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The seeds of Hitler's rise to power were planted following the outcome of the First World War. With Germany's defeat, many German men returned to Germany feeling betrayed by their country and government. Among them was Adolf Hitler, a young Austrian Corporal who had fought bravely for Germany. When the World War broke out, Hitler was very happy.
The War had been a blessing to the young Hitler, who had been unsuccessful in civilian life. When Germany was defeated, Hitler was devastated. He wrote, "I could sit there no longer, once again, everything went black before my eyes, and I tottered and groped my way back to the place where we slept, and buried my burning head in the blankets and pillows. " (Stewart p. 31). On returning unemployed to Munich, Hitler was outraged exclaiming " in these days the hatred grew in me, hatred for those responsible for this deed. " (Stewart p. 31). Hitler promised to get back at people for those who had been responsible for Germany's defeat. ! With the signing of the Treaty of Versaille, Hitler blamed the defeat of Germany on the Jews, Communists, and the weak Weimar government.
This is the government which held power following Germany's defeat. With his strong hatred for the Communists, the Jews, and the weak government, Hitler vowed to fight back, and to change the terrible things, which he believed, had been done to Germany. After the War, Hitler found a job as a prison guard sixty miles north from Munich. The job was boring, but it provided him with security, food, shelter, and something to do. When the job ended, Hitler went back to Munich, where he was offered a more challenging job due to his great dislike for the Communists who were provoking revolution in cities throughout Germany. In this assignment, Hitler was given the task of keeping a close watch on individual groups, which could have been a threat to the military of the Weimar Government.
In this, Hitler learned many things and even was given special training at the University of Munich where he attended political philosophy classes. These classes may be where he began to take keen interest in German expanse. In 1919, Hitler was investigating a fifty-four member group which was called the German's Worker's Party. This group had funds adding up to about seven U. S. dollars.
This group was anti-Communist ideas, and believed along with the Jews were to blame for Germany's problems. After attending a few meetings, Hitler joined becoming the party's fifty-fifth member. Although this was small party, in a few years it becomes the most powerful political group in Europe. When a member, Hitler became very busy, spending all his free time doing work for the party, forcing him to resign from his military position. Until that time a man by the name of Drexler had been the leader of this party. It was this man who saw that Hitler had much potential.
This is therefore the reason for promoting him to the position of director of propaganda. In this new position, Hitler set to work, spreading news of the party's ideas and meetings. With the increased publicity, the party grew attracting! large audiences who were curious and intrigued by Hitler and his speeches. Although at first a shy and awkward man, Hitler became a very powerful and convincing orator. At theses meetings Hitler spoke of The Versaille Treaty, the Jews, Communists, and the Germany and the World's future.
As one bystander said, " he could sent shivers down one's spine." Within a few months membership increased to over a thousand members. Hoping to gain further popularity, Hitler changed the name of the Party to the National Socialist German Worker's Party (air. NAZI). This because he felt that the old name was boring and lacked clarity. As his power increased he introduced a new flag and symbol of the Party.
By 1920, Hitler demanded Drexler for full control of the party. Drexler, without any alternatives gave over power. With the new authority, Hitler changed his name to "Add Hitler a. k. a. der Fuhrer" (Stewart p. 37).
As activities increased Hitler suggested a private army for the protection of him and other party members. A loyal follower by the name of Rohm (a gay man), organized a group of ruthless ex-soldiers naming them the S. A. The S. A. were trained, drilled, and closely resembling a real military group.
These men often led attacks on hecklers and Jewish people. They had little sympathy for their opponents and often were! extremely brutal in their attacks. They did this because of passionate hate. In the year 1923, the Nazi's had over 150, 000 members, all drawn by the exciting rallies and the hatred of Jews.
During this same year, the Ruhr, an important mining region was occupied by the French troops. This action was taken, because it was during this year that Germany failed to pay debts and damages to France. This invasion by France angered many Germans who were still very hostile to the Treaty of Versaille, and the same that it brought upon their nation. With the occupation of the Ruhr inflation skyrocketed, making the German currency nearly worthless. This was the moment that Hitler had been waiting for. With the support of his party, Hitler stepped in presenting the German people with the scapegoat for all their troubles.
On the top of the list were the Jews, followed by the Communists and all foreigners. To many Germans, these groups did seem like plausible excuses for their troubles. On November 8, 1923, five years after the Germany's defeat, Hitler cho's! e the moment for a revolution. At a beer hall in Bavaria, he attempted to seize power in the Beer Hall Putsch, where he failed to gain power, but where he gains national recognition for his brave attempt. He was sentenced for five years in prison, but due to his sympathetic supporters in Bavaria, he served only nine months.
During these nine months Hitler had a lot to think and write. Although he was in prison, one Nazi remarked, "The place looked like a delicatessen. You could have opened a flower and fruit and wine shop with all the stuff stacked there. People were sending presents from all over Germany and Hitler had grown visibly fatter on the proceeds." (Stewart p. 44).
While enjoying the gifts, Hitler sat down to work on his book entitled Mein Kept (my struggle). This is the book in which he outlined his ideas on the future of Germany, his racial policies, preservation of the Volk, and the thousand year Reich. The book was published in 1925, two years after he failed revolution. The book was not a success, selling a few thousand copies in the next few years.
Readers found it boring, poorly written, and difficult to read. In his prison experience, Hitler learned one valuable lesson. This was if he hoped to gain power, he would have to obtain it through legal means. After being released from prison, it was at first difficult for Hitler to pick up from where he left off. Economics stability had been achieved by the Dawes Plan, and the Weimar Republic had gained more respect from its people. Hitler was forbidden to make speeches, and found a rival Nazi, who was in charge of the Nazi's in the north in Germany.
It was only by 1929 that Hitler received large audiences again due to the economic and political instability, which resulted from the Wall Street Crash in New York. By the 1930 elections, the Nazi's were the second largest party in Germany. This was attracting % 36. 8 of the vote in the national elections. In January 1933, Hitler was invited to hold the position of chancellor by Hindenburg, a position that he accepted. Once in power, Hitler went on to establish himself as an absolute ruler. A fire in the German Parliament building gave him a good excuse to demand full powers.
These were granted to him two days later on the 29 th of February 1933, which stripped the individual of all freedom and choice. However, in order to succeed in presidency, Hitler needed the support of the army. In return for eliminating old friend and leader of the S. A. (which was to be replaced by the S.
S. ), Hitler was promised full support of the army. On June 29 th 1934, Hitler carried out his promise in the Night of the Long Knives. Room and other members of the S. A. were executed crying "Heil Hitler", not understanding why they were being killed.
With the support of the army, Hitler went on to tackle the unemployment problems, and to bring military back to Germany. The year 1935 saw many changes for Germany. In January, the Saarland was returned to Germany, and in March conscription was introduced along with rearmament. In July, a naval agreement was established with the British, which recognized Germany's right to rearm. In 1935, the conditions for the Jews got worse.
At a speech in Nuremburg, Hitler announced the Nuremburg laws, which stripped Jews of their citizenship, and their rights to enjoy the benefits of the state. The Jewish people of Germany were also forced to wear a yellow star of David, identifying them to the Gestapo (Hitler's secret police). Those who broke the laws were subject to beatings, punishment, and even death. In 1936, using the Soviet-French pact as an excuse, Hitler remilitarize the Rhineland, a disputed territory between Germany and France. In October of that year, Hitler signed the Rome-Berlin axis, which soon became the Anti-Committee Pact which included the country of Japan. With the intensified persecution of the Jews, Hitler began to formulate ideas about foreign policy.
Hitler believed that Germany needed to fight, to undo the wrongs that had been committed against Germany in the Treaty of Versaille. Hitler wrote "those who do not want to fight, do not deserve to live." (Mein Kampf). Hitler formulated an idea named "Lebensraum", which in English means living space. In this policy, Hitler hoped to spread German frontiers, in order to make Germany more self-sufficient and spacious. This idea alone meant taking over other countries which were sovereign in their own right. (In particular the nations of Poland and Russia). In the year of 1938, Hitler completed Anscluss with the country of Austria.
With the fall of Austria without a single shot being fired, Jews in Austria received the...
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