1. Do Now
Take out the HW :
Explain how the Great Depression and Weimar Republic helped Hitler gain power. What did he say he was going to do in Germany? 5+ complete, detailed sentences
In your Do Now Section, write what you think this quote tells you:
“With the rise of Nazism, nothing Jews had done for their country (Germany) made any difference…”
Alfred Gottschalk
Jewish survivor

2. In the early 1930s, the mood in Germany was grim
In the early 1930s, the mood in Germany was grim. The worldwide economic depression had hit the country especially hard, and millions of people were out of work.
Still fresh in the minds of many was Germany's humiliating defeat fifteen years earlier during World War I, and Germans lacked confidence in their weak government, the Weimar Republic.
The German people were looking for a solution to their problems.

3. He promised the unhappy a better life and a new and glorious Germany.
The Nazis appealed especially to the unemployed, young people, and members of the lower middle class (small store owners, office employees, craftsmen, and farmers).
These conditions provided the chance for the rise of a new leader, Adolf Hitler, and his party, the National Socialist German Workers' Party, or Nazi party for short.
Hitler was a powerful and spellbinding speaker who attracted a wide following of Germans desperate for change

4. The party's rise to power was rapid
The party's rise to power was rapid. Before the economic depression struck, the Nazis were practically unknown, winning only 3 percent of the vote to the Reichstag (German parliament) in elections in 1924.
In the 1932 elections, the Nazis won 33 percent of the votes, more than any other party.
Stuck in this miserable situation, many Germans believed that the Nazis were the only ones who could solve Germany’s problems and stop the “Communist menace.”
A crowd cheers Adolf Hitler as his car leaves the Reich Chancellery following a meeting with President Paul von Hindenburg. Berlin, Germany, November 19, 1932

5. Neither Papen (president before) nor Hindenburg liked Hitler.
The current president, Paul von Hindenburg, appointed Hitler chancellor.
Neither Papen (president before) nor Hindenburg liked Hitler.
But times were hard, thousands of people were out of work and losing patience with the government.
Both Papen and Hindenburg came from rich, wealthy backgrounds.
Many Germans did not think they could help them, but Hitler was a poorly educated ex-corporal.
Papen believed Hitler could be controlled.
He would be chancellor in name only.
Others would hold power. “In two months, we’ll have pushed Hitler so far into a corner that he’ll squeal.”

6. The day after taking office, Hitler used his new power to dissolve the Reichstag.
Four weeks later, the German Parliament building, the Reichstag, was set on fire.
Hitler convinced Hindenburg this was part of large Communist plot to take over Germany.
Hitler blamed the fire on the Communists and used the fire as an excuse to pass new laws “for the protection of the German people.”
All newspapers, magazines, books, and radio stations came under the control of the Nazis.

8. Activity for Today
Directions: Imagine you are an American journalist at the time of Reichstag fire. Write a newspaper article telling about the rise of Adolf Hitler and the fire. Be sure to include explanations of the following:
_____ How the Great Depression and the aftermath of WWI helped Hitler to power
_____ Who did Hitler target as followers?
_____ How was Hitler going to “save” Germany? (Hint: What did he say he would do?)
_____ How the Reichstag fire and new laws will impact Germany

9. Who did Hitler target as followers?
How the Great Depression and the aftermath of WWI helped Hitler to power
People wanted a solution to the economic/political problems
Germans wanted to be proud of their country again
Who did Hitler target as followers?
unemployed, young people, and members of the lower middle class (small store owners, office employees, craftsmen, and farmers)
How was Hitler going to “save” Germany
Promised to rid Germany of Communists and other "enemies"
He promised the unhappy a better life and a new and glorious Germany
How the Reichstag fire and new laws will impact Germany
Hitler used the fire to gain control of the media; there will no more freedom of speech and Hitler can use these to his advantage

10. Closure
Do you think everyone was convinced he was the right leader for Germany?