Stephanie+Pottschmidt

Stephanie Pottschmidt Period 5 March 2, 2012 Historical Investigation Guide

A. Plan of the investigation

Hitler gained control of Germany with an immense amount of power and authority on August 2,1934. However, he had a large number of supporters before he officially became Germany’s next dictator. These supporters fell for the appeal of Nazi social ideology Hitler repressed and presented to the country. The purpose of this investigation is to clearly define what this social ideology truly was and how it assisted Hitler in becoming so popular. This will be done by discovering the public’s option of Hitler and how these views came to be with the Nazi social ideology as a guideline for research. // Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust and Human Behavior //and //Adolf Hitler// are two of the sources that will be specifically analyzed in order to find the overall public option.
 * To what extent was Hitler's rise to power due to the appeal of Nazi social ideology? **


 * B. Summary of Evidence**

Section B. will be organized thematically with five differing sections. The sections consist of the five components of Nazi Social ideology that was present in Germany during Hitler’s rise to power.

NAZI SOCIAL IDEOLOGY:

The goals of the Nazis’ were to “counter the teachings of their opponents, shape public opinion, and build loyalty”.[5]
 * 1) Nazism/Nationalism
 * “Nazism was characterized by intense nationalism, stressing the need for a ‘warrior society’. Nazis promoted the ides that ruthless enemies were plotting to destroy Germany.”[1]
 * The Nazi Party created a “nation -state” which is when “the people live together as a unified political unit”[2]
 * The people of Germany were “Wholly taken over by Nazism”.[3]
 * Germany “accept[ed] that Nazism had all the makings of a political religion”.[4]

2. Dictatorship vs. Failed Democracy The advisers convinced themselves that they could control Hitler. They also believed that Hitler would certainly “fail to end the depression and //when// he failed, //they// would step _ in save the nation… //They// did not expect Hitler to become more responsible… Hitler fooled them all.”[9]
 * Hitler clearly “surpasses all his predecessors”[6]
 * “Below Hitler there was no overall political responsibility”[7]
 * “General Kurt von Schleicher, Franz von Papen, and Hindenburg’s other advisers were all conservatives who represented wealthy landowners, industrialists, and other powerful people. They had little power… so in 1933, they mad a deal with Hitler. //He// had the popularity they lacked and //they// had the power he needed.”[8]

3. Social Conservatism I believe in the German mother who gave me birth. I believe in the German peasant who breaks the sod for his people. I believe in the German worker who performs work for his people. I believe in the dead who gave their lives for their people. For my god is my people I believe in Germany!”[16]
 * The regime held an “ideological promise of a better life to “the masses””.[10]
 * “The working class supported the Nazi Party to a greater degree than previously conceded by leftwing historians.”[11]
 * A supporter of Hitler describes the effects of a speech Hitler made in 1923, “Adolf Hitler is so firmly convinced of the correctness of his nationalistic views that he automatically communicates this conviction to his listeners”.[12]
 * “Many preferred to “overlook and excuse what was ominous and radically evil in National Socialism. They clutched at the pseudo-religious aspect of it, the promise of salvation held out so clearly and on so many levels.”[13]”[14]
 * “The law was an attempt to create a racially pure society of “Aryans” by isolating and eliminating Germans the Nazis considered inferior. As Hitler stated in //Mein Kampf//, “Everything we admire on this earth today-science and art, technology and inventions-is only the creative product of a few peoples and originally perhaps __one__ race (the Aryans)”. ”[15]
 * “Young children were taught the following “Confession Of Faith:

4. Expansionism and Anti-Treaty of Versailles
 * “Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiter Partei, (NSDAP, or Nazi for short) began as a small political party with little to no power. In reality, over time people began to join the party due to their appealing beliefs. This relatively “new party’s program demanded:

1. A union of all Germans to form a great Germany on the basis of the right to self-determination of peoples. 2. Abolition of the Treaty of Versailles. 3. Land and territory (colonies) for our surplus population. 4. German blood as a requirement for German citizenship. No Jew can be a member of the nation. 5. Non-citizens can live in Germany only as foreigners, subject tothe law of aliens. 6. Only citizens can vote or hold public office. 7. The state ensures that every citizen live decently and earn his livelihood. If it is impossible to provide food for the whole population, then aliens must be expelled. 8. NO further immigration of non-Germans. Any non-German who entered Germany after August 2, 1914, shall leave immediately. 9. A thorough reconstruction of our national system of education. The science of citizenship shall be taught form the beginning. 10. All newspapers must be published in the German language by German citizens and owners.”[17]

5. Hitler’s Personal Appeal
 * “Man is defined by what makes him inhuman. With Hitler at the head of a gigantic laboratory, life itself seems to have changed.”[18]
 * “The face is that Hitler was beloved by his people… by the average Germans who pledged to him in affection, a tenderness and a fidelity”.[19]
 * “One had to see the crowds who acclaimed him. And the women who were attracted to him. And the young who in his presence went into ecstasy.”[20]
 * “Hitler created a new oath. ‘I swear by God this sacred oath, that I will render unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler, the Fuehrer of the German Reich and people, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and will be ready as a brave solider to risk my life at any time for this oath.’”[21]
 * Erika Mann, a German who opposed the Nazis, wrote a book called //School for Barbarians,// where she discusses the phrase “Heil Hitler”. “Every child says ‘Heil Hitler!’ from 50 to 150 times a day… ‘Heil’ really means salivation, and used to be applied to relations between man and his God; one would speak of ewiges Heil (eternal salvation), and the adjective ‘holy’ derives from the noun. But now there is the new usage….”22
 * Hede von Nagel grew up in Nazi Germany, however she now currently lives in California where she writes of her childhood: “We grew up believing that Hitler was a supergod.”23


 * C. Evaluation of Sources**


 * Strom, Margot Stern. Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust and Human Behavior. New York: Facing History and Ourselves National Foundation, Inc., 1994. Print. **

// Facing History and Ourselves // is a textbook used to gain insight to the human behavior that lead to the events that took place in Germany before and during Hitler’s rain. Not only is the author, Margot Strom, the Executive Director of Facing History and Ourselves since its inception, but she is also an international leader in education for justice and the preservation of democracy. This texts includes a multitude of view points of people who lived in Germany during Hitler’s rein some being his followers other being against him from the start. Also, experts on Hitler himself, social psychology and many in between are cited frequently making this text have extreme value. The author focuses not only on the actions taken by Hitler during his dictatorship but also his struggle to power the dangers of the indifferent people of Germany. However, the textbook is limited in the lack of mass public opinion as to why Germans as a whole fell so effortlessly to Hitler.


 * Wiesel, Elie. "Adolf Hitler." TIME: n. pag. TIME Magazine U.S. Web. 5 Mar. 2012. **

// Adolf Hitler // appeared in the New York Times on Monday, April 13, 1998. The main value of this text is to give insight to the secret to Hitler’s success and how he got the nation to trust him so quickly. Elie Wiesel was appointed Chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Achievement, and received the Nobel Prize for Peace. In the text, Wiesel reviews the multiple ways Hitler got German’s people to trust him, follow him, and support him until the very end. The reader is meant to grasp the danger Hitler imposed on Germany during the years he was in power as it is presented through out the text. This text presents interesting points although, there are no photos or videos linked to the article nor does the author cite people who lived in the time period of Hitler’s rein which limits the texts value.


 * D. Analysis**

When asked, no matter the age, gender or race, the majority of people will say that Adolf Hitler was pure evil. With his hunger for complete world domination, ongoing hatred for the Jewish people and lack of psychological stability, Hitler dragged his beloved nation of Germany into absolute madness. However, many people lack the knowledge that Hitler was elected, he did not over through the proceeding government in a hostile coup rather he was chosen by the average citizens of the nation. The people of Germany desired a stable government after many years of instability, they wanted to feel the power the Germany used to possess as a world known super power with an overwhelming sense of nationalism. At this time many Germans despised the Treaty of Versailles and sought for a base for social normality once more. It is important to analyze the extent that Hitler’s rise to power was due to the appeal of Nazi ideology over Hitler’s fatal attraction.

In the years prior to Hitler’s election the government hadn’t maintained one single ruler, having massive instability in the government for the previous thirty years. When Hitler was finally elected the nation, as a whole, was ready for a change in leadership. “General Kurt von Schleicher, Franz von Papen, and Hindenburg’s other advisers were all conservatives who represented wealthy landowners, industrialists, and other powerful people. They had little power… so in 1933, they mad a deal with Hitler. //He// had the popularity they lacked and //they// had the power he needed.” Hitler however, represented the average German citizen and appealed to the mass majority of the nation. The advisers also believed that Hitler would certainly “fail to end the depression and //when// he failed, //they// would step in to save the nation… Hitler fooled them all” not only did he solve the economic issues but by August 2, 1934 he combined the positions of chancellor and president become the official Fuehrer of Germany.

Hitler brought his people together by creating a sense of normality, which largely entitled nationalist values. The Nazi Party created a “nation -state” which is when “the people live together as a unified political unit”. This nation-state was thought to “counter the teachings of their opponents [in order to] shape public opinion, and build loyalty”. Nazism soon became more than just the government, it became the nation’s religion with Hitler as the godly figure, it became their life. The general public accepted Hitler as the God and worshiped him day in and day out, the phrase “‘Heil Hitler!’ was said from 50 to 150 times a day… ‘Heil’ really means salivation, and used to be applied to relations between man and his God; one would speak of ewiges Heil (eternal salvation), and the adjective ‘holy’ derives from the noun.” “Young children were taught the following Confession Of Faith: I believe in the German mother who gave me birth. I believe in the German peasant who breaks the sod for his people. I believe in the German worker who performs work for his people. I believe in the dead who gave their lives for their people. For my god is my people I believe in Germany!” The regime held an “ideological promise of a better life to “the masses”” which drew in the majority of the public, along with their anti-sematic views giving the masses a scapegoat for all of Germany’s past mistakes. Multiple laws where passed stripping minority groups of their rights and further excelling the “racially pure society of ‘Aryans’”. This gave the majority of Germans the feeling that Hitler was going to bring their nation justice and left the minority groups with the sensation that they had no rights, choices, or power.

After the First World War Germans were left in complete outrage after the Treaty of Versailles was issued. However, because of this sense of hopelessness the nation felt, Hitler and his early followers had an early in with the people of Germany. The “Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiter Partei, (NSDAP, or Nazi for short) [which] began as a small political party with little to no power. In reality, over time people began to join the party due to their appealing beliefs. Overall, the believed in the union of all Germany and the abolition of the Treaty of Versailles.

“The fact is that Hitler was beloved by his people… by the average Germans who pledged to him in affection, a tenderness and a fidelity”. The children were taught that Hitler was a god, men were attracted to his senses of power, dignity and strength, woman treated him as a rock star and worshiped him openly. Young men, by the thousands signed their lives away in an attempt to become brave soldiers and make their Fuehrer proud. The nation thought that Hitler was going to make Germany a superpower once more; they never realized they were being pulled into madness until it was too late. Although this is the common belief, there is no way to be certain of the real public option because there is an overpowering lack of data collected in the Nazis totalitarian state. Evidence needed to understand the option of the masses would be public polls and data instead of basing all analysis on the active participation of the public. Within the sources specifically analyzed, //Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust and Human Behavior// and //Adolf Hitler// there is an abundance of evidence for active participation but an overall lack of concrete data and or polls.


 * E. Conclusion**

The people of Germany elected Adolf Hitler chancellor for more than his personal appeal. It was the Nazis Ideology that lead the average citizen to believe that Hitler would make a powerful leader for a country that was in need of structure after years of instability.


 * F. List of Sources**

Bartov, Omer. "Hitler's Willing Believers." //The New Reublic// 223.21 (2000): n. pag. Print. Omer Bartov is professor of history at Brown University and the author, most recently, of Mirrors of Destruction: War, Genocide, and Modern Identity (Oxford University Press).

Neel, Carolyn. “Nazism.” World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 7 Mar. 2012.

Strom, Margot Stern. //Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust and Human Behavior.// New York: Facing History and Ourselves National Foundation, Inc., 1994. Print.

Wiesel, Elie. "Adolf Hitler." //TIME//: n. pag. //TIME Magazine U.S.// Web. 5 Mar. 2012. . Nobel Peace laureate Elie Wiesel is professor in the humanities at Boston University.

[1] Neel, Carolyn. “Nazism.” //World History: The Modern Era//. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 7 Mar. 2012 [2] Ibid. 2 [3] Wiesel, Elie. "Adolf Hitler." //TIME//: n. pag. //TIME Magazine U.S.// Web. 5 Mar. 2012. . Nobel Peace laureate Elie Wiesel is professor in the humanities at Boston University [4] Ibid. 9 [5] Strom, Margot Stern. //Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust and Human Behavior.// New York: Facing History and Ourselves National Foundation, Inc., 1994. Print. [6] Wiesel, //Adolf Hitler//, 1 [7] Bartov, Omer. "Hitler's Willing Believers." //The New Reublic// 223.21 (2000): n. pag. Print. Omer Bartov is professor of history at Brown University and the author, most recently, of //Mirrors of Destruction: War, Genocide, and Modern Identity// (Oxford University Press). [8] Strom,// Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust and Human Behavior, // 152 [9] Ibid. 152 [10] Bartov, //Hitler's Willing Believers,// 5. [11] Ibid. 6. [12] Strom,// Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust and Human Behavior, // 139 [13] Fritz Stern, Dreams and Delusions (A, Knopf, Inc., 1987), from Strom,// Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust and Human Behavior, //152. [14] Strom,// Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust and Human Behavior, // 155. [15] Ibid. 183. [16] Ibid. 214. [17] Ibid. 124. [18] Wiesel, //Adolf Hitler//, 1 [19] Ibid. 2. [20] Ibid. 2. [21] Strom,// Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust and Human Behavior, // 197. 22 Erika Mann, School for Barbarians (Modern Age, 1938), from Strom,// Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust and Human Behavior, // 228-229. 23 Mede von Nagel, “The Nazi Legacy- Fearful silence for Their Children,” //Boston Globe//, 23 October, 1922, from Strom,// Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust and Human Behavior, // 235.

**Stephanie Pottschmidt ** **Period 5 ** **March 5, 2012 ** **Source Summary #1 **

**Origin: By Elie Wiesel Monday, Apr. 13, 1998 for the New York Time Magazine. **

**Value: Gives insight to the secret to Hitler’s success and how he got the nation to trust him so quickly. **

**Purpose: To inform the reader of the danger Hitler imposed on Germany during the years he was in power. **

**Limitations: There are no photos or videos linked to the article nor does the author cite people who lived in the time period of Hitler’s rain. **

**Citation: ** **Wiesel, Elie. "Adolf Hitler." TIME: n. pag. TIME Magazine U.S. Web. 5 Mar. 2012. ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> <http://www.time.com/>. Nobel Peace laureate Elie Wiesel is professor ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> in the humanities at Boston University **

**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__LINK__] **

**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Stephanie Pottschmidt ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Period 5 ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">March 5, 2012 ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Source #2 **

**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Origin: Textbook looking at the human behavior that lead to the events that took place in Germany while Hitler was in power. **

**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Value: Gives a maltitude of view points of people who lived in Germany during Hitler’s rain some being his followers other being against him from the start. Also, experites are cited frequently. **

**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Purpose: To inform the reader of the life and times of that of Germany during the time Hitler was in power. **

**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Limitations: No videos. **

**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Citation: ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Strom, Margot Stern. Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust and Human Behavior. New York: Facing History and Ourselves National Foundation, Inc., 1994. Print. **

**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Stephanie Pottschmidt ****<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Period 5 ****<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">March 6, 2012 ****<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Source #3 ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Origin: ABC-CLIO World History: The Modern Era ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Value: Informs the reader of the true definition of Nazism and how it was used and effected Germany during Hitler's rain. ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Purpose: To inform and educate the reader. ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Limitations: There are no photos or videos linked with in the reading. ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Citation: ** Neel, Carolyn. "Nazism." // World History: The Modern Era //. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 6 Mar. 2012.

**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Link] ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Stephanie Pott ****<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">schmidt ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Period 5 ****<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">March 6, 2012 ****<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Source #4 ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Origin: ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Value: ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Purpose: ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Limitations: ** **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Citation: ** Bartov, Omer. "Hitler's willing believers." // New Republic //. 20 Nov. 2000: 29. // eLibrary //. Web. 06 Mar. 2012.

**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #121917; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Link] **