Hitler and the Rise of the Nazis
Kevin J. Benoy
Hitler’s Early Life
• 1889 at Hitler was born
on April 20, at Baunau,
a small village in
Austria, near the
Germany border. Adolf
Hitler’s Early Life
• Successful at his small
village school, |Hitler
did only indifferently
after his family moved
to Linz.
• His father died when he
was 13.
Alois Hitler, Adolf`s father
Hitler`s Early Life
• Two years after completing
school (at age 15), Hitler
moved to Vienna, hoping to
study at the Academy of
Fine Arts.
• He failed the entrance
examination, but remained
in the capital, hoping to
apply again.
• He continued to draw and
paint and took an interest in
History and Architecture.
Hitler`s Early Life
• In Vienna, the AustroHungarian Empire`s
multi-racial capital,
Hitler became involved
in the Pan-German
Movement – founded in
reaction to the growth
of Pan-Slavism.
• This group was antiSemitic, anti-socialist
and anti-Catholic.
Hitler`s Early Life
• Hitler was particularly
impressed with the
work of such historians
as Treitschke, who said
``the Jews are our
misfortune.``
Heinrich von Treitschke
Hitler`s Early Life
• He never won acceptance into the
Academy, but did remain in
Vienna.
• In Mein Kampf he described this
time as the unhappiest in his life –
not because of poverty but
because:
Vienna with its promiscuous swarm
of foreign races, Czechs, Poles,
Croats and the like, all of them
battening on that old nursery of
German culture – and in addition,
the Jews-germ carriers infecting the
whole of society, to be found here,
there and everywhere.
Hitler`s Early Life
• To avoid conscription, and
having to serve alongside
non-Germans, Hitler
moved to Munich, in
Germany.
• He was happy here, in ``a
city purely German in
population and
architecture, and
furthermore immune to
the alien canker eating
into the heart of the
Austrian Empire.``
World War I
• Caught up in the enthusiasm of
the time, Hitler enlisted in the
German army in August, 1914.
• He served throughout the war
in a Bavarian regiment – rising
only to the rank of corporal..
• He was wounded in action and
was awarded the Iron Cross,
first class.
• He found fulfillment in the
army, enjoying life at the front.
Pro-war rally in Munich, August, 1914
War`s End
• The end of the war came as
a blow to Hitler.
• When the war ended, he
was hospitalized –
temporarily blinded from
gas at Ypres.
• Reporting back to his unit in
Munich, he faced
demobilization, but was
given the task of reporting
on a new political party: the
National Socialist German
Worker`s Party (NSDAP).
Early Years in the NSDAP
• Rather than just report on the
Party, Hitler went so far as to
become its leader, turning it
into a party capable of drawing
crowds of up to 2,000 at
political meetings
• He also worked with the
Education Department of the
army, lecturing returning
soldiers on the dangers of
Communism and Socialism –
and of how the Jews stabbed
Germany in the back.
• He had a talent for oratory.
Beer Hall Putsch
• Hitler, like Lenin, set out to
capture the masses.
• Using his gift for public
speaking, pageantry
(uniformed followers,
banners, flags, marching
songs and rhythmic
chanting of slogans) – as
well as his private army of
political thugs – the SA, or
brownshirts, who beat up
hecklers – Hitler created a
party base in Munich.
Policies
• His party’s demands
were characteristic of
nationalist groups at the
time, calling for:
– Abrogation of the Treaty
of Versailles.
– Anschluss (Union) with
Austria.
– Removing the citizenship
rights of Jews.
Policies
• In addition, the party
held some leftist views:
– Nationalization of all
department stores.
– Banning speculation.
– Abolition of unearned
income.
• Consequently, the Nazis
could appeal to all
levels of society.
Beer Hall Putsch
• With the support of
General Ludendorff,
Hitler attempted to take
advantage of popular
unhappiness over the
Ruhr occupation, to
overthrow the state
government of Bavaria
on November 9, 1923, in
preparation for a march
on Berlin.
Beer Hall Putsch
• Hitler heard that politicians
and businessmen were
meeting in the huge
Buergerbräukeller – a
typically large beer hall.
• Hitler burst into the
meeting, with armed
followers and, after firing a
shot to get attention,
declared that the revolution
had begun.
Beer Hall Putsch
• With most of the Bavarian
government held hostage,
Hitler, Ludendorff and other
followers set off to join
Ernst Roehm and his men,
who seized the War
Ministry.
• The failure of the Nazis to
seize telegraph and radio
locations proved fatal.
Beer Hall Putsch
• Alerted to the trouble, the
national government ordered
security forces to act and Bavaria
police also moved into position.
• On the 10th of November, Hitler,
Ludendorff and 3,000 supporters
faced off against the Bavarian
police at Odeonsplatz.
• Shots were fired. 21 were killed
and a further 100 wounded.
Beer Hall Putsch
• Hitler and the Nazis ran.
• Ludendorff was arrested.
• After a few days in hiding,
Hitler was also arrested
and faced trial for high
treason.
– Ludendorff was acquitted.
– Hitler was sentenced to only
5 years in Landsberg prison.
Beer Hall Putsch
Hitler and colleagues in Landsberg Prison.
• In the end he served
only 9 months – in
relative comfort.
• Here, he wrote the first
draft of Mein Kampf.
• He also realized that the
path to power could not
come by way of a coup,
so long as the
Reichswehr stood
against him.
The later 1920’s
• The party had notoriety, but
little electoral support in
the 1920s as Weimar
Germany recovered from
the Ruhr debacle and
prosperity returned.
• It even looked like the party
would split on left/right
lines as Hitler and Gregor
Strasser quarreled over
policies
The Later 1920s
• A new recruit, Josef
Goebbels, brought
mastery of propaganda
to the party and helped
Hitler reunify the party.
Nazi Organizations
• Another significant
development involved the
formation of youth
movements to indoctrinate
young people, including the
Hitler Youth – a recruiting
ground for future SA
members.
• The German Labour Front
provided a Nazi alternative
to the Social Democratic
and Communist labour
unions.
The Reichsparteitag
• Hitler understood the
power of pageantry.
• He introduced the
Reichsparteitag – the party
rally – in which paramilitary
reviews and torchlight
processions created a
feeling of Nazi pride.
• Hitler said “mass
demonstrations must bring it
home to the little man’s mind
that although he is only a petty
worm, he is, nevertheless, part of
a great dragon.”
Electoral Failure
• In the 1928 elections, 12
Nazis were elected on the
basis of 800,000 votes
nationally.
• This paled in comparison
with the 9 million votes of
the Social Democrats, or
even the 4 million votes of
Hugenberg’s Conservative
National Party.
• However, it did indicate a
significant core support.
Political Scheming
• Stresemann’s adherence to
the Kellog-Briand Pact and
the acceptance of the
Young Plan were both
condemned by Hitler.
• Hitler allied himself with
Hugenberg and was
introduced to powerful
backers, including Fritz
Thyssen, the steel
magnate.
Hitler and Thyssen
Disasters
• On October 3, 1929,
Stresemann died.
Weimar Germany lost
its strongest proponent.
• Three weeks later, the
Wall Street Crash also
brought collapse of the
German economy.
– American loans dried up
immediately.
– Unemployment
followed.
Unemployment
• In September 1929 unemployment
stood at 1,300,000.
• In September 1930 it rose to
3,000,000.
• By September 1932 it was
5,100,000.
• By January 1933 it stood at
6,000,000 – fully 1/3 of all German
adult males.
• The German labour movement, a
strong supporter of the Republic,
was now divided between the
workers and the workless.
Political Fallout
Herman Mueller
• The Socialist Chancellor,
Mueller, tried to raise
additional funds for
unemployment relief, but could
not find enough support in his
coalition.
• He turned to the conservative
President, requesting
emergency powers to deal with
the situation – but was
refused.
Political Fallout
• On the advice of General
Kurt von Schleicher,
Hindenburg forced Mueller
to resign, appointing
conservative Heinrich
Bruening in his place.
• The Social Democrats were
asked to approve budget
cuts, but refused.
• Bruening’s proposals were
defeated.
Political Fallout
• Bruening turned to Hindenburg,
requesting emergency powers –
which were granted this time.
• The deficit was reduced at the
expense of the unemployed and
old age pensioners.
• When the Reichstag protested,
Bruening dissolved it and called
for new elections.
Heinrich Bruening
Nazi Breakthrough
• The Nazi seat total rose
from 12 to 107.
• The Social Democrats
were still the largest
party at 143, but they
lost votes to he
Communists (77 seats)
and the Nazis.
• Hugenberg supporters
began to move to the
Nazis too.
Political Chaos
• Street fighting between
the Red Fighters
(Communist thugs), the
Stahlhelm (National
Party thugs) and the SA
brownshirts continued
unabated.
Political Chaos
• Bruening continued to
govern for 2 more years
– but only through
using emergency
powers granted under
Article 48 of the
constitution.
• Meanwhile Nazis took
control of several state
governments.
Harzburg Front
• In October, 1931, through
intermediary Hjalomar
Schacht, a financier, the
Harzburg Front was formed,
allying the Nazis,
Hugenberg’s Conservatives
and a number of Rhineland
industrialists.
• The proclaimed themselves
ready to seize power.
Harzburg Front
• In this more radical
atmosphere, Hindenburg, who
had been considered a right
wing candidate when he ran for
office in 1925, was now seen as
a moderate in the election of
1932.
• He told his friend, Franz von
Papen, “now I have been
chosen by the Let, whereas the
Right, my own people, have put
up this Lance Corporal.”
1932 Presidential Election
• The election took two
rounds to conclude.
– Hitler received 11.3, then
13.4 million votes.
– Hindenburg won 18.6, then
19.3 million votes.
• By now Nazis and
Communists, the two
parties openly favouring an
end to the Weimar republic
,dominated the Reichstag.
Bruening’s Gambit
• Bruening continued to
govern, but only
because of the support
of a senile 84 year old
President.
• Acting boldly, Bruening
banned Hitler’s SA and
SS.
• This action led to his
downfall.
Bruening’s Fall
Franz von Papen
• Von Papen, a friend of
Schleicher and
Hindenburg, sought to put
together an alliance to
keep Hitler from power,
but to do so, he made a
bargain with Hitler to end
the ban on the SA and SS in
return for support of a
Papen government in the
Reichstag.
Franz von Papen
• Von Papen became
chancellor but could not
cope with events that
followed.
– Street fighting continued.
– Von Papen reacted with
dictatorial measures.
• New elections brought
greater Nazi success – 13.7
million votes and 230
seats.
Nazi Tactics
• Once again the Nazis
considered launching a
coup d’etat, but Hitler,
fearing the Reichswehr,
agreed with Goebbels that a
pseudo-legal entry into
government was needed.
• On the one hand the Nazis
attacked von Papen for his
dictatorial use of Article 48.
On the other hand they
openly used terror tactics in
the streets.
Internal Division
• Internal trouble once again
threatened to split the
Nazis as Strasser again
broke with Hitler over
Hitler’s refusal to introduce
more socialist policies &
because of Hitler’s ties to
big business.
• Von Papen called for fresh
elections, hoping to profit
from Nazi divisions.
Schleicher Rules
• The Nazis lost 2 million votes and 34 seats – but none of
the moderate parties gained strength and 1.4 million
fewer voters turned out.
• Hindenburg offered the Chancellorship to Hitler then
withdrew the offer when Hitler demanded unlimited
power.
• Von Papen asked that he be allowed to govern without
the Reichstag – but was refused.
• A new cabinet was formed by Schliecher – but it lasted
only 2 months.
Schleicher Rules
• Schleicher convinced
Hindenburg he could
bring Strasser and the
bourgeois parties into
an anti-Hitler alliance.
He was determined to
defend the Reichswehr
against the threat of
Hitler’s personal forces,
the SA and SS.
General Kurt von Schleicher
Hitler Comes to Power
• Hitler countered Schleicher easily.
– The masses were with him, not the general.
• The economic crisis undermined all governments and
all political leaders plotted and counter-plotted.
• In the end, Von Papen toppled Schleicher by striking a
bargain with Hitler, who agreed to abandon his
demand for unlimited power and enter into a
coalition cabinet with Papen, Hugenburg and other
conservatives.
• Hindenburg appointed Hitler Chancellor on January 1,
1933.
Hitler Comes to Power
• Hitler came to power
legally and with the
support of more of the
German people than
any other leader of his
time could muster.
• However, his rise was
not entirely democratic.
• German democracy was
seriously undermined
by the economic crisis.
Hitler Comes to Power
• Weimar democracy had been
debased from the moment
when Hindenburg allowed
Bruening to govern under the
provisions of Article 48.
• In addition, elections were
held in an atmosphere of
terror directed by the
extremists of the Left and
Right.
• Though in power, there was no
guarantee he could remain
there.
Hitler’s First Days
• Hitler’s first cabinet
reflected the Harzburg
Front – with 3 Nazis and
9 independent
conservatives, including
von Papen.
• Hindenburg felt the
Nazis could be tamed,
though a massive
torchlight parade that
night hinted otherwise.
Hitler’s First Days
• Two days later, Hitler called
on the German people to
“give us four years and
then judge us.”
• He dissolved the Reichstag
and called for new
elections in March, hoping
to gain the 2/3 majority
needed to change the
constitution.
1933 Election
• Goering used the
Prussian police and the
SA to soften up voters for
the election.
• Nazi terror was
unleashed.
• On February 27, the
Reichstag buildings
burned down. Goebbels
and Goering claimed the
KPD were behind the
arson.
1933 Election
• Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to pass “Ordinances for
the protection of the German state and nation...as
defense against communistic acts of terror
endangering the state.”
• Civil liberties were stripped:
– Freedom of speech, press and liberties were lost.
– Postal secrecy was surrendered.
– Habeas corpus and the inviolability of home and property
was stripped.
• Opposition newspapers were closed and opponents
jailed.
1933 Election
• Despite the terror, only
44% supported the
Nazis.
• Even in coalition with
conservative allies,
Hitler lacked the 2/3
majority he needed.
• However, Hitler
continued to rule under
the emergency
provisions.
Establishment of a Police State
• Concentration camps were established and
opponents disappeared to be tortured or killed.
• The Enabling Act of March 1933 deprived the
Reichstag of real power.
– Now Hitler made laws without the approval of Parliament,
even if they violated the constitution.
– The law was to be in place for 4 years.
– All of the Centrist parties supported it and only 94 of the
120 Social Democrats opposed it. The 81 Communists
could not vote. However, belligerent and uniformed Nazis
filled the Reichstag instilling fear in their opponents.
Establishment of a Police State
• Hitler used the act to
transform the country.
• Soon the Socialist and
Center parties were
dissolved. Hugenburg’s
party disbanded
voluntarily.
• A new law of July 14,
1933 made the NSDAP
the only legal party in
Germany
Establishment of a Police State
• Germany was transformed from a federal to a
unitary state.
• Cabinet votes were eliminated.
• Non-Aryans (Jews) were dismissed from all
government jobs.
• Strikes were forbidden, and all unions abolished,
replaced by the All-German Labour Front – a Nazi
organization.
• Education and culture came under the scrutiny of
Goebbels and were purged of “politically
unreliable” elements.
Establishment of a Police State
• When another election
was held in November,
1933, the NSDAP took
92.2% of the vote.
• Only 3.4 million
Germans dared vote
against it – and their
ballots were traceable,
though they did not
know it at the time.
Establishment of a Police State
• There remained only
one group in Germany
that could challenge
Hitler – the army.
• The old, aristocratic,
conservative General
Staff distrusted Hitler,
fearing that he intended
to replace the army
with the SA and SS.
Establishment of a Police State
• Hitler decided to cut a
deal with the
Reichswehr.
• The SA leader, Ernst
Roehm had become
something of an
embarrassment to
Hitler.
• Other Nazis, like
Strasser, were also
suspect.
Establishment of a Police State
• Hitler unleashed the SS on the
brownshirts in return for an
army promise to stay out of
politics.
• Roehm, Strasser, Schleicher,
prominent Catholics,
monarchists and others were
executed.
• Von Papen was arrested,but
not shot.
• 74 officially died, though the
unofficial total was around
1,000.
Der Fuhrer
• Two months after the
Night of the Long Knives
Hindenburg died.
• Hitler combined the
posts of Chancellor and
President.
• The new Reichswehr
loyalty oath was to
Hitler himself.
finis