1. The Rise of Adolf Hitler

2. Adolf Hitler was born in Austria in 1889
After Germany’s defeat in WWI, he devoted his life to restoring their military glory
He became Leader of the National Socialist Party (“Nazis”)

3. In November 1923, he and his party attempted to overthrow the Bavarian government
After this “putsch” (uprising) he went to prison
While in prison, he wrote “Mein Kampf” (my struggle) which was a series of personal stories, threats vs. enemies and his ideas for Germany

4. Mein Kampf outlined his future plans for Germany:
- Aryans were the superior race destined to dominate the inferior races like the Jews
- Key to domination of Europe was “lebensraum” (living space) – Germany must expand
- in order to achieve this, he promoted the “anschluss” – the unification of Germany and Austria
- after the anschluss, Germany would conquer Poland, Czechoslovakia and Russia…and then the rest of Europe

5. Election of 1930 – Nazis won 107 seats in the Reichstag (German Parliament)
In 1933, he became Chancellor of Germany – this was the end of the Democratic Republic of Germany and the beginning of the “Nazi 3rd Reich”

6. 1933 also marks the beginning of the persecution of the Jews of Germany:
- Jews lost government jobs
- no longer allowed to be teachers or
work in the media or in universities
- refused access to many stores, parks, playgrounds…
- must attend separate Jewish schools and shop only at Jewish stores and see Jewish doctors…
- must follow a curfew
- can no longer marry non-Jews