Hitler guided reading
how did Hitler shift political thought in Weimar Germany? why did his radical ideas gain the support of many Germans?
After Hitler was released from prison, he gave charismatic, commanding speeches. The Great depression ended up playing into Hitler's hands. As unemployment rose, Nazi membership grew to almost a million. Hitler's program appealed to veterans, workers, the lower middle classes, small-town Germans, and business people alike. Hitler promised to end reparations, create jobs, and defy the Treaty of Versailles by rearming Germany. Communism and Nazism both continued to grow, so conservatives looked to Hitler. Although politicians didn't like Hitler, they thought that he would be easy to control so in 1933 Hitler was appointed chancellor.
why do you think culture flourished in the Weimar government despite the government's problems?
I believe that culture flourished in the Weimar Republic despite the government's problems because the troublesome times brought about new cultural and artistic movements, such as dadaist art and Bauhaus architecture.
which factor do you think might have been most significant in Hitler's rise to power?
I think that the Great Depression was the most significant factor of Hitler's rise to power. Weimar Germany was weak, Germany was in billions of dollars of debt from world war I, there was severe hyperinflation only years before, and the economy seemed hopeless and easily collapsible. Then, Hitler came in promising to solve Germany's economic crisis and restore Germany to its former greatness. He had such great charisma and said exactly what the people wanted and needed to hear, so they rallied under him.
how did Hitler's anti-semitism increase over time?
In 1935, the Nuremberg laws were passed, which deprived Jewish people of German citizenship and placed severe restrictions on them. In retaliation to this a young Jew whose parents had been deported back to Poland, shot and wounded a German diplomat in Paris. At this, Hitler released Kristallnacht. " On the night of November 9 and into the following day, Nazi mobs in Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia smashed the windows of Jewish homes and businesses." "Over 1,000 synagogues were burned and more than 7,000 Jewish businesses destroyed. Many Jewish schools, hospitals and homes were damaged, and many Jews were injured and killed. The Nazis arrested 30,000 Jews and forced them into concentration camps." Then, to top the whole affair off, Hitler forced the Jews to pay for the damage that occured during those 48 hours of torture.
explain Nazi ideology as depicted in Hitler's book Mein Kampf.
Mein Kampf reflected Hitler's obsessions such as extreme nationalism, racism, and anti-semitism. Hitler said that Germans belonged to a superior "master race" of Aryans, or light-skinned Europeans, whose greatest enemies were Jewish people. Hitler viewed Jewish people as not only a separate religion, but as a separate race. Hitler echoed a right-wing theme, blaming Germany's defeat in World war I on Jews, Marxists, corrupt politicians, and business leaders.
how did World War I impact the rise of authoritarian rule in Eastern Europe?
Most new nations in Eastern Europe went from democratic to authoritarian rule during the postwar era. All of these countries faced the same common issues. The "were small countries whose rural agricultural economies lacked capital to develop industry. Social and economic inequalities separated poor peasants from wealthy landlords. None had much experience with the democratic process." World War I brought about the rise of authoritarian rule in Eastern Europe. The countries were lacking in money and were not able to comply with democracy.
identify two ways that dictators from other Eastern European countries were similar to Adolf Hitler.
promised order and won the support of the military and wealthy turned to anti-Semitism, using Jewish people as scapegoats for many national problems
how did Hitler expand his control over the German people?
"Hitler organized an efficient but brutal system of terror, repression, and totalitarian rule. Nazis controlled all areas of German life—from government to religion to education. Elite, black-uniformed troops, called the SS, enforced the Führer's will. His secret police, the Gestapo, rooted out opposition."
