1. Adolf Hitler

2. Early Life Born in Austria, 1889 Moved to Vienna when he was 18
While living in Vienna, Hitler developed fanatical antisemitism
Later Hitler moved to Germany and fought in the German army during WWI
1919 he joined a small group of right-wing extremists
Within a year he was the leader of the National Socialist German Workers or Nazi party

3. Mein Kampf 1923 Hitler made a failed attempt to seize power in Munich
He was arrested, tried and found guilty of treason
While in prison he wrote Mein Kampf =(“My Struggle”)
It reflected Hitler’s obsession’s - extreme nationalism, racism and antisemitism
Believed Germans belonged to a superior race “master race” of Aryans, or light-skinned Europeans who greatest enemies were the Jews
Hitler claimed that Germany had not lost the war but had been betrayed by a conspiracy of Marxists, Jews, corrupt politicians and business leaders.

4. The Great Depression
The Great Depression played a huge role in Hitler’s rise to power
With rising unemployment and a failing economy the Nazi party grew to almost a million
Hitler’s program appealed to workers, the lower middle class small town Germans and business people
He promised to end reparations, create jobs and defy the Treaty of Versailles by rearming Germany

5. Rise to Power 1933 Hitler was elected Chancellor
Within a year, Hitler was a master of Germany
Suspended civil rights
Destroyed the socialists and communists
Created a one party state
“purged” his own party, executing Nazi’s he felt were disloyal
Demanded unquestionable obedience

6. Totalitarian State
To achieve his goals, Hitler organized an efficient but brutal system of terror, repression and totalitarian rule
(Compare Mussolini and Stalin)
Nazi’s controlled all areas of German life
Government, religion, education, economy

7. Economic Policy
To combat the Great Depression Hitler launched large public works programs
Thousands of people were put to work building highways and housing or replanting forests
Hitler also began a crash program to rearm Germany
Demand for military hardware stimulated business and helped eliminate unemployment

8. Social Policy Much like Italy Hitler targeted the youth
He urged young Germans to destroy their so- called enemies without mercy
The youth pledged absolute loyalty to Germany and undertook physical fitness programs to prepare for war
Women were dismissed from upper-level jobs to raise the birth rate
Nazi’s offered “pure-blooded Aryan” women rewards for having more children

9. Looking Ahead
In years that followed, Hitler’s campaign against the Jews intensified
Tens of thousands of Jews were send to concentration camps, detention center’s considered enemies of the state
Hitler would eventually create the “final solution”- extermination of all Jews