1. The Treaty of Versailles in 1918 and its Consequences
Adolf Hitler Biography – Rise to Power

2. “Prager Street” Otto Dix (1920)

3. “Skull” – Otto Dix (1924) For all its waste, the war provided a windfall for scavengers. World War I produced generations of happy worms and maggots. Trench rats roamed as big as beavers. For Dix and other artists of the WWI era, skulls were powerful tools in demonstrating the dark reality of death that war inevitably brings.

4. “The Match Seller” – Otto Dix (1921) This mutilated veteran is a pitiful character. The war has taken limbs and vision. His deformities are highly visible yet the only attention he draws is from a Daschund who pees on his stumps.

5. “The Hero” – George Grosz (1936)

6. “My Pension” – George Grosz

7. “Caution: Don’t Stumble” – George Grosz

8. “Eclipse of the Sun” – George Grosz (1926) Since the politicians seem to have lost their heads, the army and capitalists are dictating what is to be done. The people, symbolized by the blinkered ass, simply eat what is put before them.

9. “The Toads of Property” or “The Owners”– George Grosz (1920) The problems in germany after World War I are illustrated here by George Grosz. The wealthy indulge in leisure activities ahile guards protect their factories. The rest of the people depicted are crippled veterans, bankrupt businessmen, old women, young children, and the poor. They are isolated, distrustful and out of place. Capitalism and militarism is being attacked.

10. “The Agitator” – George Grosz (1928) The agitator is a version of Hitler, against whom Grosz warned tirelessly. He is promising the masses that their material needs will be satisfied, but his promise implies rubber truncheons, jackboots and swastikas too."

11. “The Seven Deadly Sins” Otto Dix (1933)
This is an allegorical painting that represented Germany's political situation at the time, and was painted immediately after the Nazis had Dix removed from his teaching position at the Dresden Art Academy.
The figures in the painting are Avarice (the bent over old lady), Envy (riding the back of Avarice), Sloth (the skeleton costume whose body forms a rough looking swastika), Lust, Anger (the horned figure), Pride (the giant head), and Gluttony (wearing a pot on his head). The figure of Envy is wearing a Hitler mask (Dix did not paint in the moustache until after WW II). The figure of Sloth is prominently featured because Dix blamed the people of Germany for their lack of alarm and concern as a major reason that allowed the Nazis to rise to power.

12. A Ruhr area coal mine – circa 1920
1923 French Soldiers in the Ruhr area
A Ruhr area coal mine – circa 1920

13. A German poster urges passive resistance during the Ruhr crisis, under the motto “No! You won’t subdue me!”

14. Stacks of German Marks, which were practically worthless due to super inflation

15. In 1923, the Great Inflation wiped out Germans' money for the first time

17. This poster promotes Hitler's book Mein Kampf, announcing that four million copies have been sold.
Germans are an ARYAN Master Race = Superior and destined to dominate Europe/World?
Non-Aryans = Jews and Slavs (Eastern European) = inferior/subhuman
Scapegoats = Jews, Treaty of Versailles, Weimar Government, Communists
Use terror!
Use massive amounts of PROPAGANDA (Posters, Art, Music, Speeches, brainwashing of the young = “Hitler Youth”)
Destroy France
Must have a strong leader = “Fuhrer”
Germans need living Space = “LEBENSRAUM” = Eastern Europe

18. This vivid poster from the September 1930 Reichstag election summarizes Nazi ideology in a single image. A Nazi sword kills a snake, the blade passing through a red Star of David. The red words coming from the snake are: usury, Versailles, unemployment, war guilt lie, Marxism, Bolshevism, lies and betrayal, inflation, Locarno, Dawes Pact, Young Plan, corruption, Barmat, Kutistker, Sklarek [the last three Jews involved in major financial scandals], prostitution, terror, civil war.

19. A 1932 election poster 
A 1932 election poster

20. This poster is from 1932. The caption: "Enough! Vote Hitler!"

21. Caption: "Reich President Hindenburg greets Reich Chancellor Hitler on Memorial Day (12 March 1933).

22. Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.
This poster is from the March 1933 Reichstag election, the last one in which Germans had a choice. The poster shows President Hindenburg and Chancellor Hitler. The caption: "The Reich will never be destroyed if you are united and loyal."
Courtesy of Dr. Robert D. Brooks.

23. Another March 1933 poster. The text: "In the deepest need Hindenburg chose Adolf Hitler for Reich Chancellor. You too should vote for List 1."

25. Nazi propaganda poster warning Germans about the dangers of east European "sub-humans." Germany, date uncertain.

26. Party Representation in the German Reichstag of the Weimar Republic
( )
Party
May
Sept
July
Nov.
Mar.
Nov
1928
1930
1932
1933
National Socialist (Nazi) 12
108
230
196
288
661
German National Peoples 78 41 37 51 52
German Peoples 45 10 7 11 2
Economic 23 1
Catholic Center 61 68 75 70 74
Bavarian Peoples 17 19 22 20 18
State (Democrats) 25 15 4 5
Social Democrat (Socialists)
153
143
133
121
120
Communist 54 77 89
100 81
Other Parties 53 9
Totals
491
577
608
584
647
Why do the Nazis have so few seats in May 1928?
Why does Nazi representation increase so much in the September 1930 elections?
Where do the Nazis rank in terms of representation after the July 1932 elections?
After the July 1932 elections, new elections are called for by President von Hindenburg when an effective anti-Nazi coalition does not develop – Nazis remain the dominant party after the November 1932 elections as well
Hitler is then appointed Chancellor by von Hindenburg in January 1933 – von Hindenburg thinks Hitler will be easier to control
Hitler then calls for new elections in March 1933
Nazis terrorize opposition with threats and violence
Force newspapers and radio stations to close
REICHSTAG BUILDING BURNED AND COMMUNISTS BLAMED!!!

27. Hitler’s First Speech to the Reichstag as Chancellor - 1933