Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists

1. Adolf Hitler • “No Hitler, no Holocaust” • True: once Hitler came to power, Germany was under charismatic rule (cult of personality) • False: Hitler didn’t carry out the Holocaust single-handedly (he killed no one…) Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists

2. Born in 1889 in Branau on border of Austria and Bavaria (center for antisemitism) • Father Alois was 23 years older than mother • First 3 children died of diptheria • Hitler had a younger brother who died at 6 and a sister who lived to adulthood • Alois was autocratic, abusive • Klara, Hitler’s mother, was submissive; doted on Adolf • Hitler identified the Jews with his father and the Germans with his mother • Suspicions that Alois’ father was Jewish… Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists

3. Characteristics of Hitler’s personality: • Infantilism: Hitler was strong-willed • What he wanted when he wanted it • Stubbornness, tantrums, etc. • Narcissism: Hitler was self-centered, arrogant • Lack of empathy, sympathy • Difficulty forming relationships Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists

4. 1907: moved to Vienna • Aspired to become an artist • Hitler became an antisemite in Vienna • “Hatred of the Jew was the most sincere emotion of which Hitler was capable” • Mayor of Vienna led the largest antisemitic party in control in all of Europe (pre-WWII) • Karl Lueger– supported by Catholics, against Marxism • “I decide who is a Jew” Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists

5. Hitler was homeless and unemployed after failure to gain admission to the art academy • Was assisted by a Jewish hostel and landlady; he was nominated for an Iron Cross (and won) by his superior, a Jew Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists

6. Fought in WWI • Superiors didn’t consider him fit for promotion past corporal • Idea that the German military was “stabbed in the back” by Jews and liberals and forced to sign armistice • Treaty of Versailles humiliated Germany Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists

7. 1919: Hitler employed as a spy to investigate radical groups • Came across German Workers’ Party • Hitler joined the party, gave up being a spy, and entered politics • Party later became the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, and still later the National Socialists Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists

8. Fascism: • Against– • Marxism • Liberalism • Democracy • Humanitarianism • For– • Militant ultra-nationalism • Subordination of individual to state • Breaking down class barriers • Violence, struggle, • Integrated national community • Racism Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists

9. November 9, 1923: attempted putsch against Bavarian state government • Several Nazis were killed • Hitler put on trial for treason • Sentenced by a sympathetic right-wing judge to a light sentence • Wrote Mein Kampfwhile in jail • 1924: Hitler released from prison Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists

10. Weimar Republic inflation • 1923: 4.2 trillion marks = 1 dollar • 1924-29: Weimar gov’t more stable and was improving • 1928: 491 seats in Reichstag – Nazis had 12 • Social Democrats had 153 • 1929-30: Great Depression devastated Germany • 1929: 2.1 million unemployed • 1930: 3.1 million • 1931: 4.5 million • 1932: 5.5 million • 60 million Germans total Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists

11. 1930: Nazis earned 112 seats (2nd largest party) • second to Social Democrats; from worst to #2 • Who voted Nazi? • The young • First-time voters • Those desiring national recognition • Lower middle class • (peasants, shopkeepers) • Some in middle and upper middle class Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists

12. July, 1932: 230 seats (largest party in Reichstag – 37% of the vote) • Peak of Nazi approval; never a majority • November, 1932 election: Nazis lost 40 seats • Internal squabbles, party financial difficulties • Despite this, Hitler came to power Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists

13. Chancellor was ruling by decree under Article 48 since 1930 • Hindenburg gave Heinrich Bruening this power • Businessmen and other conservatives, led by Franz von Papen, urged Hindenburg to make Hitler chancellor • “We are ‘hiring’ Hitler” Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists

14. Hitler chancellor, von Papen vice-chancellor • Sought to capitalize on the mass appeal of Nazis and a chance to weaken the socialists and trade unions • von Papen thought he could “box Hitler in” von Papen, unidentified, Hitler, and Goebbels Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists

15. Late February, 1933: fire in the Reichstag • Hitler used this as an excuse to ban civil liberties • Communists blamed, and banned Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists

16. Hitler called new elections in March, 1933 • Last semi-free election • Nazis polled 44% of Reichstag seats • Formed coalition with Catholic Centre and ultraconservative party (gave Nazis a 2/3 majority) Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists

17. 1933: Enabling Act in March • Hitler ruled by decree • Claimed he ruled legally and no one could question him • All opposition parties were pushed aside • Nazi program began to be implemented Unit 4: Hitler and the Rise of the National Socialists