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