From Depression to Repression: The Rise of the Third Reich

Transcription

1 From Depression to Repression: The Rise of the Third Reich Weimar Republic s Difficulties ( ) Hyperinflation & Debt Lack of Clear & Consistent Leadership Conservative Reaction Adolf Hitler ( ) Experience in WWI; Aftermath Early Ideas, Controversies The Beer Hall Putsch (Revolt) The National Socialist German Workers Party Formation & Ideas; Hitler s Nazi Party Scapegoats: Minorities & Weimar Leaders Silencing Dissent; Censorship & Conformity Nationalism, Militarism, & A Simple Message Marienplatz, Munich, during Hitler s Failed Coup of 1923 Building Bridges Hitler s Germany, Mussolini s Italy; Stalin s U.S.S.R.

2 Weimar Republic s Difficulties ( ) Hyperinflation & Debt Soaring Prices & Economic Instability; Printing $ War Reparations to Other Countries; Default, 22/3 Global Effects of Depression, post- 29 U.S. Credit Withheld; Shaky Recovery, 23-9 Lack of Clear & Consistent Leadership Political Chaos of Coalition Gov t (Many Parties) Examples: SPD, DDP, DVP, KPD, DNVP Democracy Required Proportional Representation Inherent Chaotic Nature Conservative Reaction Versailles as Treason; National Mourning, Resentment Kaiser s Abdication; End of German Monarchy Fear of Leftist Liberalism & Communism Vs. Democratic Constitution (Representative) Election Poster of 1932

3 Adolf Hitler ( ) Experience in WWI; Aftermath Strong German Nationalist (Austrian-born) Served as Messenger/Runner in Bavarian Infantry Early Ideas, Controversies Anti-Semitism Blaming Jews for All Failures Aryanism Superior Race of Ancient Germany Lebensraum or Living Space for Pure Germans The Beer Hall Putsch (Revolt) November, 1923, Munich; Revolt vs. Weimar Gov t To be a March on Berlin; Seizure of Political Power Utter Failure; 5 Years in Jail (Served about 1) Dictated Mein Kampf (My Struggle) while in Jail, 24 Respected Gustav Stresemann, Weimar Leader, late 20s Nationalist; Regaining Respect for Germany The danger posed by Jewry for our people today finds expression in the undeniable aversion of wide sections of our people.... Antisemitism as a political movement may not and cannot be defined by emotional impulses, but by recognition of the facts. The facts are these: First, Jewry is absolutely a race and not a religious association.... Antisemitism based on reason... must lead to systematic legal combatting and elimination of the privileges of the Jews, that which distinguishes the Jews from the other aliens who live among us (an Aliens Law). The ultimate objective [of such legislation] must, however, be the irrevocable removal of the Jews in general. Adolf Hitler, Sept. 16, 1919

4 From Mein Kampf: Anti-Semitism & Propaganda Another thing that got on my nerves at this time was the way the big papers pursued an obnoxious cult of France. You would have to be ashamed to be a German when these sweet hymns of praise to the great culture-nation came before your eyes. More than once, this miserable truckling to the French caused me to drop these world-papers. I then often picked up the Volksblatt which, while it was certainly smaller, appeared nonetheless somewhat purer in these matters. I was not in agreement with the sharply antisemitic tone, but once in awhile I read arguments which gave me cause to think.... The relationship of Jewry to prostitution and still more to the white-slave traffic could be especially well studied in Vienna, as in no other city of Western Europe, with the possible exception of the ports of southern France.... Gradually, I began to hate them.... From a weak cosmopolitan I had become a fanatical antisemite.... Thus I believe today that I am acting according to the will of the almighty Creator: when I defend myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord. All propaganda must be popular and its intellectual level must be adjusted to the most limited intelligence among those it is addressed to. Consequently, the greater the mass it is intended to reach, the lower its purely intellectual level will have to be. But if, as in propaganda for sticking out a war, the aim is to influence a whole people, we must avoid excessive intellectual demands on our public, and too much caution cannot be extended in this direction.... The function of propaganda is... exclusively to emphasize the one right which it has set out to argue for. Its task is not to make an objective study of the truth... and then set it before the masses with academic fairness; its task is to serve our own right, always and unflinchingly.

5 The National Socialist German Workers Party Formation & Ideas Evolved from German Worker s Party Anti-Capitalist; Nationalist-Centered Strong Anti-Semitic Tone Munich, 1919; Conservative Bavaria Strengthened Resolve in Economic Chaos Hitler s Nazi Party Joined DAP, Sept. 19; Major Speaker by 21 Recognized as Führer of the Party, 21 Charismatic Leadership; Simple Rhetoric Attacked Jews & Immigrants, Capitalists & Communists, Weimar Republicans & Social Democrats Importance of the State, Military, & Nation Similar to Mussolini s Fascism Hitler s Forged Membership Card (To make him look like a Founding Member of the Party)

6 The Party Program, We demand the union of all Germans in a Great Germany on the basis of the principle of self-determination of all peoples. 2. We demand that the German people have rights equal to those of other nations; and that the Peace Treaties of Versailles and St. Germain shall be abrogated. 3. We demand land and territory (colonies) for the maintenance of our people and the settlement of our surplus population. 4. Only... fellow countrymen can become citizens. Only those who have German blood, regardless of creed, can be our countrymen. Hence no Jew can be a countryman. 5. Those who are not citizens must live in Germany as foreigners... subject to the law of aliens. 8. Any further immigration of non-germans must be prevented. We demand that all non- Germans who have entered Germany since August 2, 1914, shall... leave the Reich immediately. 22. We demand the abolition of the regular army and the creation of a national (folk) army. 24. We demand freedom for all religious faiths in the state, insofar as they do not endanger its existence or offend the moral and ethical sense of the Germanic race. The party as such represents... a positive Christianity without binding itself to any one particular confession. It fights against the Jewish materialist spirit within and without, and is convinced that a lasting recovery of our folk can only come about from within on the principle: COMMON GOOD BEFORE INDIVIDUAL GOOD.

7 The National Socialist German Workers Party, Cont. Scapegoats: Minorities & Weimar Leaders Economic, Political Difficulties National Pride Tarnished Pursuit through Legal Means, 25 on Rise in Electoral Status %; %; % Silencing Dissent Hitler Named Chancellor, Jan. 33 For a Coalition Government Nazi Party s Hierarchy of Command Anti-Democratic Power Structure Reichstag Fire, Feb. 33 Rights Suspended; Communists Targeted Enabling Act, March 33 Gov t Decrees w/o Reichstag Participation End of Representative Gov t in Germany Consolidation of All Power in the Führer Hitler after becoming Chancellor

8 Law to Remove the Distress of the People and the State (The Enabling Act) The Reichstag has passed the following law, which is, with the approval of the Reichsrat, herewith promulgated, after it has been established that it meets the requirements for legislation altering the Constitution. Article 1. National laws can be enacted by the Reich Cabinet as well as in accordance with the procedure established in the Constitution. This also applies to the laws referred to in Article 85, Paragraph 2, and in Article 87 of the Constitution. Article 2. The national laws enacted by the Reich Cabinet may deviate from the Constitution as long as they do not affect the position of the Reichstag and the Reichsrat. The powers of the President remain undisturbed. Article 3. The national laws enacted by the Reich Cabinet shall be prepared by the Chancellor and published in the Reichsgesetzblatt. They come into effect, unless otherwise specified, the day after their publication. Articles of the Constitution do not apply to the laws enacted by the Reich Cabinet. Article 4. Treaties of the Reich with foreign states which concern matters of national legislation do not require the consent of the bodies participating in legislation. The Reich Cabinet is empowered to issue the necessary provisions for the implementation of these treaties. Article 5. This law becomes effective on the day of its publication. It becomes invalid on April 1, 1937; it also becomes invalid if the present Reich Cabinet is replaced by another.

9 Censorship & Conformity Nazi Propaganda of the 1930s News Media Heavily Controlled Outsiders Shunned, Pressured to Obey Creating Ex- & Internal Enemies; Hate Posters, Speeches, Movies, Books, Radio Permeating Every Part of the Day & Society Hitler Youth for all 10-Year Old Aryans Nationalism, Militarism, & A Simple Message Using Pride to Unite Germans Outside Germany Using Prejudice to Expel Inferior Peoples Government Spending to Restart Economy Priming the Pump with Credit Building Infrastructure & Consumer Goods (Re)building Military Forces, Illegally Message of Purity, Unity, Strength, Honor Long Live Germany!

10 d

11 Building Bridges Hitler s Germany, Mussolini s Italy Similar Styles of Governance Totalitarian, All-Encompassing Expansionist Visions: Empire & Lebensraum Rome-Berlin Axis, November, 36 Alliance of Dictators Followed by Pact with Japan Pact of Steel, May 39 Agree to Aid in Event of War Germany the Stronger Italy key to Deflect & Distract Stalin s U.S.S.R. Communism not Tolerated by Hitler Autocratic Rule Endorsed by Hitler Non-Aggression Pact with Stalin Partition of Poland, West & East