GERMANY IN THE 1920’S  1921  NAZI PARTY  6000 MEMBERS  1923  NAZI PARTY  50,000 MEMBERS

WHY THE GROWTH IN THE PARTY BY 1923  Runaway inflation  French occupation of the Ruhr Valley  Collapse of the German monetary system  The Nazis believed it was their time to take action like the Fascists of Italy in 1922.

MONTHLY INFLATION RATE 3,250,000,000 % PRICES WERE DOUBLING EVERY 49 HOURS. US DOLLAR TO MARK CONVERSION RATE PEAKED AT 80,000,000,000 (WAS 4.2M TO 1$) 1923 INFLATION IN GERMANY

BEER HALL PUTSCH  November 8-9, 1923  Munich, Germany  Adolf Hitler led an uprising against the Weimar Government. He believed he had enough support to overthrow it. The revolution would begin in Munich and spread to all of Germany. It became known as the Beer Hall Putsch (Rebellion).  It failed.

BEER HALL PUTSCH

 Adolf Hitler was arrested and tried for treason.  At the end of the trial he was allowed to speak.  Hitler was found guilty of treason and sentenced to 5 years in Landsberg Prison.

BEER HALL PUTSCH

‘GLOOM AND DOOM’  During the later 1920’s, the Nazis cried out for change, replacement of the government and an end to abiding by the Treaty of Versailles.  The German economy prospered and people paid little attention to the Nazis.

THE GREAT DEPRESSION

THE GREAT DEPRESSION  The Great Depression actually helped the Nazi Party grow as people searched for solutions to Germany’s problems.  The Communist Party in Germany also grew. It was an alternative to the Nazis.

THE COMMUNISTS SAY THE NAZIS:  Are oppressors of the working class.  Are fascist and fascists are bad.  Corrupt.  Who supports the Communists? Labor /unemployed

GERMAN COMMUNIST PARTY

THE NAZIS SAY THE COMMUNISTS:  Are destructive.  Are foreign.  Want to take control of private property.  Preach revolution.  Will bring civil war.  Who supports the Nazis? Unemployed/Farmers/Veterans/Middle Class/Conservatives/Industrialists

NATIONAL SOCIALIST GERMAN WORKERS PARTY

1932 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN GERMANY  Adolf Hitler, leader of the largest single party in Germany, ran for president. His goal was to chose a Nazi to be the chancellor to run Germany.  Paul von Hindenburg, a late entry to the race, hoped to bring stability to Germany, which was struggling with the effects of the Depression.  Hindenburg won the election. He would chose the chancellor to run Germany.

Several other politicians tried to form a coalition as chancellor. All failed. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor by Hindenburg. HITLER BECOMES CHANCELLOR

MARCH 5 TH ELECTION POSTERS

NAZIS MOVE TOWARD TOTAL CONTROL  Nazis called for new elections to be held on March 5 th,  February 27 th, 1933-the capitol building of the German Republic, the Reichstag, was gutted by fire.  Chancellor Hitler vowed that the enemies of German state would be punished.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRE?  Marinus van der Lubbe- Dutch communist, drifter, arrived in Germany in early He was found on the grounds of the Reichstag, was arrested by the Gestapo and tortured until he confessed to starting the fire. He also stated that he acted alone. The Nazis also arrested the leaders of the German Communist Party as co-conspirators. All would be put on trial.

ANTI COMMUNIST ATTACKS FLOOD THE MEDIA  Nazi-generated newspaper stories were filled with anti-Communist stories, most of them filled with lies and falsehoods.  Nazi-controlled radio played Hitler speeches and stories blaming the Communists for the Reichstag fire. The stories also presented the Nazis as the party that would keep things under control.

THE NAZIS CATCH A ‘REVOLUTIONARY’

Nazis win big in the elections. But they control only 44% of the seats in the Reichstag. Lies and pressure will get them the majority they need. MARCH 5 TH, 1933 ELECTIONS

THE ENABLING ACT  March 24, 1933-the Reichstag, dominated by the Nazi Party, pressured other political parties to support their call for emergency powers in light of the instability that was endangering Germany.  Enabling Act-act that suspended the power of the Reichstag and the Constitution. Hitler assumes temporary authority(4 years). Hindenburg says nothing.