Unit: Between the Wars Topic: The Rise of Nazi Germany

In November 1923, a German army veteran and leader of an extremist party, Adolf Hitler, tried to follow Mussolini’s example. His brown-shirted thugs burst into a beer hall in Munich, where a political meeting was set to start. “The Nationalist Socialist revolution has begun!” he shouted. In November 1923, a German army veteran and leader of an extremist party, Adolf Hitler, tried to follow Mussolini’s example. His brown-shirted thugs burst into a beer hall in Munich, where a political meeting was set to start. “The Nationalist Socialist revolution has begun!” he shouted. The coup failed, and Hitler was soon behind bars. But Hitler was a power that could not be ignored forever. Within a decade, he made a new bid for power, and succeeded. Hitler’s rise to power raises disturbing questions that we still debate today…. The coup failed, and Hitler was soon behind bars. But Hitler was a power that could not be ignored forever. Within a decade, he made a new bid for power, and succeeded. Hitler’s rise to power raises disturbing questions that we still debate today….

1. The Weimar Republic Stinks A.The new democratic government, the Weimar Republic, was weak. B.Inflation caused major economic problems; Germany fell behind in reparation payments.

D.Germans blamed the Weimar Republic for Versailles, and longed for another strong leader like Bismarck.

Inflation and Depression

2. Here Comes Hitler! A.Adolf Hitler promised to provide jobs and rebuild German pride. B.He believed the Germans were a superior race who would build a new empire, the Third Reich.

C.In 1920, he headed the National Socialist German Workers, or Nazi, party; Nazi “storm troopers” fought political enemies.

In 1923, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle) in prison; it would later become the basic book of Nazi goals and ideology. It reflected Hitler’s obsessions – extreme nationalism, racism, and antisemitism. Germans, he said, belonged to a superior “master race” of Aryans, whose greatest enemies were the Jews. In 1923, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle) in prison; it would later become the basic book of Nazi goals and ideology. It reflected Hitler’s obsessions – extreme nationalism, racism, and antisemitism. Germans, he said, belonged to a superior “master race” of Aryans, whose greatest enemies were the Jews.

D.Although they despised him, Weimar Republic leaders felt they could control Hitler and helped him to become chancellor in 1933.

E.Within a year, Hitler was dictator of Germany.

Hitler Comes to Power

3. Hitler’s Third Reich A.Hitler ended civil rights, silenced his enemies with force, and put businesses under government control.

B.He also repudiated the Treaty of Versailles, rearming Germany, rebuilding its military, and stopping reparation payments.

C.Hitler, believing Jews to be the cause of Germany’s problems, instituted anti-Semitic policies.

D.The Nuremburg Laws of 1935 took away German citizenship and rights of Jews, and allowed the sale of their property.

The Dark Side of Nazi Rule