ADOLF HITLERADOLF HITLER
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
What led to Adolf Hitler’s rise to power and the Nazis ruling Germany?
A DICTATOR IS BORN A DICTATOR IS BORN
♂ Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, near Linz, Austria on April 20, 1889
♂ Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, near Linz, Austria on April 20, 1889
KLARA and ALOIS:KLARA and ALOIS: THE PARENTS OF A THE PARENTS OF A
MONSTERMONSTER
HITLER AS A YOUTHHITLER AS A YOUTHAdolf was an
intelligent child, but a poorly performing student, both of
Adolf’s parents died when he was a
teenager, leaving him with a modest
inheritance; Adolf sought to become an
artist
LEFT: Hitler at age 13
BELOW: Hitler, part of a church choir group
LEFT: Hitler at age 13
BELOW: Hitler, part of a church choir group
THE YEARS IN VIENNATHE YEARS IN VIENNAIn January 1908, the 19
year old Adolf moved to the city of Vienna, the capital of Austria
In Vienna, Adolf is exposed to culture and life in a big city
Adolf tries to enter the Academy of Arts, but is rejected; his audition painting was deemed not good enough
THE ACADEMY OF THE ACADEMY OF ARTS IN VIENNAARTS IN VIENNA
This 1914 painting is titled:This 1914 painting is titled:"The Courtyard of the Old Residency "The Courtyard of the Old Residency
in Munich."in Munich."
A 1914 painting: A 1914 painting: "Ruins of a Cloister in "Ruins of a Cloister in
Messines."Messines."
SAMPLES OF HITLER’S ARTSAMPLES OF HITLER’S ARTSAMPLES OF HITLER’S ARTSAMPLES OF HITLER’S ART
ONE OF HITLER’S GREAT LOVES:ONE OF HITLER’S GREAT LOVES: THE THE MUSIC OF RICHARD WAGNERMUSIC OF RICHARD WAGNER
GERMAN COMPOSER GERMAN COMPOSER RICHARD WAGNERRICHARD WAGNER
♫Adolf enjoyed the opera music of Richard Wagner, whose stirring music glorified Germany and often had warlike themes (such as “Ride of the Valkyries”)
♫ Wagner’s music had a profound effect on the young Adolf Hitler
FIRST EXPOSURE TO POLITICSFIRST EXPOSURE TO POLITICS
Galician Jews are present in Vienna. As with much of Europe, there are anti-Semitic feelings in Vienna (it was Adolf’s first exposure to anti-
Semitism). The politics of Georg von Schoenerer (an anti-Semite) and Vienna’s mayor, Karl Lueger (who said the public would do without
freedoms for security), would have an influence on young Hitler.
KARL LUEGERKARL LUEGERGEORG VON SCHOENERERGEORG VON SCHOENERERGEORG VON SCHOENERERGEORG VON SCHOENERER
POLITICIZATION OF HITLER
It is while living in Vienna that Adolf first learns of
the ideas of mystical German nationalism and the “Aryan ideal”; these ideas would shape the Nazi ideology decades later, as exemplified in
this 1930s poster
THE FRUSTRATED ARTISTTHE FRUSTRATED ARTIST
Adolf is rejected a second time by the Vienna Academy of Arts in November 1908.
Hitler then earns his living as a street artist, making drawings and sketches for tourists and trying to sell them.
His inheritance money dwindled away quickly, and soon Adolf found himself living in various homeless shelters in Vienna.
A A FUGITIVEFUGITIVE
Adolf was supposed to serve in the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s army when he turned 20 years old, but he avoided military service. He was a fugitive from the Austrian police.
His motivation was not cowardice: Hitler hated the Austrian monarchy and did not want to serve in a heavily multi-ethnic army alongside Jews, Czechs, Poles, Hungarians, Slovaks, and other groups he deemed “inferior.”
When World War I breaks out, Adolf
Hitler finds a purpose; he
volunteers to be a soldier for the
country he adored: Germany
WARTIME SERVICE Hitler served as a dispatch runner (messenger) on the Western Front, carrying messages from headquarters to the trenches by bicycle.
It was often a dangerous assignment; Hitler was wounded twice in one week in 1916 and sent to Germany to recover.
Awarded medals for bravery (including the Iron Cross), he returned to fight in 1917.
Hitler served as a dispatch runner (messenger) on the Western Front, carrying messages from headquarters to the trenches by bicycle.
It was often a dangerous assignment; Hitler was wounded twice in one week in 1916 and sent to Germany to recover.
Awarded medals for bravery (including the Iron Cross), he returned to fight in 1917.
When the Great War ends in 1918, the Treaty of Versailles left Germany with huge war debts to pay; many restrictions were forced upon the defeated Germany by the victorious Allies
Germany felt humiliated and thought they were singled out unfairly as the only power to start World War I
Adolf Hitler never forgot the humiliation that Germany was served at the hands of the Allies.
Hitler was outraged by the actions taken to punish Germany after the war.
This outrage was shared with many Germans, especially the soldiers of World War I.
AN ANGRY YOUNG MANAN ANGRY YOUNG MAN
Corporal Hitler (right) with two fellow German soldiers, one of whom is missing a leg
Corporal Hitler (right) with two fellow German soldiers, one of whom is missing a leg
HITLER’S LIFE TAKES A FATEFUL TURN
As he recovered at a Stettin hospital As he recovered at a Stettin hospital from eye injuries suffered in an Allied from eye injuries suffered in an Allied poison gas attack in Ypres, Hitler heard poison gas attack in Ypres, Hitler heard about Germany’s defeat. His reaction:about Germany’s defeat. His reaction:
“ “The burning in my eyes The burning in my eyes could not match the hate could not match the hate burning in my heart. From burning in my heart. From that moment, I knew I that moment, I knew I should enter politics.”should enter politics.”
Many Germans were disillusioned after the defeat in the Great War and hated the democratic government that took power after WWI (the Weimar Republic)
Ex-soldiers like Hitler felt that they had been “stabbed in the back” by Jews and Communists back home in Germany; they felt that they had not been defeated on the battlefield
GERMANY AFTER THE GREAT WAR (1919-1923)
GERMANY AFTER THE GREAT WAR (1919-1923)
An anti-Communist posterAn anti-Communist poster
Extremist groups like the Nazis gained
popularity by saying that they would not
obey the Treaty’s terms and would restore Germany’s glory
Extremist groups like the Nazis gained
popularity by saying that they would not
obey the Treaty’s terms and would restore Germany’s glory
A SOLDIER WITHOUT A A SOLDIER WITHOUT A WARWAR
After the war, Hitler remained in the German Army; he acted as a “mole” and spied on various organizations suspected of being communist
From the military leaders, Hitler learned of the Germans’ destiny as the “master race” and of the “economic conspiracy” of the world’s Jews against the Fatherland
Hitler, now 30 years old, also discovered while at Munich that he had a flair for public speaking, delivering several passionate speeches at the local university and transfixing audiences
PARTY MEMBER #55
Continuing his work as amole, a group Hitler spied on was the German Workers’ Party; this group was anti-Bolshevik as well as anti-Semitic
Hitler agreed with the party’s views and became a member in 1920Later on, he became a party leader, recruiting many German
soldiers from his barracks; Hitler’s goal was to seize the German Workers’ Party and reshape it to his own ends
THE NAZI PARTY
With Hitler becoming its new leader, the German Workers’ Party later became the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (in German: Nazional Sozialistische Deutsche Arbeiter Partei). The
party’s name was abbreviated as NSDAP and shortened to “Nazi”
With Hitler becoming its new leader, the German Workers’ Party later became the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (in German: Nazional Sozialistische Deutsche Arbeiter Partei). The
party’s name was abbreviated as NSDAP and shortened to “Nazi”
THE SWASTIKA
NAZI USE OF THE SWASTIKA
The swastika is an ancient symbol that has been used for over 3,000 years by many cultures, representing life, strength, and good luck.
German nationalists in the mid-nineteenth century began to use the swastika; this made it seem the Germans had a long history with ancient Aryans (a culture that used the swastika)
NAZI USE OF THE SWASTIKA
What better image to use as a new political party's symbol? The swastika suggested that the Nazis were connected with ancient tradition
For Hitler, the new flag had to be "a symbol of our own struggle" as well as "highly effective on a poster." The simple yet strong swastika fit the Nazis’ needs perfectly.
THE MUNICH BEER HALL PUTSCHTHE MUNICH BEER HALL PUTSCH Viewing the Weimar Republic as weak and ready to be taken down, Hitler plotted a putsch (takeover) of Germany
After they marched into a Munich beer hall (where a political meeting was taking place), Hitler’s stormtroopers were met with a hail of bullets from the Bavarian police
18 Nazis were killed. Most of the others were arrested.
Apprehended shortly after the failed putsch, Adolf Hitler was put on trial.
Viewing the Weimar Republic as weak and ready to be taken down, Hitler plotted a putsch (takeover) of Germany
After they marched into a Munich beer hall (where a political meeting was taking place), Hitler’s stormtroopers were met with a hail of bullets from the Bavarian police
18 Nazis were killed. Most of the others were arrested.
Apprehended shortly after the failed putsch, Adolf Hitler was put on trial.
HITLER ON TRIAL FOR SEDITIONHITLER ON TRIAL FOR SEDITIONIn February 1924, Hitler was brought to trial.
The trial was a political circus: the judge was sympathetic to Hitler and allowed him to express his political views.
Hitler made statements during the trial that made him well-known nationally and increased his popularity with Germans.
In February 1924, Hitler was brought to trial.
The trial was a political circus: the judge was sympathetic to Hitler and allowed him to express his political views.
Hitler made statements during the trial that made him well-known nationally and increased his popularity with Germans.
Hitler and several of his fellow Nazis during a break in the trialHitler and several of his fellow Nazis during a break in the trial
Charged of treason against the unpopular Weimar Republic, Hitler proclaimed: “There is no such thing as treason against the
traitors of 1918.”
Charged of treason against the unpopular Weimar Republic, Hitler proclaimed: “There is no such thing as treason against the
traitors of 1918.”
MEIN KAMPF: “MY STRUGGLE” Hitler received a light sentence and
only served 9 months in a minimum security prison. He spent most of his time writing his autobiography.
Mein Kampf expressed Hitler’s beliefs
Two of the major issues he addressed in Mein Kampf were:
1. Lebensraum (“living space”): Germany must take over other countries, especially Russia, for the use of the German “master race”.
2. Anti-Semitism: inferior races, especially the Jews, must be destroyed.
Hitler received a light sentence and only served 9 months in a minimum security prison. He spent most of his time writing his autobiography.
Mein Kampf expressed Hitler’s beliefs
Two of the major issues he addressed in Mein Kampf were:
1. Lebensraum (“living space”): Germany must take over other countries, especially Russia, for the use of the German “master race”.
2. Anti-Semitism: inferior races, especially the Jews, must be destroyed.
“Ballots, not bullets.”“Ballots, not bullets.”
The failure of the Beer Hall Putsch demonstrates to Hitler that power needs to be achieved through legal means, not violent overthrow.
When Hitler leaves prison, the Nazis have a new approach to gaining political power: getting votes
When the Great Depression hits Germany, desperate, starving people were willing to give the Nazis their votes
The failure of the Beer Hall Putsch demonstrates to Hitler that power needs to be achieved through legal means, not violent overthrow.
When Hitler leaves prison, the Nazis have a new approach to gaining political power: getting votes
When the Great Depression hits Germany, desperate, starving people were willing to give the Nazis their votes
When times are bad……people turn to extremes for answers
The Nazis’ Power
Increases
CHANCELLOR HITLER
The aging German President
Paul von Hindenburg appoints Hitler as
chancellor in January 1933.
Hitler’s power was increasing (over one million members of the Nazi Party and 400,000 men in his
private army), so Hindenburg thought to contain the Nazis by offering Hitler a position in the government.
CHANCELLOR HITLER
When Hindenburg dies of old age, Chancellor Hitler takes the President’s role and power as well.
Combining the titles of president and chancellor, Adolf Hitler becomes Der Fuhrer (The Leader)
Using violent tactics against political opponents and telling the German people what they wanted to hear, Hitler increased his power.
Once he cemented his position as Der Fuhrer, Hitler used his power to turn Germany into a totalitarian state.
GAINING POWERGAINING POWER
THE REICHSTAG FIRE
Within a disaster lay an
opportunity for Hitler… an
opportunity to eliminate his
worst political enemies:
the Communists
Within a disaster lay an
opportunity for Hitler… an
opportunity to eliminate his
worst political enemies:
the Communists
ELIMINATING POLITICAL ENEMIES
On February 27, 1933, a “feeble minded” Dutch Communist named Martinus van der Lubbe set the Reichstag (Germany’s government) building on fire
Hitler used this fire as a reason outlaw the Communist Party and arrest their leaders
With the Enabling Act, the Reichstag gave Hitler dictatorial powers because of this “crisis”
CONSPIRACY: The Nazis may have helped start the fire in the Reichstag building
Hitler used his new powers to outlaw all other political parties and abolish trade unions
Hitler was now “Der Fuhrer” both in name and in fact
ELIMINATING RIVAL NAZIS
June 30, 1934: “The Night of the Long Knives” June 30, 1934: “The Night of the Long Knives” Hitler’s black-shirted SS murderers killed over 1000 Nazis who
were seen as threats to Hitler’s power in the Nazi Party
THE THIRD REICH
The Nazis identified their rule as the successor to the Holy Roman Empire (the First Reich) and the Bismarck-created German Empire of 1871 (the Second Reich)
The Nazis called their new empire the “Third Reich”
PURIFYING GERMAN CULTUREPURIFYING GERMAN CULTURE
Ideas thought to be “un-German” were outlawed. As a result, book burnings took place all over Germany. (May 1933)
““They that start by burning books will end by burning men.”They that start by burning books will end by burning men.” German-Jewish poet Heinrich Heine, 1821German-Jewish poet Heinrich Heine, 1821
THE WILL OF THE FUHRER
As Fuhrer, Hitler’s personal views on every aspect of German life (art, culture, the role of women, family, genetics, politics, Social Darwinism, economics, foreign policy, military strategy) was rigorously imposed on the German nation.
RAISING NAZI CHILDRENRAISING NAZI CHILDREN
Teachers had to join the Nazi Teachers Association; those
who didn’t were fired
The Third Reich carefully subverted the German
educational system to mold children into loyal Nazis
The Third Reich carefully subverted the German
educational system to mold children into loyal Nazis
School curriculum taught Nazi beliefs: history courses
blamed Communists and Jews for Germany’s problems
School curriculum taught Nazi beliefs: history courses
blamed Communists and Jews for Germany’s problems
Geography courses focused on lebensraum (living space)
Geography courses focused on lebensraum (living space)
Biology courses taught the “science” of Aryan
racial superiority
Biology courses taught the “science” of Aryan
racial superiority
VICIOUS ANTI-SEMITISMHitler’s racial views were
put in everything Germans read or saw
In this German children’s book, a pious mother teaches her little son,
““The Jew is the The Jew is the most poisonous most poisonous mushroom in mushroom in existence.”existence.” The children’s book “Der Giftpilz” The children’s book “Der Giftpilz”
(The Poisonous Mushroom)(The Poisonous Mushroom)
HITLER’S FIERY SPEECHES One of the greatest
weapons in Hitler’s arsenal as he battled for power was his ability to deliver apocalyptic and convincing speeches
He made a science out of rousing crowds into a frenzy
The crowds would react as if Hitler were a quasi-Messiah, come to bring glory to Germany
HITLER’S FIERY SPEECHES
Hitler’s speeches would begin calmly. He would speak slowly and quietly, his voice muted and emotionless.
HITLER’S FIERY SPEECHES
Hitler would closely watch the audience, looking for the right time to turn on the emotion and rouse the crowd.
Hitler would closely watch the audience, looking for the right time to turn on the emotion and rouse the crowd.
HITLER’S FIERY SPEECHES
Hitler’s voice would rise as he spat out accusations against Germany’s “enemies”.
Hitler’s voice would rise as he spat out accusations against Germany’s “enemies”.
HITLER’S FIERY SPEECHES
Usually, his speech would become enraged. As his speeches went on, Hitler would be gesturing furiously,
shaking with anger, and covered with sweat.
Usually, his speech would become enraged. As his speeches went on, Hitler would be gesturing furiously,
shaking with anger, and covered with sweat.
HITLER’S FIERY SPEECHES
Hitler would whip his audiences into a frenzy, pausing his speeches as the crowds would salute him and thunder with applause and
cries of “Sieg Heil!”, which means “Hail Victory!”
Hitler would whip his audiences into a frenzy, pausing his speeches as the crowds would salute him and thunder with applause and
cries of “Sieg Heil!”, which means “Hail Victory!”
“If the international Jewish financiers in and outside Europe should succeed in plunging the nations once more into a world war, then the result will not be the Bolshevizing of the Earth, and thus the victory of Jewry, but the annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe!"
Adolf Hitler on January 30, 1939
HITLER’S FIERY SPEECHESMany of Hitler’s techniques in delivering speeches were learned in his church-going days: the power of the reiteration of key phrases, massed voices chanting and singing, the splendor of ritual and ceremony, and the use of powerful symbols.
Many of Hitler’s techniques in delivering speeches were learned in his church-going days: the power of the reiteration of key phrases, massed voices chanting and singing, the splendor of ritual and ceremony, and the use of powerful symbols.
THE POWER OF REITERATIONTHE POWER OF REITERATION
A commonly repeated phrase Hitler would use to hold sway over his audiences was “One People! One Empire! One
Leader!” It also made for effective propaganda on various posters.
A commonly repeated phrase Hitler would use to hold sway over his audiences was “One People! One Empire! One
Leader!” It also made for effective propaganda on various posters.
The devotion many Germans felt to Adolf Hitler was profound.
That devotion is apparent in this poster.
Hitler appears larger than life, being cast as a robust Aryan knight.
THE ADULATION OF HITLERTHE ADULATION OF HITLER
Hitler loved to show off the might of his rebuilt Germany, staging huge rallies and military parades
This Nazi propaganda poster reads,
“Behind the enemy powers:
the Jew”
Concentration camps were set up to enslave and exterminate the thousands upon thousands of
“undesirables”, especially Jews
The slogan that crowned the gates at the
camps displays a false promise: “Arbeit Macht
Frei”
“Work Sets You Free”
The reality was that you would not be set free, but exterminated. Hitler and the Nazi party labeled the mentally ill, communists, Gypsies, homosexuals and
Jews as subspecies of the human race.
These dead bodies are being burned to get rid of “evidence”.These dead bodies are being burned to get rid of “evidence”.
Cruel (and often deadly) medical experiments were performed on young boys and girls of the concentration camps.
“Angel of Death” Dr. Josef Mengele
Gold and silver teeth were extracted and collected from Gold and silver teeth were extracted and collected from gassed prisoners, then melted down for profitgassed prisoners, then melted down for profit
Adolf Hitler quickly became the most powerful and feared man in Europe. But about as swiftly, his
empire crashed and burned around him.