command economy in the Soviet Union  2.  severe economic and social problems that arose in Europe after World War I  3.  the active support of the United States  4.  movements demanding the return of the old monarchies

The harsh conditions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles after World War I helped lay the foundation for the  1.  rise of fascism Germany  2.  uprisings during the French Revolution  3.  division of Korea along the 38th parallel  4.  Bolshevik Revolution in Russia

What was one reason the Nazi programs and policies of the early 1930’s appealed to many people in Germany?  1.  the people were frustrated with their current economic and political situation  2.  Germany had been denied membership in the United Nations  3.  a coup d’etat had forced communism on the German people  4.  the German people feared that the French of the British would soon gain control of the Polish corridor