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Session: The Nazi Consolidation of Power Image Source: http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1443/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1443-608.jpg Hitler as Dictator • Hitler used his skills as a speaker to persuade Germans to vote for him in elections. • In 1930, 6 million people voted for the Nazi Party; in 1932 it was 14 million. • The Nazi Party had become Germany’s largest political party. • On January 30, 1933, Hitler was appointed chancellor (leader of the German government). • He was the most powerful man in Germany—a dictator voted into power by millions of ordinary German people. Above Image Source: http://emiljung.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/hitler460.jpg Below Image Source: http://www.freedomsfoundationaz.org/ffvfactiv/ffvfprog/Hitler%5B3%5D.jpg The Coordination of Party & State Nazi politicians within German Parliament (Reichstag) Image Source: http://mail.ststephens-texas.com/~wgoodman/WWIIAustriaSalutesHitler.jpg • After the Beer Hall Putsch fiasco, Hitler decided he would take control of Germany via a ‘legal revolution’ – so that the NSDAP was a ‘legal’ political party & wouldn’t appear as a ‘rebel’ group over-throwing the Weimar Republic. • The official policy name was Gleichschaltung – permanent revolution by which Hitler brought all sectors of the state and society under Nazi control. Consolidation of Power Gleichschaltung • Three stages made up this process of Gleichschaltung (means the coordination of Party & State): 1. Allowing a one-party regime policy. Increase in executive power & elimination of all political opposition via The Reichstag Fire Decree &The Enabling Law. 2. Neutralize the power of the SA & the army, the 2 remaining forces outside Hitler’s immediate control. 3. Gleichschaltung of a) The Civil Service; b) Judicial System; c) Culture & Education; d) Local Governments Essentially, The Nazis controlled every area & aspect of life within Germany & German occupied countries. Hitler meeting the Nazi Police – SS 1937 Image Source: http://www.usmbooks.com/images/RBGDW7.jpg Elimination of Opposition - Night of the Long Knives • Night of the Long Knives, was the sudden bloody purge within the Nazi Party carried out by Chancellor Adolf Hitler, Interior Minister Hermann Göring, and SS leader Heinrich Himmler on June 30-July 1, 1934. • The main victims of the “Night of the Long Knives” (this was the name given to it by the Nazis themselves) were Ernst Röhm and his chief lieutenants within the SA, Gregor Strasser, and General Kurt von Schleicher, the former Chancellor. • Mainly men who had opposed Hitler between 1931 and 1934, were slaughtered. • Among these were the Führer's main critic within the Nazi Party, All over Germany approx. 200 Nazi officials were killed on this night. Elimination of Opposition - Censorship Nazis burning books Image Source: http://educate-yourself.org/cn/Nazi%20book%20burning.gif • The Nazis controlled newspapers, film, radio, art, literature, theatre & music. • People who wanted to work in these fields had to be approved members of the Propaganda Ministry, or else their work couldn’t be published or performed. • Nazis made it clear what they thought of non-Nazi & anti-Nazi writers in the book-burning ceremony of May 1933. Consolidation of Totalitarianism - The Nazi Police State Waffen-SS Recruitment Posters Image Source: http://www.reichslieder.com/0736_Waffen_SS_2.jpg • After 1933 Hitler made Germany a ‘police state’ (totalitarian country) to secure his power within Germany & destroy internal opposition. • Hitler created several arms of Nazi police. They all had specific jobs. However their central aim was to find & remove anyone disloyal to Hitler & ensure people followed Nazi rules. • The following squads formed the Nazi Police squad: 1. SA (Storm Troopers – security organisation of Nazi Party); 2. SS (Protection Squad); 3. Gestapo (Secret State police) & 4. SD (Security Service of the SS) Ideological Power - Nazi Propaganda • "Work and Food," this poster says. It was used for the November 1932 Reichstag election. The Nazis viewed this as one of their most effective posters. Image/caption source: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/posters1.htm Propaganda is the organized spreading of ideas & information which is meant to make people think or act in a certain way. • Josef Goebbels was in charge of the Reich Ministry of Popular Enlightenment & Propaganda. • Goebbels had two main tasks: 1. was responsible for putting Hitler’s ideas about propaganda into practice, in the most persuasive way possible. 2. Make sure Germans didn’t see or read anything that was hostile or damaging to Nazism. Forms of Nazi Propaganda The Nuremberg Rally Image Source: http://www.suzyrice.com/BIRD/archives/triumph_of_the_will_nurembergStadium.jpg • Main Forms of Propaganda: a) Nazi posters & Nazi movies b) Radio Broadcasting of Nazi ideology & regulations. b) Re-writing of German history c) Educational reforms e) Written publications – Mein Kampf (My Struggle) • The Nazis created new pubic celebrations such as rallies, marches and rituals. Goebbels ensured that the Press gave these events maximum publicity. The annual Party rally in Nuremberg received the most attention. • The Nazis forced Germans to use the Heil Hitler greeting, the Nazi salute. Securing the Nazis’ Future Power - Hitler Youth Movements • Hitler Youth – Hitler believed that to control Germany’s Future they had to influence the minds of young Germans. • The Nazis pressured young Germans to join the Hitler Youth. • Aims of the Hitler Youth movement were: Boys - indoctrination & preparation for war; Girls – indoctrination & preparation for motherhood & domesticity. • By 1945, the German army commonly drafted 12-year-old Hitler Youth members into its ranks. •The Hitler Youth (Axmann’s regiment) fought at the Battle of Berlin Hitler Youth & formed a major part of the last line of German defense. March 20, 1945. Hitler awards the Iron Cross to Hitler Youth outside his bunker. Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitler_Youth