Nazi Germany, 1933-39

Revision: why were the Germans unhappy with the Treaty of Versailles?

Weimar Republic After World War I, a new German government was formed in the town of Weimar. Between 1919 and 1933, Germany was known as the Weimar Republic. German people were unhappy because of unemployment and food shortages. Some groups wanted a communist revolution. Hyperinflation

Adolf Hitler, 1889-1945 So far, can you identify any Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, Austria in 1889. He fought in the German army during World War I. He fought bravely and was awarded the Iron Cross First Class. He was angry that the German government surrendered during World War I. He also accused those who signed the Treaty of Versailles of betraying Germany. So far, can you identify any similarities between Hitler and Mussolini?

Adolf Hitler SA or ‘Brownshirts’ SS (personal bodyguard) Nazi Party Der Führer (the leader)

Beer Hall Putsch and Mein Kampf In 1923, one in five German people were unemployed. Hitler decided to take advantage of the bad mood among the people. He tried to seize power in the Beer Hall Putsch, but failed. He was sentenced to five years in prison and during this time he wrote about his ideas in a book called Mein Kampf.

Mein Kampf All German speakers to be united in one empire called the Third Reich Mein Kampf Tear up the Treaty of Versailles Communism should be destroyed Get rid of the Jewish people from Germany

Fear of communism Unemployment Support for Hitler increased for many of the same reasons why support increased for Mussolini in Italy. What were these reasons? Control of young people: Hitler Youth and League of German Maidens Propaganda

Hitler becomes Der Führer On 30 January 1933, Hitler is appointed chancellor by President Hindenburg. On 27 February 1933 Hitler accuses the communists of being responsible for the Reichstag fire. He bans the Communist Party. In March 1933 Hitler passes the Enabling Act. This allowed him to pass laws without approval from parliament. By the summer of 1933 all other political parties banned. Hitler became a dictator.

How did Hitler succeed in controlling the German people? Took action against his own followers: Night of the Long Knives Threat of concentration camps How did Hitler succeed in controlling the German people? They wanted a strong leader Wall Street Crash (caused the Great Depression)

Heinrich Himmler: Concentration camps Heinrich Himmler was the head of the SS. He was in charge of the concentration camps. Anyone who was against Hitler was sent to these camps. The first one was at Dachau, near Munich.

Night of the Long Knives Hitler was so ruthless he would even turn against the men on his side. Many people believed that Ernst Rohm and the SA (Brownshirts) were getting too powerful. To assert his authority, Hitler had many key figures in the SA arrested and shot. This was known as the Night of the Long Knives.

Nazi propaganda Hitler used propaganda as a way of gaining support and controlling the German people. Josef Goebbels was in charge of propaganda. Cheap radio sets were available to German people and Hitler made effective use of radio to communicate his message.

Hitler and the Jews Hatred of the Jewish people is known as anti-semitism. Hitler believed that Germans were a master race or Aryans. Jewish people were inferior. Hitler passed the Nuremberg Laws in 1935. Germans could not marry Jewish people.

Kristallnacht, 1938 The Jewish community were attacked on the night of 9 February 1938. Every synagogue in Germany was destroyed and Jewish property was damaged. Ninety-one Jews were murdered.