Adolf Hitler

1. Adolf Hitler “I shall go down in history as the greatest German” – Adolf Hitler

2. Weimar Republic • Born out of crisis and defeat • WWI • Oct. 1918 situation was desperate • Not going to win war of attrition vs. U.S. • Gov’t in deep debt • Allied blockade & poor management left food shortages • Strikes & gov’t criticism met with extreme violence • Military leaders tried to ease the Kaiser toward an armistice & setting up a civilian gov’t • Naval chiefs wanted to undermine gov’t, sent fleet out to sea to fight the British, sailors mutinied

3. Weimar Republic • Unleashed a wave of protests; order collapses • Armies mutiny in other places in Germany • Kaiser abdicates throne • Disassociate the Germany the Allies would deal with from the war Germany • A republic was proclaimed • To prevent a Bolshevik revolution in Germany, former soldiers created Freikorps (like the Blackshirts) • Put down a few attempted revolts

4. Weimar Republic • After elections in Jan. decided to draw up a constitution • Very liberal in nature • Electoral system based on proportional representation • Friedrich Ebert first president • Start to lose creditability after WWI – Treaty of Versailles • War guilt clause • Legend of the “November Criminals” grows • Jews, Communists, Liberals

5. Weimar Republic • Political assassinations • The Monetary Crisis • 1919 – almost bankrupt b/c of the war • 132 billion gold marks (war reparations) • 2 billion per year + 26% of Germany’s exports • French get exasperated when • U.S. stays out of the League, signs own treaty with Germany • Marks Germans were paying were losing their value • August 1921 Germanys asks for a break to allow economy to recover

6. Weimar Republic • France refused the request • France seizes land in the Ruhr in lieu of payment • Government ordered passive resistance • Strikes in the factories • Pay the workers during the strikes, print more money • Hyperinflation • 4,200,000,000,000 marks equals $1 • 2,000 printing presses worked 24/7

7. Weimar Republic • Hyperinflation • Some people paid twice daily • Spend their morning money before exchange rates posted • Wages collected in wheelbarrows • When price of coal went up, many burned their pay • Consequences of hyperinflation • Lost life savings; worthless overnight • Some made a profit out of it • Farmers – selling food • Large industrialists – paid in foreign money, bought up smaller businesses going bankrupt • Some say they caused this crisis with this in mind…

13. Birth • Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1889 in Braunau, Austria. • Adolf was 1 of 6 children - 3 died at early ages

14. Parents Alois Schickelgruber Hitler was a customs official who was illegitimate by birth. His father, Adolf’s grandfather, may have been Jewish. He died when Adolf was 14 and left him a small inheritance. Klara Hitler was very young when she married the older Alois. She showered young Adolf with love and affection. Adolf carried a picture of his mom until the day he died. She died of breast cancer when Adolf was 18 years old.

15. Education • Attended a Benedictine monastery school where he took part in the choir. • When it was time to choose a secondary school, Adolf wanted to become an artist. • His father wanted him to become a civil servant, but after his father died, he dropped out of high school and attempted to get into the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts - he failed… • Twice…

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18. Years in Vienna • Very important time in his life! • After his mother died, Adolf (now 18) decided to move to Austria to pursue his dream of becoming a great artist. • Again he failed to gain entrance into the Academy • He eventually sold all his possessions and became a homeless drifter who slept on park benches and ate at soup kitchens throughout Vienna (age 19) • Adolf did manage to sell some paintings and postcards, but remained impoverished

19. Hitler • Between 1908 and 1914 forms many aspects of his personality • Racism, nationalism, authoritarianism • Struggle between those fit to survive and those that were not. • Hatred for non-German people, bourgeois world, Jews

20. Vienna • Influenced by the anti-Semitic mayor of Vienna, Karl Lueger • Became interested in the idea of German nationalism. • Also received first taste of politics

21. Military Service • 1913, moved to Munich, recalled to Austria in February 1914 for military service. • Seen as unfit, rejected. • But he did sign up for military service at the start of WWI. He joined a Bavarian unit of the German Army. This is a picture of Hitler listening to an enlistment speech.

22. World War I • Excited to fight for Germany. • Found a home fighting for the Fatherland. • Highest rank held was corporal. • Was a regimental messenger, not an easy job at all. (Life-expectancy = 6 weeks)

23. Military Record • Was awarded the Iron Cross twice. (5 medals overall) • Highest military honor in German Army. • Single handedly captured 4 French soldiers. • Temp. blinded by gas attack towards end of war.

24. German Loss in WW I • Hitler was devastated when he heard the news of the German surrender. • He was appalled at the anti-war sentiment among the German civilians. • Believed there was an anti-war conspiracy that involved the Jews and Marxists. • Also, felt that the German military did not lose the war, but that the politicians (mostly Jews) at home were responsible for the defeat.

25. Life after WW I • Hitler was depressed after WW I. • Still in the army, he became an undercover agent whose job was to root out Marxists • Also, lectured about the dangers of Communism and Jews

26. German Worker’s Party • Hitler was sent to investigate this group in Munich in 1919. • He went to a meeting and gave a speech. • He was them asked to become a member, which he did. Quit the army. • Devoted life to building up the party

27. NAZI Party is Formed • Hitler began to think big for the German Worker’s Party • Began placing ads for meetings in anti-Semitic newspapers • Hitler changed the name to National Socialist German Worker’s Party or the NAZIS

29. Germany • Was in terrible shape • Resented defeat in WWI, esp. Treaty of Versailles • Blamed Weimar Government and “November Criminals” • Freicorps not very efficient • Economic dislocation; widespread unemployment, inflation, French in the Ruhr, savings lost • This all helped and lead to the growth of Nazi Party • Hitler discovered he was a good speaker • Gives many beer hall speeches; membership increases

30. Germany • Early members: Alfred Rosenberg, Rudolf Hess, Hermann Göring, Ernst Röhm • Acquired newspaper Völkischer Beobachter • (People’s Observer) • Hitler takes over as president of the party • July 1921 Röhm founds a paramilitary force • Sturmabteilung (Brownshirts)

31. Party Platform • Hitler drafted a platform of 25 points • Revoke Versailles Treaty • Revoke civil rights of Jews • Confiscate any war profits Besides changing the party name, the red flag with the SWASTIKA was adopted as the party symbol

32. Munich Beer Hall Putsch • Röhm persuaded other right-wing groups to join Nazis: Kampfbund (German Fighting Union) • In response to the French in the Ruhr, Weimar Government allows Minister of Defense and Army Commanders take charge of government • Several “states of emergency” around Germany • Hitler’s chance… • “March on Berlin”

33. Munich Beer Hall Putsch • October 30, 1923 • Hitler held a rally in Munich beer hall and declared revolution • Led 2000 men in take over of Bavarian Government • It failed and Hitler was imprisoned

36. Trial and Jail • At his trial (treason), he used the opportunity to speak about the NAZI platform and spread his popularity. • The whole nation suddenly knew who Adolf Hitler was and what he stood for • He was sentenced to five years, but actually only served about 9 months

37. Munich Beer Hall Putsch • Reasons for failure • Nazi Party had little support outside of Bavaria • Munich police, not very sympathetic • Despite the appearance, the republic not in danger of collapse • Advantages for Hitler • Gave Hitler “revolutionary creditability” • Nation-wide publicity • Taught the Nazis they needed his leadership (prison) • Put Hitler on a more appropriate path to power though conventional politics

38. Mein Kampf • Hitler’s book “My Struggle” - wrote while in jail • Sold 5 million copies, made him rich • Topics included: Jews were evil, Germans were superior race, Fuhrer principal, dislike of Communism and Democracy and need to conquer Russia

39. Nazism • Extreme nationalism • Universal racist beliefs • White race had been “diluted” by intermarriage • Aryan race • Forests during the Dark Ages in Germany • Have you seen any pictures of Nazis? Notice anything?? • Jews = able people, but morally inferior • Social Darwinism • State = all-important • National unity must be maintained • Only through a strong government – “Leader principle”

40. Nazism • Strength of the nation = character of the race • Eugenics – Only the healthy have children • Eliminate the physically deformed & mentally ill • Existing elites were removed, why? • New genetic/biological elites! • Distinctions of education, birth or wealth only created social parasites • Needed people with genuine talent – Natural selection • Economic self-sufficient aims • Stab in the back theory by the “November criminals” • All spread through propaganda (Joseph Göbbels)

41. Years of Peace • Hitler leaves prison, seems like his time had passed • Monetary crisis had passed • Government closed banks for a week • Issued Rentenmark = 1 trillion of the old marks • Value based on land • Large loan from Britain, France, and the U.S. • U.S. – Dawes Plan – Allowed the rescheduling of war reparations • Boom in coal, iron, steel, electrical goods, and chemical industry • However…

42. Years of Peace • However… • Unemployment was still high • Textile industry not doing well • Small farms either • Apparent prosperity seemed tied to US loans • Despite peace, Germans seemed unwilling to accept their defeat and consequences • Elect Marshall Hindenburg president • Renounces Germany’s responsibility for the war • Hitler decides he needs to take power legally

43. Years of Peace • Army was not going to let him take it by force • Allowed to reform his party as a constitutional party (Bürgerbrau Beer cellar) • Much fighting within the party • Some do not want to be a const. party • Some want to ally with the socialists (USSR) vs. the “capitalist Jewish West” • Hitler meets and wins over Göbbels • Party acts as a welfare group • Collect money, distribute food & clothing to those in need • Aligns his party with the National Party • Access to news papers & businesses • Only got 2.6% of the total vote, 12 seats in the Reichstag

44. Second Crisis of the Republic • Wall St. Crash – US stopped loans to Germany, called for repayment • Undermined currency, bank run, many collapsed • Slump in world trade, factories closed everywhere • Unemployment rose to 6 million by 1932 • September ‘30 elections = Reichstag – 12-107 (18.3% of the vote) • Hitler makes a strong appeal to industrialists • More money to fight in the elections

45. Second Crisis of the Republic • July ‘32 elections – 37.4% of the vote – 230 seats • Hitler decides to run against Hindenburg • Lost 13 million – 19 million votes • What good came of this for Hitler? • Seen as a plausible alternative if the time came • November elections, vote declined by 2 million, lost 34 seats • Most likely due to positive economic action • Open door for Hitler

46. Nazis Come to Power • Government thought Hitler could be controlled • Lost votes after all… • Decide to bring him into government • Why do you think they did that? • Pre-emptive move, afraid of a Nazi Putsch • Easier to control him inside of government than outside • Appointed chancellor of Germany in a cabinet with only three Nazis • Time for Hitler to work his magic…

47. Hitler as Chancellor • Immediately starts to lay groundwork for absolute dictatorship • Set election day for March 5, 1933, then went to work… • Placed Hermann Göring as Minister in charge of Prussia • Senior police officers replaced by Nazis • Mostly SA and SS • Intimidated rivals, attacked their meetings • Used the media for propaganda

48. Hitler as Chancellor • Feb 27th, Reichstag burns down (Dutch Communist) “Night of the Long Knives” • Hitler claims it as part of a planned Communist uprising • How did this effect public? • New fear, more likely to give up rights for protection • Frighten voters to support the “strong leader” • Justification to outlaw the Communist Party • Election time – 288 seats, only 44% of the vote… • Hitler claims all the Communists’ seats null and void • Finishing touches…

49. Hitler as Chancellor • Rest of the Communists were arrested • Strikes a deal with Catholic Center Party • Now has a 2/3 majority in Reichstag • Passes Enabling Act • Hitler power for 4 years without any referencing to the constitution of the Reichstag • Passes 441 – 94, imagine that?? • Welcome to the Third Reich!

50. Third Reich • Despite dictatorial powers, forces that could limit Hitler’s power • Hindenburg still had a lot of respect • SA (Brownshirts) under Ernst Röhm • Expected a social revolution • Expected rewards for their service to Nazism • Issues a policy of Gleichschaltung (forcible co-ordination) – allowed him to sometimes eliminate and control all areas of German life