The Rise of Adolf Hitler

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• In 1919 Germany is forced to accept the terms of the Treaty of Versailles

• War Guilt Clause: blame

• Loss of land (colonies) and money (reparations)

• Disarmament

• Had to form a democracy: Weimar Republic

Setting the Stage: World War I

The Rise of the Nazi Party• In 1920, Hitler helps form the Nazi Party

• Beer Hall Putsch: Hitler and and his Nazis try to overthrow the new democracy in a large beer hall in Munich

• 16 men are killed–Hitler flees and is later arrested on high

treason

The Rise of the Nazi Party• While in prison, Hitler writes “Mein

Kampf”

• Learns he must destroy democracy from within

• Serves 8 months and is released

Hitler Takes Control • In 1925, Paul von Hindenburg elected

President of the Weimar Republic

• By 1932, the Nazi party had become the largest party in the Reichstag

(38% majority)

• Hitler appointed chancellor in 1933– Second in command

Hitler Takes Control • In February 1933, the Reichstag burns down– Blamed on Communists

• Reichstag responds by suppressing communists and others – Passed the “Enabling Act”transfers power to the

president

• In 1934, Hindenburg dies and Hitler is declared “The Fuhrer” (dictator)

Prelude to the Holocaust & WWII

• Anti-Semitism, or hatred of Jews, alreadyexisted in the hearts of many Europeans

• Nuremberg Laws were passed allowing the government to legally discriminate against Jews

• Examples of Nuremberg Laws:– Jews were stripped of German citizenship –Marriage between Jews and Germans was

forbidden– Jews were excluded from public office,

practicing law, medicine, and teaching – Jews had curfews, had to wear a yellow

star for public ID – Allowed for open and legal terrorism

against Jews

• Nuremberg Laws led to a three-step process:– Development of Jewish ghettos in cities– Concentration Camps became sites of

forced labor and murder– Genocidemass killing of over 6 million Jews

Kristallnacht • 1938

• The Night of Broken Glass – Anti-Semitic riots in Germany and Austria

• 30,000 Jews rounded up and taken to concentration camps

• Homes, businesses, and synagogues destroyed

World War II Begins • In 1939, Hitler invades Poland and

starts WWII

• Continues efforts to unite all people of German blood or Aryans under the “Master Race”

• Empire is known as the Third Reich

Result?• Hitler used democracy to destroy

democracy. Once he became “der Fuhrer”, he ruled Germany as a ruthless dictator and used his power to take over several countries and murder millions

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