Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler

He was born in 1889Dreamed of being an artistLeft school at 16At 18, went to Vienna to make his livingFailed to gain admission to Vienna

Academy of Fine ArtsNext 5 years lived on charity

Years of MiseryYears of Misery

Shaped his thoughtsHitler became influenced by writings of

Karl Laager, the Mayor of ViennaKarl was anti-SemiticHitler developed a deep hatred for the

Communists and the Jews

Honours in WW IHonours in WW I

Hitler served a corporal in the German armyHitler was honoured for his braveryGerman surrender brought him painHe cried!

His anguishHis anguish

“So it had all been in vain. In vain all the sacrifices. In vain the hours in which, with mortal fear clutching at our hearts we did our duty. In vain the death of two millions. Had they died for this, so that a gang of wretched criminals could lay hands on the fatherland?”

Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler

Political CareerPolitical Career

In 1920 he joined the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP), better known as the Nazi Party

Hitler's political propaganda and promotions gave him mass support

He was especially with the urban bourgeoisie

In 1921, Hitler became the Party Chairman

Failure of Munich PutschFailure of Munich Putsch

When the Munich Putsch failed, Hitler was placed in jail

He used his trial to gain nationwide attention for his cause.

Hitler served nine months of his 5-year sentence in prison, where he wrote the famous Mein Kampf

Mein Kampf (My Struggle)Mein Kampf (My Struggle)

“Should the Jew, with the aid of his Marxist creed, triumph over the people of this world, his crown will be the funeral wreath of mankind, and this planet will orbit through space without any human life on its surface as it did millions of years ago.”

Rise in reputationRise in reputation

Failure of Putsch made Hitler realised that he had to obtain power through the polls

Re-organised the NSDAPNazi used moderate means to gain political

supportHeld meetings, rallies, marchesUsed books, the newspapers, radio to

spread their ideas (p. 106)

Depression hit GermanyDepression hit Germany

Germany found herself in deep troubleWeimar Republic was not up to the taskEven Weimar politicians began to show

their lack of faith in democracyHindenburg, the President did not believe

that the Reichstag could solve the problem of Germany

Failure of Weimar GovtFailure of Weimar Govt

Hindenburg began to rule by presidential decree – a form of dictatorship

Between 1930 – 1932, there were 3 elections and several changes of government

1n the 1930 elections, there was a shift in popularity to the extremist parties

The Communists secured 77 seats, up from 54 Nazis, down to 12 seats before the election,

secured 107 seats

Increasing popularity Increasing popularity

In 1932, Hitler stood for presidential elections He came in second only to Hindenburg In the Reichstag elections of same year, Nazis

increased their vote to 37% of votes cast They obtained 230 seats Became the biggest single party in the Reichstag

Hitler could have been Hitler could have been stoppedstopped

If the other parties had united against him But the Socialists and the Communists could not

work together 1933, Chancellor Franz von Paten, leader of a

group of right-wing politicians made an alliance with Hitler

Persuaded Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as Chancellor

Von Papen would be Vice-Chancellor

Von Papen’s naievityVon Papen’s naievity

He thought he could control Hitler He failed Feb 1933, Hitler called for new elections, to take

place in March Goering by now was in charge of two-thirds of the

police forces in GERMANYHe recruited 50,000 ‘extras’ from SA

Opponents were beaten up, and their meetings disrupted

Feb 27th the Reichstag building burned down

1933 Elections1933 Elections

The Nazis now had 233 seatsBut that was still not an overall majorityTo make changes to Constitution, Hitler

needed a two-thirds majoritySo the Nazis joined up with the Nationalists

who secured 53 seatsWith 286 out of 500 seats, Hitler had gained

control of Germany at last