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Adolf Hitler’s Early Life
Grew up in Austria.
Sought art school after secondary school but was never admitted.
Drifter, solitary.
Found military life satisfying during WWI, received high medals of honor.
Rose quickly through the ranks of Nazi
Party post war.
Skilled at propaganda and party
grew considerably under his
influence.
Conditions in which the authoritarian state emerged:
A discredited parliamentary system that, due to instability and policy errors, produced high levels of disillusionment and frustration.
The dislocation produced by the First World War of 1914-1918 and the subsequent Paris Peace Settlement, produced revisionism, nationalism, and revanchism.
Economic crisis that produced social and economic conditions causing panic among the population, that is, political extremism resulting from economic instability.
Fear of the Left, which was increased by the existence of the new Soviet state and the growth of socialist/communist movements in western Europe.
The collaboration/capitulations of the existing political establishment or institutions - when vested interests underestimated the Fascists/Nazis in a tragedy of miscalculation.
Semi-legal assumption of power, despite subsequent fascist/Nazi claims of a “seizure of power”.
The appeal of the movements/leaders and the skill of these leaders, in terms of:
Pragmatism (views language and thought as tools for prediction, problem solving, and action, rather than describing, representing, or mirroring reality)
Millenarianism (also referred to as “chiliastic” programmes/promises)
Propaganda
Paramilitary forces and the use of violence to control the streets and destroy the opponents.
Context
Weimer Republic highly unstable:
People unfamiliar with democracy (no down-up revolution).
Lots of opposition and blame on government for Treaty of Versailles terms.
Ebert basically allows military to self-govern in return for support.
1923 economic crisis caused by hyperinflation due to the Ruhr Crisis.
Early Moves
November 1923: Beer Hall Putsch
1924: Hitler writes Mein Kampf
Golden Age: 1924-1929 (Stresemann Era)
Financial stability due to loans from U.S.
Reconciliation with France and admittance to League of Nations.
Shift to presidential power.
Nazi ideals spread.
Extremist ideals grow after economic collapse in 1929 (early beginnings of Gleichshaltung as ideas spread).
Rise and Consolidation of Power
January 1933: Hitler appointed as chancellor (reluctantly).
Feb 27, 1933: Reichstag Fire and Enabling Bill.
Hitler blamed communists.
Established emergency measures, absolved constitutional protections, paved way for Nazi state.
Enabling Bill passed by Hitler allowing him to rule by decree for 4 years (essentially makes him a dictator).
Dachau established – first concentration camp – originally for political prisoners as Nazis solidified power.
Gleichschaltung 1933-:
Begins as spreading of ideas and after Enabling Bill the party begins to take over various institutions.
Include purge of anti-Nazi ideas and people from the Civil Service.
June 30, 1934: Night of Long Knives
Series of murders taking out political opposition – final solidification of power.
Maintenance of Power
September 15, 1935: Nürnberg Laws
Deprived Jews of basic rights like citizenship which stripped them of many basic and employment rights as well as placing increasing restrictions on their way of life.
Hitler Youth/League of German Maidens (1936)
Only youth group that was allowed.
Compulsory by 1939.
Weakened parental control and family ties to increase loyalty to the party.
Goring’s 4-year plan:
Industrial and military build-up for war.
Ultimately limited and overall unsuccessful.
November 1938: Kristallnacht
German diplomat killed.
Jewish property and people attacked.
Mass arrests.
Jewish businesses sold, children denied school, Jews must pay for damages.
Note 
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