Hitler's Rise to Power in Germany

SS

They were a black uniformed unit that were the protection squad that were only loyal to Hitler. They were called the Schutzstaffel. They arrested and murdered hundreds of Hitlers enemies.

Gestapo

They were the Nazi secret police.

Brown Shirts

They were the private militia of the Nazi Party. They were called Storm troopers.

How did Hitler come to power?

At the end of WWI, he joined a small right-wing political group called the Nazis. Hitler soon became the leader of the Nazis. He was later arrested but after he was released, he revived the Nazi party and after the Great Depression became a leader that the Germans were looking for in their time of need. The Nazis became the largest political party and conservative leaders advised President Paul von Hindenburg to name Hitler Chancellor and he decided to do just that, so Hitler came to power legally in 1933.

Anti-Semitism

Hatred of Jews.

Did the following events help or hurt Hitler's political career? Nazi actions in Munich, 1923, Great Depression, Reichstag Fire

Hitler and his army attempted to seize Munich but this failed and got Hitler arrested. He was tried for treason, sentenced for 5 years, but only served 9 months. The economic effects of the Great Depression helped Hitler as the Germans were desperate for a strong leader who would improve their lives. Hitler called for an new election hoping to win parliaments majority. 6 days before this, the Reichstag building where they met burnt down. The Nazis blamed the communists and this stirred up fear in the communists and the Nazis and their allies won by a slim majority.

League of German Girls

Hitler wanted to control the life of all Germans and this was the group German girls had to join.

Hitler Youth

Hitler wanted to control the life of all Germans and this was the group that German boys had to join.

Lebensraum

It is the German word for living space. Hitler believed that Germany needed it and promised to get it.

Kristallnacht

It was also know as the night of Broken Glass. On November 9, 1938, Nazi mobs attacked Jews in their homes and on the street and destroyed thousands of Jewish owned buildings. This event signaled the real start of the process of elimination of the Jews from German life.

National Socialist German Worker's Party

It was called the Nazi party. Hitler joined the party after WWI. The party believed that Germany had to overturn the Treaty of Versailles and combat communism.

Mein Kampf

It was the book Hitler wrote in jail. It read of his beliefs and goals for Germany.

Paul von Hindenburg

President of Germany who elected Hitler to be Chancellor.

Nazism

The German version of Fascism. Nazism is the belief that Germany had to overturn the Treaty of Versailles and combat communism

Reichstag

The building where the Parliament met.

de Fuhrer

The leader of the Nazi party.

Aryans

The name Hitler used when referring to the German race; The perfect race.