Hitler’s Rise to Power
Nazis grow in Popularity
• German economy began to recover in the
late-1920’s.
• Until…… Stock Market Crashed in 1929
– Germany one of the hardest hit by the Great
Depression
Nazis Grow in Popularity
• Economic problems increase popularity of
Nazi party
– Hitler leads the party
• 1930-1932 series of emergency elections
called
– Nazis gain seats in each election
The Mind of a Nazi
• Twenty Five Points (party platform)
• Common Characteristics of Nazi Thinking:
– Irrationality:
• Appeal to emotion, not always based on fact, often promotes
the idea of a violent struggle (ex. Mein Kampf means “my
struggle”)
– Racism and Anti-Semitism
• Influenced by “Social Darwinism”, Jews depicted as a race
rather than a religion
– Blood and Soil
• Lebensraum “Living Space”
• Volk, need for more land
The Mind of a Nazi
• Common Characteristics of Nazi thinking
– Cult of Leadership
• Authoritarian government with charismatic
leadership, Hitler the “savior” of Germany and
father figure
– Fascist view of state
• Well-being of the state/country comes first
• Sacrifice personal liberty for well-being of nation
• State seen as a living thing that must be protected
at all cost
Nazis Grow in Popularity
• Hitler looks for ways
to increase power of
Nazis
• Supported by soldiers
called SA
– Led by Ernst Rohm
Hitler’s bid for Presidency
• 1932, Hitler ran against Hindenburg for
Presidency
• Too close in original vote
• Hindenburg wins second vote
1932
• 1932 was a turbulent year for politics in
Germany
– 4 emergency elections held in one year
• By November, Nazis were the largest party in the
Reichstag
• Hindenburg approaches Hitler about a
position in the government
– He refuses to accept any office lower than the
Chancellor
Crooked Politics
• Hindenburg old and needs a strong
Chancellor
– Not yet ready to give the job to Hitler
• Other politicians compete for the position
– Von Schleiker and Von Pappen
– Enemies and neither is willing to see the other
as Chancellor
Control Hitler???
• Eventually, Pappen approaches the
President about making Hitler Chancellor
– They believed they could control him
– Hindenburg is tired and easily convinced
January 30, 1933- Hitler appointed
Chancellor of Germany
Hitler as Chancellor
• Immediately begins formulating plans and
making policy
• Looks for ways to increase power of Nazi
Party
– Opportunity arises with a “Crisis” soon after
Hitler becomes Chancellor
Reichstag Fire
• February 26, 1933
• Dutch Communist sets Reichstag building
on fire
• Hitler uses this as opportunity to increase
his own power
– Hindenburg gives him the power to use force
to protect the society and go after the “bad
guys”
Hitler gains Dictatorial Powers
• President gives Hitler control, but he still
needs the Reichstag’s support
• Nazis= 43% of Reichstag
– Hitler still needs votes to gain a majority
– Cuts a deal with the Catholic Center Party
• Reichstag passes Enabling Act to give
Hitler dictatorial powers under article 48 of
the Weimar Constitution
Hitler gains Dictatorial Powers
• Hitler outlaws the Communist Party
– Claims it is to protect Germany from future
attacks
• Begins “Meshing of the Gears” to bring the
rest of Germany under Nazi control
• The only check left on his power is
Hindenburg
Hitler becomes Der Fuhrer
• 1934: Hindenburg dies
• Hitler merges the office of Chancellor with
the office of Presidency and assumes total
control of Germany
• Reshapes German society to fit Nazi
ideologies
Meshing of the Gears
• Goebbels takes over as Propaganda Minister
– Uses press to shape the minds of the German people
– VERY successful
• Nazis control press and will run Germany’s only
national newspaper
– Censor what is published and how stories are
covered
– Papers that fail to follow Nazi policies are shut down
Meshing of the Gears
• Propaganda used to build support for Nazi
policies
• Film industry used as well
• Nationalistic films, documentaries about
Nazis, etc.
Meshing of the Gears
• Nazi institutions replace all parts of society
• Police are replaced or incorporated into
Gestapo
• Gestapo led by Reinhard Heydrich
– Posterboy for Nazis
• Blonde, blue eyed, cultured
• MURDERER!!!
Heydrich
Meshing of the Gears
• Focus on Young people
– Hitler Youth (for boys)
– League of German Girls (for females)
• Education reshaped to reflect Nazi ideologies
• Old teachers “retire” and younger teachers take
over
• Curriculum revamped
– Eugenics, Anti-Semitism, German History, etc.
Meshing of the Gears
• Nazis infiltrate the
military
• Begin to build an air
force
– Luftwaffe
• Hermann Goring
• SS become the elites
of the German military
– Led by Heinrich
Himmler
Eliminating threats
• Hitler also begins process to eliminate
threats to his power
• Night of Long Knives
– June 30, 1934
– AKA Operation Bumblebee
– SS and Gestapo murder 300 SA
– Ernst Rohm among the victims
Eliminating Threats
• Construction of Concentration Camps
began
• Originally created for Political opponents
NOT Jews
– Communists, etc.
• Dachau- the Model Camp
Eliminating Threats
• Nazi policies eventually start to target
Jews
• Policies evolve over years to become
more violent