NAZI RULE

 Lack of confidence in weak government  Powerful and Spellbinding speaker (very persuasive)  Promised a better life and a new Germany  The Nazis appealed to the unemployed and young children  Very rapid  Won 33% and put in in 1933 Hitler Comes To Power

Nazi Racism  Hitler’s ideal race was blond hair, blue-eyes, and tall.  German scientists believed that the human race could be imporved by limiting the reproduction of people considered “inferior.”  Hitler and other Nazi leaders viewed the Jews not as a religious group, but as a poisonous “race,” which “lived off” the other races and weakened them.  Once Hitler took over, Nazi teachers in school classrooms began to apply the “principles” of racial science. They measured skull size and nose length, and recorded the color of the pupils’ hair and eyes to determine whether students belonged to the true “Aryan race.” Jewish and Romans (Gypsy) students were often humiliated in the process.

World War II in Europe  During WWII, Germany overran much of Europe using a new tactic called the “Blitzkrieg.”  Blitzkrieg involved the massing of planes, tanks, and artillery.  Using the Blitzkrieg tactic, Germany defeated Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Yogoslavia, and Greece.

The Murder of the Handicapped Adolf Hitler suggested, "was the best time for the elimination of the incurably ill."Adolf Hitler suggested, "was the best time for the elimination of the incurably ill." The physically and mentally handicapped were viewed as "useless" to society, a threat to Aryan genetic purity, and, ultimately, unworthy of life. At the beginning of World War IIThe physically and mentally handicapped were viewed as "useless" to society, a threat to Aryan genetic purity, and, ultimately, unworthy of life. At the beginning of World War II Mentally retarded, physically handicapped, or mentally ill were targeted for murder Mentally retarded, physically handicapped, or mentally ill were targeted for murder they were killed in specially constructed gas chambers. they were killed in specially constructed gas chambers. Handicapped infants and small children were also killed by injection with a deadly dose of drugs or by starvation. Handicapped infants and small children were also killed by injection with a deadly dose of drugs or by starvation. About 200,000 handicapped people were murdered between 1940 and 1945.About 200,000 handicapped people were murdered between 1940 and 1945.

German Rule in Occupied Europe Germany planned to annex most of the conquered eastern territories after they had been GermanizedGermany planned to annex most of the conquered eastern territories after they had been Germanized Meanwhile, the regions were ruthlessly exploited for the German war effort: foodstuffs, raw materials, and war stocks were confiscated. Meanwhile, the regions were ruthlessly exploited for the German war effort: foodstuffs, raw materials, and war stocks were confiscated. German authorities regarded the Polish population as a supply of forced laborersGerman authorities regarded the Polish population as a supply of forced laborers A campaign of terror was directed against members of the Polish intelligentsia, many of whom were killed or sent to the camps.A campaign of terror was directed against members of the Polish intelligentsia, many of whom were killed or sent to the camps. Polish teachers, priests, and cultural figures, who might form the core of a resistance movement, were especially targeted for persecution. (German destroyed polish culture)Polish teachers, priests, and cultural figures, who might form the core of a resistance movement, were especially targeted for persecution. (German destroyed polish culture) As a result of the wartime German policies, resistance movements sprang up throughout EuropeAs a result of the wartime German policies, resistance movements sprang up throughout Europe