hitler - chapt 2

introduction to hitler as a person

• joined the german worker’s party which was anti semitic

  • became the party leader

  • changed to national socialist german worker’s party (nazi)

• was anti-semitic

  • hatred for jews in the community

    • jews were tortured, experimented upon - treated inhumanely

  • was rejected from art school because of the wealthy jews that got in through status and power - hence hated jews

  • struggle of class - jews were the wealthiest in the country

  • mother died at the hands of a jew

  • thought jews caused the russian revolution

nazi party timeline

• 1924 - 1929

  • little support

    • period of time - general economic prosperity, no need to vote out the weimar

    • lacked support of the working class, all voted either social democratic party or communist

    • did not like hitler’s agenda - programme about jews, invasion of other countries, violence

• 1932 (elections)

  • won 37.3% of seats

  • formed majority of reichstag

• 1933

  • hitler became chancellor

reasons for rise to power

political and economic circumstances

german revolution (1918 - 1919) - timeline

• 1914 - outbreak of WWI

• 1916 - silent dictatorship of military under hindenburg and ludendorff

• 1917-18 - threat of invasion & defeat, discontent in germany

• oct 1918 - revolution from above

  • parliamentary monarchy

  • ludendorff persuade kaiser to hand power to civilian government (accountable to reishstag):

    • secure best possible peace terms from allies

    • prevent worsening of revolutionary disturbances

    • lay blame for germany’s defeat on new leadership and away from military - stab in the back myth

• oct-nov 1918 - revolution from below

  • parliamentary republic

  • unrest spread

  • mutiny among armed forces

  • formation of workers’ and soldiers’ councils

• 9 nov 1918 - kaiser wii abducted

  • coalition left-wing gov under moderate socialist leader friedrich formed to govern provisionally

  • prominence of military leaders in new system

• 11 nov 1918 - armistice

  • new gov sign with allies

  • german troops controlled most of Belgium and eastern eu

• jan 1919 - spartacist (kpd) uprising

note: split of left-wing movement

emerging parties in place of monarchy

Spartacus League - karl liebknetch + rosa luxemberg (KPD)

• communists

• aimed to seize power and create soviet republic based on rule of proletariat through workers’ and soldiers’ councils

Independant Social Democratic Party - karl kautsky + hugo haase (UPSD)

• radical socialists

• aimed to create socialist republic governed by workers’ and soldiers’ councils IN CONJUNCTION WITH a parliament

Social Democratic Party - friedrich (SPD)

• aimed to establish socialist republic by creation of parliamentary democracy

  • surppressed by ebert gov - backed by military + freikorps

  • kpd leaders murdered

  • legacy of distrust btwn socialist and commies

  • prevented affection unification of resistance by spd + kpd to nazi

• spring 1919 - strikes and risings suppressed by army and freikorps

• feb 1919 - new elected national assembly meet at weimar

• july 1919 - adoption of weimar constitution

treaty of versailles

• stab in the back myth

  • claimed that Germany destroyed by socialists + jews

  • feasible because war never reached germany’s borders

  • nov criminals (weimar officials) - blamed for accepting tov

• tov seen as diktat

  • blockade of germany

• tov perceived as cause of germany’s problems

  • weimar democracy forced to take blame

weakness of weimar

• system of proportional rep

  • weak coalition goes

  • allowed extreme parties powerful voice in reichstag

    • spd, kpd vs freikorps

  • main democratic parties did not want to compromise and work tgt

  • contempt towards politics

• article 48

  • allows president to use emergency powers

    • hindenburg had no sympathy

    • rule by pres decree - used 48 while undermining power of reichstag and democracy

    • german chancellor chosen by hindenburg - showed perpetual state of political crisis, parliamentary gov virtually collapsed, hitler invited to form coalition gov

• weak support

  • hostility of vested interests

    • key figures in germany against weimar, wanted kaiser back

    • important sectors all conservative

    • large german populace looked for change

• opposition from left and right

  • left

    • commies wanted commie gov

    • spartacists revolutions in 18 and 19

    • mini-soviets

    • opposed by freikorps

  • right

    • weimar signed tov

    • angered germans

    • german army stabbed in back

    • no support

    • determined to obstruct weimar

• hyperinflation

  • dire financial position: high unemployment, poverty, fragile economy

  • debts from wwi (damages from war + reparations)

  • december 1922 - gov cannot pay reps - allies retaliated by seizing a state

  • ruhr crisis

    • france + belgium invade germany in jan 1923

    • seized mine factories and railways

    • german policy of non-cooperation

    • govt print money to pay and appease workers

    • more printing = currency of money was less valuable

    • unable to collect taxes from france / britain / seized areas ??

    • led to inflation

  • decreased / no production

  • escalated to hyperinflation: rapid uncontrolled rise (extremely fast paced) in prices that seriously damages a country’s economy

  • german people were poor overnight, could not even afford a cup of coffee with monthly pension → blamed the weimar government for this

    • eg. 1 egg was 0.08 in Germany’s currency in 1913, 5000 after the Ruhr Crisis and 80 million in November 1923

  • Gustav Stresemann

    • chancellor for 4 months

    • implemented plans which involved negotiations with the Allies

      • Dawes Plan

        • loans and aids for economic recovery

        • destroyed by Great Depression

      • Young Plan

    • Bought more time to pay for reparations

    • Replaced the currency with the new Rentenmark

    • Improved Germany’s relationship with the League and former enemies and solved Germany’s problems for a few years

    • Ended the Ruhr Occupation

    • Implemented 1925 Locarno Pact

      • permanent demilitarisation of Rhineland

      • secure borders of nations in Europe

      • began negotiations to allow Germany into the League

    • This period of time was said to be Germany’s golden age

      • after signing of pact, germany was seen as an equal partner in foreign affairs

      • increased confidence in the Weimar government and Stresemann

      • was a period of economic recovery

  • However, this golden age did not last because stresemann died from a heart attack in 3/10 1929 and Germany was impacted by the Great Depression - German recovery depended on US loans so they collapsed due to their heavy dependency on loans and investments from USA

    • In 1929 USA recalled loans and deposit

    • period of economic crisis which turned into social crisis

    • industrial production fell by 42%

    • reduction in imports - exports cannot be sold and there is no gain in profit for both parties

    • increased resentment against Weimar, which translates to increased support for extreme parties

    • factories closed down, millions lost jobs and government cut social services

    • poverty, homelessness and starvation became widespread

    • by 1932, 6 million, which was about 1/3 of the working population, was unemployed

    • germany was greatly impacted

      • economic crisis turned political crisis

      • coalition government was ineffective, the only way out was for the President (hindenburg - right wing nationalist who didn’t care about democracy) to make use of emergency powers

      • the german population was angry and wanted the government to take action

      • significant rise in support for more extreme parties

Hitler’s abilities

• Nazi ideology

  • socialism was popular in Germany after WWII because it promised more equality and benefited a larger demographic group of people

  • Hitler renamed the Nazi party to National (to appeal to nationalism and patriotism) Socialist (to appeal to socialists) German Workers (to appeal to workers) Party

    • National placed before Socialist because Hitler believed in German blood being of more importance than any other characteristic (eg. political belief, etc.)

  • Strongly emphasised the belief that Nazis (who were only true blue Germans) belonged to a master race that would rule the world

  • The strong belief that only pure Germans (Aryans) were Nazis ensured that Germany was protected - this was survival of the fittest.

  • Believed in the 25 point Programme

    • abolition of the ToV

    • union of Germany and Austria (Anschluss)

    • allowing only true Germans of pure German blood to live in Germany (involved sending non Germans to concentration camps)

    • nationalisation of large businesses

    • increases in old age pensions

    • establishment of strong central government (centralisation )

  • Hitler published Mein Kampf

    • contained his worldview

    • served as a sort of ‘bible’ for Nazi party and nazis

    • became very popular with the German people

  • Hitler’s promises for Germany

    • To deliver a strong government

      • Capitalist economic policy

    • To revive Germany’s former glory

      • Included talk of equality, state control of economy and creation of jobs which attracted the left

    • To overturn the TOV and restore Germany’s former borders

      • Anti Bolshevik and anti communist views appealed to the right

    • Bring more German speakers into the Reich

      • Promise to solve Germany’s two main problems of a rampant unemployment and crisis in the farming sector

    • Expand into Russia and Poland and create Lebensraum (‘living space’) for Germany in the East

      • Vague policy statements allowing them to change their policies when it was advantageous to do so

    • Embark on territorial expansion to gain land and resources → to achieve the greatness that German people were destined for

      • Appeared to offer something for everyone

      • Used modern and affective campaign methods to get their message across

• Charisma and oratorical skills

  • Hitler was a powerful speaker and communicator with strong belief in himself

  • Hitler’s mission was to rule the world, not limited to Germany

  • Examples

    • True orator

      • Hitler prepared and practiced his speeches

      • Was a master at gauging the mood of his audience

      • Had incredible energy and made 3-4 speeches a day

      • Appeared sincere to the people

      • Cult of personality

    • Beer Hall speeches

      • Hitler made many speeches in beer halls where people were at ease and easily swayed

      • Started his speeches calmly and logically then began to rave and rant when the audience got drunk

      • Was strategic in his outreach to people → won more support

    • Addressed people’s concerns

      • Knew the concerns of the people

      • Used ‘November Criminals’, communists and the Jews as scapegoats for Germany’s ills

      • Articulated the fears and desires of the people

• Exploited the Fears of Communism

  • Due to increasingly unstable Weimar government, Germans looked to either the extreme left or extreme right

    • 1928 elections → communist party had 4 x the votes of the Nazi Party but did not form the majority in the Reichstag as many still feared the communists

      • Farmers → USSR, government took farmers’ lands and killed + imprisoned millions in the process because communists believed that state should own all land and assets (centralisation and equal distribution)

      • Big businesses → USSR would take over businesses as they believed in state ownership, also feared increasing strength of trade unions

  • Hitler exploited fears by giving groups vague promises that he would help them if the Nazi party goes to power

    • Some industrialists backed him up financially by using money in their campaign efforts

    • Creation of propaganda films, posters, uniforms / badges

    • In the 1930s, when the economy shattered and there was great unrest + communists fighting police in streets → Hitler used the SA / SS to fight communists and break up their meetings

    • Nazis made promises to help the unemployed and other groups that suffered economic losses

• Skillful dealing with politicians

  • Hitler waited for the right opportunity to take power gradually and made deals skillfully to advance his position

  • In the 1932 elections → Nazis won more votes than any other party (37.3%)

  • Hitler refused to join any coalition groups unless he became Chancellor → Hindenburg did not trust him, rejected, Von Papen remained as Chancellor

  • Hindenburg used emergency powers to pass measures in hope of solving unemployment problems

    • However, Hindenburg and Von Papen did not have support in the Reichstag

  • November 1932 election

    • Nazi votes dropped by 2 million but still won the majority number of seats (from 37.3% to 33.1%)

    • Hitler realised that he had to negotiate with the conservatives or he won’t gain a majority in the Reichstag through elections

  • Kurt Von Schleicher was appointed as chancellor because Hindenburg didn’t trust Hitler

    • Schleicher forced to resign because of lack of support in Reichstag

    • Hitler became chancellor in 1933, Hindenburg was reluctant at first but thought they could control his influence and the Nazis in Cabinet

      • Thought Hitler could focus on policy-making and help with controlling the communists

    • However, Hitler won enough support in Reichstag to overthrow the government and effectively end the Weimar government → marked the beginning of the Third Reich

• Reorganisation of the Nazi Party

  • Increasing the Party Membership

    • established local Nazi parties

    • set up youth organisations

    • created Hitler Youth in 1920s, had 10000 members by 1933

  • Using Nazi Propaganda

    • Goebbels took charge of Nazi propaganda

    • Appealed to people’s emotions rather than intellect

    • Portrayed Nazis as a strong party united behind one leader

    • Canvassing - propaganda directed according to people’s social and economic interests

      • prepared specific leaflets for different social groups

    • Leveraged on modern technology

      • used loudspeakers, radio, films, aeroplanes

    • Mass suggestion

      • mass rallies, use of uniform, torches, flags, etc.

    • Scapegoats

      • November criminals, communists, jews

    • Unifying themes

      • Fuhrer cult, Volksgenmeinschaft, nationalism

  • Establishing the SA and SS

    • Set up SA in 1921 as Nazi Party’s paramilitary organisation

      • Broke up communist meetings which gained the support of anti-communists

      • Broke up strikes which gained the support of industrialists

    • Set up SS

      • Hitler’s own elite bodyguard

    • Portrayal of SA SS as militaristic

Hitler’s consolidation of power

rise and rule of Hitler timeline

• 1921

  • Hitler becomes leader of the Nazi Party

• 1923

  • Beer Hall Putsch

• 1928

  • May - Reichstag elections

    • Nazis win 2.6% of the vote

• 1929

  • Wall Street Crash

  • Great Depression

• 1930

  • September - Reichstag elections

    • Nazis win 18.3% of the vote (2nd largest party)

• 1931

  • Hitler challenges Hindenburg for presidency but fails to win

• 1932

  • May - Bruning dismissed as Chancellor, replaced by Von Papen

  • July - Reichstag elections

    • Nazis’ vote rise to 37.3% (largest party)

  • November - Reichstag elections: Nazis’ vote drop to 33.1% (but still the largest party)

  • December - Von Papen dismissed as Chancellor, replaced by Schleicher

Hitler’s consolidation of power

Main problems

• Opposition within Reichstag

  • The communists

    • second biggest party

    • working class continued to support communism

    • Hitler needed to divert the support from the working class to himself

• Opposition from above

  • Hindenburg

    • Hated Hitler

    • Didn’t want him as Chancellor

    • Hitler needed to take over Hindenburg’s position to be dictator

• Opposition within his own parties

  • Ernst Rohm and SA

    • Rohm wanted Hitler to make the SA the official army of Germany

    • The regular army will rebel

    • Hitler needed to control this situation so that he did not lose support of army

Establishment of Nazi Dictatorship

• March 1933 Elections

  • called for by Hitler

    • dissatisfied with being the largest party

    • wanted complete control over Germany

  • last elections before all other parties were banned

  • Reichstag fire’s impact

    • took place in an atmosphere of fear and intimidation by the SA and corruption by officials

    • Nazis increased their votes to 43.9% and formed coalition government

      • political blow because any change to existing Weimar constitution required two-thirds majority

• Reichstag Fire

  • 27 February 1933

  • a week before the elections, the Reichstag building in Berlin went up in flames

  • possibility of Nazi party being responsible

  • police found a young Dutchman who used to be communist and confessed to the crime

  • Hitler blamed the fire on the communists

    • used as an excuse to persuade President to issue a state of emergency

  • 28 February 1933 - “Decree for the Protection of People and State” passed

    • Most civil liberties suspended, power of central government and police strengthened, many anti-Nazis arrested

    • Police were given emergency powers to search houses, confiscate property and imprison without trial

    • community party made illegal and cannot compete against Nazi Party

• Enabling Act

  • Gave Hitler the power to issue decrees without the President’s involvement for four years

  • Needed 2/3 Majority due to its nature of a constitutional amendment

  • Deputies were imprisoned and reduced admittance and intimidated by SA

  • Hitler promised to respect the rights of the Catholic Church (a Centre Party)

  • 441 votes for, 94 votes against

  • Enabling Act - “Law for Terminating the suffering of the People and the Nation” passed

    • Hence, members of the opposition parties were not allowed in government departments

    • trade unions were banned

    • political parties were banned

    • absolute power over police, army, economy, etc.

    • only Hitler could make new laws

Night of the Long Knives

• Ernst Rohm

  • leader of the SA

  • old friend of Hitler

  • headed an army of 4 million

  • called for the state to take control of large firms in Germany

  • called for SA to replace German Army

    • worried the industrialists and Army Generals

    • worried that the Army Generals (whose support was crucial for Hitler) might oppose Hitler over this issue

      • Hitler decided to take action

• 29 and 30 June 1934

  • an operation that saw the arrest and execution of Rohm and other SA leaders

  • hitler used opportunity to eliminate other political opponents as well

  • at least 200 people were executed

    • Hitler had overcome the radical left in the Nazi Party and neutralised the conservative right in traditional Germany

    • Emergence of the SS

    • Hindenburg died 2 Aug

      • Army pledges allegiance to Hitler not state

      • Hitler had unlimited power

      • Hitler becomes Fuhrer