Intro to Weimar, and Hitler and the NAZI’s

1. Intro to Weimar, and Hitler and the NAZI’s

2. Revolution of 1918 • November 9th : –Kaiser abdicates and flees to Holland – new temporary civilian government under the leader of Social Democrats (SD) Friedrich Ebert whose party had the most votes in recent elections (the Republic is declared) • November 10th: Deal struck between new government and army (for support) • November 11th – representatives of new government meet with Allies and agree to armistice at 11/11 11AM Kaiser Wilhelm II in Exile Ebert

3. Support for the Revolution ….And some Germans (like Prince Max who convinced the Kaiser to abdicate) feared a civil war would break out if things didn’t change ….And Wilson refused to offer peace without a “democratic” government in Germany

4. Structure of Government Government under Kaiser Weimar Government 1919 - 34 Kaiser Wilhelm II President Hindenburg

5. A closer look

7. Elections January 1919 …Yeah in the midst of all this! *remaining 10% or so was divided among 4 small regional parties*

8. German Political Parties Right-wing Left-wing

9. First act of new government? Signing the Treaty of Versailles Note: Germany is divided into two parts by the ‘Polish Corridor’

10. Result: • The Army (General Ludendorff) accuses the new government of “a stab in the back” (betraying the army while it was fighting the war – not defeated) • Representatives of the new government branded as the November Criminals by the Nationalists and later the NAZIs for signing the armistice and the Treaty of Versailles.

11. Four Putsches • “Red Bavaria”: • Leninists take over in Bavaria • Late 1918 to early 1919 • Spartacist Revolt • January 1919 • Leninists fail to take over in Berlin after defeat by the Freikorps • Kapp Putsch • March 1920 • Berlin nearly falls to rightists • Freikorps led by Dr. Wolfgang Kapp • Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch • November 1923

12. Young Hitler • Modest origins • Father - minor customs official • Born in German-Austrian border town of Braunau, Austria in 1889 • Dropped out of school at 16 in 1905 • Dreams of art or architecture • In 1907 moves to Vienna • Failed to gain admission to Vienna Fine Arts or Vienna School of Architecture • Mom dies

13. Hitler’s Painting: ‘Village Scene’

14. Was Hitler Jewish? • It is possible though unproven • Hitler’s paternal grandfather is unknown • Hitler’s dad’s mom was named Schicklgruber & Hitler’s dad was born illegitimate • She later married a man named Hiedler who formally adopted Hitler’s dad & gave him the name Hitler

15. Hitler up to WWI • Aimless in Austria • From 16 to 23 years of age • Lived on small inheritance & orphan’s pension • Sold tourist postcards to make ends meet • Picked up anti-Semitic views living on the street & in flophouses / hostels • 1913 - moved to Munich, Bavaria, Germany

16. Hitler & World War I • Caught up in war fervor when Germany declares war (photo) • Enlisted as soldier in WWI • Dispatch runner at the front • Wounded twice, decorated five times including Iron Cross (HIH video) • War ended 1918 • Hitler in hospital temporarily blind from poison gas • Believes German republic stabbed Germans in the back for seeking peace

17. Hitler & The Nazis • Unemployed after war • Took job spying on political parties for the army • Joined one of them instead: German Workers’ Party • Became National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi Party) • Became exceptional speaker • Practice and determination Hofbrauhaus where Hitler gave many Speeches to his followers

18. Beer Hall Putsch ‘Pooch’ • 1921 Hitler became leader of Nazi Party • Called ‘Der Fuhrer’ • 1923 Hitler plans coup in Munich • To be followed by March on Berlin • Remind you of anything? Mussolini’s March on Rome (a year earlier) What the king conquered, The prince shaped, The field marshall defended, Was rescued & united by the soldier.

20. Storm Troopers -- SA • ‘Strong-arm’ squads • Hitler’s paramilitary force • Many unemployed & ex-WWI vets (Freikorps) • Sturm Abteilung • “Storm troopers” • AKA “brown shirts” (not to be confused with Mussolini’s “Blackshirts”!) Stormtroopers

21. Schutzstaffel SS • Led by Himmler • Began as Hitler’s bodyguard • Slowly grew to huge operation after he comes to power • Concentration camps • Dirty work

22. Leader of Bavaria von Kahr called meeting to debate Stresemann’s new policies • Buergerbrau beer hall • Hitler & SA interrupted, fired a shot into ceiling, & declared ‘The national revolution has broken out’. • Hitler declared takeover of local government, followed by a march on Berlin • Ludendorff arrived on Hitler’s side • 9th Nov 1923 – Hitler and 3000 supporters were confronted by 100 armed policemen • 16 Nazis were killed, Hitler was wounded • The whole putsch (revolt) collapsed Beer Hall Putsch ‘Pooch’

23. Why did the Nazi Putsch Fail ? • Tactical errors • Hitler left to resolve another crisis • Ludendorff allowed leaders to go home • Hitler had expected support from other right-wing groups, including the Bavarian government of von Kahr • The Nazis had little public exposure – few outside Munich had ever heard of them

24. Trial& Prison Term • Hitler & Ludendorff arrested & jailed • Ludendorff acquitted • Hitler found guilty of treason • However, Hitler obtained sympathy & fame • Sentenced to 5 years, served 9 months • Wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle) Hitler and supporters in Landsberg prison, 1924

25. Hitler’s Plan for the Third Reich • ‘Mein Kampf’ = ‘My Struggle’ • Extreme nationalism • Unite all German-speaking people in an Empire, The Third Reich including: • Dutch, Scandinavians, English, half of Belgiums • Germans in Austria, Poland, Sudetenland • Expand territory, Lebensraum, into Ukraine & lands between • Enforce racial “purification” • Most loathsome: Jews • Master race prevails • Anti-Democracy Hitler Comes to Power.mov