From Vienna to the Führer of Germany Adolf Hitler From Vienna to the Führer of Germany

Adolf Hitler, the youth Son of an abusive Austrian official. Dropped out of high school and moved to Vienna. Wanted to be an artist. Was denied entry into the Imperial Art Academy(twice). Lived off of his dead fathers inheritance. Listened to many Anti-Semitic (anti-Jewish) speakers

Adolf Hitler, the soldier WWI, moved to Munich, Germany and joined the -.0Army. Was a runner and achieved the rank of corporal. received two Iron Crosses for bravery. Feels cheated at Germany’s loss and blames the Weimar Republic, the “November Traitors”

Adolf Hitler, the leader of the Nazi Party Hired as an internal spy by the Army Hitler spies on then joins the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi) Nazi mimic much of the ideas of Fascist Italy High unemployment rate and sky rocketing inflation made Hitler’s ideas very appealing to the middle and lower middle classes. Adopt the swastika, or hooked cross to tie his ideas to pre-history and the occult Established the SA or Brown Shirts, Nazi thugs used to beat up foes Hitler took the party from a few dozen members to 55,000 (15,000 SA) in 1923.

Beer Hall Putsch, 1923 Inspired by Mussolini’s march on Rome Hitler orders the Nazi to seize control of Munich, the plan fails Hitler catches national attention at his trial. Hitler is sentence to 5 years in low security prison He only server 9 months

Mein Kampf (My Struggle) set forth Hitler’s beliefs and goals: Racial Purity Aryans = “master race” those of Germanic decent, blond hair and blue eyes non-Aryans = “inferior or subhuman races” = Jews, Slavs and Gypsies denouncement of the Versailles Treaty Lebensraum: living space, Hitler called for an invasion of Russia to allow the German race to grow The twin evils: Communism and Judaism, and he stated that his aim was to eradicate both from the face of the earth

New Plan Released from jail in 1924 but ignored because the economy was getting better Legal Revolution, work with the Right against the Left Nazi became a national party in 1929 and had 800,000 members by 1932 1932, Great Depression at it worse, Germany 30% unemployment (6 million) Hitler’s Nazi Party won greatest # of seats in the government Hitler is named Chancellor (Prime Minister)

Adolf Hitler, the Chancellor 1933 Hoping to increase his number of seats in the Parliament, Hitler calls a new election. Six days before the elections the Reichstag (House of Parliament) is set on fire, the Nazis blame the communists (many historians think that the Nazis set the fire) and the Nazis win a slim majority. Enabling Act 1934 With a majority Hitler asks to be given total control of the country for 4 years only one deputy spoke out against it.

Adolf Hitler, the Führer (leader) Politics: Banned opposition parties and arrested opposition leaders Created the SS (Hitler’s guards) led by Heinrich Himmler, who arrested and murdered hundreds, became another branch of the Army Night of the Long Knives, Hitler ordered the killing of many Brown Shirts leaders (Ernst Röhm) in order to keep the SA in line & appease Army Gestapo, or secret police used brutality and terror to keep all in line Heinrich Himmler Ernst Rohm

Economics: Banned Strikes and dissolved labor unions Government took control over businesses Started many government jobs that put millions to work building public works (highways aka the autobahn, bridges, etc.) and weapons By 1936 unemployment had dropped from 6 million to 1.5 million!!! Hosted the 1936 Olympics (Jesse Owens steals his thunder)

Private Lives: Propaganda = Press, radio, literature, paintings and films Book Burning, great classics were burned because they did not agree with Hitler’s ideas Churches were forbidden to criticize the Nazis Hitler Youth (boys) and League of German Girls Taught violence and struggle as part of life (Social Darwinism)

Blamed Jews 1% of Pop. Blamed for all of Germany’s problems Nuremberg Laws, started in 1933, denied Jews the right to vote and: ban against mixed marriages Kicked out of professional jobs Boycott of all Jewish business Kristallnacht Nov 9 1938, Night of the Broken Glass, Nazi mobs destroy thousands of Jewish homes and shops