Adolf Hitler and the Nazis

Rise to Power

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!!

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

ParentsAlois 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.

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.

signature

signature

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

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

Military ServiceAdolf 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Mein Kampf

• Hitler’s book “My Struggle” - wrote while in jail

• Sold 5 million copies, made him rich

The Big LieHitler 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.

Topics of Mein Kampf

Controlling PeopleHitler 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

Living Space“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 RaceHitler combines the history of the Germans (Aryans) with Social Darwinism

JEWSJews 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

1929After 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”

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.

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

1932 - 1933People questioned the harsh tactics of the Nazis, but Hitler puts on a show using the democratic process to destroy German Democracy.

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

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”

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)

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)

Outlaws political parties/ unions (Advancing German Nation)

Starts public works projects for jobs (Advance German Nation)

Hitler began to consolidate power and put his ideas into action when he:

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

THEEND