The Rise of Authoritarianism in Germany

The defeat of the German Army in WWI led to disillusionment among German soldiers and nationalists.
The "November criminals" (politicians who signed the surrender) were accused of betraying Germany.
The Treaty of Versailles was seen as a punitive "dictat".

War debts and reparations caused an inflation crisis.
In 1923, the Ruhr crisis occurred when France and Belgium occupied the Ruhr region due to missed reparation payments.
The German government printed more money to pay striking workers, leading to hyperinflation.

The Weimar Constitution allowed for a president elected every seven years who could rule by decree during emergencies.
The president appointed the chancellor, giving them significant power.
The Reichstag's seats were distributed proportionally, making it difficult for one party to gain control and leading to unstable coalition governments.

The Bolshevik Revolution inspired communist movements, like the Spartacus League in Germany.
Right-wing nationalists and ex-soldiers formed paramilitary organizations like the Freikorps to resist communism.
The Nazi Party attempted to overthrow the government in the Beer Hall Putsch in 1923.

Hitler became political after Germany's defeat in WWI.
He was anti-Semitic and believed communists and Jewish people were undermining German society.
He joined the German Workers' Party, which became the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party).
The Nazi Party platform combined nationalism and socialism.
The Nazi Party platform was racialist, anti-Semitic, and anti-democratic.

The Nazi Party called for the unification of all German people into Grossdeutschland, including Austria and lost territories from the Treaty of Versailles.
The Nazi Party sought to overturn the Treaty of Versailles.
The Nazi Party wanted to acquire land through the Lebensraum program for Germany's growing population.
The Nazi Party advocated for citizenship for ethnic Germans and denial of citizenship for Jews.

The Brownshirts (SA) used violence against opposition groups like communists and Jews.
In 1923, Hitler and Ludendorff led the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich, which was quickly suppressed.
Hitler was arrested but received a light sentence, leading to a reduction in the Nazi Party's overt violence.

Hitler's prison sentence led to the writing of Mein Kampf, which outlined his ideology and goals.
He believed in a division between Germans and Jews and between nationalists and communists.
Hitler envisioned an Aryan nation that would destroy international Jewry.
His ideology was vehemently anti-communist.

Joseph Goebbels organized Hitler's propaganda in the 1920s, portraying Hitler as a strong leader who could restore Germany's power.
Goebbels used media like film, radio, posters, newspapers, and modern transportation to promote the party.
Goebbels later became the Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany.

The Nazi Party gained votes during the Great Depression era due to proportional elections.
Weak coalition governments were formed, leading President Hindenburg to rule by decree.
Hitler wanted to be Chancellor, but Hindenburg initially offered him a vice-chancellorship under Franz von Papen, which Hitler declined.
Hitler ran for president in 1932 against Hindenburg but lost.
In January 1933, Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor, hoping the Nazis were too weak to challenge Weimar Germany.
This move was also intended to gain support from anti-communists among right-wing elite Germans.
Hitler then moved from Chancellor to President, consolidating his power.