1. Post-War Struggles in Germany

2. In 13 years, how did the Nazi Party go from being an unknown political party to the most powerful political party in Germany?

3. The Weimar Republic Weimer Republic Political Gridlock
Moderate leaders draft new Constitution
Political Gridlock
Multiple parties create need for coalition
Most powerful are Communist and Conservative
Economic Disaster
Hyperinflation hits in 1923
Recovery
Germany recovered in 1924 but memories of miseries fueled fanatical tendencies when the Great Depression hit

4. The Rise of Hitler
Leader of small but extremist Nationalist Worker Party (NAZIs)
Munich Beer Hall Putsch: Hitler jailed
Mein Kampf
Nationalistic, racist, anti-Semitic
Promised to restore Germany to greatness and create jobs

5. THE RISE OF HITLER

6. The Rise of Hitler
Brilliant orator
Carefully staged public meetings
Roused people to support Hitler without the faintest idea of what they were agreeing to

7. Support from industrialists
The Rise of Hitler
Support from industrialists
Nazi Germany would be strong & good for the economy
Hitler would be the best defense against growth of communism

8. Hitler Becomes Chancellor

9. The Rise of Hitler Other parties can’t unite
President Hindenburg appoints Hitler Chancellor Jan 1933
Thought he would be controllable
Start of “Third Reich” (3rd German empire)

10. Why was Hitler supported?
Supported by President, army & many politicians
Hoped for strong gov’t and a solution to Germany’s economic problems
Then they will get rid of Hitler

11. Use of Violence Stopped newspapers from criticizing Nazis
Dismissed officials who opposed him
Uniformed followers broke up meetings of other parties and beat up opponents
Violent election campaign

12. The Election Campaign Hitler called for new elections
Violence, especially against communists
Nazis won 43%
Allied with Nationalist party to secure 51% majority

13. The Reichstag Fire Reichstag burns a week before elections
Blamed communists
Excuse to issue emergency law
Removed Weimar freedoms
Right to fair trial
Free press
Probably started by Nazis

15. HITLER IN
POWER

16. Enabling Act, 1933
Scheme for Reichstag to give up power & rule as a dictator
Reichstag had to pass an “Enabling Act” with 2/3 majority
Barred communist deputies so they could not vote
Persuaded Centre Party to vote for the Act with vague promises

17. Enabling Act Banned other political parties
Trade Unions taken over by Nazis
Press, radio and cinema placed under total Nazi control

19. The Night of the Long Knives 1934
Hitler wanted complete power within his own party
Ernst Rohm, leader of the SA wanted more important role
Started to create trouble for Hitler
Hitler decided to get rid of him and many of his followers
How would you do that if you were Hitler?

20. The Night of the Long Knives 1934
Hitler called the leaders of the SA to a special conference
During the night, he had them dragged out of bed and shot
On the same night, many other opponents all over Germany suffered the same fate
No public protests – demonstrated Hitler’s power and the people’s fear
This became known as the Night of the Long Knives

21. Establishing post of Fuhrer
Hindenburg died
Hitler combined the jobs of Chancellor and President – Fuhrer (Leader)
Also became commander in chief of the armed forces
Supreme dictator of Germany

22. HITLER's
GERMANY

23. Public works projects and re-armament created jobs and revived economy
Party bureaucracy created jobs
6 Million unemployed in 1933 reduced to 250,000 in 1939
Economic revival made Hitler popular
Next step: “Lebensraum”-extend Germany’s borders and demonstrate German superiority

24. Social
Control
A Totalitarian State

25. Education Train young people to be Nazis and loyal citizens
Education was carefully controlled
Strict curriculum indoctrinated with Nazi ideas

26. Youth Movements Hitler Youth Movements:
Girls and boys (14-18 yrs) encouraged to join
Divided by age
Those who didn’t join couldn’t enter University or find jobs
Military-style training / motherhood – women to stay at home and produce babies

27. The German People

28. Propaganda and Censorship
Ministry of People’s Enlightenment & Propaganda
Posters – images of Hitler
Radio broadcast Hitler’s ideas,
Banned & burned books
Newspapers tightly controlled
News slanted in favor of Nazis
People were watched everywhere
Gestapo or Secret Police

29. Strict control of people
Control lives and influence thoughts
People were watched everywhere – at work, at school, even at home!
A PARTY REPRESENTATIVE in every street
Gestapo or Secret Police
SS – security forces as well as control of the police force

30. Strict control of the people
Declared Aryans the master race – against undesirables – Jews, homosexuals, disabled people, etc.
Nazi controlled National Reich Church – celebrated Aryanism

33. Blamed Jews for all of Germany’s problems
The Jews
Blamed Jews for all of Germany’s problems
Loss in WWI
Humiliation of Versailles
Began campaign of anti-Semitic persecution

34. The Jews Jews were arrested and beaten up
Many forced out of their jobs
Slogans painted over windows of Jewish shops
Boycott
Many left Germany but most stayed
nowhere else to go

35. 1933 - 1938 discriminate against Jews
Nuremburg Laws
discriminate against Jews
Not German citizens
Banned from civil service and judiciary
Had to carry special ID cards
Couldn’t marry non-Jews
Severely limited allowable occupations and trade

36. Kristallnacht November 9-10, 1938 “Night of Broken Glass”
Windows smashed, shops looted, synagogues burned
Jewish community forced to pay for damage

37. YouTube - Little hitler