The Rise of Adolf Hitler and the Beginning of World War II Time Magazine’s “Man of the Year” in 1938

Adolf Hitler ► Born on April 20, 1889 in Austria ► Attended a Catholic monastery school where he was a member of their choir ► Considered becoming a priest ► Wanted to become an artist, but his father made him follow in his footsteps ► During high school, Adolf became a German nationalist

Adolf Hitler ► His father died when Adolf was 13, and he became the head of his family’s household and dropped out of high school ► Five years later, Adolf’s dreams were fulfilled and he took the entrance exam to Vienna’s Academy of Fine Arts ► Told that his drawings lacked the talent of artistic painting, he was rejected

Adolf Hitler ► Hitler the unemployed slacker tried again to attend Vienna’s Academy of Fine Art, but his test drawings were considered so bad that he wasn’t even allowed to take the exam ► Hitler became homeless in 1909 ► Made a modest living by selling his paintings in Jewish shops ► Living in a town with an anti-Semitic leader, Adolf began to read anti-Semitic literature and quickly began to despise Jewish people

Adolf Hitler ► Anti-Semitism: An intense dislike and prejudice against the Jewish people ► Becoming increasingly interested in politics, Hitler joined the German army ► Fought in World War I ► Was said to have shown “outstanding bravery in the face of the enemy” ► Germany lost WWI in 1918

Anti-Semitism? ► Why was Anti-Semitism popular for hundreds of years: ► Jews were blamed for killing Christ ► Kicked out of the majority of European countries ► Were forced to live in poverty

Germany after WWI ► Along with many Germans, Hitler believed that Germany could have won WWI ► They were “betrayed” from within by the Jewish ► Germany becomes a democracy ► Limited to 100,000 soldiers

The German Worker’s Party ► Hitler joined The German Worker’s Party  Strong nationalist, pro military, anti-Semitic party ► Hitler became the “voice” of the party because of his strong ability to speak ► In 1920, Hitler chose the swastika to represent the political party ► Party name is called “Nazi” for short

Hitler becomes Nazi Leader ► Hitler threatens to leave the party unless they make him the dictator of the party  Dictator: A person with complete authority  Became “Fuhrer” a.k.a “leader”

The German Depression ► Germany forced to pay for damages caused in World War I ► Hyperinflation: The extreme loss in value of money ► For every American dollar, one would have to have 4 billion German marks

Nazi Revolution ► In 1923, the Nazi Party, led by Hitler, attempted to overthrow the German government ► FAILURE! ► Hitler was charged with five years in prison ► While in prison, Hitler wrote “Mein Kampf” Speaks of Hitler’s political and racial views and outlines his plans for a better Germany

The German Depression Worsens ► October 29, 1929 the American stock market crashed ► Caused Germany to slip into a greater depression ► Utilizing Hitler’s outstanding speeches, the Nazi Party campaigned throughout Germany and received 18% of the German government ► In 1932, Hitler runs for president against Hindenburg (who would have been 92 by the time his term was over) ► Hindenburg wins ► Democracy fails

Solution ► In attempt to recover the government and to avoid being overthrown, Hindenburg appointed Hitler the new chancellor of Germany ► As chancellor (the 2 nd highest position in Germany) Hitler quickly dissolved the democracy and declared himself dictator of Germany ► First action: ban on Jewish products

Ban on Jewish Products “Don’t buy from Jews; shop in German businesses!”

Protecting Hitler ► Birth of the Third Reichstag: “The Third Rule” ► The S.S: “Schutz-Staffel” were Hitler’s body guards ► Gestapo: Hitler’s secret police force that worked to uncover those plotting against Hitler ► Hitler’s Youth: His attempt to raise young Germans into his followers

Hitler Youth “ “The weak must be chiseled away. I want young men and women who can suffer pain. A young German must be as swift as a greyhound, as tough as leather and as hard as Krupp’s steel.” - Hitler “A twelve mile march was considered nothing special for boys who are trained until they can make a march of fifty miles without any food other than concentrated rations they carry in their packs. Nupp was recovering from a heavy cold but he was not excused from the hike. He had a severe relapse as a result… Later the doctor confided to me that often after one of these lengthy marches he had as many as thirty boys in the hospital.”

World Dictators ► By 1930, dictators had seized control of Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Soviet Union  Germany: Adolf Hitler  Italy: Benito Mussolini  Japan: Emperor Hirohito (Greatly influenced by Prime Minister Tojo)  Soviet Union: Joseph Stalin ► Fascism: An extreme form of patriotism that is often linked with racism

Dictators

The Axis Powers and War ► Italy, Germany, and Japan (joined in 1940) ► 1937: Japan invaded China ► 1938: Britain and France attempted to appease Hitler by allowing him to take part of Czechoslovakia if he promised not to expand his territory anymore ► 1938: Germany conquered Austria and Czechoslovakia ► 1939: Germany and the Soviet Union vowed not to attack each other ► September 1, 1939: World War II began when Germany attacked Poland ► Great Britain and France declared war on Germany ► Total War: A war in which every available resource is utilized and every person is an acceptable target

Blitzkrieg ► Blitzkrieg: “Lightning War” was a new form of war which emphasized speed and surprise  Tanks, troops, and planes  No trenches!! (Except in the battle for Stalingrad) ► Within a month, Germany controlled Poland ► 1940: Germany conquered Denmark, Norway, Belgium, and the Netherlands before turning its eyes on France

Blitzkrieg

Blitzkrieg

The Allies ► Poland ► Australia ► United Kingdom (Great Britain) ► France ► New Zealand ► Canada ► Norway ► Belgium ► Netherlands ► Czechoslovakia ► Greece ► Soviet Union (joined in 1941) ► United States (joined in 1941) ► Etc… ► Do you get the point? By the end of the war, more than 50 countries were part of the Allies

France and Great Britain ► Within two weeks of fighting, France surrendered ► Who is left? ► Great Britain  Bombing of London by the Luftwaffe (German air force)  Despite the bombings, Britain does not surrender

The battle of Stalingrad ► 1941: Hitler backstabbed Stalin’s Soviet Union ► The battle of Stalingrad (1942)  Capture meant cutting the Soviet Union’s supply route  Immediate success of German army  Stalin forces all civilians to remain within the city, resulting in thousands of deaths  German forces controlled 90% of the city

Battle of Stalingrad

The Battle of Stalingrad

► Winter set in ► Unprepared to fight in the severe winter weather, the German army was defeated ► By the end of the battle, nearly 2 million casualties were inflicted on both sides ► 1943:First Nazi defeat ► The turning point in the war