1. Adolf Hitler and the Nazis
Rise to Power
Adolf Hitler and the Nazis

2. The overall purpose of this presentation is to explain how this little boy on the left became the man on the right who was ultimately responsible for the death of about 50 million people all over the world!!

3. Birth Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1889 in Braunau, Austria.
Adolf was 1 of 6 children - 3 of who died at early ages

4. Parents
Alois Schickelgruber Hitler was a customs official who was illegitimate by birth. He died when Adolf was 14 and left him a small inheritance.
Klara Hitler was very young when she married the older Alois. She showered young Adolf with love and affection. Adolf carried a picture of his mom until the day he died. She died of breast cancer when Adolf was 18 years old.

5. Education
Attended a Benedictine monastery school where he took part in the choir.
When it was time to choose a secondary school, Adolf wanted to become an artist.
His father wanted him to become a civil servant, but after his father died, he dropped out of high school and attempted to get into the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts - he failed.
The following slides are examples of Adolf’s artwork.

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8. Years in Vienna
After his mother died, Adolf (now 18) decided to move to Austria to pursue his dream of becoming a great artist.
Again he failed to gain entrance into the Academy
He eventually sold all his possessions and became a homeless drifter who slept on park benches and ate at soup kitchens throughout Vienna (age 19)
Adolf did manage to sell some paintings and postcards, but remained impoverished

9. Vienna -Importance
Influenced by the anti-Semitic talk in Vienna many resented the wealth of Jews
Became interested in the idea of German nationalism.
Also received first taste of politics

10. This is a picture of Hitler listening to an enlistment speech.
Military Service
Adolf left Austria at the age of 24 to avoid mandatory military service that was required of all men.
But he did sign up for military service at the start of WW I. He joined a Bavarian unit of the German Army.
This is a picture of Hitler listening to an enlistment speech.

11. World War I Excited to fight for Germany.
Found a home fighting for the Fatherland.
Highest rank held was corporal.
Was a regimental messenger, not an easy job at all.

12. Military Record Awarded the Iron Cross twice. (5 medals overall)
Highest military honor in German Army.
Single handedly captured 4 French soldiers.
Blinded by gas attack towards end of war.

13. German Loss in WW I
Hitler was devastated by news of the German surrender.
He was appalled at the anti-war sentiment among the German civilians.
Believed there was an anti-war conspiracy that involved the Jews and Marxists.
Also, felt that the German military did not lose the war, but that the politicians (mostly Jews) at home were responsible for the defeat.

14. Life after WW I Hitler was depressed after WW I.
Still in the army, he became an undercover agent whose job was to root out Marxists
Also, lectured about the dangers of Communism and Jews

15. German Worker’s Party
Hitler was sent to investigate this group in Munich in 1919.
He went to a meeting and gave a speech.
He was asked to become a member, which he did

16. NAZI Party is Formed
Hitler began to think big for the German Worker’s Party
Began placing ads for meetings in anti-Semitic newspapers
Hitler changed the name to National Socialist German Worker’s Party or the NAZIS

17. Party Platform
Nazis were racist Fascists: anti-Semitic, anti-Communist, anti-Democracy.
Their goal was to restore the glory of Germany through military power and Racial Purity.
Hitler used the “stabbed in the back” theory that Germany was winning WWI, but a coalition of communists and Jews gave up on the war as part of a plot.
Besides changing the party name, the red flag with the SWASTIKA was adopted as the party symbol

18. Munich Putsch (coup) October 30, 1923
Hitler held a rally in Munich beer hall and declared revolution – blamed others for problems
Led 2000 men in take over of Bavarian Government
It failed and Hitler was imprisoned

19. Trial and Jail
At his trial (Hitler was charged with treason), he used the opportunity to speak about the NAZI platform and spread his popularity.
The whole nation suddenly knew who Adolf Hitler was and what he stood for
He was sentenced to five years, but actually only served about 9 months
When he left prison, he was ready to go into action again.

20. Mein Kampf Hitler’s book “My Struggle” - wrote while in jail
Sold 5 million copies, made him rich

21. Topics of Mein Kampf The Big Lie
Hitler said “When you lie, tell big lies.” because they are more credible. He says that if you tell a big enough lie often enough people will believe you. What would become his big lie?
Jews are responsible for Germany’s loss in WW I.

22. Controlling People
Hitler wrote about the methods used to get support of people:
MUST CONTROL THE MASSES – that’s where the power and momentum is
PROPOGANDA – It’s ok to lie for your cause
THE SPOKEN WORD – Dramatically spoken words have more impact than written words
MASS MEETINGS - People need to feel the band wagon effect
BRUTE FORCE – If you really believe something, force is justifiable

23. Living Space Master Race
“Lebensraum” Germany needed room to grow. Hitler lays out a plan to invade Russia after taking out France.
(Stalin didn’t take the hint, France was in denial)
Master Race
Hitler combines the history of the Germans (Aryans) with Social Darwinism

24. JEWS
Jews were the root of Germany’s past problem and were trying to ruin Germany and pollute German blood lines. While Hitler’s hatred of Jews is best described as fact-less and irrational, he spread propaganda that:
Jewish people in the Weimer Republic turned on Germany and quit WWI.
All Communists are Jewish and all Jewish people are Communist
The worldwide depression is caused by Jews
Jews are trying to contaminate German (Aryan) blood lines

25. 1929
After being ignored during the 1920s, the Nazi party becomes popular during the worldwide depression
Hitler called himself “Der Fuhrer” – the leader and shouts “Sieg Heil” or Hail Victory
Hitler used storm troopers to whip up excitement, beat up Communists and terrorized Jewish people
Speeches claimed “a vote for me is a vote for dictatorship” and “we are intolerant”

26. Appeal of Hitler
Germany was in the midst of an economic depression with hyper-inflation
Hitler was a WW I hero who talked about bringing glory back to the “Fatherland”
He promised the rich industrialists that he would end any communist threat in Germany
Constantly blamed Jews for Germany’s problems, not the German people.
Hitler was an excellent public speaker.

27. Strong Arm Tactics The “Brownshirts” or SA (Stormtroopers)
SA was used to put down opposition parties
Threatened and beat up Jews and anti-Nazi voters
Wore brownshirts, pants and boots
Numbered almost 400,000 by 1932

28.
People questioned the harsh tactics of the Nazis, but Hitler puts on a show using the democratic process to destroy German Democracy.

29. Legal Rise to Power
Used popularity from failed revolution and book to seize power legally (democratic process)
Spoke to mass audiences about making Germany a great nation again
Nazi Party:
1930 = 18% of vote
1932 = 30% of vote
Hitler given position of Chancellor by Hindenburg in 1933

30. Dictator
“Reichstag fire” gives Hitler total power (7 days before the election the Reichstag burned-killing many of Hitler’s opponents. Claimed it was the Communists, actually the Nazis)
In 1933, all parties were outlawed except the Nazi party
Passed the Enabling Act –allowed him to rule by decree
People’s civil rights were suspended
Created new gov’t called Third Reich
“Night of the Long Knives”

31. Taxes Jews to raise money (Power, Jewish problem Advance Germ Nation)
Hitler began to consolidate power and put his ideas into action when he:
Taxes Jews to raise money (Power, Jewish problem Advance Germ Nation)
Creates the Gestapo (Consolidate Power/Jewish problem)
Takes control of the press (Consolidate Power)
Starts the Hitler Youth (Consolidate Power)
Censoring art, plays, books (Consolidate Power)
Purges his Storm Troopers, Night of the Long Knives, Murders 100of his political rivals in the Nazi Party ( Consolidate Power)
German military swears personal allegiance to Hitler (Consolidate Power)

32. Hitler began to consolidate power and put his ideas into action when he:
Starts to rebuild German military (Jewish problem)
Everyone must trace family roots (Jewish problem)
Revival of German Aryan history (Jewish problem)
Jewish people required to wear yellow stars (Jewish problem)
Keeps working on the BIG LIE, master race/hatred of Jews (Jewish problem)
Nuremberg Laws of 1935 – limited interracial marriage, Jewish people made non citizens (Jewish problem)
Puts restrictions on Jews in citizenship, ownership of property and movement
(Jewish problem)
Kristallnacht, The Night of Broken Glass, Jews were arrested, murdered, or terrorized (Jewish problem)

33. Outlaws political parties/ unions (Advancing German Nation)
Hitler began to consolidate power and put his ideas into action when he:
Outlaws political parties/ unions (Advancing German Nation)
Starts public works projects for jobs (Advance German Nation)

34. Absolute Power German economy was improving, people were happy
Hitler had no political opposition
1st concentration camp opened in 1933
Began rearming German Army for expansion of the Reich

35. THE
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