 At the end of WWI, Germany became a republic; men and women had the right to vote for members of a new parliament, but in the 1920’s no political party won enough votes to run a successful government  Great Depression hits in Germany is hit hard!

 The country is struggling to recover from WWI  Trying to pay reparations  Make up for the loss of colonies taken away by the Allies  Deeply in debt with the USA  Extreme inflation in the 1920’s  Many countries stopped importing German goods because of the Depression  Unemployment rises  Germans are faced with homelessness and starvation

 ADOLF HITLER and the National Socialist German Workers’ Party – Nazi Party- gained much support  After many failed attempts, Hitler was elected to lead Germany in 1933

 Once in power Hitler: dissolved the parliament declared the start of the Nazi Reich (empire), with himself as dictator controlled all matters: economic, social, political, military, and cultural suspended freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly (postal, telegraph, telephone are no longer private)

Adolf Hitler was a charismatic leader. He inspired enthusiasm and devotion in the German people. He promised to:  Restore people’s national pride by making their country a leading nation on Earth How? refuse the recognize the Treaty of Versailles rebuild Germany’s armed forces reclaim lost territory restore the superiority of the “Aryan race”

 Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s minister for pubic enlightenment and propaganda, established a huge propaganda organization that controlled all forms of the media.  The use of radio, movies, public address systems, giant posters, pamphlets, flyers, newspapers, and mass meetings helped to strengthen Hitler’s image and his message to the people.  “Today Germany, tomorrow the whole world.”

Nazi German propaganda poisons young German minds: "The Jew is the most dangerous poison mushroom in existence," a pious mother teaches her son in this 1938 children's book, which was illustrated by the anti-Semitic cartoonist "Fips" (Philip Rupprecht). The success of Julius Streicher's political newspaper allowed him to publish such books as Der Giftpilz (The Poisonous Mushroom) to educate German youngsters in proper Nazi attitudes. Determined to have children well-indoctrinated before adulthood, the Nazis built propaganda into the school curriculum, screened teachers for adherence to the party line, and shaped science programs around their notions of "blood purity." newspaperblood Nazi German propaganda poisons young German minds: "The Jew is the most dangerous poison mushroom in existence," a pious mother teaches her son in this 1938 children's book, which was illustrated by the anti-Semitic cartoonist "Fips" (Philip Rupprecht). The Poisonous Mushroom) was written to educate German youngsters in proper Nazi attitudes. Determined to have children well-indoctrinated before adulthood, the Nazis built propaganda into the school curriculum, screened teachers for adherence to the party line, and shaped science programs around their notions of "blood purity."

"Youth serves the Fuhrer. All ten-year-old boys join the Hitler Youth" It was the Nazi women's role to produce racially pure Germans for the Reich.

 Domestic and foreign policies foster ultranationalist values  Military and police are strengthened to protect ultranationalist values  Education was used as a propaganda tool  Culture, art and the media were used to serve ultranationalists’ goals

 In the 1930s, German ultranationalist propaganda focused on glories and nationalist values of the past  The “master race” of Germans people were called on to build an empire- the Third Reich- that would last a thousand years

 Anyone who challenged the state’s perspective: Socialists Jews Roma Homosexuals People with disabilities Gypsies

 November 9-10, 1938  Gangs of Nazi thugs destroyed Jewish synagogues, businesses, community centres and homes throughout Germany and Austria.  They beat of Jewish people, broke windows and desecrated cemeteries

 Soon after, Hitler passes laws and the basic rights of Jewish citizens are taken away. They could no longer own property, businesses, could not be doctors, lawyers, or university professors, could not own an automobile or have a drivers license. Jewish children were expelled from universities and schools.

“Wherever they burn books, they will also, in the end, burn human beings.” Heinrich Heine German poet & playwright Written 100 yrs before Hitler came to power