Download File

World War II – The Rise of Hitler
• Adolf Hitler was born on April 20
1889 in a small Austrian town
that bordered Germany.
• In Old German, Adolf means
“noble wolf.”
• Hitler was a poor high school
student. At the age of 16, Hitler
dropped out.
• 1909: Hitler moves to Vienna
• He tried to become an artist. He
was rejected twice at the
Academy of Art in Vienna. By
age 21 in 1910, he was penniless
and homeless.
World War II – The Rise of Hitler
• During this time, he started to
develop his prejudices about
Jews.
• Due to different religious
practices and costumes
(…especially Orthodox Jews),
Hitler claimed Jews were natural
enemies of the Aryan race.
• Socialism was growing in
Europe, and Hitler linked many of
the economic problems in
Austria to Socialism. Many
leaders of Socialism were
Jewish.
• In 1913, Hitler moved to
Germany.
World War II – The Rise of Hitler
•
At the start of WWI in 1914, Hitler entered
the German army.
•
He saw active duty as a message runner.
•
He was wounded twice and survived a gas
attack.
•
For his service, he earned First and
Second Class Iron Cross medals. He was
never promoted… perhaps because he was
not a German citizen.
•
Hitler was shocked when Germany
surrendered in 1918. The German army
was still in France, and Hitler was
convinced the soldiers had been “stabbed
in the back” by politicians in Germany.
•
How would Hitler respond to the Treaty of
Versailles that forced Germany to destroy
its military, give up land and pay for war
damages?
World War II – The Rise of Hitler
•
Hitler’s response to the Treaty of Versailles …he
despised it. He began to use “international
Jewry”, communists and weak German
politicians as scapegoats for the loss.
•
In 1919, Hitler joined the Free Corps, an
organization of war veterans in opposition to
those who “lost the war”: profiteers, politicians
and Jews were blamed as those who “stabbed
the army in the back”
•
He joined the German Workers Party, and
transformed the party to the National Socialist
German Workers Party.
•
Hitler introduced the 25-point program: revoking
the Versailles Treaty, confiscating war profits,
revoking civil rights for Jews, blaming the Jews
for inflation, political instability, unemployment
and defeat of Germany in WWI
•
By 1921, he became leader of the party. He
began using the swastika as a party symbol.
•
The acronym of the National Socialist Party is
NAZI
The Beer Hall Putsch 1923
•
On 8 November 1923, Hitler tried to use
force to overthrow the government in
Bavaria, a province of Germany. The coup,
known as the Beer Hall Putsch, failed. In
1924, Hitler was sentenced to five years in
jail for conspiracy to commit treason.
•
Bavarian Prime Minister was addressing a
meeting of around 3000 businessmen at a
beer hall in Munich.
•
Hitler would serve only one year…due to
good behaviour and the view he was not a
threat to the public.
•
The coup had failed, but Hitler became
noticed. If force and military action had
failed, what do you would he do next?
Mein Kampf published in 1925
•
In English, it means “My Struggle”.
•
It is an autobiography and a description of Nazism.
•
Hitler began writing the chapters in prison, but it was
completed after his release with the help of Rudolf
Hess.
•
Main Points of MEIN KAMPF:
-destroy the Treaty of Versailles
-gain a “living space” (LEBENSRAUM) for Germany
in Europe
-unite all Germans that had been separated by the
Versailles Treaty by the policy of ANSCHLUSS
-create a pure Germany (in terms of race)
•
What do you think happens next?
Hitler Becomes Politically Active
•
Within the Nazi Party, he centralizes power (i.e., only he
can elect party officials).
•
The Great Depression hit Germany harder…perhaps
harder than any other European country.
•
The German unemployment rate was more than 50%. The
German mark was worthless.
•
The German government tried a variety of programs to
offset the Depression, but they failed. In addition, the USA
demanded Germany repay the loans the USA gave to
Germany to rebuild after WW1.
•
Hitler linked the Treaty of Versailles to Germany’s
economic woes and limited position within Europe. He did
not blame only Jews; rather, he linked the Treaty to other
political parties in Germany.
•
What would Hitler say about the Depression and the Treaty
of Versailles to gain support from the German public?
World War II – The Rise of Hitler
•
Hitler promised to tear up the Treaty of Versailles
•
Hitler promised to create jobs.
•
Hitler promised to restore Germany’s glory and
ensure a greater share of the “world’s economic
pie”.
•
Hitler promised to rebuild Germany’s military
machine.
•
Hitler promised to remove Jews and other
unwanted groups from jobs and positions of
power.
•
Hitler promised to respect WWI veterans with
larger pensions.
•
Do you think Hitler won the next German
election?
World War II – The Rise of Hitler
•
The coIlapse of the German economy in 1929
persuaded more Germans to vote for the Nazis
•
Hitler did not win the 1932 German election. No
one won a clear majority. So, Hitler was asked to
form a coalition government with other parties.
•
By 1933, the Nazi Party held the greatest number
of seats in the German Parliament. NOTE: 63% of
Germans did not vote for Hitler. They failed to vote
with a unified voice against the Nazi.
•
1933: Hitler was appointed Chancellor (Prime
Minister) of Germany by President Hindenburg
•
This action did not make Hitler the supreme leader
of Germany. His political competition was the
Communist Party AND the role of Chancellor was
below the German President.
• What do you think Hitler did next?
Reichstag Fire 1933
• Crucial event in the establishment of the Nazi
Regime
• The German parliament (the Reichstag) was
burned down
• Hitler blamed the communists for having started
the fire in a plot against the Nazis to take over
power.
• Using the fire as a justification, Hitler convinces
President Hindenburg to invoke Article 48 of the
Weimar Constitution in order to protect public
safety. This article suspends the constitution in
times of emergency, allowing the president to
make rules without the consent of the parliament
and to suspend (put on hold) civil rights, like
freedom of speech, in order to protect public
safety.
The Enabling Act 1933 and The Furher 1934
•
Hitler passes the Enabling Act (power to make
own laws, abolish political parties and open
concentration camps). It was signed by
President von Hindenburg.
•
This Law gave Hitler the right to govern by
decree, so he could create laws without the
approval of the German parliament
•
One of the first things he did was ban all political
parties except his own
•
With no opposition, Hitler won the next election
by a landslide.
•
1934: President Hindenburg dies
•
Hitler names himself Furher (the leader) by
combining the Chancellorship and the
Presidency
•
Germany withdrew from the League of Nations.
The Night of the Long Knives (1934)
• 30 June 1934
• The goal was to assassinate all members
of the Nazi party that could betray Hitler
• Hundreds were killed
• There was now no opposition to Hitler
World War II – The Rise of Hitler
•
He begins to rearm Germany, ignoring Versailles
•
1935: Violates Treaty of Versailles by introducing military
conscription
•
1936: Germany marches into Rhineland (violation of
Treaty of Versailles) and League of Nations takes no
action
World War II – The Rise of Hitler
Elsewhere…at the same time…
•
In 1931, Japan invades Manchuria (China).
Some of the most notorious war atrocities
occur during this invasion. Canada and
many other nations are in the depths of the
Great Depression. Needing Japan as an
economic trading partner, the nations of
the world do nothing.
•
In 1935, Mussolini and Italy invade
Abyssinia (Africa). The Canadian delegate
to the League of Nations proposes a
boycott on trade with Italy that includes
Canadian oil. Italy needs oil for its war
machines. The suggested boycott is
rejected in Canada. Catholic Canadians
have sympathy for Italy because it is home
for the Pope.
•
In 1936, Germany, Italy and Japan sign a
pact. It was later expanded to include
Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. This is
the Axis Powers.