Adolf Hitler 1889-1945

Early Life Born in Austria, 1889 Moved to Vienna when he was 18 While living in Vienna, Hitler developed fanatical antisemitism Later Hitler moved to Germany and fought in the German army during WWI 1919 he joined a small group of right-wing extremists Within a year he was the leader of the National Socialist German Workers or Nazi party

Mein Kampf 1923 Hitler made a failed attempt to seize power in Munich He was arrested, tried and found guilty of treason While in prison he wrote Mein Kampf =(“My Struggle”) It reflected Hitler’s obsession’s - extreme nationalism, racism and antisemitism Believed Germans belonged to a superior race “master race” of Aryans, or light-skinned Europeans who greatest enemies were the Jews Hitler claimed that Germany had not lost the war but had been betrayed by a conspiracy of Marxists, Jews, corrupt politicians and business leaders.

The Great Depression The Great Depression played a huge role in Hitler’s rise to power With rising unemployment and a failing economy the Nazi party grew to almost a million Hitler’s program appealed to workers, the lower middle class small town Germans and business people He promised to end reparations, create jobs and defy the Treaty of Versailles by rearming Germany

Rise to Power 1933 Hitler was elected Chancellor Within a year, Hitler was a master of Germany Suspended civil rights Destroyed the socialists and communists Created a one party state “purged” his own party, executing Nazi’s he felt were disloyal Demanded unquestionable obedience

Totalitarian State To achieve his goals, Hitler organized an efficient but brutal system of terror, repression and totalitarian rule (Compare Mussolini and Stalin) Nazi’s controlled all areas of German life Government, religion, education, economy

Economic Policy To combat the Great Depression Hitler launched large public works programs Thousands of people were put to work building highways and housing or replanting forests Hitler also began a crash program to rearm Germany Demand for military hardware stimulated business and helped eliminate unemployment

Social Policy Much like Italy Hitler targeted the youth He urged young Germans to destroy their so- called enemies without mercy The youth pledged absolute loyalty to Germany and undertook physical fitness programs to prepare for war Women were dismissed from upper-level jobs to raise the birth rate Nazi’s offered “pure-blooded Aryan” women rewards for having more children

Looking Ahead In years that followed, Hitler’s campaign against the Jews intensified Tens of thousands of Jews were send to concentration camps, detention center’s considered enemies of the state Hitler would eventually create the “final solution”- extermination of all Jews