Hitler and Nazism in Germany
The Roots of Nazism

Nazism grew from extreme nationalism & racism, led by Adolf Hitler
son of Austrian customs officer, join extreme Austro-German nationalists
found racism, anti-Semitism & hate Slavs - Social Darwinism, racial conflict inevitable
Jews direct finance capitalism, Marxist socialism, against German unity/race
WWI gain meaning - blamed Jews & Marxists for surrender
joined German Workers' Party - socialism would abolish capitalism - Nazi Party
Weimar Republic hyperinflation, von Hindenburg became president, Hitler's unsuccessful coup

Hitler's Road to Power

denounce Weimar Republic, need legal power; Mein Kampf - anti-semitic, expansion, Fuhrer dictator
built Nazis during stability, promise salvation during Depression, gain success
reject free-market capitalism, advocate recovery - middle & lower classes & skilled workers
many desert conservative & moderate for Nazis - become largest party
appeal to German youth, national recovery, exciting change, & personal advancement appeal
Depression made republican leaders look corrupt, Communists didn't unite with Social Democrats
gain business & army support, thinking he would help them; von Hindenburg appoint chancellor

The Nazi State and Society

blamed Communists for Reichstag building fire, made president abolish liberties & new elections
Nazis lost election, outlaw Communists & arrest, sign Enabling Act, giving Hitler 4 years dictatorship
Nazis top in government, outlaw strikes & unions, independent organizations to Nazis, publishers & schools controlled by Nazis, no modern art/architecture; dynamism & total obedience
SS (elite personal guard) kill Nazi storm troopers, army surrender, Himmler & SS take over police
Jews banned from work, Nuremberg laws take citizenship, many emigrate
Kristallnacht - destruction of Jewish buildings, difficult for Jews to leave after

Hitler's Popularity

public works, rearmament, standard of living up, employment up, profits up
except Jews, Slavs, Gypsies, Jehovah's Witnesses, communists, and gays, more equality & opportunity
relaxed educational requirements, tolerate privilege and wealth
well-educated retain advantages (social leveling), hire women during labor shortages
Communists & socialists, Catholics & Protestants, & army officers oppose

	Created by jenniferfish2014 about 8 years ago

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