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The Nazi Revolution

The Nazi Revolution. Revival of Germany. 1933: Germany teetered on the point of economic collapse, with 6,000,000 unemployed. 1939: German industrial production had doubled, and there was surplus of 2,000,000 jobs. 1933: Germany was disarmed and diplomatically isolated.

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The Nazi Revolution

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  1. The Nazi Revolution

  2. Revival of Germany • 1933: Germany teetered on the point of economic collapse, with 6,000,000 unemployed. • 1939: German industrial production had doubled, and there was surplus of 2,000,000 jobs. • 1933: Germany was disarmed and diplomatically isolated. • 1939: Germany held the strongest military in Europe and the world.

  3. Consolidation of Power • 30 January 1933: Hindenburg, fearing clash between conservatives and socialists, named Hitler chancellor • 27 February: Reichstag building burned; used as excuse by Hitler to persecute communists • 5 March: new Reichstag elections; communists expelled from Reichstag • 23 March: Enabling Act • 14 July: Law Against the New Formation of Parties

  4. Consolidation of Power • Consolidation via Terror • “SA” “Stormtroopers” (“Sturmabteilung”), private army, typically from lower class, started as protectors at rallies • “SS” “Blackshirts” (“Schutzstaffel”), politico-military elite, established as counterweight to rising SA • “Gestapo” secret police, under Himmler, disdained SA • Challenge to Hitler's leadership within Nazi party • 30 June 1934: “Night of Long Knives” purged Nazi party, especially SA, reduced SA to fringe group • Hitler claimed full responsibility

  5. Consolidation of Power • Use of Anti-Semitism • provided scapegoats • unity within Nazism through common enemy • inclusion of ordinary citizens into atmosphere of terror • • Consolidation via seizure of office • 2 August 1934: Hindenburg died • Hitler declared himself “führer” (meaning leader)

  6. Economic Rebuilding • • Hjalmar Schacht appointed as economic minister • Had organized 1920s recovery under Stresseman • Head of the Reichbank, 1933 • Economic Minister, 1934 • • Economic policies included: • Government directly controlled imports/exports • Government directly controlled agricultural output • Government directly controlled industry • Peasant and Industrial workers glorified • Job transfers were made difficult • Maintained high value of mark • Rearmament as means to success

  7. Rearmament • Provided jobs within the military • Provided instant market for industrial output • Gave Germany pride in its defense • Provided powerful base of support for Nazis • Suited Nazi national legends and beliefs • Violated Treaty of Versailles • Foreshadowed use of enlarged military

  8. New National Image • Nazi Propaganda defined modern propaganda techniques • Joseph Goebbels: Minister of Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda • Controlled press • Controlled movies • Controlled radio: target home, leisure time, workplace • 1936 Olympics gave Germany international focus Propaganda poster, showing Hitler with a pseudo-messianic image

  9. Conclusions • Nazi Germany, from 1933 to 1939, underwent an essentially “bloodless” revolution which • Transformed the economy from one based on capitalism to based on governmental control; • Stripped the political structure of its democratic and replaced them with dictatorship; • Converted the social structure into one based upon nationalism, scapegoats, and terror; and • Found economic strength in military expansion.

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