Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler

Background

Born in Austria –NOT Germany

April 20, 1889 Had ambitions to be

an artist - failed miserably -Homeless in Vienna,

Austria

Background Worked Various jobs

before WW1- poor Enlisted in the German

Army in WW1. Distinguished himself

with two bravery medals

-Iron Cross 2nd Class -Black Wound Badge

Post War Germany

When War ended he believed Germany was “stabbed in the back” by Weimar Republic Politicians who signed the Versailles Treaty (no military officers at signing)

He was lost after WW1, Hitler joined the Nationalist Socialist German Workers Party (Nazis).

Post War Germany

Hitler eventually becomes Party Leader

As Party Leader, he gave numerous speeches blaming Germany’s new found weakness on current politicians, the French, the communists, and the Jews.

Post-War Germany

Early popularity was limited, the Nazi party received less than 10% of the vote in 1923

Munich Beer Hall Putch: reaction to poor voter acceptance, the Nazis organize and stage a coup (takeover) on the Bavarian Government, but are arrested.

Post-War Germany

Hitler is convicted of treason and sent to prison.

He only serves 9 months

During this time he writes his autobiography

Mein Kampf

Philosophy of Hitler

First Outlined his political philosophy in Mein Kampf

Versailles Treaty must be repealed, it had dismantled the very nature of the fatherland

All German-speaking people must be united in a single nation which therefore needed additional “living space”

Philosophy of Hitler

Aryans are the highest form of life, must not intermingle with lesser races including slavs and Jews; these groups must be separated from Aryans

Philosophy of Hitler

After Prison , Hitler reorganized the Nazi Party and developed a political platform that would utilize the democratic system to obtain power.

Nationalist Socialist Platform

Stop all compliance with the Versailles Treaty and punish those responsible for this “stab in the back”

Nationalist Socialist Platform

Rid Germany of corrupt non-Aryan influences, including the Jews who he said had an international plan to take over the world.

Nationalist Socialist Platform

Only allow people of German blood to be citizens

Unify German Peoples

Nationalist Socialist Platform

Rebuild greatness of German Army; build an unrivaled Navy

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Nationalist Socialist Platform

Rebuild the German Economy without foreign influences- protecting German Workers and Farmers

Education in the name of the nation should be available to everyone and the press should have limitations placed on it

All citizens have equal access to pensions and medical care in their old age.

Chain of events

The Republic Collapses

Hitler named Chancellor of Germany Jan 1933

The Reichstag burns-Feb 1933

Hitler becomes dictator March 1933

The 3rd Reich begins “to last 1,000 years”