Download Adolf Hitler

Rise to Power
Adolf Hitler
ADOLF HITLER:
How did this little boy on
the left become the man on
the right? A man who was
ultimately responsible for
the death of about 50
million people all over the
world!!
Parents
Adolf’s father, Alois Schickelgruber Hitler was a
customs official. His father, Adolf’s grandfather,
may have been Jewish. He died when Adolf was 14
and left him a small inheritance.
Klara Hitler was very young when she married the
older Alois. She showered young Adolf with love
and affection. Adolf carried a picture of his mom
until the day he died. She died of breast cancer
when Adolf was 18 years old.
Birth
• Adolf Hitler was
born on April 20,
1889 in Braunau,
Austria.
• Adolf was 1 of 6
children - 3 of who
died at early ages
Education
• He attended a Benedictine (Roman Catholic
Church) monastery school (a house or place of
residence occupied by a community of persons)
where he took part in the choir.
• When it was time to choose a secondary school (a
school between primary (high) school and a college
or university), Adolf wanted to become an artist.
• His father wanted him to become a civil servant (a
person employed in the civil service), but after his
father died, he dropped out of high school and
attempted to get into the Vienna Academy of Fine
Arts - he failed.
• The following slides are examples of Adolf’s
artwork.
signature
signature
“Colored Flowers”
This is an Adolf Hitler
Watercolor. This painting
alone is over twenty-three
thousand dollars. This
painting is accompanied
by a statement of
authenticity. Authenticity
means that something is
trustworthy or genuine. It
is what it is said to be.
“Millhouse Study”
This painting depicts a
millhouse with a
waterwheel in a
landscape orientation.
Hitler usually painted
in a traditional style:
“His typical
landscapes, city scenes
and still life’s all
clearly indicate how completely he was captivated by conventional
forms of expression”, (captivated means to attract and hold the
attention or interest of something) and “His intense fascination with
architecture was reflected in his numerous drawings of houses,
churches, public buildings and city scenes.”
This painting depicts a
cloudy mountain skyline in
“Rolling Hills”
blues and purples on
sepia-colored stock (a
brown pigment obtained
from the ink line secretion
of various cuttlefish and
used with a brush or pen
in drawing). In most of his
work, Hitler is well known
for his propensity (a
natural inclination or
tendency) to depict the sky
as a rolling—almost
living– entity. This
painting is from very early
in his career as an artist,
and shows his
experimentation with various styles of sky treatments.
Years in Vienna
• After his mother died, Adolf (now 18) decided to
move to Austria to pursue his dream of becoming
a great artist.
• Again he failed to gain entrance into the Academy
• He eventually sold all his possessions and became
a homeless drifter who slept on park benches and
ate at soup kitchens throughout Vienna (age 19)
• Adolf did manage to sell some paintings and
postcards, but remained impoverished.
Impoverished means that he was reduced to
poverty (he was poor).
Vienna -Importance
• Influenced by the anti-Semitic
mayor of Vienna, Karl Lueger.
• Anti-Semitism-Hostility toward
or prejudice against Jews or
Judaism; discrimination against
Jews.
• Became interested in the idea of
German nationalism (devotion
and loyalty to one’s own nation,
patriotism).
• Also received first taste of
politics (the practice or
profession of political
government).
Military Service
Adolf left Austria at the age of 24 to avoid mandatory (no other
options, a must) military service that was required of all men.
However, he did sign up for
military service at the start
of WW I. He joined a
Bavarian (Bavaria is a state
in Germany) unit of the
German Army. This is a
picture of Hitler listening to
an enlistment (enlistment is
a period of time for which
one is committed to
military service) speech.
World War I
• Excited to fight for
Germany.
• Found a home fighting for
the Fatherland.
• Highest rank held was
corporal.
• Was a regimental
messenger, not an easy job
at all. A regimental
messenger was a
messenger for the
regimental headquarters.
This exposed him to
enemy fire daily.
Military Record
• Was awarded the Iron
Cross twice. (5 medals
overall)
• Highest military honor
in German Army.
• Single handedly
captured 4 French
soldiers.
• Blinded by gas attack
towards end of war.
German Loss in WW I
• Hitler was devastated when he heard the news of
the German surrender.
• He was appalled at the anti-war sentiment among
the German civilians.
• Believed there was an anti-war conspiracy that
involved the Jews and Marxists (one that believes
in or follows the ideas of Marx and Engels). Marx
and Engels believed in Communism (where
everybody is considered and treated equally).
• Also, felt that the German military did not lose the
war, but that the politicians (mostly Jews) at home
were responsible for the defeat.
Life after WW I
• Hitler was depressed
after WW I.
• Still in the army, he
became an undercover
agent whose job was to
root out Marxists
• Also, lectured about the
dangers of
Communism and Jews
• Communism is when
everybody is
considered and treated
equally.
German Worker’s Party
• Hitler was sent to
investigate this group
in Munich in 1919.
• He went to a meeting
and gave a speech.
• He was them asked to
become a member,
which he did
NAZI Party is Formed
• Hitler began to think big
for the German
Worker’s Party
• Began placing ads for
meetings in anti-Semitic
newspapers
• Anti-Semitism-Hostility
toward or prejudice
against Jews or Judaism;
discrimination against
Jews.
• Hitler changed the name
to National Socialist
German Worker’s Party
or the NAZIS
Party Platform
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hitler drafted a platform of 25
points
Revoked Versailles Treaty
Versailles Treaty-Was one of
the peace treaties at the end of
World War I. It ended the
state of war between Germany
and the Allied Powers.
Revoked civil rights of Jews
Civil rights protect individuals
from unwarranted
government action and ensure
one’s ability to participate in
the civil and political life of the
state without discrimination or
repression.
Confiscated (seized-taken
away from) any war profits.
Besides changing the party name, the
red flag with the SWASTIKA was
adopted as the party symbol
Beer Hall Putsch
• October 30, 1923
• Hitler held a rally in
Munich beer hall and
declared revolution
• Led 2000 men to take
over the Bavarian
Government
• It failed and Hitler
was imprisoned
Trial and Jail
•At his trial (Hitler was charged
with treason), he used the
opportunity to speak about the
NAZI platform and spread his
popularity. Treason is when one
goes against his own country
(government).
•The whole nation suddenly knew
who Adolf Hitler was and what he
stood for.
•He was sentenced to five years,
but actually only served about 9
months.
•When he left prison, he was ready
to go into action again.
Mein Kampf
• Hitler’s book “My
Struggle” – was written
while he was in jail
• Sold 5 million copies, it
made him rich
• Topics included: Jews
were evil, Germans were
the superior race, Fuhrer
principal (this meant that
the country needed a
strong charismatic leader
who could lead the people
in whatever way he though
best), dislike of
Communism and
Democracy and the need to
conquer Russia
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
• Nazi Party:
– 1930 = 18% of vote
– 1932 = 30% of vote
– Hitler becomes
Chancellor in 1933
• A Chancellor is the title of various
official positions in the government
of many nations.
Appeal of Hitler
• Germany was in the midst of an economic
depression with hyper-inflation. This means
that the economy endured a long-term
downward spiral in economic activity in one or
more economies, and that it was “out of
control”.
• 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
• Constantly blamed Jews for Germany’s
problems, not the German people.
• Hitler was an excellent public speaker.
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
• Wore brownshirts, pants and
boots
• Numbered almost 400,000 by
1932
• Brownshirts were members of
an early Nazi paramilitary
organization. Their violent
intimidation of political
opponents and of Jews played
a key role in Hitler’s rise to
power.
Dictator
Dictator – An absolute ruler.
• “Reichstag fire” gives Hitler
total power
• Reichstag fire - An arson attack
on the Reichstag building in
Berlin on 27 February 1933.
The event is seen as pivotal in
the establishment of Nazi
Germany.
• In 1933, all parties were
outlawed except the Nazi party
• People’s civil rights were
suspended
• “Night of the Long Knives” –
A purge that took place in Nazi
Germany between June 30 and
July 2, 1934, when the Nazi
regime carried out a series of
political executions.
Dictatorship VS. Democracy
Democracy – A political
Dictatorship – A form of
government either carried out
government in which the
directly by the people (direct
government is ruled by an
democracy) or by means of
individual, the dictator. In other elected representatives (voting) of
words, a government
the people. The “majority rule” is
controlled by one person or a
often described as a characteristic
small group of people.
feature of democracy.
EXAMPLE: Adolf Hitler
made decisions for his people
as he saw fit, what he said went.
EXAMPLE: Our government
here in America. We vote together
to decide who will run our country
and make decisions for us. We
have a voice. Decisions are based
upon many different people’s
opinions.
Absolute Power
• German economy was
improving and people
were happy
• Hilter had no political
opposition
• 1st concentration
camp opened in 1933
• Began rearming
German Army for
expansion of the Reich
Hitler’s Death
Adolf Hitler
committed suicide on
April 30th, 1945. He
died by gunshot and
cyanide poisoning.
This is the cover of the U.S.
armed forces newspaper
The Stars and Stripes on
May 2nd, 1945.
THE
END
.......................Until the start of World War II