1. The Life and Rise of Adolf Hitler

2. Hitler’s Childhood
Born April 20, 1889 near Linz, Austria on the German border
Hitler dreamed of becoming an artist
Became interested in German nationalism as a teen
Father died when he was 13 - Hitler became head of household
Eventually dropped out of school at age 16
Self-taught from then on

5. Loss and Disappointment
At age 18, he went to Vienna to attend an art academy but failed to get in because his drawings were judged unsatisfactory
Mother died of breast cancer in 1907
Hitler devastated
Failed to get into art academy a second time
Ended up homeless on the streets of Vienna

6. Hitler's Artwork

7. Soldier and Spy August 1914, volunteered for German Army
Injured twice in the war
Leg injury and temporary blindness from gas
Very upset with how WWI ended
Believed Jews & politicians stabbed German Army in the back - sold them out to end war
Hitler called them the November Criminals
After Kaiser abdicates, Germany a republic
Country had no experience with democracy
Political and social chaos results

9. Soldier and Spy Becomes undercover agent for German army
Supposed to root out Marxists
Spies on German Workers' Party in 1919
Agrees with their nationalist, pro-military, anti-Semitic beliefs and joins them at age 30

10. The Nazi Party Hitler soon becomes part of leadership
A strong speaker who convinced many to join group
In 1920, develops the Twenty Five Points, the platform of the party
Includes rejection of Versailles, demands for additional territories for German people (Lebensraum), and exclusion of Jews as citizens of Germany
Also adopts the swastika for the party flag
Changed the party name (1920) to National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP) called Nazi for short

11. The Führer
In July of 1921, Hitler named Führer (leader) of the Nazi Party
Told executive committee he would resign if they didn't make him sole leader
They knew party would die without him

12. Hitler’s Political Ammunition
In April of 1921, Britain & France demanded Germany pay damages from war - badly damaged German economy
Germany asked to postpone but France refused
France used failure of Germany to fulfill an order of telephone poles as an excuse to occupy the industrial Ruhr region of Germany (1923)
Economy virtually collapses - money worthless
Govt. decides to pay - causes unrest among opposition groups

13. The Beer Hall Putsch
Nazis (55,000 followers in 1923) decide to attempt to take over govt.
On Nov. 8, 1923, Hitler stages the Beer Hall Putsch (revolt)
Revolt fails - Hitler is jailed for 8 months
Writes Mein Kampf (My Struggle) while in prison
Reveals his political & racial ideas in detail
Heavy focus on Jews as problem for Germany

15. A renewed push for power
Released from jail - Decides to try to get elected rather than overthrow govt.
Reorganizes party
Forms Hitler Youth
Creates the SS (Schutzstaffel), his personal body guards (1926)
Econ. conditions improved in Ger. ( )
Made Nazis less appealing
Worked on getting Nazis elected into govt.
Arrival of Great Depression the turning point

16. Revival of the Nazi Party
Bad economy makes Nazis popular again
Nazis run for office in 1930 w/ carefully staged campaign events
Music, banners, uniforms, theatrical lighting
Hitler's speeches promised greatness for Germany
The Nazis - Hitler down to the bottom - worked tirelessly to get their message out

18. Nazis on the Rise
Sept Nazis win 107 seats in German Reichstag (Parliament)
Overnight, party goes from smallest to 2nd largest in Germany
Gave Hitler international prestige
Storm Troopers celebrated by smashing Jewish businesses
Nazis had no intention of helping the govt. get stronger
Was to their advantage to let things get worse

19. Hitler’s Base of Support
Hitler had support of army General Staff and German industrialists
Industrialists funded Nazis
General Staff wanted Hitler to break Treaty of Versailles
Hoped to rebuild and modernize army
Nazis in Reichstag worked hard to disrupt govt.
People saw a govt. in chaos
Many looked to Hitler for leadership because he was decisive and promised a better future

20. The 1932 Elections Hitler decides to run for president in 1932
Runs against president & WWI hero Paul von Hindenburg
Massive Nazi campaign effort w/ propaganda & rallies
Hitler lost (36% to Hindenburg's 53%)
But… elections revealed massive popularity of Nazi Party
Nazis become the largest party in Reichstag
A sign of things to come

21. Nazi Party Membership by Year

22. Hitler Becomes Chancellor
January 1933 – President Hindenburg appointed Hitler to be his Chancellor
Most hoped that Hitler would be less radical once he was part of the govt.
Many believed that Hitler could be controlled
Hitler was second only to Hindenburg in power
If the elderly Hindenburg died, Hitler would assume power
Hindenburg died in 1934
August 19, 1934 – plebiscite confirms Hitler as total leader of Germany