DS2- Hitler Flashcards
(35 cards)
What were the first few causes that truly triggered hitler and shaped his personality into what it was?
- Bad relationship with father- he was abusive and distant
-Rejection from everywhere- drove him into a frenzy - Mother’s lass was inconsolable
Describe the events of September 1934
It was a moment of glory for Hitler that he had fantasised about- he became Germany’s saviour addressing more than 700,000 supporters at the Nazi party’s annual rally
Describe his journey from being a war soldier to his selection for a special propaganda course
24 y/o Hitler left Austria, his homeland to avoid conscription in the army and went to Germany- he identified as German. He was a part of German army in WW1 and never had any position of command in the army but later promoted himself. He described his role as very important in the army but he was often excluded from things. The arrest of the French troops was fabrication of facts and soon after he was put in the psychiatric ward because an attack was much worse according to him than what happened. After being released, he returned to Germany as one of the thousands soldiers with an uncertain future.
Although the army had disbanded, hitler remained on the payroll and was selected for a special propaganda course. He was chosen by the German army to speak to small groups of returning soldiers about the future of Germany- used to ‘disinfect’ the soldiers of their Bolshevik propaganda
Hitler and the Nazis
The Nazis began as the German Workers’ Party led by Anton Drexler. In 1919, Hitler joined the party as a spy to infiltrate and monitor their extremist ideas. Soon he was asked to join it as their ideas were in sync and he accepted.
Oct 1919- gave his first official speech to the GWP- a pivotal moment
Recruited followers using propaganda effectively
Left the army in 1920 as the GWP membership sword and a leadership fight developed
Major figure in the party now
Disagrees with the strategies of drexler so quickly resigns
Why did he start the ‘stab in the back’ theory?
He wanted to blame someone and this was the perfect reason and moment to do so/ needed a scapegoat to blame for Germany’s problems- the allies, the TOV, the november criminals, communists and jews
June 1921
-Hitler announced he was rejoining the newly renamed nationalist socialist GWP as the leader
- national socialism = social revolution
- new banner with ominous icon
- black swastika against white disc against red- uses old German reich colours because he knows he can’t turn nationalistic to pure Nazi overnight
- His meeting were so successful his opponents tried to disrupt them. To counter this, he set up the SA- AKA the brownshirts or stormtroopers. These hired thugs not only protected Hitler but also disrupted those of other parties
November 1923- Munich Putsch
- Inspire by Mussolini’s takeover of Rome
- started when there was hyperinflation- took a calculated risk
Beer hall putsch- nov 8th, 1923- Hitler hijacked a local government meeting and announced he was taking over the government of Bavaria- joined by the old hero Ludendorff
- Used fear and violence to gain respect
Munich Putsch- Nazi SAs started taking over official government buildings and the next day nov 9th, the police encircled the SA, shots were fired, Nazis were killed, the rebellion broke up in chaos, hitler managed to escape
Munich Putsch AFTERMATH
- Hitler arrested the next day for attempting a coup and was faced with treason and charged with a death penalty
- While justifying his stance, he realises he still has power- breaks through at trial
- found guilty but judges are lenient- 5 years at landsberg prison
- forced to sit and think his political strategies out- imp period as he needs to define himself politically
- dictated his infamous auto-biography Mein Kampf
- started to believe he could shape the world
- released early- after 9 months- for good behaviour (dec 1924)
- Bavarian gov banned him from playing his trump carb- public speaking- huge handicap (ban lifted in 1927)
- notorious image for party- were like a laughing stock
- had to rethink his strategy- taking power legally- fight elections- wanted to disrupt the gov from within
- population of the party at an all time low
A change of strategy:
1. Reorganising the party
Party re-launched at a rally after his ban was lifted. Hitler began to reorganise the party to make it more effective during the elections
A change of strategy:
2. Winning over the working classes
Their anti-Jewish appeal was working very well and so they increased that appeal. They praised even the peasants as racially pure German.
A change of strategy:
3. Mein Kampf
Now a national best-seller
A change of strategy:
4. Increased membership
Gradually, the Nazis increased their membership but they were actually losing out on a place in the Reichstag simultaneously. They only got 12 seats in the 1928 elections
A change of strategy:
5. Public meetings
They addressed issues people thought of as important and effectively used targeted propaganda here.
A change of strategy:
6. Winning over the middle class
Began to focus parts of their campaigns to this class of society as it is where they had a greater result or impact
A change of strategy:
7. Strengthen the SA
Hitler enlarged the SA by great numbers where it rose to over 100,000 by 1928
Why Hitler didn’t rise to power in the 1920s
- weimar gov thrived
- hitler wasn’t taken seriously
- hitler considered an extremist
- image of the party was still perceived as notorious
- artists enjoyed their freedom of expression/ no censorship
Impact of Depression on Germany
After Stresseman died and the US stock market crashed on 24th October 1929, Germany was hit severely.
- loans had to be repaid due to Dawes plan
- Hitler’s statements show his gloating self who criticised the Dawes plan- takes personal triumph over millions of Germans subject to devastation
- made the people fear another period of hyperinflation and its disastrous effects
- upper middle class- women had to do the jobs of their maids/ butlers
- attitude of people- wanted a change of gov because of their suffering
Nazis and the depression
Hitler’s ideas had more relevance now:
- Failure of democratic system made the people want to give a chance to the Nazis- Germany needs a strong leader
- Are reparations adding to Germany’s problems? kick out the TOV
- Is unemployment an issue? let the unemployed join the German army
Hitler’s 25 points
- very attractive to the most vulnerable to the Depression
- Hitler offered scapegoats to blame for Germany’s troubles
- very anti-Semitic
- old ideas being reiterated as they hold more value now
Elections
1930- 107 seats
1932 November- nearly 200 seats- most popular party
Why did the Nazis succeed in the elections:
1. The Depression
The people were extremely upset/ angry which helped the Nazis succeed as they used propaganda and their 25 point plan effectively
Why did the Nazis succeed in the elections:
2. Disillusionment with democracy
- Weimar government’s politicians were unable to tackle the issues of the Depression
- Chancellor Bruning cut government spending and welfare benefits
- Unemployment increased; income per head dramatically fell
Why did the Nazis succeed in the elections:
3. Nazi campaigning
- The Nazi’s greatest asset was Hitler- powerful speaker who could sway the crowds easily/ used all possible mediums to deliver his messages/ people found him to be understanding, caring and was the man of the people
- Nazi posters and pamphlets- rallies impressed people with their energy, enthusiasm and size
- The Nazi’s relied on generalised slogans- made it hard to criticise, repetition and reinforcement of certain ideas
Why did the Nazis succeed in the elections:
4. Negative Cohesion
- People supported/ shared Nazi fears- If you hate what I hate, then I’ll support you
