Adolph Hitler & Nazi Party

1. Adolph Hitler & Nazi Party • There were many Germans who were bitter about Germany’s system of government, the Treaty of Versailles and it’s terms, and the fact that Germany lost in WWI • One of these Germans was Adolph Hitler • Veteran of WWI • Early in the 1920s, Hitler took over control of the German Socialist Workers’ Party • Written in German, acronym becomes NAZI

2. Nazi Party Policies I • Extreme Nationalism • Already regarded as a nationalistic country, the Nazi party and Hitler convinced many of Germany’s population that a “citizen’s sole reason for existence was to serve the state” • Hitler rode this wave of extreme nationalism up, and into WWII • Anti-Democratic • Hitler promised from day one that didn’t like Germany’s democratic system, and that he would destroy it. • He would destroy it and turn Germany into a dictatorship

3. Nazi Party Policies: II • Anti-Semitism • Definition: hate or dislike Jewish people • Hitler blamed the Jews for Germany’s issues • They were a scapegoat • Didn’t matter that this was a faulty statement, but in the end that didn’t matter • This was a popular view held by society; validated true point of WWI & costs associated with it • Hitler did not tell the German people of his plan to exterminate the Jewish people • Over time, his constant hatred of the Jews made it easier to “validate” the unspeakable atrocities that were yet to come • Restore Germany’s Military Might • Treaty of Versailles hampered the allowed size of the German Military • Hitler’s promise of renewing the military was very popular amongst the general population

4. How Hitler came to power… • With the effects of the Great Depression, more and more people decided that the Weimer government could not solve the economic problems faced by Germany • Drove voters to the left (communists) and right (Nazis) • 1932, Nazis became largest party in German parliament • Hitler’s party was not asked to form parliament • Those who were anti-communist (middle of political spectrum) gave their vote to Nazis • Late 1932 another election was held, Hitler elected German Chancellor • Equivalent to CAN Prime Minister

5. Hitler comes to power II • While Hitler won the 1932 election, he did not do so with a majority • Unable to pass laws that would give him more power • Feb. 1933, called another election to try and gain his sought after majority • Turning point: Dutch Communist burnt down the Reichstag (German Parliament) • Hitler used this as means to promote the possibility of a Communist revolution • Came up just short of a majority yet again, banned Communists from Reichstag = gave him majority • Bullied Reichstag to pass the Enabling Act; made him “all-powerful” • Brought an end to Democracy in Germany = beginning of Totalitarianism

6. Nazi Germany under Hitler • Became totalitarian state without any sign of protest • June 1934, Night of the Long Knives, Hitler had 1,000 people murdered • Victims of this act, were deemed to be enemies of the state • Between 1933-1939 Hitler enacted a package of laws, known as the Nuremburg Laws • Draconian (harsh and unjust) measures against the Jews included: • Jews had to wear Star of David at all times • Jews lost professional careers and their property • Jews could not mingle with the German population • Jews lost their citizenship

7. Sign of things to come? • Nuremburg Laws were passed with zero resistance, this should have warned Germans and the rest of the world about Hitler’s intentions • November 9, 1938 Nazis encouraged the Germans to attack Jews and their property • Jewish shops were attacked, windows smashed, Jews were beaten in public, and many were imprisoned for no reason at all • Event referred to as “Kristallnacht” (night glass)

8. Further warning signs • All human rights were abolished • Secret Police – the Gestapo and the SS (Schutzstaffel) – became all powerful • SS went from a security force to being held responsible for crimes against humanity during WWII • Could do whatever they wanted as long as Hitler believed they were serving the state • Germany began a rapid re-militarism (rebuild) • Hitler now referred to as the Fuhrer (the leader) • German people no longer greeted themselves with hello, but with the right arm raised at 45o and a snappy “Heil Hitler” (Honour Hitler)

9. Meet your Dictator #3:Stalin & the Soviet Union • Joseph Stalin: Gained completed control of Soviet Union in 1928, began to shape country with his vision of Communism • Goals: Totalitarian in nature • He was the most extreme in his exercise of extreme power than any of the other totalitarian dictators, his goals included: • Modernize the economy • Industrialization for fear of foreign invasion • Believed a country’s level of industrialization = success at battle • “Five year plans” & Command Economy • Steps undertaken to assume total control of Soviet economy to ensure steps 1 and 2 would succeed…

10. Stalin’s Five Year Plan • Collectivized Farm Land • Ended all private ownership, land placed into large state owned farms • Peasants now became paid workers • Step #1 because state needed capital (money) to invest and get other steps off the ground • Developed Heavy Industry • Large projects, i.e. steel and coal, production of armaments, railroads, ports, highways, and airports • Emphasize heavy industry = ignored production of consumer goods; wanted to build a successful military to defend Soviet Union • Great Terror • Introduced in 1930s; anyone who was considered enemy of his goals, Stalin had them executed (keep your thoughts to yourself!) • 1000s of Soviet’s lost their lives • International involvement • Joined League of Nations in 1939 despite its inadequacies; he was a fan of collective security • Recognized that the Soviet Union would one day become a target of Nazi Germany, signed Nazi-Soviet Pact August 1939, stay tuned for more on this…

11. Immediate WWII: The Causes - Europe Fundamental Treaty of Versailles The Great Depression Rise of Hitler & Nazi Party Failure of League of Nations Extreme Nationalism Unwillingness of democratic governments to intervene in places like Germany Appeasement Crisis 1936-39 Appeasement = when a country becomes aggressiveother countries give aggressor what they want to prevent another war France and Britain practiced appeasement as Hitler became more aggressive at being a world force, so they “gave in” on some issues…

12. Appeasement Crisis I • Re-militarization of the Rhineland: • T of V stated that “Germany was to remove all military presence” from border region with France. • March 1936 Hitler sent troops in, FRA and GB did nothing… Hitler was encouraged • Annexation of Austria: • Annexation – make something part of greater whole • March 1939, German troops moved into Austria, made it part of their own • FRA & GB + other democracies from T of V did nothing…

13. Appeasement Crisis II • Appeasement in Czechoslovakia • Occurred in two phases; most important immediate cause of WWII • Phase 1: Hitler wanted Germans living in Western Czechoslovakia (Sudetenland) to be included in Germany • Sept. 1938, following numerous demands, Hitler threatened invasion Oct. 1 • GB & FRA panicked: Germany might start a war if they don’t get it as Czechs will refuse! • Conference called in Munich (Went something like this…) • Appeasers: “What to you want?” • Hitler: “Sudetenland” • Appeasers: “Sure” • GB PM Chamberlain = “Great Victory in name of Peace” • Czechs: Sorry, no dice for you… • Phase 2: March 15, 1939, Hitler invaded rest of Czechoslovakia • Czech state = no more, & everyone knew the world was on brink of European based war…

14. Nazi-Soviet Pact & WWII • Stalin was not involved in Appeasement Crisis • Soviets = Communists = Western Democracies stayed away • Stalin had approached GB & FRA to unite vs. Hitler • Thanks, but no thanks • In the mean time, Hitler stated “Nazism would attack and eradicate communism in the Soviet Union” • Forced Stalin to sign a “non-aggression” pact with Germany, Aug. 23 1939 • Shocked the world • Divide Poland • Side note: Both Hitler and Stalin knew that each other was lying • Done to gain time: Stalin needs time to mobilize for eventual war with Germany, Germany avoiding two-front war • Hitler was clearly in the driver’s seat to start a second World War…