1. Hitler’s Early Life and the Rise of the Nazis

2. Rise of the Nazis A Hindu swastika from ancient India
A sign of fertility and the cycle of life
The universal symbol of the Nazi Party

3. Aryans Hitler uses racist politics Germans are a master race
Linked to the ancient Aryan warrior culture
Evolved from the thought that European civilization should rule the world
Germans should rule Europe
Blond Hair, Blue eyed, Nordic master race

4. Hitler’s Early Life Born in Branau, Austria Mother Klara, Father Alois
Average childhood
Becomes a wanderer then joins German Army in WWI

5. Hitler in WWI Moves to Germany
Fights the French, British, and Americans
Wounded twice (shot, eyes from gas)
Decorated for bravery
Hitler far left with wartime friends

6. Hitler after WWI Moves to Munich, Bavaria, Germany
1919 joins NSDAP (Nazis)
Quickly rises to the top
He turns it into a paramilitary group known as the Brownshirts or SA
Hired thugs who intimidate and political opponents

7. Hitler Develops the SS His personal bodyguards
Blackshirts to imitate Mussolini’s men
Also mimic Praetorian Guard of ancient Rome
This group is largely responsible for the mass killings of the Holocaust

8. Beer Hall Putsch November 1923 Nazis attempt government takeover
Fail miserably, Hitler imprisoned
1924 Hitler writes Mein Kampf
1925 Hitler released from prison a hero

9. Nazis Appeal to:
Middle class, nationalists, small business owners, anti-capitalists
1929 stack market crashes-Weimar Govt collapses as a result
Paul von Hindenburg rules
May 1928 Nazis get 800,000
September million
July million
May million

10. Reichstag Burned Jan. 1933 Hitler elected Chancellor Fire Feb, 2, 1933
Communists blamed and imprisoned
Hitler given legislative power
Nazis only legal party July 1933

11. Night of the Long Knives
Hitler eliminates his political opposition
Heinrich Himmler, Reinhard Heydrich and Sepp Deitrich use the SS to arrest and murder leaders of the SA

12. Long Knives cont.
Ernst Rohm, leader of the SA arrested and killed- he was openly a homosexual
85 other top political opponents of Hitler were killed immediately
Ultimately over 1,000 arrested

13. The Third Reich Begins Hitler has complete power by 1933-34
He declares his 3rd Empire will last 1,000 yrs
He believes he is an heir to Rome the 1st Empire and the 2nd Holy Roman Empire
The Roman Salute is used along with other “Roman” customs and badges

14. Creating the Nazi State
Aryan Race building begins
Minorities become isolated
Nazis dominate every facet of life
Gestapo (Secret Police) are everywhere and they institute a reign of terror