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Adolf Hitler “No Hitler, no Holocaust” True: once Hitler came to power, Germany was under charismatic rule (cult of personality) False: Hitler didn’t carry out the Holocaust single-handedly (he killed no one…). Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists
Adolf Hitler“No Hitler, no Holocaust”
True: once Hitler came to power, Germany was under charismatic rule (cult of personality)False: Hitler didn’t carry out the Holocaust single-handedly (he killed no one…)
Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists
Born in 1889 in Branau on border of Austria and Bavaria (center for antisemitism)
Father Alois was 23 years older than mother
First 3 children died of diptheriaHitler had a younger brother who
died at 6 and a sister who lived to adulthoodAlois was autocratic, abusiveKlara, Hitler’s mother, was submissive; doted on Adolf
Hitler identified the Jews with his father and the Germans with his mother
Suspicions that Alois’ father was Jewish…
Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists
Characteristics of Hitler’s personality:
Infantilism: Hitler was strong-willedWhat he wanted when he wanted itStubbornness, tantrums, etc.
Narcissism: Hitler was self-centered, arrogant
Lack of empathy, sympathyDifficulty forming relationships
Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists
1907: moved to Vienna
Aspired to become an artistHitler became an antisemite in Vienna
“Hatred of the Jew was the most sincere emotion of which Hitler was capable”
Mayor of Vienna led the largest antisemitic party in control in all of Europe (pre-WWII)
Karl Lueger – supported by Catholics, against Marxism
“I decide who is a Jew”
Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists
Hitler was homeless and unemployed after failure to gain admission to the art academy
Was assisted by a Jewish hostel and landlady; he was nominated for an Iron Cross (and won) by his superior, a Jew
Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists
Fought in WWI
Superiors didn’t consider him fit for promotion past corporal
Idea that the German military was “stabbed in the back” by Jews and liberals and forced to sign armistice
Treaty of Versailles humiliated Germany
Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists
1919: Hitler employed as a spy to investigate radical groups
Came across German Workers’ PartyHitler joined the party, gave up
being a spy, and entered politicsParty later became the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, and still later the National Socialists
Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists
Fascism: Against –
MarxismLiberalismDemocracy Humanitarianism
For –Militant ultra-nationalismSubordination of individual to stateBreaking down class barriersViolence, struggle, Integrated national communityRacism
Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists
November 9, 1923: attempted putsch against Bavarian state government
Several Nazis were killedHitler put on trial for treason
Sentenced by a sympathetic right-wing judge to a light sentence
Wrote Mein Kampf while in jail
1924: Hitler released from prison
Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists
Weimar Republic inflation1923: 4.2 trillion marks = 1 dollar1924-29: Weimar gov’t more stable and was improving
1928: 491 seats in Reichstag – Nazis had 12
Social Democrats had 1531929-30: Great Depression devastated Germany
1929: 2.1 million unemployed1930: 3.1 million1931: 4.5 million1932: 5.5 million
60 million Germans total
Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists
1930: Nazis earned 112 seats (2nd largest party)
second to Social Democrats; from worst to #2
Who voted Nazi?
The youngFirst-time votersThose desiring national recognitionLower middle class
(peasants, shopkeepers)Some in middle and upper middle class
Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists
July, 1932: 230 seats (largest party in Reichstag – 37% of the vote)
Peak of Nazi approval; never a majority
November, 1932 election: Nazis lost 40 seats
Internal squabbles, party financial difficultiesDespite this, Hitler came to power
Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists
Chancellor was ruling by decree under Article 48 since 1930
Hindenburg gave Heinrich Bruening this power
Businessmen and other conservatives, led by Franz von Papen, urged Hindenburg to make Hitler chancellor
“We are ‘hiring’ Hitler”
Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists
Hitler chancellor, von Papen vice-chancellor
Sought to capitalize on the mass appeal of Nazis and a chance to weaken the socialists and trade unions
von Papen thought he could “box Hitler in”
von Papen, unidentified, Hitler, and Goebbels
Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists
Late February, 1933: fire in the Reichstag
Hitler used this as an excuse to ban civil liberties
Communists blamed, and banned
Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists
Hitler called new elections in March, 1933
Last semi-free election
Nazis polled 44% of Reichstag seats
Formed coalition with Catholic Centre and ultraconservative party (gave Nazis a 2/3 majority)
Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists
1933: Enabling Act in MarchHitler ruled by decree
Claimed he ruled legally and no one could question himAll opposition parties were pushed aside
Nazi program began to be implemented