The Rise of Hitler

Back up to WWI Although Hitler was an Austrian, he joined the German Army in WWI. He was never an officer. He was wounded in the leg and temporarily blinded by mustard gas. While he was in the hospital, he became convinced that his purpose in life was to “Save Germany”. Hitler was angry when Germany agreed to an armistice on November 11, 1918. He called those who surrendered “November Criminals”.

Review from WWI In 1919 Germany was forced to accept the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. War Guilt Clause Loss of land Loss of Money Disarmament Had to form a democracy: Weimar Republic

Rise of the Nazi Party In 1920, Hitler helped form the Nazi Party (Germany Nationalist Socialists Party) Beer Hall Putsch: Hitler and his Nazis tried to overthrow the new democracy in a large beer hall in Munich. 16 of his men were killed. Hitler fled and was later arrested for high treason. While in prison, Hitler wrote “Mein Kampf”. He served 8 months and was then released. He learned that he needed to destroy democracy from the inside. Beer hall putsch: a failed takeover of the government in Bavaria, a state in southern Germany Occurred nov.8- nov.9 1923. Hitler and his associates had concocted a plot to seize power of the Bavarian state government (and thereby launch a larger revolution against the Weimar Republic) by kidnapping Gustav von Kahr (1862-1934), the state commissioner of Bavaria, and two other conservative politicians. Brought the Nazi party to national attention in Germany Mein Kampf: “my fight” It was a blueprint of his agenda for a Third Reich and a clear exposition of the nightmare that will envelope Europe from 1939 to 1945. The book sold a total of 9,473 copies in its first year.

Hitler Takes Control In 1925, Paul Von Hindenburg was elected President of the Weimar Republic. By 1932, the Nazi Party had become the largest party in the Reichstag: 38% majority Hitler was appointed to Chancellor in 1933 . In February 1933, the Reichstag burned down and it was blamed on the Communists. Reichstag responded by suppressing communists and passed the “Enabling Act” which transferred its power to the president. In 1934, President Von Hindenburg died and Hitler was declared “The Fuhrer”. This is similar to the Parliament or Congress 2nd in command This dissolved the power of the reichstag The dictator

Prelude to the Holocaust and WWII Anti-Semitism already existed in the hearts of many Europeans. Nuremberg Laws were passed which allowed the government to legally discriminate against Jews. Examples: Jews were stripped of German citizenship. Marriage between Jews and Germans was forbidden. Jews were excluded from public office, practicing law, medicine, and teaching. They had curfews and had to wear a yellow star for public identification. This also allowed for open and legal terrorism against Jews. Hatred of jews “the longest hatred” over 2000 years – the jews were responsible for the crucifixtion of christ. Seeking to retain their beliefs and culture, Jews became bearers of the only minority religion on a now Christian continent of Europe. In some countries, Jews were welcomed from time to time, but, at a time in which faith was perceived as the principal form of self-identity and intensely influenced both public and private life, Jews found themselves increasingly isolated as outsiders Couldn’t vote

3 Step Process The development of Jewish ghettos in cities. Concentration camps became sites of forced labor and murder. Genocide: Mass killing of over 6 million Jews.

1938 Kristallnacht The Night of Broken Glass- Anti-Semitic riots in Germany and Austria. 30,000 Jews were rounded up and taken to concentration camps. Homes, businesses, and synagogues were destroyed. Literally means night of crystal: nov. 9-10 1938

In 1939, Hitler invaded Poland, which started World War II. He continued efforts to unite all Germans and Aryans under “The Master Race”. He called his empire the Third Reich. Describe master race

Result Hitler used democracy to destroy democracy. Once he became “Der Fuhrer”, he ruled Germany as a ruthless dictator and used his power to take over several countries and murder millions.