1. The Nazi Revolution

2. Revival of Germany
1933: Germany teetered on the point of economic collapse, with 6,000,000 unemployed.
1939: German industrial production had doubled, and there was surplus of 2,000,000 jobs.
1933: Germany was disarmed and diplomatically isolated.
1939: Germany held the strongest military in Europe and the world.

3. Consolidation of Power
30 January 1933: Hindenburg, fearing clash between conservatives and socialists, named Hitler chancellor
27 February: Reichstag building burned; used as excuse by Hitler to persecute communists
5 March: new Reichstag elections; communists expelled from Reichstag
23 March: Enabling Act
14 July: Law Against the New Formation of Parties

4. Consolidation of Power
Consolidation via Terror
“SA” “Stormtroopers” (“Sturmabteilung”), private army, typically from lower class, started as protectors at rallies
“SS” “Blackshirts” (“Schutzstaffel”), politico-military elite, established as counterweight to rising SA
“Gestapo” secret police, under Himmler, disdained SA
Challenge to Hitler's leadership within Nazi party
30 June 1934: “Night of Long Knives” purged Nazi party, especially SA, reduced SA to fringe group
Hitler claimed full responsibility

5. Consolidation of Power
Use of Anti-Semitism
provided scapegoats
unity within Nazism through common enemy
inclusion of ordinary citizens into atmosphere of terror
• Consolidation via seizure of office
2 August 1934: Hindenburg died
Hitler declared himself “führer” (meaning leader)

6. Economic Rebuilding • Hjalmar Schacht appointed as economic minister
Had organized 1920s recovery under Stresseman
Head of the Reichbank, 1933
Economic Minister, 1934
• Economic policies included:
Government directly controlled imports/exports
Government directly controlled agricultural output
Government directly controlled industry
Peasant and Industrial workers glorified
Job transfers were made difficult
Maintained high value of mark
Rearmament as means to success

7. Rearmament Provided jobs within the military
Provided instant market for industrial output
Gave Germany pride in its defense
Provided powerful base of support for Nazis
Suited Nazi national legends and beliefs
Violated Treaty of Versailles
Foreshadowed use of enlarged military

8. Propaganda poster, showing Hitler with a pseudo-messianic image
New National Image
Nazi Propaganda defined modern propaganda techniques
Joseph Goebbels: Minister of Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda
Controlled press
Controlled movies
Controlled radio: target home, leisure time, workplace
1936 Olympics gave Germany international focus
Propaganda poster, showing Hitler with a pseudo-messianic image

9. Conclusions
Nazi Germany, from 1933 to 1939, underwent an essentially “bloodless” revolution which
Transformed the economy from one based on capitalism to based on governmental control;
Stripped the political structure of its democratic and replaced them with dictatorship;
Converted the social structure into one based upon nationalism, scapegoats, and terror; and
Found economic strength in military expansion.