World War II “Rise of Nazi Germany”

1. World War II“Rise of Nazi Germany”

2. Rise of the Nazis Why would a cultured German people put people like Adolf Hitler and the Nazi’s into power? …when there’s a crisis, people appear who claim to be the fount of all wisdom and that they can bring salvation to everyone. -Alois Pfaller

3. Treaty of Versailles

4. Treaty of Versailles

5. Treaty of Versailles • Surrender of all German colonies • Return of Alsace-Lorraine • Demilitarization of Germany • Occupation of the Rhineland by French troops. • German reparations of 6.6 billion pounds • Acceptance of German blame for causing the war • War trials for Kaiser and other German leaders • Limitation of German military • 100,000 men (no conscription) • No tanks, artillery, airplanes, airships, or poison gas. • No naval vessels over 100,000 tons and no submarines.

6. Meaning of “Reich” Reich means “realm” or “nation” First Reich=Holy Roman Empire (Successful 476-1512 A.D.) 2nd Reich=Germany from 1871 to 1919 (Failed) 3rd Reich=1000 years of Nazi Rule (Failed 1933-1945)

7. The Weimar Republic • “Reich” means rich or realm. • Reichstag modeled after the U.S. Congress. • Tried to create a democracy overnight. • Weak government unable to withstand outside political groups such as the communists and Nazis.

8. Adolf Hitler • Born in 1889 • Became a school dropout at age 16 • Month-long visit to Vienna kindled an interest in architecture and art (1906). • Father died in 1905 and mother in 1907. • Moved back to Vienna and applied to the Academy of Architecture and was rejected.

9. Adolf Hitler (2) • Hitler moved to successively worse slums surrounding Vienna. • Sold painting and most of his clothes for money. • Eventually resorted to living in a homeless shelter. • Like fellow bums, Hitler blamed his homelessness on the upper classes--especially the Jews.

10. Adolf Hitler (3) • Moved to Munich, Germany in 1913. • A placard that hung over Hitler’s bed upon leaving Vienna read: • We look free and open • We look steadfastly, • We look joyously across • To the German Fatherland! • Heil!

11. Adolf Hitler (4) • In January, 1914 Hitler was ordered to return to Austria-Hungary for military service or be arrested. • He was found unfit for military service. • June 28, 1914: The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand swept up Hitler in the euphoria. (Next picture)

12. Adolf Hitler (4)

13. Hitler (5) • Hitler was accepted into the Germany Army: First Bavarian Infantry Regiment • His immediate problems were solved: • Food • Clothing • Shelter • Companionship • Purpose in life

14. Hitler (5)

15. Hitler (6) • After the war, he returned to Munich embittered at Germany’s loss and mired again in poverty. • He became involved with a group of men: The Deutsche Arbeiterpartei later renamed (NSDAP) or Nazis. • Hitler took the leadership role of the group and increased the membership. • His first speech was given in the Hofbrauhaus (a beer hall) on October 16, 1919.

16. NAZI adaptation of the Swastika • Madame Helena Blavatsky

17. Madame Blavatsky • Studied the seven esoteric symbols from Tibet. • The most potent symbol was believed to the Swastika. According to Tibetan mythology, it is the symbol of sun/fire/creation. It is a symbol of good fortune.

18. Madame Blavatsky • Studied the mythological 7 stages of human evolution. Blavatsky referred to them as “root races.” • She believed the Aryan race’s symbol was the Swastika. The Aryans are a race of light, order, and spirit. • She stared a society in the United States, which then spread the ideology to Europe.

19. NAZI adaptation of the Swastika • Guido von List • Specialized in Germanic runes and their meaning. • Combined Madame Helena Blavatsky’s ideas with his own.

20. Nazi adaptation of the Swastika • Guido Von List helped bring about the romanticism of ancient German paganism and polytheistic religions. • He viewed the Catholic church as a semitic religion who continues the Roman occupation of Pagan Germany. • He did not know any NAZI’s or Hitler, but his ideas had a major impact on them.

21. The Aryan State - von List • Strict hierarchy • Patriarchal • Citizenship reserved for only Aryans • Laws passed to ensure the purity of the Aryan race.

22. Germanic Rune Symbology in Nazism

23. The SS Runes (Siegel Rune) The “Sun” rune, or later, the “victory” rune.

24. NAZI Party Symbols

25. Fascist Symbolism Used Today Roman Fasces

26. The Thule Society • Made up of wealthy members: Doctors, Lawyers, and Merchants. • Each member had to prove Aryan ancestry and traits.

27. Random Picture

28. The Ruhr Crisis 1923 • Rich coal reserves--more than the rest of Europe put together. • France seized coal and iron industries because Germany was in default on reparation payments. • Germany cancelled all reparations and Ruhr workers stopped working.

29. Hyperinflation • Government tried to print more and more money driving up inflation. • By 1929, a factor worker was making 30% less than in 1913. • November 1923, one dollar=4.2 trillion marks. • Old rags were more valuable than paper money. • Working and middle classes suffered most. • A select few benefited from hyperinflation.

30. The Role of the Army • Treaty of Versailles limited Germany to a 100,000 man army. • General Hans von Seeckt created an “army of leaders” instead. • The army became a large military school. • This was found to be very effective when WWII started.

31. The Beer Hall Putsch • The SA “Sturmabteiling” “Storm Troopers” “Brownshirts” • The SA were paramilitary street thugs made up of impoverished youth. They grew up in violent families and were violent themselves. • November 8, 1923: Hitler arrives at the Burgerbrauhaus, pulled out a pistol and fired it at the ceiling and exclaimed, “The national revolution has begun!” • 3,000 SA and Hitler marched to “Soldiers Hall” in Munich where they met police resistance. 14 SA were killed, more wounded, and Hitler fled the scene.

32. Hitler in Jail • A few hours after the shooting, three Munich police officers found Hitler sitting in a room of the Hanfstangl residence and arrested him. • Hitler was sentenced to a year in prison. • Landsberg Prison was a very comfortable place. (pg. 107 for description)

33. Mein Kampf (My Struggle) • Written while Hitler was in prison. • Mix of Nazi history, theoretical doctrine, and street-smarts. • Blamed Jews for Germany’s problems. • German people need to re-establish their supremacy. • They needed to acquire lebensraum (living space) in the East.

34. After Jail • Hitler regains control of Nazi Party • Josef Goebbels joins Hitler’s team • Hitler rented or purchased a theatre in which to give political speeches. • Jail taught Hitler the virtue of patience.

35. Josef Goebbels

36. Hitler’s Problems • The SA were evicted from Berlin after attacking Nazi political opponents. • The Nazi party was not succeeding in gaining the support of businessmen, workers, and professionals outside Bavaria.

37. The Rise to Power • Hitler’s first success in gaining an audience outside of Bavaria was the farmers of Schleswig-Holstein Farmers. • Nazi strategy was to now court rural voters to gain seats in the Reichstag.

38. For Freedom and Bread • Stock Market collapse in the United States made the rest of the difference for Nazi gains. • Germany was the hardest hit economically. • High unemployment was rampant. • New Nazi slogan: For Freedom and Bread

39. Reichstag Elections • 1931 elections: Nazis gained 18.3% of seats in Reichstag. (2nd largest majority) • This proved the Nazis were no longer just a country party.

40. Nazi Wars: The Stormtroopers Rebel • The stormtroopers came to resent the lavish lifestyle of many Nazi leaders. (Hitler lived modestly though) • Hitler reassigned Ernst Rohm to take over the SA. • After Nazis became a legitimate political party, Hitler ordered the SA to stand down their violent tactics. • Many of the SA then converted to the Communist Party.

41. Nazi Wars: The Stormtroopers Rebel (2) • Herman Goring purged SA dissidents. • Hitler temporarily dissolved the SA • He cut the budget and refused new recruitment. • He replaced the SA with the SS (Schutzstaffel) or (Defense Echelon) • Heinrich Himmler was placed in charge of the SS.

42. Heinrich Himmler

43. Reichstag Elections (2) • July 1932-Nazis have more Reichstag seats than any other party. (37.1%) • Hitler offered vice-chancellorship but refuses. • No coalition govt. could form so new elections were held Nov. 1932. Nazis lost seats (33.1%) • Disturbing: Nazis lost 2 million votes; Communists gained 6 million votes.

44. Industrialists Save The Day • Big were alarmed at Communism’s popularity. • They wanted to crush the Unions and believed Hitler could do it. • President Hindenburg was forced to appoint Hitler as Chancellor of Germany. (Jan 30, 1933)

45. Immediate Abuse of Power • Hitler got Hindenburg to call for new elections on March 5, 1933. • Before elections: Hitler suppressed communist press and meetings. • The Reichstag just happened to catch fire. • Hitler blamed the communists and spread fear about communist threat. • March 5, 1933 elections: Nazis have 44% of seats in Reichstag.

46. Reichstag Fire

47. Immediate Abuse of Power (2) • After winning the majority of the seats, Hitler started throwing communists and social democrats in jail. • Remaining members of Reichstag voted for the “Enabling Bill” turning all Reichstag functions over to Hitler.