World War II Hitler & the Rise of Nazism

Adolf Hitler was the dictator of Germany from 1933 to 1945. He was also the leader of a political party called the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, known as the Nazis. Hitler was born in Austria in 1899, but moved to Munich, Germany, later in life. Hitler joined the German army after World War I began in 1914. During WWI he became a strong German patriot and fell in love with war. When WWI ended, Hitler, like many other Germans, were upset they had lost the war. They were also upset with the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty of Versailles had been signed on June 28, 1919, to end World War I. The treaty was

negotiated by the leaders of the Allied Powers with very little German representation. The provisions outlined in the treaty held severe consequences for Germany. The major points of the treaty stated that Germany would lose all its worldwide colonies and land, reduce the size of its military and weapons, accept full blame for WWI, and pay reparations to the countries devastated by the war. Many believe the Treaty of Versailles was a major contributing factor of Adolf Hitler gaining power in Germany and for World War II beginning.

After WWI ended, Germany fell into a deep economic depression. Germany was paying reparations to other countries damaged by the war and was unable to rebuild itself. Hitler, extremely irate with the situation in Germany, decided to enter politics. He gave powerful speeches that many Germans believed. He soon became the leader of the Nazi Party. Hitler led a coup in 1923 in an attempt to gain control of the German government, the Weimar Republic. His coup failed, and he served nine months in prison. While in prison, he wrote Mein Kampf, which was filled with his solutions for a better Germany. His ideas included

expanding German lands, elimination of “impure” races, and dictatorship. After he was released from prison, his speeches ignited the German people. The people of Germany were angry, hungry, and poor, and the 1929 Stock Market Crash in the United States only made the economic situation in Germany worse. Hitler and the Nazi Party took advantage of the fact that Germans were growing increasingly unhappy with the Weimar Republic. Through his fiery speeches lashing out against the Weimar Republic, many Germans pledged to support Hitler, and his Nazi Party grew. Hitler promised to restore Germany to a

powerful country not only in Europe but in the world. He offered solutions for Germany’s economic problems. Hitler was also able to unite Germans against the Jewish people by blaming them for Germany’s problems. Hitler called for an increase in Germany’s military forces and convinced Germans he could protect them from other countries. He promoted nationalism by calling for an increase in Germany’s lands.

In 1932, the Nazi Party won 37% of the legislative vote in the Reichstag, the German Parliament. This was more than any other political party. In 1933, Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany. Once Chancellor, Hitler began to implement his ideas from Mein Kampf. Germany was a democratic country when he became Chancellor. However, he strategically had laws passed and changed Germany’s constitution so that he had complete control. Hitler turned Germany into a fascist state, having a strong central government controlled by the military and led by a dictator. As Germany’s new dictator, Hitler banned

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Swastika, Nazi symbol

Hitler gave many speeches that rallied the German people.

Hitler gave every couple a copy of his Mein Kampf on their wedding day.

Adolf Hitler as a WWI soldier

World War II Hitler & the Rise of Nazism

all other political parties. Anyone who spoke out or opposed Hitler and his Nazi Party were terrorized by private, armed groups, and those caught were sent to concentration camps. The first concentration camp opened was in Dachau, Germany, and it housed political prisoners. Soon Hitler faced little opposition. He continued to rebuild Germany’s army and looked to expand the German Empire.

Hitler first annexed Austria and took over part of Czechoslovakia in 1938. Then on September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, which started WWII. Hitler’s army quickly took over most of Europe using a Blitzkrieg, or lightening war. Almost all of Europe was under Hitler’s control. Hitler not only seized control of Europe, he also looked to rid Europe of “impure” races. Hitler had blamed Jews for Germany’s struggles, but he also targeted other groups he considered inferior for the new Germany. Many people were targeted including Romas, Slavs,

the physically and mentally handicapped, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. This systematic state-sponsored persecution and murder was called the Holocaust. His hatred of certain races, ethnic groups, and peoples resulted in the genocide of 11 million innocent people. Hitler remained aggressive throughout WWII, continuing to attack European countries and murder innocents until the militaries of the United States and Soviet Union closed in around him. Hitler retreated to his underground bunker in Berlin, Germany, during the last months of WWII. When Hitler realized that a German defeat was imminent, he committed suicide on April 30, 1945, instead of being captured. After WWII ended, all symbols associated with Hitler and the Nazi Party were outlawed in an effort to purge their influence from German life.

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Slavs arriving at a concentration camp.

Concentration camps were heavily guarded.

Men, women, and children were sent to camps.

Prisoners at the camps had to line up for roll call multiple times a day.