The Rise of the Nazi Party in Germany Following WWI a small group of extremists and ultranationalists formed the Nazi Party – led by Adolph Hitler

The Weimar Republic: 1924-1933

The Weimar Republic Imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles Never very popular among the Germans Germany was not united – under attack from both the left (Communists) and the right (Nazis) No clear majority No democratic tradition in Germany

Could not deal with the economic crisis – unemployment PLUS inflation Germans of all classes HATED the Versailles Treaty because of the reparations and the “war guilt clause’ and blamed the government Government was ineffective and weak

The German Government: 1919-1920

The German Mark

The German Mark

The Nazi Party Led by Adolph Hitler Name for the “National Socialists” Symbol was the swastika

Ideas of Adolph Hitler Ideas were contained in a book called “Mein Kampf (“My Struggle”) Written while in prison Extreme racism and nationalism Germans were a pure “Aryan” race, which he believed was superior to all – a “master race”

Mein Kampf [My Struggle]

Hitler in Landesberg Prison

Hitler’s Beliefs Anti-Semitic Hitler believed Germany was betrayed in WWI by Jews and Communists Germany needed to expand its territory (“lebensraum” or living space) especially to the east All Germans should unite into one nation,changing the boundaries created after WWI

The Fuhrer To achieve greatness, Germans needed one strong Ruler

Like Mussolini, Hitler became head of state through legal means Nazi’s gained seats in the Reichstag (German parliament); set a fire and then blamed the communists Was asked by the German president to form a government After one year in office, disbanded all other political parties

The Nazi Rise to Power: How did it happen? Economic hardships in Germany due to Versailles Treaty (reparations) Worldwide depression PLUS hyperinflation Anti-Semitism provided a scapegoat for Germany’s problems Weak government of the Weimar Republic

The Use of Propaganda by the Nazi Party Propaganda – and the means to spread it!! radio film posters "Propaganda, as Hitler noted in 'Mein Kampf,' 'is a truly terrible weapon in the hands of an expert.'"

A Nazi Party campaign poster from 1932 A Nazi Party campaign poster from 1932. “The mass rallies, the storm troopers, the frenzied rhetoric of this electrifying speaker: all are condensed into this silent face, which is deliberately unsettling, starkly divided into light and shade, mixing comfort with ferocity, transparency with subterranean energies,” writes The NYTimes’s Edward Rothstein. Photo: Heinrich Hoffmann/U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

:Examples of Propaganda: This 1932 poster reads “The People Vote Slate 1 -- National Socialists.” As a symbol, the Nazi swastika is a "fearsome revolutionary weapon," Rothstein writes

The cover image from a Nazi Party political pamphlet that detailed Hitler’s 1932 campaign for president. The text reads “Hitler over Germany.”

In this 1932 campaign poster, a German worker stands over his opponents: Can you identify the enemies?

What propaganda techniques are being used? The text from this 1942 caricature translates as “Behind the enemy powers: the Jew.” What propaganda techniques are being used? Photo: Courtesy of Helmut Eschwege/U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

“Imagine the power [these images] had on believers, flattering their highest vision of themselves while reminding them that endangering this imminent utopia was the conniving Jew,” writes Rothstein(NY TIMES) In this 1943 poster, a giant hand points at a caricature wearing a yellow star, which signifies that he is Jewish: “He is to blame for the war!”

Violence use by supporters to “terrorize” population “Kristallnacht” night of broken glass is an example of organized terror against the Jews

Hitler’s Third Reich Characteristics:

Totalitarian State One Party- the Nazi Party Controlled all aspects of life from schools to religion Used propaganda to support the state and the Fuhrer Police State – the Gestapo used to terrorize people

Hitler Youth

Purged German Culture Books banned Book burnings Closed Catholic schools Looked to replace Christianity, which was viewed as “weak”

Put Anti-Semitic beliefs into action Nuremberg Laws (1935) placed restrictions on Jews in all areas of life, from education to economic and political rights “Kristallnacht” 1938 – Nazi-led mobs attacked and destroyed Jewish homes, businesses and synagogues alll over Germany

Example of Anti-Semitic Propaganda: Movie poster for “The Eternal Jew”

More Anti-Semitic Propaganda What symbols do you see in the poster?

Hitler violated the Versailles Treaty and began a massive rearmament of Germany German people gradually lost their freedom, but supported the Nazi’s because they restored some national pride and got the economy going again

The Great Depression (1929-1941)

The Great Depression (1929-1941)