hitler + early nazi party

(pre-beer hall putsch)

hitler

• born into middle-class family, lived comfortably

• dropped out of school @ 15, called lazy + lacking in self-discipline

• rejected from Vienna Academy of Fine Arts on two occasions

• participated in political debates in cafes in pre-war Vienna

• was a loyal, conscientious soldier in WW1, awarded Iron Cross 1st Class

• Gs wartime defeat + belief in DSL motivated him to become politician

the german worker’s party

• founded in 1919 by Bavarian Andrew Drexler

• only 40 members

• wanted Bavaria to become independent from G

how hitler joined the GWP

• made political officer for army following WW1

• attended a meeting of the GWP in 1919 + made a speech against Bavarian independence

• Drexler was inspired by hitler’s oratory abilities + invited him to party

hitler’s influence in the GWP

• used the party as a forum to express his own ideas

• put in charge of publicity + propaganda and sought to broaden party support

• did this through speeches:

  • attracted large audiences + emotionally rousing

  • humiliation of ToV

  • need for G to recover inner strength

  • anti-semitism

• quickly became dominant party figure

• changed name to National Socialist German Workers Party in 1920 and got more financial support

the 25 points

• february 1920

• made to project a clear purpose for the party

• included points such as

  • unification of all G states into a Greater G

  • no Jews as members of the nation

nazi party identity

• created the national-socialist movement

• had > 70 000 members by 1923 and was a significant force in Bavarian politics

stormtroopers/SA

• developed from ex-soldiers (many ex-freikorps) who acted as security for NP meetings

• became the face of the early nazi movement

• aim was to promote the party in rallies + protect leaders from political opposition

• placed under the command of Herman Göring and Ernst Röhm