 Racism – esp. against Jews  Extreme nationalist  Uses propaganda, terror and emotion

 At the end of WWI (after serving 4 years in the German army) Hitler decides to enter politics  Joins German Workers’ Party – right wing nationalist party in Munich  Takes control of the party and renames it the National Socialist German Workers’ Party – the Nazi Party – Brownshirts, SA, storm troopers

 November 1923 – Hitler stages an armed uprising against the government – Hitler is sent to jail and write Mein Kampf (My Struggle)  Darwinian theory – the right of the superior to expand

 Hitler soon realizes that if he wants to be the leader of Germany, he needs to abandon his views of violence and succumb to peaceful legal means of gaining power – he needed to compete for votes  He expands the Nazi party after his release from prison.  1929 – Nazi party becomes the largest in the German Parliament

 Unemployment rises dramatically  The Great Depression – much impact on Germany and Germany still having to pay war damages  This make extreme parties more appealing to population  Hitler promises to create a new Germany – national pride, national honor and traditional militarism sounded good to voters

 Hitler realizes that the parliament has little power and he doesn’t need them  More people look to Hitler for leadership – industrial leaders, wealthy land owners, military officers, and political leaders.  He has support of the privileged ---fear of communism.  1933 – Hitler becomes chancellor and creates a new government

 Within 2 months – laid foundation for the Nazis’ complete control over Germany.  1933 – parliament passes the Enabling Act – gave the gov’t power to ignore the constitution for 4 years while it issued laws to deal with the country’s problems  Gives Hitler legal power – no longer needed the parliament ….he becomes a dictator

 Nazis act quickly to bring all institution under Nazi control.  Civil service is purged of all Jews and democratic elements.  Large prison camps become concentration camps and used for people who opposed the new regime.  Trade unions are dissolved and all political parties except Nazis are abolished

 Summer 1933 – Hitler has established a totalitarian state and Hitler is sole leader…no president  Public officials and soldiers were all required to take a personal oath of loyalty to Hitler as their leader.

 Hitler’s goal – the development of an Aryan racial state that would dominate Europe and possibly the world.  Hitler needs the involvement of public - uses terror and persuasion.

 Germany is at almost constant personal and institutional conflict..results in administration chaos. But Hitler is absolute leader…what he says..goes.  For those who needed coercion, the SS was used to maintain control (originally used as Hitler’s bodyguards)  The SS controls all police forces

 Terror – including murder, execution squads and death camps  Further the Aryan master race

 Hitler uses public works projects and grants to put people to work and end the depression  Massive rearrangement programs get people back to work, unemployment drops  This is an important factor in leading many Germans to accept Hitler and the Nazis.

 Mass demonstrations and spectacles were used to created enthusiasm and excitement  Churches brought under control of the Nazis  Youth organizations taught Nazi ideals  Many professional leagues – teachers, lawyers, doctors, lawyers, farmers were taught Nazi ideals.

 Women played a crucial role in the Aryan state as bearers of the children who would bring about the triumph of the Aryan race.  Nazi believed that men were destined to be warriors and political leaders while women were meant to be wives and mothers  Employment opportunities for women were determined by the Nazis. Jobs in heavy industry might hinder women from bearing healthy children

 Professions such as university teaching, medicine and law were considered unsuitable for women…esp married women  Nazis encouraged women to pursue other occupations such as nursing and social works  Slogan – “Get ahold of pots and pans and brooms and you’ll sooner find a groom”

 Septmeber 1935 – Nazis announce new racial laws at the annual party rally in Nuremberg  Nuremberg laws excluded Jews from German citizenship and marriage between Jews and Germans  By 1941 Jews were required to wear yellow star of David and carry identification cards saying they were Jewish

 November 9, 1938 – violent phase of anti- Jewish activity – “Kristallnacht” “night of the shattered glass”  Destructive rampage against Jews, Nazis burned synagogues and destroyed some 7,000 Jewish businesses. At least 100 Jews were killed. 30,000 Jewish males gathered up and sent to concentration camps

 This event leads to more drastic steps.  Jews barred from all public transportation and all public building including schools and hospitals. Prohibited from owning, managing, or working in any retail store.  Jews were forced to clean up the damage caused by the Night of the Broken Glass  Jews were encouraged to emigrate from Germany