DAP

The DAP (//Deutsche Arbeiterpartie//), or German Worker's Party, was a Wiemar-era German party that formed the basis of the Nazi Party (which would appear later in Germany's political history). It was headed by Adolf Hitler, who had been sent to investigate the party by the German army. The party was based on ultra-nationalism, anti semitism, and anti-capitalism. Hitler joined and was soon made a committee member; he improved his standing in the party by using "his energy, oratory and propaganda skills... [to become] the driving force behind the party"(Layton 103). Hitler resigned in 1921, but returned to the party after mobilizing support to show his influence in the party. This caused Anton Drexler, the party's leader, to step down and leave Hitler as the new //Führer//. Under Hitler's leadership, an intimidation force of storm troopers, known as the SA was created, in order to help spread the party's message and intimidate the communist opposition through violence and threats. The party won the support of many influential Germans like Herman Göring and Julius Streicher, and started its own newspaper, which sped the rate at which Germans joined the political movement. Under Hitler, it gained over 17,000 members in under four years, and would grow to be many times bigger during the Nazi era.

Works Cited- Layton, Geoff. __Weimar and the Rise of Nazi Germany__. 3rd Edition. London. Hodder, 2005