The Rise of Hitler
and Fascism
10 April 2013
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Objectives:
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Students will talk and write about why people in
Germany voted for Hitler
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What is this woman
doing?
Why do you think she
might be doing it?
Politics in Europe After WWI
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New Democracies (Provisional Government
– Russia, Germany, Austria-Hungary,
France, Italy)
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Not stable (lots of political parties)
What happens when you are with a large group of
people and a decision needs to be made?
New German Government: Weimar Republic
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Democracy was new to Germany
Blamed for signing Treaty of Versailles
Economic Crisis in Germany
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Hadn’t raised taxes during the war to pay
for it
Just printed more money
Why is this a problem?
What happens to the value of something
when you have more and more of it?
This creates INFLATION
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Definition: “a continual increase in the price of
goods and services”
Loaf of bread
(from wordcentral.com)
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1918: less than 1 mark
1922: more than 160 marks
1932: 2 billion marks
What does this mean for grocery shopping?
What does this mean if you live on a fixed
income?
How do you feel about your government?
Other Problems…..
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Lack of food production leading to famine
Flu Epidemic
Soldiers returning from war; lack respect for
the Weimar Gov’t
Anger over the Treaty of Versailles; seen
as treasonous
Global Efforts for Peace
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1925: Germany and France meet and agree
never to go to war again.
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Kellogg – Briand peace pact (Kellogg = US,
Briand = French
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Germany agreed to respect borders of France and
Belgium
Admitted to League of Nations
Almost every nation in the world (including the USSR)
signs
“to renounce war as an instrument of national policy”
Is this realistic? Why or why not?
Meanwhile, in the rest of Europe . .
.
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Economic boom, mostly due to America
investing money there.
Good times.
What will happen in 1929, then, when the
American Stock Market crashes?
Worldwide Economic Depression
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United States 1929-1941 Great Depression
US bankers demand payment of loans from
overseas
American investors withdraw money from
Europe
World trade drops by 65%
Worst impacts in Germany/Austria. Also bad
in central Europe, Japan, and Latin America
2 Candidates . . .
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It is the early 1930s in Germany.
What is on your mind as a German citizen?
With a partner:
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Read the ideas of both candidates
On the back of your half sheet, create answers to
the three numbered questions.
The Rise of Fascism
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What is Fascism?
 political movement (bigger than one party)
 existed in many countries
 Values:
 loyalty to the state (Extremely nationalistic)
 obedience to a leader
 Nations must struggle
 Each class has their place and function in society
 Promises:
 fix the economy, punish those responsible for hard
times, restore national pride
Why is this attractive?
Benito Mussolini comes to Power
in Italy
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1919 Founded the Fascist Party
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Not popular at first
Italians get frustrated by inflation and unemployment
it becomes more popular - people believe Mussolini when
he says he will give Italy stronger leadership.
1922 30,000 Fascists march on Rome, demanding
that the king put Mussolini in charge of the
government.
Il Duce. Mussolini becomes the leader, legally.
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Abolishes democracy, outlaws other political parties, starts
secret police, censorship
Hitler’s Rise to Power
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Born in Austria in 1889
Dropped out of high school and went to Vienna at
age 19 to pursue art, but rejected by Academy of
Fine Arts in Vienna.
During the Great War (WWI)
 Served 4 years at front lines of German Army in
WWI
 Devastated by defeat of Germany in WWI
Origins of Nazi Party
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At the encouragement of the army, Hitler joined
the DAP, the German Workers Party
Met in beer halls
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revenge for the Treaty of Versailles
anti-Semitism
Hitler learned to give speeches and soon became
leader
Renamed party the National Socialist German
Workers’ Party (NSDWP) or “Nazi” party
Beer Hall Putsch
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November 23, 1923
Inspired by Mussolini in Rome
“Putsch” (violent overthrow) attempt. Nazi party
attempted to overthrow government of Bavaria
(region in Germany)
Hitler gave speech and was arrested as political
prisoner (Sentenced to 5 years, out in 9 months)
Munich, 1923 Masses on the
streets during the Putsch
1929 Great Depression in Germany
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6 million unemployed
Blamed Treaty of Versailles
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forced Germany to pay huge war reparations, led to
inflation
Lost German land
Turned over German colonies which provided markets for
German goods
Germans became disillusioned, resentful
Hitler’s Platform
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Took advantage of feeling in Germany
 Called Versailles an outrage, and vowed to
regain the lands taken away.
 Declared Germany’s need for more
Lebensraum (living space)
Used Jews as scapegoat- Jewish capitalists in
Western countries, Jewish communists in
Eastern countries
German Jews were assimilated, some rose to
high ranks in government, the economy, and
society--easy target
Post War Blame
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Jews were blamed for the loss of World
War 1
Common belief that Jews controlled the
banks which refused to continue the war
effort ending Germany’s war effort in 1918
The freedoms of the Weimar Republic and
the Great Depression that followed the war
were squarely blamed on Jews in Germany
Anti-Semitism
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Prejudice, hatred of, or discrimination of Jews for
reasons connected to their heritage
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Nazis made developed the idea of Jews being
considered a “race” of people (ie. “Jewish Blood”)—Late
1800’s
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Think About Your Religion……How do we describe
someone who is “Christian” or “Muslim”
Best way to think about it is in terms of “family”
Hitler to become Chancellor
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Jan 30, 1933 President
Hindenburg appointed Hitler
as Chancellor of Germany,
legally
Hitler had to form a coalition
government with other political
parties, but instead called for
new elections
Politics in German Parliament
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Election did not produce a Nazi majority
Hitler persuaded President Hindenburg to
sign a decree that allowed Hitler to arrest
opposition
Hitler arrested many members of the
Communist and Social Democrat parties
The Enabling Act (1933)
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Gave powers to Chancellor
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Creation of new laws
Control of budget
Approval of treaties
Creation of constitutional amendments
Promised to respect President’s veto, but didn’t
Gave Hitler legal right to dictatorship
Hitler proclaimed the beginning of Third Reich
Hitler as Fuhrer
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Banned other political
parties
Hitler got rid of all non-Nazi
government officials and
replaced them with Nazis
Arrested opponents
Banned strikes and
dissolved labor unions
Put millions of Germans to
work! (They LIKED him for
this)