Hitler was the dictator of Germany from 1933-1945. Under his leadership, Germany fell under the leadership of the Nazis.
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT/BELIEFS
What is Nazism?
• extremely fascist , nationalistic and totalitarian
• belief in the racial superiority of the Aryan, the “master race”
• belief that all Germans should have “lebensraum” or living space in Europe
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT/BELIEFS
What is Nazism?
• extremely fascist , nationalistic and totalitarian
• belief in the racial superiority of the Aryan, the “master race”
• belief that all Germans should have “lebensraum” or living space in Europe
- Violent hatred towards Jews,and Communists. Blamed Germany’s problems on them.
Specific Events/Tactics Used
•Eliminate opponents
•Propaganda
•Speeches
•Mass rallies
•Scapegoat (blame others)
•Censorship (limit information)
- Hitler served in WWI and was angered by the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. He began to become active in the Nazi party within Germany. The Nazis sought political power and tried to overtake the democratic government of Germany.
- Their first big attempt was unsuccessful and Hitler was jailed. While in jail he wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle). This book outlines his political philosophy, hatred of Jews and Communists and his plans for Germany.
- Used Germany's economic problems to rise to power.
- Hitler made promises to return Germany to a place of power and glory. (The Third Reich)
- Hitler promised to reduce unemployment and expand German living space (lebensraum).
- Hitler rose up through the party and eventually was made chancellor of Germany. When President von Hindenburg died, HItler became dictator of Germany.
- Hitler used all of the tactics listed below to rise to power and maintain it once he was dictator
- Violence
- Use of secret police and paramilitary organizations
•Eliminate opponents
•Propaganda
•Speeches
•Mass rallies
•Scapegoat (blame others)
•Censorship (limit information)
Use of propaganda (tactics)
1. Men are NOT created equal
· Germans are most superior race on earth
· Future of civilization depends on Germans
· Aryan blood MUST be kept pure
· Create a PURE, MASTER RACE
2. Jews are INFERIOR
· They are destroyers
· Drained the world of money and power
· Future of world depends on ridding world of Jews
3. Slavs, blacks and Mediterranean people rank only slightly above Jews. They are only fit to live as German slaves.
4. Political boundaries are nonsense.
· German master race needs extra living space
· Resistance will be met with force
5. Democracy and majority rule are stupid.
· Masses are ignorant….need leader
· Hitler is divinely appointed leader
· Third Reich will last 1,000 years
6. Propaganda
· Use to gain support of ignorant masses
· Limit to a few main ideas, repeated over and over
· The bigger the lie the better, people are more likely to believe it
7. Force and fear = keep people under control
8. Give people a single enemy to hate and blame. Blame the Jew for everything evil
9. Christianity is just a scheme created by Jews. Have no other God but Germany!
- The Nazis were masterful propagandists. A simple definition of propaganda is trying to make someone think and or do something.
- Below is a list of some of the beliefs that the Nazi party pushed on the German people.
1. Men are NOT created equal
· Germans are most superior race on earth
· Future of civilization depends on Germans
· Aryan blood MUST be kept pure
· Create a PURE, MASTER RACE
2. Jews are INFERIOR
· They are destroyers
· Drained the world of money and power
· Future of world depends on ridding world of Jews
3. Slavs, blacks and Mediterranean people rank only slightly above Jews. They are only fit to live as German slaves.
4. Political boundaries are nonsense.
· German master race needs extra living space
· Resistance will be met with force
5. Democracy and majority rule are stupid.
· Masses are ignorant….need leader
· Hitler is divinely appointed leader
· Third Reich will last 1,000 years
6. Propaganda
· Use to gain support of ignorant masses
· Limit to a few main ideas, repeated over and over
· The bigger the lie the better, people are more likely to believe it
7. Force and fear = keep people under control
8. Give people a single enemy to hate and blame. Blame the Jew for everything evil
9. Christianity is just a scheme created by Jews. Have no other God but Germany!
Outcome
- Although Hitler was successful in ending Germany's depression, Germany would suffer dire consequences due to his rule.
- By 1936, Hitler was ready to show the world how Germany had recovered by hosting the Olympic games. From all appearances, Germany did appear to have recovered.
- By 1939, Hitler had taken over his homeland of Austria and a piece of Czechoslovakia called the Sudetenland. He then marched into Poland causing the onset of WWII. Although Hitler had initial success in WWII, the war would cause extreme devastation to Germany and Europe. Millions of people would die under Hitler's rule; including the Holocaust and the war itself. The short term success was overshadowed by the long term effects. Hitler would ultimately commit suicide in 1945 rather than be captured by the Allies.