Background on Adolf Hitler Hitler at the 1914 declaration of war in Munich, Germany

Received two Iron Cross medals - saving a wounded soldier - capturing French soldiers - Wounded: - Oct. 1916: shrapnel to leg - Oct. 1918: blinded by gas Two Influential Political Parties – and how they changed

• RSDLP (formed 1898) • German Labour Party (1919-1920) = Russian Social Democratic - focused on the nation Labor Party - based on Marx - Lenin joined - 1898 - Hitler joined - Sept. 1919 - by 1902 guided ideas - early 1920 – main speaker & chief of propaganda - wanted it to spread to - 1920 – proclaimed German western Europe Worker’s Party’s manifesto - 1903 Bolshevik-Menshevik split - renamed: National Socialist - Bolsheviks renamed German Workers’ Party communists (NSDAP) German Worker’s Party manifesto (Feb. 1920) • National Socialist Program (25-points / *official* goals – not always followed later) • Germans (by blood) are citizens and the state provide opportunity for citizens • all non-Germans (specifically named Jews) are guests in the country and cannot vote for government or laws – non-Germans cannot immigrate into Germany • every citizen must productively work for the common good (good of most people) • end unearned income (inheritance), nationalization of businesses, increase old age welfare, land reform suitable to the nation’s needs • national education to teach about the state and physical fitness • legal opposition to the lies of the press – all members must be of the race – if the publication is against the common good, it is to be forbidden • freedom of religion as long as it doesn’t go against the moral senses of the German race • strong central power of government (over the whole country) • 1921 – Hitler quit the party after a dispute – agreed to come back if he became the party chairman Were the Nazis actually socialists?

capitalism / socialism / democracy communism = individual = state / in control community in control Rise of Nazism Early newspaper report on Hitler – Nov. 1922

Don’t worry about Hitler’s anti-Semitism only trying to get more followers until he is powerful enough to use it for political purposes Hitler is politically clever you can’t expect most people to understand the real goal politically wrong to tell the truth about where they are being led Beer Hall Putsch Nov. 8th, 1923 - Hitler mad Bavarian government leaders didn’t invite him to strategy meeting - Planned to start national revolution entered and shot gun at ceiling -Forced leaders at gunpoint to support him -> appointed staff *Leaders turned on Hitler - told police to arrest Hitler *went back on anniversary and gave speeches Hitler led a march to Odeonplatz – Nazis shot by police

Location became consecrated (holy) to Nazis

Alley behind the building where people walked to avoid giving Nazi salute I. Hitler’s Power A. Need to gain power through elections 1. Largest party in Reichstag (German parliament) B. Economic problems helped Nazi’s rise to power Unemployed 1931: 4.35 million → 1932: 6 million C. Enabling Act (1933) – gave government power to ignore constitution for 4 years to solve country’s problems 1. Brought all parts of life under Nazi control 2. SS (Schutzstaffel = protection squadron) – secret police to create terror – against opposition / the “other” 3. Germans took loyalty oath to the Fuehrer (leader) Night of the Long Knives June 30th – July 2nd 1934 Sturmabteilung (SA) vs Schutzstaffel (SS) II. The Nazi State A. Goal: develop Aryan state to dominate Europe 1. Nazi version: B. Hitler called the German empire Third Reich 1. 1st Holy Roman Empire - 900s – early 1800s 2. 2nd Germany until WWI - 1871 - 1918 C. Economic Policies 1. Public works – government pays workers to complete projects to benefit the public 2. Rearmament – made weapons to rebuild military 3. People supported Hitler because economy improved (1934 = 2.6 million, 1937 = 500,000) a. Unemployment went down D. Propaganda 1. Mass demonstrations (Ex: Nuremberg rallies) created excitement for Nazi party 2. Used in churches, schools, Hitler Youth E. Nazi Anti-Semitic Policies 1. Policies followed beliefs of Hitler and supporters 2. Nuremberg Laws a. Defined Jews – have one Jewish grandparent b. Excluded Jews from German citizenship c. Marriage between Germans and Jews illegal d. Jews required to wear yellow Star of David 3. Banned Jews from public transportation and buildings F. Kristallnacht =“night of shattered glass” – Nov. 9, 1938 1. Riots against Jews 2. Burned synagogues, destroyed businesses and homes 3. Jews sent to jail