Hitler and Totalitarian Germany

A.Early Hitler Years 1.Background a.Artist- Rejected by Vienna Academy of Fine Arts b.WWI Soldier (wounded severely) c.Began to resent Jews during the German economic downfall of the 20s. d.Extreme nationalist e.Joins National Socialists in 1921 (Nazis)

2. Overconfident in his new leadership within the party, Hitler staged a government takeover in a. Beer Hall Putsch- Munich 1. Quickly crushed and Hitler was thrown in jail… 2. It was in jail Hitler would formulate his “master plan” and publish his most famous work: Mein Kampf (My Struggle)

3. In this work: Racism, Nationalism, and anti- Communism are all connected with Darwin’s theory of evolution and “survival of the fittest.” - Hitler justified needing “living space” for Germany because they were the greatest racial nation. - Therefore, they had a right to space over inferior races.

3. Due to his arrest, Hitler realized the Nazis had to gain power legally… not like Mussolini in Italy! a. Bolstered by war anger, and a dilapidated economy, by 1929, the Nazi party had 800,000 members. b. Hitler promised to: Restore honor, military power, the economy, and national pride.

4. Hitler as a political leader a. Like Mussolini, Hitler played on fears of Communist revolt. 1. Upper and Middle class Germans, fearing communist revolt, threw their support behind the Nazis. 2. Other Germans, swayed by talk of pride and honor, followed as well.

B. Hitler Takes Over President Hindenberg names Hitler the Chancellor of Germany (head of Parliament) a. Enabling Act- Passed by German parliament in 1933, this suspended the constitution for 4 years! b. Gave Hitler unlimited power to establish his totalitarian state.

HITLER BECAME CHANCELLOR THE REICHSTAG FIRE THE ENABLING ACT THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES DEATH OF PRESIDENT HINDENBURG OATH OF LOYALTY TO HITLER The Furher