Hitler’s youth Adolph Hitler was born April 20, 1889(his old family name was Schickelgruber) He was a failure for the first 30 years of his life. During WWI he was a dispatch runner on the Western Front. He was being treated for temporary blindness due to poison gas when he heard the armistice was signed, disappointed with the outcome After the loss of WWI, Germany became the Weimar Republic. Hitler & many others believed Austria & Germany (Weimar Republic) should unite for greater strength.

Beliefs Hitler also believed that Austria, like Germany became “polluted with foreigners”… that some races were mentally and physically superior…and the Jews were the most inferior of all. Because of the poor economy, Hitler was one of many to believe in socialism (based on Marx) and joined the German Workers Party.

Hitler’s Power Begins He eventually became Der Fuehrer, (the leader) of this socialist party, and changed the name to the National Socialist German Workers Party, abbreviated to the NAZI party. He began a Nazi newspaper for propaganda and chose the age old swastika for his party’s symbol. His symbol was turned clockwise, to appear like it was in motion. His swastika became known as a “Hakenkreuz”.

Hitler’s 2 goals Conquering the world for Germany Making the world ‘Jew Free’, cleansing it

Using Police Force He built his own police force and personal army…called the SA (or brownshirts). They would riot and beat any Nazi opposer Hitler and his SA stormed into a government meeting in Munich, and demanded control, this was known as the Beer Hall Putsch. Hitler was arrested and sent to prison In prison, Hitler wrote a biography and called it Mein Kempf (My struggle)

Great Depression Impact Hitler was released from prison right before the 1929 Great Depression hit. Due to social unrest in the Depression, more people began to support the Nazi party. Hitler also created another group of soldiers. The SS (blackshirts) were specially trained elite soldiers, that acted as his ‘gestapo’ The German economy was hurting, and there was low morale in Germany after WWI, the Depression was the final straw.

Rise of the Nazi’s In 1930 the Nazi party had many members elected to the Reichstag (German Congress/Senate) January 30, 1933 Hitler was named Chancelor to the President of the Weimar Republic (like VP) August 2, 1933 the President died On August 19, 1934 Adolph Hitler received around 38 million of the possible 43 million votes and was named president of Germany, or better known as DER FUEHRER OF THE THIRD REICH

The Third (Great Time Period) of German 1 st Reich – during the Holy Roman Empire 2 nd Reich – the unification of Germany until the end of WWI 3 rd Reich – the Germany under Nazi rule