Hitler

Origin and Nature: Hitler

>>> >>>>
 * 1) Hitler as an individual
 * 2)  Personal Traits
 * 3)  Charismatic
 * 4)  Personal History
 * 5)  War record
 * 6)  Economic struggle as a young man
 * 7)  Public could relate to him
 * 8)  Role in the Munich Putsch (1923)
 * 9)  Strategies
 * 10)  Propaganda
 * 11) First to use radio
 * 12)  //Mein Kampf//
 * 13)  Played on already existing anti-semitism
 * 14)  Promised people what they wanted to hear
 * 15)  Political Platform
 * 16) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;"> Rejects Treaty of Versailles
 * 17) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;"> Strong central government
 * 18)  Promoted German nationalism
 * 1) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px;">Historical Context
 * 2) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px;"> Political Instability
 * 3) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;"> Collapse of Weimar Republic
 * 4) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: lower-alpha; margin: 0px;"> Lack of leadership
 * 5) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: lower-alpha; margin: 0px;"> No strong central government
 * 6) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: lower-alpha; margin: 0px;"> Government criticized by right and left
 * 7) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: lower-alpha; margin: 0px;"> Economic problems blamed on government
 * 8) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;"> Reestablishment of NSDAP in Munich in 1924
 * 9) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px;"> Economic Situation
 * 10) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;"> Post-Versailles reparations
 * 11) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;"> The US Great Depression’s effect on Germany
 * 12) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;"> Chancellor cut government expenditure, wages and unemployment pay
 * 13) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;"> Unemployment rose to 6 million
 * 14) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;"> Hyper-inflation
 * 15) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: lower-alpha; margin: 0px;"> German government trying to pay off reparations
 * 16) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px;"> Fear of revolution
 * 17) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;"> Communism
 * 18) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px;"> Nationalism
 * 19) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;"> Humiliation from guilt clause of Treaty of Versailles
 * 20)  Hitler was the first politician to speak out and take action against treaty’s conditions
 * 1) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px;">Elimination of Opposition
 * 2) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px;"> Strategies
 * 3) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;"> Enabling Act
 * 4) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;"> NSDAP gained relative majority of seats in Parliament in 1932 elections
 * 5) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: lower-alpha; margin: 0px;"> Underestimated strength and popularity of the party
 * 6) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px;"> Sources of opposition
 * 7) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;"> Religious groups
 * 8) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;"> Youth movements
 * 9) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; margin: 0px;"> Limiting of Opposition
 * 10) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;">Trade unions abolished
 * 11) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;"> Communists outlawed/imprisoned
 * 12) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;"> Unions/democratic parties dissolved/made illegal
 * 13) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;"> Hitler’s Youth
 * 14) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;"> Education reform
 * 15) <span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px;"> Use of propaganda

I. Methods: force, legal a. March 5, 1933 – Election i. Nazis, (who were now in power) used all the apparatus of state, including press and radio, to consolidate a majority ii. Senior police offices in Weimar Germany were replaced by loyal Nazis, and 50,000 auxiliary policeman were called up from the SA and SS b. Enabling Law, March 23, 1933 i. The government could introduce laws without the approval of the //Reichstag// for the next four years, could ignore the constitution, and sign agreements with foreign countries. ii. Laws would be drafted by the Chancellor and come into operation the day they were published iii. Allowed Hitler to justifiably rule as dictator for the next four years iv. The law passed due to Nazi intimidation 1. Nazis surrounded the Kroll Opera House and MPs had to force their way through SS troops in order to enter 2. The 81 communist MPs were not allowed to enter 3. Inside, SA and SS troops lined the walls and chanted, “We want the bill, or fire and murder.” 4. Groups were afraid to vote against the bill, and the Catholic Centre Party voted in favor of it, passing by 441 votes c. Education system was closely controlled so that children could be indoctrinated with Nazi opinions

II. Form of government a. Won 288 seats out of 647 in ’33 election i. 36 seats sort of an overall majority ii. Note: At the height of their power, the Nazis were supported by only 44% of the voting electorate b. //Gleichschaltung// (forcible co-ordination) i. Turned Germany into a totalitarian or fascist state ii. Government controlled as many aspects as possible, using a huge police force and the State Secret Police, (//Gestapo//) iii. Separate state parliaments (//Lander//) still existed but lost all power. Their functions were taken over by a //Nazi// //Special Commissioner// appointed in each state by the Berlin government

III. Nature, extent, and treatment of opposition a. March 5, 1933 – Election i. Meetings of all parties, except Nazis and nationalists, were banned b. February 27 i. //Reichstag// damaged in a fire ii. Fire started by Dutch anarchist, van der Lubbe à arrested, tried, and executed iii. SA knew of van der Lubbe’s plans, but did not stop him so they were able to blame the fire on the communists 1. Used this event to stir up fear of communism before he banned the party c. Under the //Gestapo//, it was dangerous to oppose or criticize the Nazi party d. //Gleichschaltung// i. All political parties except the National Socialists were banned so that Germany became a one-party state, (like Italy and the USSR) ii. The civil service was purged: all Jews and other “enemies of the state” were removed until it was fully reliable

Forms of Government Control · Legally gained power through the Reichstag and elections. · Ruthlessly controlled the lives of the people. Brutal. · German Police replaced by the SS and the SA, his personal boy guards. Ordered them to take out Communists and all other enemies of the state. · Complete dominance of the media, used propaganda to control the minds of the people. Goebbels as is voice through the media. · Nazi’s were supported by 44% of the electorate in 1933. · Enabling Law- Allowed Hitler to become complete ruler. Unopposed. Absolute power. · Used force and the SS to get laws passed. Threatened to kill people if they didn’t vote for the Enabling Law. · Gleichschaltung- Turned Germany into a fascist totalitarian state. · Banned other political powers. Single party state. · Controlled the education system. Hitler Youth. · Germany became a police state. · Beer Hall Putsch. Tried to forcefully start a revolution. Ideology <span style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"> · German’s way of life dedicated to the furthering of the state. <span style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"> · Organization of all aspects of life. <span style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"> · Organized militarily. Always a standing military. <span style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"> · Anti-Communist <span style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"> · Race is an important aspect. Aryans vs. Non-Aryans. Master race. Jews and others inferior. Anti-Semetic. <span style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"> · Creation of a powerful Germany. <span style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"> · Remove unemployment and give everyone jobs. Everyone works towards making the state better. <span style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"> · Make Germany self sufficient by boosting exports and reducing imports. <span style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"> · Totalitarian state with control over industry, agriculture, and way of life. Personal freedom limited. Opposition · It became dangerous to oppose the Nazis after the Enabling Law. Hitler had absolute control. · Early opposition were communists. Jailed many of them. Attacked by the SS. Blamed the Reichstag fire on communists. · Suspected enemies of the state jailed for no reason. · Focused on the persecution of Jews later in his rule. · Hitler formed an agreement with religious (Concordat). Agreement broken, schools shut down. Religious arrested. · Sent Jews to concentration camps. · Courts supported Hitler, no real trials. · Main enemies were communists, social democrats, Jews, Catholics, and Protestants. · Used Jews as scapegoats. Hitler blamed them. · Nuremberg Laws- Deprived Jews of rights. · ‘Final Solution’- extermination of Jews. · Murdered General Rohm and other SA leaders when they opposed him. Knight of the Long Knives. · Had people shot for opposing him. Brutal.