The Rise of Nazi and Holocaust

The Rise of the Nazi Party and the Holocaust

Introduction to the Holocaust

• The Holocaust: 1933-1945
• Focus: Rise of the Nazi party leading up to 1933.

The Rise of Dictators and the Weimar Republic

• Post-World War I conditions:
  • Created an environment for dictators to rise in Europe.
  • Examples: Hitler (Germany), Stalin (Soviet Union), Mussolini (Italy), Francisco Franco (Spain).
• Weimar Republic (Germany's new government after WWI):
  • A democratic government that was financially and legally weak.
  • Treaty of Versailles contributed to its weakness (Germany blamed for the war).
  • Transition from Kaiser Wilhelm II's monarchy to democracy.

Emergence of the Nazi Party

• Multiparty systems in Europe, including Germany.
• National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi party) emerged in 1920s Germany.
• Aims:
  • German nationalist party.
  • Combat communism (Soviet Union).
  • Address economic problems from WWI and reparations to Britain and France.
• Developed racist and prejudice ideology over time.

Core of Nazi Ideology

• Key components:
  • Use of scapegoats.
  • Responsible stereotypes: Oversimplified generalizations about a group without considering individual differences.
  • Antisemitism: Prejudice/discrimination against Jews; the false belief that Judaism is a race.

Nazi Party's Political Ascent

• Federal election results in Germany (1919-1938) show the Nazi party's growing influence.
• 1928: Nazi party gains a small percentage.
• Post-1928: Steady gains, eventually becoming the dominant party.
• November 1933: The Nazi party becomes the only party in Germany.

Hitler's Rise to Power

• 1932 elections: Adolf Hitler becomes chancellor (one step below the president).
• The Nazi party gained many seats in the Reichstag (legislature).

Reichstag Fire and Consolidation of Power

• Late 1932/early 1933: Reichstag fire incident.
• The Nazi party blamed the Communist party (their main rival).
• Capitalized on scapegoating and stereotypes to gain support against communists.
• Enabling Act: Established the Nazi party as the only legal party.
• Hitler consolidated power by combining the offices of president and chancellor.
• The previous president passed away, further aiding consolidation.
• Hitler becomes "the Fuhrer" (the highest office).

Defining Genocide and the Holocaust

• Two key terms for understanding the Holocaust:
  • Genocide: Acts committed with intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group, including killing or causing harm to its members.
  • The Holocaust: Murder of approximately 6,000,000 Jews, Sinti and Roma, Poles, people with disabilities, Jehovah's Witnesses, Soviet prisoners of war, and political dissidents by the Nazis and their collaborators.

Expanding Holocaust

• As Germany expanded its war efforts, the Holocaust spread to occupied territories.

The Pyramid of Hate

• The definitions of genocide and holocaust will be useful to understand steps of how the Holocaust happened.
• A pyramid of hate is a useful visual aid to understand steps of how discriminatory acts can escalate and lead to genocide (this will be discussed in the next class).