Recognize this kid? The rise of Nazi Germany Adolf Hitler Objectives: • The objective of this presentation is to give students an understanding of Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. • Students will also become familiar with how the Nazi party gained power Overall Purpose: The overall purpose of this presentation is to explain how this little boy on the left became the man on the right who was ultimately responsible for the death of about 50 million people all over the world!! (a bit of background) Weimar Republic • • • • • Kaiser abdicates after the war Parliamentary govt. after WWI Led by a chancellor Widely viewed as weak Horrific inflation, some recovery but then the depression hit… QW How does presenting Hitler this way soften his image? Birth • Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1889 in Braunau, Austria. Parents signature signature Military Service This is a picture of Hitler listening to an enlistment speech. World War I • Excited to fight for Germany. • Was awarded the Iron Cross twice. (5 medals overall) • Hitler was devastated when he heard the news of the German surrender. German Worker’s Party • Despised the Weimar govt. which he saw as weak • 1919 Joins a group of right wing extremists NAZI Party is Formed • Within a year he was undisputed leader of the National Socialist German Worker’s Party or the NAZIS Beer Hall Putsch • October 30, 1923 • Hitler held a rally in Munich beer hall and declared revolution • Led 2000 men in take over the Bavarian Government • It failed and Hitler was imprisoned 15th Anniversary Of Beer Hall Putsch Mein Kampf/My Struggle • • • • Written while in jail Extreme nationalism Racism Anti-Semitism – Blamed Jews for nearly everything • Master Race Aryans Legal Rise to Power • Used popularity from failed revolution and book to seize power legally • Spoke to mass audiences about making Germany a great nation again • Hitler becomes Chancellor in 1933 Appeal of Hitler • Germany was in the midst of an economic depression with hyper-inflation • Hitler was a WW I hero who talked about bringing glory back to the “Fatherland” • He promised the rich industrialists that he would end any communist threat in Germany • Used the Jews as a scapegoat • Promised to rearm Germany • Hitler was a dramatic public speaker. •"I was carried on the wave of the enthusiasm which ... bore the speaker along from sentence to sentence,“ chief Nazi architect, Albert Speer, recalled of one Nazi rally. "The great masses of the people will more easily fall victims to a big lie than to a small one“ AH Link 1:05 Link rally in color 1:33 QW • Based on the video clips what kinds of things do we need to watch for to avoid being influenced by someone who is a fanatic? Strong Arm Tactics • The “Brownshirts” or SA (Stormtroopers) • SA was used to put down opposition parties • Threatened and beat up Jews and ant-Nazi voters • Numbered almost 400,000 by 1932 Dictator • “Reichstag fire” gives Hitler total power • In 1933, all parties were outlawed except the Nazi party • People’s civil rights were suspended Absolute Power • German economy was improving, people were happy • Hitler had no political opposition • 1st concentration camp opened in 1933 • Began rearming German Army for expansion of the Reich "The very first essential for success is a perpetually constant and regular employment of violence.“ AH "The great strength of the totalitarian state is that it forces those who fear it to imitate it." QW • What are the warning signs someone is a bad politician? Hitler Highlights • Nuremberg Laws: 1935, Deprived Jews of citizenship. Could not marry non-Jews, teach at German schools, hold govt. Jobs, be doctors lawyers, or publishers • Kristalnacht (Night of Broken Glass) : Nov. 1938, Hitler orders a night of violence against Jews. 1000’s of businesses and homes and synagogues attacked. • Night of the Long Knives: On this night, Hitler removed his political enemies. First They Came for the Jews First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me. Pastor Martin Niemöller THE END .......................Until the start of World War II