The Rise of Hitler

Introduction

In 1889, a man who would go on to kill millions was born. Hitler. He was the son of a
customs officer and a much younger third wife. The couple had three children who did not
make it alive. Hitler, fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, made it
out alive. Hitler's father was quite harsh. His mother had a closer relationship with him but
had a traumatic death from cancer when he was 17. Other than that, Hitler was an average
guy with a regular education. He wanted to study art and moved to Vienna before his
mother's death but was turned down for lack of talent.

What were the key influences on Hitler's racist and anti-sematic beliefs before becoming
the chancellor of Germany?

Sources of Hitler's antisemitism: Hitler wrote the book Mein Kampf. He made it appear
that he adopted anti-Semitic beliefs early in his childhood. Hitler's antisemitism focuses on
three periods in his life.

1. The Vienna years: Hitler claimed that this was the period in which he developed his
antisemitic opinion. Vienna had about 10% of the Jewish population when Hitler
lived there. Also, different populations of the Austrian Empire, including(Czechs,
Poles, Croats and Hungarians, migrated to this place.) Hitler looked at the success of
the city's popular mayor, Lueger, who was re-elected multiple times for his anti-
sematic program. He most likely had also read some racist and anti-semitic literature
that was common around the city. The pamphlets claimed that Jews were the reason
for modern capitalism and that they were making a living of honest non-Jewish
workers.
2. The defeat of Germany(1914-1919): Although Hitler was an Austrian citizen, he
volunteered to fight for Germany in WWI. He fought vigorously through all four
years and rose to the position of a corporal. He felt infuriated by the defeat of
Germany, and although the Jews had supported the country during the war, they
welcomed the democratic party known as the Weimer Republic. This blamed the
Jewish people for the defeat of the war. Modern scholars, particularly Ian Kershaw,
see these years as the time Hitler fixated on his racist and nationalistic beliefs of the
Jews.

3. The first years with Weimar Republic(1919-1923): Hitler lived in Munich after
WWII. This place had many people with ex-soldiers who were angry at the new
democratic government formed in Berlin. He also began to associate capitalism,
communism, the Treaty of Versailles, democracy and the Jews as the reason for
Germany's defeats. By September 1919, Hitler started to believe the Jews were the
main force over all the defeats of Germany. He also spoke about Germany's need to
conquer Lebensraum, known as "living space". These ideas were not original. He did,
though, make himself known within Germany for his unique speaking style. By 1920,
he had become one of the most popular speakers in Munich. He took over a small
political group known as the German Workers' Party and renamed the nationalist
socialist German Workers' Party. NAZI for short. Antisemitism was what Hitler's
 message was throughout the period. Hitler believed they could overthrow the Weimer
Republic by creating a widespread party throughout Germany. The Beer Hall Putsch
(November 9, 1923) was when Hitler led around 2,000 Nazis and other members to
march to the Feldherrnhalle on the Ludwigstrasse. Law enforcement was then
involved, and 14 Nazis and four police officers died. Hitler was then tried and tested
and sent to prison, where he wrote all his ideas and beliefs in a single book called
"Mein Kampf."

How did the Nazi Party(especially Hitler) use violence, intimidation, and propaganda to
gain influence in German politics?
The Nazi Party was not a major party in Germany. In the May 2, 1928 parliament election, it
had acquired 2.6 per cent of the vote. Previously, in 1924, it received 3 percent of votes. So
you might be wondering, how did the Nazi party become so powerful and influential? In
short, they did this by blaming the Jews and communism(a type of government where the
government or the whole community owns land, factories or machinery) while also
promising growth and prosperity. They did this through the use of violence, intimidation and
propaganda, which I will explain in more detail individually. First, I will explain the context
of what the Nazi party was willing to reverse; the Treaty of Versailles.

Why the Treaty of Versailles was such a big deal?

The Treaty of Versailles included reparations and many other sanctions, weakening and
humiliating Germany. For example, Germany was excluded from entering the League of
Nations. This would mean Germany would have little to no say in many decisions. Also, the
Rhineland had to be demilitarised, which would increase the security for many other
countries in case of Germany's aggression in the future. For 15 years, the Saar coalfields were
given to France. This would be part of the payment from the reparations due from Germany.
Germany's territory was cut down by 13% to the following countries: France, Belgium,
Denmark, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Russia, and all of its colonies were given to France
and Britain. They also had to cut their army to 100,000 men. Conscription was also banned,
meaning they could not force people to go to war. Germany could retain only six battleships
and was forced to have no submarines. Germany was not allowed any submarines as they
could spy on other countries. They also were not allowed to have an air force. This would
severely weaken their military. Finally, Germany had to pay 132 billion gold marks, roughly
544 billion Aussie.

What did the Nazi party notice in the public thinking during that time?
During the Great Depression in 1930-1933, the mood in Germany was at an all-time low.
Millions of people were left without a job and felt a national humiliation after the First World
War. The Germans felt their government was weak and could not resolve the economic crisis.
The whole population thought that it would only get worse. Anger, fear, and poverty were
widespread in Germany. The Nazis and Hitler used this situation to their advantage.

Here are some methods used:

 Word of the Week: This was a series the Nazi party created which lasted about two
years, and it consisted of small slogans and phrases such as "Make Germany Great
Again" or "Jobs for True Germans". These slogans would be instilled in the viewer,
constantly reminding them of the Nazi ideology.

 Posters: Powerful visual techniques such as bold, big posters were constantly
exposed to the people in Germany. Posters often depicted Hitler as a strong leader,
while Germany was portrayed as a glorious nation ready to become “Great Again”.
The posters also portrayed the horrors the Jewish people created for the Germans and
that they were the reason for the weakened Germany.
 Radio: Radio broadcasts became a vital tool for spreading Nazi ideology. The Nazis
tightly controlled radio content, ensuring their message was the only one most
Germans heard. Rallies and speeches were broadcast throughout Germany, enhancing
their propaganda.

 Newspapers as Loudspeakers: Newspapers became mouthpieces for the Nazi party.

Independent journalism was crushed, and newspapers were forced to promote Nazi
ideology and suppress dissenting voices. This created an information bubble where
Germans were constantly exposed to Nazi propaganda.
  Controlling the films: Films were another tool, filled with idealised images of Aryan
Germans, and it made communism and Jewish people villainised. These films heavily
changed the idealogy of Germany, making many think similarly to Hitler.

 Speeches: Hitler was powerful at creating his speech by showing empathy and
promising to restore the German culture, reverse the Treaty of Versailles, and
eliminate communism.

Who were the SA and SS and how they used violence and intimidation to gain
influence?
SA (Storm Detachments)
The SA used violence and intimidation to disrupt opposing political rallies and meetings.
This helped create fear that silenced dissent against the Nazis. They, alongside the SS,
provided security for Nazi gatherings and protected Hitler during his public appearances.
Large SA marches and displays of strength were used for Nazi propaganda to project an
image of power and mass support. An example of this was in 1932 when the SA purposefully
disrupted a communist rally in Berlin, leading to violent clashes. This event made headlines
and instilled fear in those who might oppose the Nazis.
SS (Schutzstaffel - Protection Squads - Founded 1925)
The SS(Schutzstaffel - Protection Squads) were initially formed as an elite unit as Hitler's
bodyguards. They were secret police for the Nazis and played a crucial role in rounding up
and persecuting political opponents, Jews, and other targeted groups. An example of this was
Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) in November 1938, where the SS coordinated attacks
on Jewish synagogues and businesses throughout Germany. This marked a violent escalation
of Nazi persecution and created fear and intimidation for people willing to oppose the Nazis.

Conclusion:
Propaganda played a massive role in

How did the appeasement of other countries contribute to Hitler starting WW2?

Adolf Hitler's daring decision to remilitarize the Rhineland in the spring of 1936 sent
shockwaves spreading across Europe as concerning tensions mounted in Germany's resistant
dismissal of the binding terms of the Treaty of Versailles proved a fateful watershed that
darkened the continent's political landscape. Violating the Treaty of Versailles that had
established along the Rhine a demilitarized zone as security for France against Germany, the
bold actions taken by Hitler presented a brave challenge to the international order forged in
the aftermath of the First World War. This calculated risk put Britain and France to the test as
they chose an appeasement strategy out of concern for another terrible war. Hitler's goals for
expansion were strengthened by his victory in the Rhineland. Hitler planned the Anschluss,
which resulted in Austria's entry into the German Reich, two years later in March 1938. By
bringing German-speaking people together under one nation, this action achieved a long-
standing goal of German nationalism. Hitler's strategy of using military force combined with
political pressure allowed him to secure the Anschluss with little opposition from Austria.
Hitler was further encouraged to seek more territorial conquests by the mainly calm response
from the international community. A turning point was achieved in September 1938, an
autumn month, when Hitler's relentless ambition for territorial expansion made a dramatic
advancement. By focusing on the Sudetenland, a region in Czechoslovakia that is mainly
inhabited by German relatives, his strategies pushed Europe closer and closer to the edge of
war. Important countries like Germany, Italy, France, and Britain met at the Munich
Conference at the height of the crisis. Here, they drafted and signed the famous Munich
Agreement, letting Germany to takeover the Sudetenland under the impression that doing so
would bring about enduring peace. However, a few months later, in March 1939, Hitler
violated this agreement by taking control of all remaining areas of Czechoslovakia. This
action completely destroyed any hope that appeasement would satisfy his endless desire for
conquest. As a result, Europe entered a period of extreme unease and dread.

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