THE RISE OF NAZI GERMANY

Facts to know… 1. Mein Kampf (My struggle) reflected Hitler’s obsessions: Extreme nationalism, racism, anti-Semitism 2. Lebensraun- living space: Hitler believed that Germany needed to expand its territory for the German people 3. Fuhrer- leader: Hitler’s title

Building a new Germany Hitler appealed to nationalism by recalling past glories: First Reich- Holy Roman Empire Second Reich- Bismarck’s 1871 empire Third Reich- Hitler’s German master race would dominate Europe for a thousand years

GERMANY IN THE 1920’S 1921 NAZI PARTY 6000 MEMBERS 1923 NAZI PARTY

WHY THE GROWTH IN THE PARTY BY 1923 Runaway inflation French occupation of the Ruhr Valley Collapse of the German monetary system The Nazis believed it was their time to take action like the Fascists of Italy in 1922.

1923 INFLATION IN GERMANY MONTHLY INFLATION RATE 3,250,000,000 % PRICES WERE DOUBLING EVERY 49 HOURS. US DOLLAR TO MARK CONVERSION RATE PEAKED AT 80,000,000,000 (WAS 4.2M TO 1$)

BEER HALL PUTSCH November 8-9, 1923 Munich, Germany Adolf Hitler led an uprising against the Weimar Government. He believed he had enough support to overthrow it. The revolution would begin in Munich and spread to all of Germany. It became known as the Beer Hall Putsch (Rebellion). This rebellion failed.

BEER HALL PUTSCH

BEER HALL PUTSCH Adolf Hitler was arrested and tried for treason. At the end of the trial he was allowed to speak. Hitler was found guilty of treason and sentenced to 5 years in Landsberg Prison.

BEER HALL PUTSCH

BEER HALL PUTSCH

‘GLOOM AND DOOM’ During the later 1920’s, the Nazis cried out for change, replacement of the government and an end to abiding by the Treaty of Versailles. The German economy prospered and people paid little attention to the Nazis.

THE GREAT DEPRESSION 1929-30

THE GREAT DEPRESSION The Great Depression actually helped the Nazi Party grow as people searched for solutions to Germany’s problems. The Communist Party in Germany also grew. It was an alternative to the Nazis.

THE GREAT DEPRESSION To combat this, Hitler launched large public works programs Thousands gained employment Building roads Building housing Replanting forests

THE COMMUNISTS SAY THE NAZIS: Are oppressors of the working class. Are fascist and fascists are bad. Corrupt. Who supports the Communists? Labor /unemployed

GERMAN COMMUNIST PARTY

THE NAZIS SAY THE COMMUNISTS: Are destructive. Are foreign. Want to take control of private property. Preach revolution. Will bring civil war. Who supports the Nazis? Unemployed/Farmers/Veterans/Middle Class/Conservatives/Industrialists

NATIONAL SOCIALIST GERMAN WORKERS PARTY

1932 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN GERMANY Adolf Hitler, leader of the largest single party in Germany, ran for president. His goal was to chose a Nazi to be the chancellor to run Germany. Paul von Hindenburg, a late entry to the race, hoped to bring stability to Germany, which was struggling with the effects of the Depression. Hindenburg won the election. He would chose the chancellor to run Germany.

HITLER BECOMES CHANCELLOR Several other politicians tried to form a coalition as chancellor. All failed. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor by Hindenburg.

MARCH 5TH ELECTION POSTERS

NAZIS MOVE TOWARD TOTAL CONTROL Nazis called for new elections to be held on March 5th, 1933. February 27th, 1933-the capitol building of the German Republic, the Reichstag, was gutted by fire. Chancellor Hitler vowed that the enemies of German state would be punished.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRE? Marinus van der Lubbe- Dutch communist, drifter, arrived in Germany in early 1933. He was found on the grounds of the Reichstag, was arrested by the Gestapo and tortured until he confessed to starting the fire. He also stated that he acted alone. The Nazis also arrested the leaders of the German Communist Party as co-conspirators. All would be put on trial.

ANTI COMMUNIST ATTACKS FLOOD THE MEDIA Nazi-generated newspaper stories were filled with anti-Communist stories, most of them filled with lies and falsehoods. Nazi-controlled radio played Hitler speeches and stories blaming the Communists for the Reichstag fire. The stories also presented the Nazis as the party that would keep things under control.

THE NAZIS CATCH A ‘REVOLUTIONARY’

MARCH 5TH, 1933 ELECTIONS Nazis win big in the elections. But they control only 44% of the seats in the Reichstag. Lies and pressure will get them the majority they need.

THE ENABLING ACT March 24, 1933-the Reichstag, dominated by the Nazi Party, pressured other political parties to support their call for emergency powers in light of the instability that was endangering Germany. Enabling Act-act that suspended the power of the Reichstag and the Constitution. Hitler assumes temporary authority(4 years). Hindenburg says nothing.

THE VERSAILLES TREATY Hitler began to violate the Versailles Treaty: Rearmed Germany Started to unite Germany and Austria

Nazi Control To achieve his goals, Hitler organized a brutal system of totalitarian rule: All areas of German life were controlled by the Nazi regime Government Religion Education

NAZI POWER The SS- elite black-uniformed troops that carried out Hitler’s will Gestapo- Nazi secret police: rooted out opposition The masses cheered Hitler’s accomplishments others became victims or were silenced by fear

Campaign Against the Jews Hitler was anti-Semitic (hated Jews) He set to drive all Jews out of Germany 1935- Nuremberg Laws: deprived Jews of German citizenship and placed severe restrictions on Jews

Nuremberg Laws Jews were prohibited from: Marrying non-Jews Attending or teaching at German schools Holding government jobs Practicing law Practicing medicine Publishing books At this time many German Jews fled, seeking refuge in other countries

Night of Broken Glass November 7, 1938: a young, mistreated Jew shot and wounded a German diplomat in Paris Hitler used this as an excuse to stage an attack on all Jews Kristallnacht took place on November 9 and 10, 1938

Kristallnacht Nazi led mobs attacked Jewish communities all over Germany, Austria, and parts of Czechoslovakia

Nazi Youth Nazis indoctrinated young people with their ideology- through school and rewritten textbooks Hitler urged young Germans to destroy their enemies “Hitler Youth” pledged absolute loyalty to Germany They undertook physical fitness programs to prepare for war

Women’s Role Nazis sought to limit women’s roles in their regime: Women were dismissed form upper level jobs Women were turned away from universities “Pure-blooded Aryan” women were expected to raise the birthrate However, women were still needed in the factories

Purging German Culture Nazis sought to purge (purify) German culture Nazis: Denounced modern art Condemned Jazz Glorified old German myths recreated in Wagner’s operas

Hitler vs. Christianity Hitler despised Christianity Called it weak He sought to replace religion with his racial creed Nazis combined all Protestant churches into a single state church Catholic schools were forced to close Catholic clergy were silenced