THE RISE OF HITLER

1. THE RISE OF HITLER

2. The Rise of Hitler • Hitler was a brilliant orator who was very effective at public speaking • Public meetings were carefully staged managed with floodlights, military music and marches by nazi supporters • To rouse the people into supporting Hitler without the faintest idea of what they were agreeing to

3. The Rise of Hitler • Hitler managed to get the support of some wealthy industrialists • Thought that a Nazi Germany would be strong and thus good for the economy • Worried also about the growing support for communism • Thought that Hitler would be the best defence against communism

4. The Rise of Hitler • Eventually Hitler came to power • Other parties could not resolve their differences to unite against him • The President, Hindenburg, had no choice but to appoint Hitler as Chancellor in Jan 1933 • Beginning of the end for Weimar Germany and the start of the “Third Reich” (the third German empire)

5. The Rise of Hitler • The First Reich refers to the rule of the Holy Roman Empires (800-1806) • The Second Reich refers to the rule of the German Emperors (1871 – 1918) • The Third Reich refers to the rule of Adolf Hitler (1933 – 1945)

6. HITLER IN POWER 1933 - 1938

7. You will learn…….. • How Hitler established political control (power) • How Hitler established social control • How Hitler established economic control

8. POLITICAL CONTROL • A “thousand year Reich” • But Hitler’s Third Reich only lasted 12 years • Ended with Germany’s defeat and Hitler’s suicide amidst the ruins of Berlin • This lesson looks at what happened inside Germany in the years before WWII broke out

9. Why Hitler was supported? • Hitler : Chancellor in Jan 1933 • Supported by President, German army and many politicians • Hoped for a strong govt and a solution to Germany’s economic problems • Then they will get rid of Hitler

10. How Hitler consolidated his power? • Hitler, however, was determined to stay • Went about making sure he had complete power • How?

11. 1. Use of Violence • Stopped newspapers from criticizing the Nazis • Dismissed officials who opposed him • Use his unformed followers to break up meetings of other parties and beat up his opponents (SA & SS) • Extreme Nazi violence throughout the election campaign, especially against the communists

12. 2. The Reichstag Fire • A week before the elections, the Reichstag building in Berlin went up in flames • Hitler blamed the fire on the communists • Used this as an excuse to issue an emergency law

13. The Reichstag Fire • This law removed freedoms promised by the Weimar Republic • Right to a fair trial • Free press • The fire was almost certainly started by the Nazis though the Germans did not know this then

14. 3. Election Campaign • Called for new elections for the Reichstag (parliament) • Although the Nazi Party was the single largest party in the Reichstag, Hitler wanted an overall majority

15. Results of the Election Campaign • Results of election • Nazis obtained 43% • With the help of the Nationalist party, managed to scrap through an overall majority of 51%

16. 4. The Enabling Act, 1933 • Hitler now schemed to have the Reichstag give up its powers and rule as a dictator • To do this, the Reichstag had to pass an “Enabling Act” which required 2/3 majority • Hitler achieved this. • How do you think he did it?

17. The Enabling Act, 1933 3 WAYS • Banned communist deputies from coming to the Reichstag so they could not use their votes – Reichstag Fire • Persuaded the Centre Party to vote for the Act by giving vague promises • Using the votes of his allies, the Nationalist Party

18. Effects of Enabling Act • Because of the Enabling Act, democracy died in Germany • Other political parties were banned • Trade Unions taken over by the Nazis • Press, radio and cinema placed under total Nazi control

19. The End of Democracy in Germany • Opponents arrested, imprisoned or killed • Concentration camps and forced labour camps • SS and Gestapo struck terror into many Nazi opponents • Many fled the country eg Albert Einstein and the writer Thomas Mann

20. 5. The Night of the Long Knives 1934 • Hitler wanted to have complete power within his own party • Ernst Rohm, leader of the SA, was disappointed • Not given a more important role in the new government • Started to create trouble for Hitler • Hitler decide to get rid of him and many of his followers • How would you do that if you were Hitler?

21. The Night of the Long Knives 1934 • Hitler called the leaders of the SA to a special conference • During the night, he had them dragged out of bed and shot • On the same night, many other opponents all over Germany suffered the same fate • No public protests – demonstrated Hitler’s power and the people’s fear • This became known as the Night of the Long Knives

22. 6. Establishing post of Fuhrer • 2 months later, President Hindenberg died • Hitler combined the jobs of Chancellor and President – Fuhrer (Leader) • He also became commander in chief of the armed forces • He was now the supreme dictator of Germany

23. Social Control HITLER's GERMANY

24. 1. Education • Aim of education – train young people up to be Nazis and loyal citizens of Nazi Germany • Education was carefully controlled • There was Race Studies as well as German History and Geography • Strict curriculum’ indoctrinated with Nazi ideas

25. 2. Youth Movements Hitler Youth Movements: • Girls and boys (14-18 yrs) encouraged to join this organisation • Divided into different sections according to age • Those who did not join found it difficult to get in the University or to find jobs after leaving school • Military styled training / motherhood – women to stay at home and produce babies

26. 3. Propaganda • Controlled by Ministry of People’s Enlightenment and Propaganda • Helped Germans agree with Nazi Germany • E.g. posters – images of Hitler throughout Germany • E.g. Radio to broadcast Hitler’s ideas, books, music, etc.

28. 4. Censorship • Banned undesired books • Burnt books • Newspapers tightly controlled • News slanted in favour of the Nazis

29. 5. Strict control of people • Nazi Party – many ways of controlling the lives and influencing the thoughts of the German people • People were watched everywhere – at work, at school, even at home! • A PARTY REPRESENTATIVE in every street • Gestapo or Secret Police • SS – security forces as well as control of the police force

30. Strict control of the people • Declared Nazis the Aryan race – against undesirable – Jews, homosexuals, disabled people, etc. • Nazi controlled National Reich Church – celebrated Aryanism

33. The Jews • Nazis had always attacked the Jews • Jews were blamed for all of Germany’s problems • Once in power, the Nazis began a campaign of anti-semitic persecution

34. The Jews • Jews were arrested and beaten up • Many forced out of their jobs • Jewish shops had slogans painted over their windows • People were discouraged from buying their goods • Many left Germany but most stayed • They had nowhere else to go

35. The Jews • Between 1933 and 1938, laws discriminating against Jews were passed • Jews were not allowed in the civil service and the judiciary • Jews were not considered German citizens • Jews could not take part in economic activity • Jews had to carry identity cards and passports which identified them as Jews

36. The Jews • 1935 – Nuremberg Laws • forbade Jews to marry non-Jews • Persecution turned violent in 1938 • Mass murder of Jews – what the Nazis called “The Final Solution” to the “Jewish problem” did not take place until after the outbreak of WWII

37. HITLER's GERMANY

38. The Economy • Hitler needed a strong economy to sustain his large army • He knew his Nazi Party would win more support if he could revive the economy and reduce unemployment

39. The Economy • Introduced road-building as one measure to solve Germany’s economic problems • Provided jobs for large numbers of people • Had the income to buy more goods which provided work for others • Other measures : reclaim waste land and pull down slums in the cities • In this way, Hitler was able to reduce the number of unemployed

40. Bridge over Rhine River near Köln-Rodenkirchen (A4) (photo taken in 1995)

41. The Economy • Rearmament started in 1934 - Greater demand for armaments – jobs for people in the arms factories • A large party bureaucracy was set up, providing thousands of jobs • Purges of Jews and anti-Nazis from the civil service created more jobs for the other Germans

42. The Economy • Growth in German army also provided jobs • Conscription reintroduced in 1935 • 6 million unemployed in 1933 reduced to 2.5 million in 1935 to 250,000 in 1939 • Made Hitler immensely popular with many Germans

43. Conclusion • Having fulfilled his promise of economic recovery, and knowing he had the German people’s support, Hitler was now ready for his next plan of action • To extend Germany’s border and prove to the world Germany’s superiority