G21+Rise


 * [[image:hitlerbabym.jpg align="right" caption="Hitler as a baby"]]2 The rise of the Nazi Party**


 * rise of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) from 1923

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__**Chapter 4: Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party**__

__**4.1 Adolf Hitler – his early life**__
 * b. Braunau Austria, 20 Apr 1889. Father Alois (died 1903), mother Klara (died 1905)
 * Left school at 15. Applied to Vienna Academy of Art – rejected.
 * 1908 to Vienna. By 1910 – destitute.
 * 1913 to Munich
 * WWI – joined 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiments. Served as runner and on the front line. Twice decorated – 1914 Iron Cross Second Class, 1918 Iron Cross First Class. Gassed in 1918.

__**4.2 The beginning of the Nazi Party**__
 * The German Workers’ party formed by Anton Drexler in 1919. Hitler attended a meeting in Sept. Spoke. Was invited by Drexler to join the party.
 * Became a dominant figure in the party through the force of his personality. Began to draw bigger crowds.
 * Name changed to NSDAP – National Sozialistische Deutsche Arbeiter Partei.
 * Adopted colours: red, white black. Symbol: swastika. Party salute. Established newspaper: Völkischer Beobachter.
 * Feb 1920 – 25 Point Program.
 * By 1923, 70,000 members including 15,000 SA.
 * SA Sturm Abteilung**
 * Nazi private army of street thugs and bullies.
 * Known as Brown Shirts.
 * Promote party, protect leaders, create disturbances, attack political opponents, harass Jews.
 * Ernst Röhm was an important figure who became SA leader in 1930.

__**4.3 Beerhall Putsch**__
 * Lessons from the failed putsch:**
 * Needed to grasp power by legal methods.
 * The trial gave Hitler national publicity and a national profile.
 * The Nazis need the support of the army.

__**4.4 Rebuilding the party, 1923-1929**__

While in prison, where he was treated very well, Hitler dictated to Rudolf Hess his life and political theories. These were published in 1925 under the title Mein Kampf. The book provides an insight into Hitler’s Weltanschauung - his world view - and shows the ideas which, after he came to power in 1933, were enacted by the party.

An extreme nationalism guided by Hitler’s view of the greatness of Germany and the need for racial purity. Those responsible, the scapegoats, for the position Germany was in were those who had signed the Treaty of Versailles, supporters of the Republic, Jews and Communists.
 * Nationalism**

Aryan people were the master race (Herrenvolk) - the creators of culture. Jews were impure destroyers of culture. Slavs were also among the untermenschen. The state must enact laws to protect the purity of German blood.
 * Anti-Semitism**

The Nazis, as an extreme right wing party, were naturally opposed to Communism. In Hitler’s mind, anti-communism was also tied to anti-Semitism: the Jews were leading the international communist conspiracy.
 * Anti-Communism**

The democracy of the Weimar Republic was associated with weakness. Individuals must submit to the will of the state. The Führenprinzip - leadership principle - was a belief that Germany could not revive through the unworthy democratic system. Only a strong leader, with absolute control, could restore Germany to its rightful place.
 * Democracy and leadership**

The ‘socialist’ elements of Nazi policy were not supported by the industrialists. They were gradually weakened as Hitler needed the support of big business. ‘National socialism’ came to represent one concept relating to the Volksgemeinschaft.
 * National Socialism**

This was a perversion of Darwin’s theory of natural selection. It was applied to human society to justify the idea of a superior race and the subjugation of inferior races.
 * Social Darwinism**

Hitler recognised the power of propaganda and the means of using it: simple messages, repeated often. The spoken work was the most effective means.
 * Propaganda**

The views on race and struggle led to a policy of conquest of eastern Europe to enslave the untermenschen, destroy the Soviet Union and provide living space for the German people.
 * Lebesraum**

The **better economic conditions** from 1924 led to a decline in support for and membership of the Nazi Party. A left wing in the Party emerged, under **Gregor Strasser**, which wanted to emphasis the socialist elements of Party policy and draw support of the working class away from the SPD and KPD. While not attracting electoral support in 1924 or 1928, this period was an important time for **consolidation** and rebuilding:
 * Divisions within the Nazi Party and reorganisation of the Party**
 * Dividing Germany into 34 organisational districts, **Gaue**, each under a **Gauleiter**
 * Extending the reach of the party through more branches, **Hitler Youth** and **League of German Maidens**
 * Establishing the **Schutzstaffel**, **SS** or **Blackshirts**, Hitler’s elite bodyguard
 * Promoting the Party through rallies and parades: first **Nuremburg Rally** was held in 1927
 * Party membership increased from 27,000 in 1925 to 130,000 in 1929