Hitler's Germany Study Notes
Chapter 3: Hitler's Germany
3.1 Hitler's Early Life
Introduction
The world faced a second war (1939-1945) twenty years after the Paris Peace Conference.
The Second World War was noted for its greater destructiveness and widespread reach compared to the First World War.
Historians debate various factors contributing to the outbreak of the war but agree on Adolf Hitler's significant responsibility as Germany's leader from 1933-1945.
The section will explore Hitler's life, political career, and life in Germany under Nazi rule.
Hitler's Childhood
Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau, Austria in 1889.
His father was a customs official often in conflict with Hitler, impacting him severely by administering harsh discipline that included physical beatings.
In contrast, Hitler was much closer to his mother, who attempted to compensate for his father’s severity by spoiling him.
After his father's death at age 13, leaving behind a small inheritance and pension, Hitler performed poorly at school and dropped out by age 16 without obtaining a secondary degree.
Hitler's mother's death in 1907 deeply affected him, leading him to pursue a career in art, moving to Vienna to enroll in the Academy of Fine Arts.
APPLICATION Questions:
When and where was Hitler born?
Describe Hitler's relationship with his parents.
What did Hitler decide after his mother's death?
KEY QUESTIONS:
How did Hitler become leader of the Nazi Party?
How did Hitler come to power in Germany?
What was life like in Hitler's Germany?
Hitler in Vienna
Hitler had aspirations to be a successful artist and was confident of being accepted at the Academy of Fine Arts.
After failing the entrance exam twice due to paintings deemed unfit, he experienced a difficult period marked by homelessness after his inheritance ran out.
For years, he performed odd jobs, including drawing and selling postcards, cleaning windows, and shoveling snow, describing this time as the worst of his life.
In Vienna, his political views began forming. Originally a German nationalist, he believed Austria and Germany should unite. He disdainfully noted that German nationals were a minority in a multiracial Vienna and held resentment against foreigners, blaming them for degrading the nation.
Hitler particularly developed radical anti-Semitic views during this period, influenced by various political thinkers who regarded Jews as enemies of the German people.
APPLICATION Questions:
What were Hitler's plans in Vienna?
What did Hitler do when he could not follow his dreams?
Describe the development of Hitler's political views.
Hitler during the First World War
Disillusioned in Vienna, Hitler moved to Munich in 1913 and felt elated when WWI broke out in 1914, viewing it as an opportunity to prove Germany's superiority.
He volunteered for the army, serving as a front-line messenger from October 1914, facing danger frequently.
He was wounded multiple times and temporarily blinded in a gas attack, earning several bravery awards including the Iron Cross First Class.
Hitler later claimed that war provided one of the greatest experiences in life.
Following Germany's surrender in 1918, instilled with disbelief, he felt that Germany could have still won, blaming the surrender on politicians he termed "November criminals."
The Treaty of Versailles' terms further inflamed his anger, leading him into politics to voice his radical opinions.
APPLICATION Questions:
How did Hitler feel at the outbreak of WWI?
What was Hitler's duty as a soldier?
Describe Hitler's life in the army.
What was Hitler's reaction to the German surrender?
What did Hitler believe following the war's end?
3.2 Hitler and the Nazi Party
The Nazi Party
In the wake of WWI, Hitler returned to Munich and was assigned to monitor extremist political groups, leading to his involvement with the German Workers' Party, which later became the Nazi Party.
The party was led by Anton Drexler and appealed to Hitler through its extreme nationalist and anti-communist views. Hitler joined the party in September 1919, quickly rising to a leadership role in propaganda.
In 1920, the party was renamed the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazis) and established a Twenty-Five Point Program that outlined their political intentions, including:
Abolition of the Treaty of Versailles.
Uniting Germany and Austria.
Exclusion of Jews and perceived non-"pure" races.
Establishing a strong central government.
In 1921, Hitler ousted Drexler and took control, using his talent for stirring speeches to rally support particularly among Germans feeling resentment from the war's outcome and economic hardships, identifying scapegoats including the Treaty of Versailles, the Allies, the Marxists, and Jews.
The Nazis often faced opposition during their small political gatherings, prompting Hitler to establish the SA (Sturmabteilung/Stormtroopers) to quell dissent and disrupt oppositional meetings.
APPLICATION Questions:
When did Hitler start attending the German Workers' Party meetings, and when did he join?
Describe Hitler's early responsibilities within the party.
What was the party's renamed title in 1920, and what were its main views?
Why were Hitler's speeches impactful?
Describe the SA's formation and its role.
The Munich Putsch
In 1923, believing the Nazis had garnered enough support, Hitler attempted a coup inspired by Mussolini’s march on Rome to seize the Bavarian government on November 8.
The uprising was poorly supported and was quickly squashed with 16 Nazi casualties; Hitler was arrested shortly after.
Despite the failure, the trials afforded Hitler a platform to express his beliefs nationally, which garnered sympathy and leniency from judges—resulting in a mere nine months of imprisonment instead of the expected life sentence.
During his confinement, he authored Mein Kampf, outlining his vision, including extreme nationalism, racism favoring Aryan supremacy, and calling for the elimination of the Treaty of Versailles.
APPLICATION Questions:
What was Hitler's mindset in 1923?
Summarize the events of November 8, 1923.
How did Hitler's trial benefit him?
What were the main beliefs detailed in Mein Kampf?
A Change in Strategy
While imprisoned, Hitler reconsidered Nazi strategies and resolved to seek power democratically rather than through forceful takeover.
After his release in 1924, he prioritized consolidating the party's structure for this new strategy and expanded propaganda efforts with Joseph Goebbels' assistance.
By May 1924, the Nazis secured 32 of the 472 Reichstag seats, but success was limited. In 1928 elections, they fell to only 12 seats due to economic recovery reducing radical support.
As the Great Depression struck, political and economic instability shifted public favor back towards the Nazis, leading to a significant rise in electoral support in 1930.
APPLICATION Questions:
What strategic decision did Hitler make in prison?
Describe Nazi initiatives from 1924 onward.
What were the electoral outcomes in 1924 and 1928 elections?
Why did the Nazis lose favor in the 1928 election?
3.3 Hitler Gains Power
The Effect of the Depression on the Nazis
The Nazis' minority status in 1928 shifted dramatically due to the economic ruin inflicted by the Great Depression, which halted American loans and devastated German industry and society.
The rise of communism among the unemployed prompted fears that facilitated increased support for the Nazi Party.
The Nazis exploited widespread discontent by utilizing effective propaganda that promised stability and restoration of pride, leading to a significant electoral breakthrough in the 1930 Reichstag elections, climbing from 12 to 107 seats.
APPLICATION Questions:
Describe the Nazi Party in 1928.
How did the Great Depression impact Germany’s economy?
What effect did the Great Depression have on the Nazi Party's success?
Summarize the Nazi performance in the 1930 Reichstag elections.
Hitler Becomes Chancellor
In 1932, amid worsening economy, Hitler ran for the presidency, gathering 13 million votes despite losing to Hindenburg.
His visibility increased, and during subsequent Reichstag elections, the Nazis captured over 200 seats, becoming the largest party but lacking a majority.
Political chaos ensued, as no coalition could stabilize the government amid ongoing SA-led violence. Hindenburg, exhausted with governmental inefficiency, ultimately appointed Hitler chancellor in January 1933, miscalculating the potential for control.
APPLICATION Questions:
What was the outcome of the 1932 presidential race?
How did the election aid Hitler and the Nazis?
What steps did Hitler take after gaining popular support?
Why was there no effective government in Germany?
Describe the political transitions in Germany between May and December 1932.
Why did Hindenburg appoint Hitler as chancellor in 1933?
Hitler Consolidates His Power
Initially setting out to strengthen his position, Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to call for new elections, utilizing state resources and Goebbels' propaganda machinery.
The Reichstag fire, blamed on a communist plot, aided his argument for emergency powers, leading to the suspension of civil rights and persecution of opponents through arrests.
With intense propaganda and intimidation, the Nazis accrued 288 seats, becoming the majority after the banning of the Communist Party.
The Enabling Act was passed on March 24, 1933, allowing Hitler to legislate without parliamentary approval, effectively granting him dictatorial powers.
The abolition of trade unions and formation of the German Workers' Front restricted workers' rights. By July 1933, the Nazis were the only legal party, establishing a one-party state.
Fearing rival power, Hitler eliminated SA leader Röhm through the Night of the Long Knives, consolidating his dominance further. Upon Hindenburg’s death, Hitler combined the presidency and chancellorship, branding himself Führer.
APPLICATION Questions:
What did Hitler convince Hindenburg of as chancellor?
What narrative did the Nazis promote about the Reichstag’s burning?
How did the Nazis expand their voting share in 1933?
How did the Nazis secure an absolute majority in the Reichstag?
What was the significance of March 24, 1933?
How did Germany transform into a one-party state?
Why was Ernst Röhm and the SA a threat to Hitler?
How did Hitler remove this threat?
How did Hitler become the Führer?
3.4 Life in Hitler's Germany
Economic Recovery
Post-Great Depression, the Nazis crafted programs aimed at reducing unemployment and revitalizing agriculture, employing millions through public works.
Key initiatives included building railways, extensive housing projects and the famous autobahn system.
The reintroduction of conscription in 1935, despite violating the Treaty of Versailles, significantly decreased unemployment.
Military expansion accelerated economic growth via the demand for various goods, benefiting major corporations.
The Reich Food Estate assured farmers a stable market for their goods, protecting their economic standing.
APPLICATION Questions:
What was a primary reason for increased voting for the Nazi Party?
Outline measures that reduced unemployment in Nazi Germany.
What public works initiatives created jobs under Nazi rule?
How did rearmament and conscription boost the economy?
In what ways did the Nazis assist German farmers?
Propaganda
Central to establishing a totalitarian state was the Nazis' extensive propaganda efforts. Spearheaded by Joseph Goebbels, they utilized technology to control the populace.
The regime portrayed Hitler as a savior through grand public events and speeches fostering a sense of communal belonging.
Groundbreaking technologies like radio broadcasts and films were leveraged to disseminate propaganda, highly restricted within Germany to suppress contradictory narratives.
In 1933, a public book-burning event destroyed literature deemed inappropriate, and censorship was applied stringently across all forms of media.
Education was restructured to instill Nazi ideology, underscoring the importance of children as society's future.
APPLICATION Questions:
How did the Nazis depict Hitler?
What impact did Nazi rallies and events have?
Explain the employment of technology in propagating Nazi ideology.
How did the Nazis suppress opposing viewpoints?
Why did indoctrination of youth become a target for the Nazis?
German Society
Hitler aimed to cultivate a Volksgemeinschaft (national community) among Germans, emphasizing collective identity over individualism.
Young People: Controlled education and organized leisure through groups like the Hitler Youth, which taught military skills for boys and domestic education for girls.
Women's Roles: Women were encouraged to embody traditional roles predominantly as wives and mothers, receiving financial incentives for childbearing. Employment for women was discouraged.
Workers' Status: Economic gains came with stringent government oversight; independence in unions was revoked, and while some benefits existed, general living conditions remained stagnant. Programs like Strength Through Joy provided limited leisure benefits.
APPLICATION Questions:
How did Hitler envision Germans identifying themselves?
Describe the youth experience under Nazi rule.
What perceptions did the Nazis hold about women?
Discuss the pros and cons of Nazi policies for workers.
Nazi Control
Beyond propaganda, the Nazis implemented severe measures to maintain authority over Germany, eliminating dissenting voices.
The SS was cornerstone responsible for enforcing racial policy and suppressing opposition.
The Gestapo (secret police) operated with broad surveillance powers, allowing arrests without trial and inciting public to report dissenters.
Concentration camps were established from 1933, detaining various groups viewed as threats, with a high mortality rate among inmates due to brutal conditions and hard labor.
APPLICATION Questions:
What's the fate of those opposing Nazis?
List organizations crucial in maintaining Nazi power over German citizens.
Minorities
The Nazis believed in Aryan superiority, deeming other races inferior, leading to rigorous persecution of minorities.
Applied sterilization policies against over 300,000 individuals and executed thousands labeled mentally ill between 1939-1941.
Notably targeted were Jews:
1933: Jews were ousted from government jobs.
1934: Jewish business and shops faced blacklisting.
1935: Nuremberg Laws repealed Jewish citizenship, banning intermarriages.
1938: Further restrictions included exclusion from schools and public spaces.
Kristallnacht: On November 9, 1938, a systemic attack took place against Jews across Germany, resulting in property destruction and widespread arrests.
APPLICATION Questions:
Summarize Nazi racial beliefs.
What policies did Nazis enforce to maintain Aryan purity?
Outline the persecution of Jews during the regime's rule.
Opposition to the Nazis
Despite apprehensive control, open opposition to the Nazis was largely minimal, attributed to widespread fear from the SS, Gestapo, and concentration camps.
Many admired Nazi values and achievements, proud of traditional values restored after Weimar’s permissive period. Economic recovery quelled most dissent, and individuals feared job loss due to criticism.
Propaganda was overwhelmingly effective, creating loyalty while many deemed the regime’s actions positive.
APPLICATION Questions:
Why did Germans largely respect Hitler?
Why did workers shy away from Nazi criticism?
Describe propaganda's role in limiting opposition.
CHAPTER REVIEW
SUMMARY
3.1 Hitler's Early Life:
Hit by a harsh upbringing, orphaned young, pursuing unfulfilled aspirations for being an artist during youth in Vienna.
Developed intense nationalist and anti-Semitic sentiments shaped by failures and socio-political surroundings, especially after WWI.
3.2 Hitler and the Nazi Party:
Joined and transformed a small party into the Nazi Party, establishing its identity with extreme nationalism and scapegoating after WWI.
Attempted an unsuccessful coup (Munich Putsch) leading to his imprisonment, exploiting it to propel his ideologies through Mein Kampf upon release.
3.3 Hitler Gains Power:
Leverage deteriorating economic conditions (Great Depression) to scale electoral influence, gaining power through democratic means turning anti-democratic once established.
Marshaled a violent suppression of dissent leading to his dictatorial consolidation, especially post-Hindenburg’s death.
3.4 Life in Hitler's Germany:
Integrated economic recovery mixed with promises of renewal followed by heavy propaganda; moderated living standards overshadowed economic advances for the working class.
Systematic oppression inflicted on racial and social minorities, with Jews facing acute persecution leading to a climate of fear and suppressed dissent.
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
c. Austria
Hitler’s political views became extreme, centered around nationalism and anti-Semitism.
Effects of the Great Depression: - b. factories shutting down, c. disappearance of American loans, d. businesses shutting down, e. rise in unemployment.
1933
By 1934 minister's positions combined, and Hitler became Führer.
The Reich Food Estate guaranteed farmers’ market prices.
b. radio, d. newspapers, e. films.
Collective identity over individuality.
Different groups targeted included: Communists, Jews, political adversaries, Roma, etc.
The Nazis persecuted minorities rather than protected them.
a. The SS, Gestapo, concentration camps were essential for oppression.
a. “November criminals,” betrayal, b. scapegoat targets like Jews understood as societal threats, c. propaganda used as a tool to rationalize actions, stirring perceived national pride, and discontent.