The Rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party

John Maynard Keynes, Economic Consequences of the Peace

(1919) Believed that amount of reparations were too high and would cause economic problems in Germany, could lead to further conflict.

hyper-inflation

(1923)Enormous monetary inflation. Value of German money (German Mark) decreased. Bank accounts wiped out, wages became worthless. Contributed to a psychological unsettlement, anxiety and irrationality.

Beer Hall Putsch in Munich

(1923; putsch = violent overthrow of a government) Beer Hall Putsch in Munich was an attempt to overthrow government lead by Hitler. Took place in the city of Munich in 1923, three years after Nazi Party came into being. Hitler and members of Nazi party stormed into a beer hall, ran into a back room where city officials were having a meeting, declared that a revolution was coming to Germany, Hitler and Nazis were arrested. Hitler and others were put on trial for treason against the state. Punishment for treason in Weimar Republic was execution. Trail lasted for five weeks. Admitted that he was trying to overthrow government, but he said that this was not an act of treason. Overthrowing such a hated government that signed the Treaty of Versailles was an act of patriotism. Received a lot of public attention. Hitler was sentenced to five years imprisonment with an opportunity for early release with six months of good behavior. Light sentence. Judges of Weimar Republic who heard his case agreed with Hitler and also greatly disrespected their government (because of Treaty of Versailles). Sent to a cushy, comfortable prison, fully furnished, in the countryside, had a servant, secretary and visitors. Released after nine months. Wrote Mein Kampf from prison. Hitler realized that an attempted violent overthrow of a government wouldn't achieve his goals. He would use democratic means in order to take over government of Germany.

Mein Kampf; Four and One-Half Years of Struggle against Lies, Stupidity and Cowardice

(1925) Is a book written by Hitler. His political testament, expressed a lot of his political ideas, including Nationalism and anti-semitism (anti-Jewish hostility and hatred). Also shows his awareness of emotions as a political tool.

Vienna

(Austro-Hungary capitol). Hitler moved to Vienna when he was 20ish. Wanted to study at the Acadamy of Fine Arts at Vienna and become an architect. Rejected from academy twice because he was not talented enough. Remained in Vienna, but was frequently unemployed. Worked in the sewer system. Studied what was going on around him in Vienna

Reichstag Fire Decree

(Decree of the President for the Protection of the People and State; February 28, 1933) Nazis gained a lot from fire. Nazis claimed that socialists and communists started the fire—enemies of the state. Hitler used fire to convince president to let him use his emergency powers under Article 48. President was vulnerable to pressure from Nazis—old. Hitler rounded up groups of socialists and communists (enemies of state). They were the political opponents of Nazi party. Hitler convinced president to put away his political competition, establishing his control. Prisons became so full, the president created concentration camps.

Law against the New Formation of Parties

(July 14, 1933; "The National Socialist German Workers Party constitutes the only political party in Germany.") After that, Hitler declared a law against the new formation of parties. Law against the New Formation of Parties. Said that only one political party was able to operate in Weimar Republic. Single-party rule comes to Weimar Republic—democratic institutions quickly eroding towards authoritarianism.

Enabling Act

(Law for the Termination of the Suffering of the People; March 23, 1933) When Parliament reconvened (many communists and socialists gone, Nazi's stronger than ever), it passed the Enabling Act (Law for the Termination of the Suffering of the People; March 23, 1933). Gave Hitler the power to issue all laws of the land without parliamentary consent. (Hitler called it name in parentheses: saying by giving Hitler this power, he would be able to stop suffering of German people—playing to emotion).

Great Depression

(began October 1929) New York stock market crash. Caused wave of economic crises across the world. Ground industrial production to a halt. High unemployment rates in industrial jobs. Extended for ten-fifteen years around the world. Germany was an industrial country, hit hard. Caused more psychological unsettlement and anxiety.

Karl Lueger

(mayor of Vienna from 1897-1910) Had a lot of political power. Elected into his power via municipal elections. Appealed to anti-semitism to win votes and maintain control over Vienna. Hitler watched him use these appeal to win votes and gain power. Learned that anti-semitism could be a political tool.

Treaty of Versailles

-Article 231 ("war-guilt" clause): Germany accepts guilt for causing WWI and the deaths involved -Reparations: money that must be paid in order to make amends for causing damage and destruction. Very high amount. -Reduced military: 100,000 officers and men, very small. All the men who fought in WWI were dismissed from military. Had to find jobs in poor economy

Germans and WWI (Context for Hitler's rise to power)

-WWI was horrible for Germans. High casualty rate. -Left Germans feeling upset, psychologically traumatized and anxious. -Further upset by loss, humiliation of the Treaty of Versailles Caused problems in Weimar Republic, created a lot of resentment and anxiety among German people in inter-war period. Set stage for Hitler, contributed to outbreak of WWII.

"the leader must be primarily a psychologist"

A quote from Mein Kampf. A leader must be aware of what the population is feeling if the leader wants to control that population. Tap into emotions and irrationality of country in order to lead/guide that country.

Article 48

According to the Weimar Republic constitution, the President's powers came from Article 48 (presidential emergency powers) of the constitution laying out special presidential emergency powers. If the President decided that an emergency existed, then he could dissolve the parliament and make laws all by himself. Also said that if the president decided that an emergency existed, he could suspend freedom of the press and freedom of association. Also gave president the power to arrest and jail anyone who he deemed to be an enemy of the state. Could only be invoked for one month

Adolf Hitler (1889-1945)

Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) was a WWI vet who was very resentful of Germany's WWI loss. Injured twice, 1916 and 1918. Missed the fighting and comradery of WWI. Joined organization called the German Workers' Party and became a leader. In 1920 it reorganized and renamed itself the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party). Not a German by birth. Born in Austro-Hungary. Committed suicide rather than be captured at the end of WWII.

Third Reich (Nazi Germany)

After Hitler becomes Fuhrer, the Weimar Republic is dead and the Third Reich (Nazi Germany) begins.

President vs. Chancellor

Chancellor is one of two executive positions in government. Similar to being prime minister. Head of the parliament makes sure the parliament establishes majorities and passes laws. Also had the power to appoint members of the Cabinet (Ministers of State; Minister of the Interior). Not the same person/position as President. Chancellor served as an advisor to President. Elected by parliament. Hitler is named chancellor of Germany in 1932.

National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party)

Evolved from the German Workers Party

Reichstag Fire

February 27, 1933 A fire in the Reichstag building. Like our Congress building, where the German parliament met. Unclear who started the fire.

Paul von Hindenburg (1847- August 2, 1934)

From 1925-1934, the President was Paul von Hindenburg (1847- August 2, 1934). Was very old, thought that he had alzhimers, was loosing his mental faculties. Was in power for so long, was very popular. Had won many battles in WWI.

January 30, 1933

Hitler becomes chancellor

Führer (August 1, 1934, day before Hindenburg died)

Hitler decreed that the power of the president would be merged with the power of chancellor into one executive position: the Führer. Hitler appointed himself leader.

I. What lessons did Hitler learn from his Vienna days?

Karl Lueger (mayor of Vienna from 1897-1910): power of anti-semitism Sigmund Freud: father of psychoanalysis (psyche): power of human emotions

Cabinet (Ministers of State; Minister of the Interior)

Members are appointed by chancellor

Weimar Republic

Official name of Germany at the time. Capitol city=Weimar until August 1934 (after WWI). Adolf Hitler and the Nazis built authoritarianism on top of democracy. A government had a parliament with multi-party rule.

Linz

Town in Austro-Hungary where Hitler was born

anti-semitism

anti-Jewish hostility and hatred

German Workers' Party

german political organization that would later become the Nazi party

III. How did two economic crises help Hitler?

hyper-inflation and Great Depression

Sigmund Freud: father of psychoanalysis (psyche)

living in Vienna at the time. Argued humans were often governed by emotions, not rationality. Founded these ideas in psychoanalysis. Wanted to study human emotions and irrationalities—what motivates people. Hitler became aware of the his ideas and the power of human emotions, how they guide human behavior. This awareness of human emotions became a tool for political power later in life.

1. interwar period

time between the two world wars (World War I, 1914-1918; World War II, 1939-1945)