RISE OF THE NAZI PARTY AND NAZI IDEOLOGY

By Bradley VeileLakeside High School

Plummer, ID

Early Influences

Early Interests Priesthood Cowboys & Indians Playing “war”- Conducted Battles as Boer Artist denied entry to Vienna Academy of Fine Arts

Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungary

World War IAustria – moved to Germany – avoid evasion arrest

Germany – enlisted in 1914 served as a dispatch runner top rank – corporal

Treaty of VersaillesDisarmLoss of territoryAccept blame for warReparations

“Stabbed in the Back” Theory left wing political parties

Communists Jews

Wounds

1916 - Somme 1918 – Ypres

Mustard Gas

Awarded Iron Crosses twice Black Wound Badge

National Socialist German Workers Party

Started 1919 – Anton Drexler

Hitler as military intelligence officer duty – keep an eye on German Workers PartyAfter impromptu speech by Hitler – Drexler ask Hitler to join influential speaker designed flag

red – social idea of the movementswastika – anti-Semitismwhite – national ideal

25 Point

Program

1920

Key points:

• Revoke Jewish civil rights

• Citizenship only for those with German blood

• Revoke the Versailles Treaty and Saint Germaine Treaty

• Create a “Greater Germany” – based on Lebensraum

• Create national army

• Strong central government – “Fuhrerprinzip” Authority flows down – authority unquestioned

Beer Hall Putsch

Goal Short term overthrow Bavarian government Long term overthrow Weimer government

Method kidnap Bavarian leaders force acceptance of Hitler as leader

Result 16 Nazi killed, 3 Munich Police killed Hitler arrested 24 day trial for treason Trial loosely conducted Sentence – possible life

5 years in Landsburg – served 9 months

Party Membership 1920 (early) – 3000 November – 55,000 1925 – 27,000 1929 – 109,000 1932 – 400,000

Economic problems 1921 Reparations bill - $33 billion Inflation decimate economy Year Mark Dollar 1921 4 1 75 1 1922 400 1 18,000 1 1923 (July) 160,000 1 (August) 1,000,000 1 (November) 4,000,000,000 1

Mein KampfVolume 1 - Dictated to Rudolph Hess -1925

Content of Volume 1 German Nationalism Anti- Bolshevism Anti-Semitism – Jews are: German’s true enemy Not creative – cultural parasite International – control the world

Volume 2 – 1927

Content of Volume 2 History of the Nazi Party Obtain/retain political power Use of propaganda/terrorism Building a political organization

Used in educational settingsTraining the SA, SS, and HJGiven as gifts at ceremonies weddings, graduations, etc.

ELECTIONSNew direction – rise to power legally Weimer Constitutional support

Chancellor appointed not electedEmergency unchecked powerNo checks and balance

Reichstag Elections – Nazi percentages 1924 – 3.0% 1928 – 2.8% 1930 – 18.3% 1932 - 37.0% 1933 - 44.0%

Presidential Election – 1932 Hitler v. Hindenburg 30% 49%Run off required Hitler – 36% Hindenburg – 53%

1932 Political Turmoil Chancellor Bruening outlaws SA and SS

Hitler agree support for Von Schleicher if: SA/SS ban lifted Bruening diposed Conservative Coalition Reichstag dissolved Hindenburg calls for Bruening resignation Papan appointed Chancellor (Schleicher puppet)

December 1932 – Papan replaced by Schleicher

Papan persuades Hindenburg appoint Hitler Chancellor and Papan vice-Chancellor Papan could control Hitler and 3 Nazis in 11 member Cabinet

Reichstag Fire

February 1933

Reichstag burned by Nazi as way of increasing power

Mentally unstable man – Marinus van der Lubbe – Dutch setting fires around Berlin suspicious activity around Reichstag strong indications of Nazi support arrested and executed for fire Communists blamed for fire

Result Hindenburg persuaded to sign Emergency Decree Hitler given power to

suspend basic rightsdetain without trial

van der Lubbe confessed at trial – death sentence - guillotined

Consolidating PowerHitler needed support lacking during Beer Hall Putsch Army – concerned about SA competition Industrialists

June 1934 – Night of Long Knives SA leadership assassinated Including Ernst Rohm – early Hitler supporter

Result SS move to more prominent position Army support Hitler

July 1933 – Enabling Act passed Cabinet given full legislative powers Nazi Party only legal party Opponents could be sent to Dachau (est. March 1933)

Hindenburg dies August 1934 Hitler consolidates offices of President and Chancellor Becomes “Fuhrer” with dictatorial powers