Wednesday, 2 July 2014
The Group's Opinion of Hitler's Success
Our group believes that Hitler's rise to power was due to his ideology, leadership abilities and charisma. His seniors and his Colonel was impressed of him and he eventually became a guest speaker at the German Workers' Party. Without his talent of public speaking, he wouldn't have presented his ideology very well in front of the German Workers' Party. He wouldn't have driven the people to gain back their nationalist spirit to fight back for Germany. His ideas played a big part on capturing the hearts of fellow Germans in that time -all those blaming the Jews, the Communists- Hitler was agreeable, that is why he gained a lot of support from the citizens (well, except from the Reds and the Jews, of course) While his popularity rise, he grabbed attentions of influential and powerful men that could help him. Of course, this was business and Hitler knew that he should make good deals with other people so both Hitler and his ally will be benefited. When he met people that could help him, he is able to convince and seal deals, hence, he gained military support and political support in the process. With military help, he was enabled to carry out his plan to hunt down his opponents and the Jews, making him being feared by many but also supported (due to the idea of wiping out the Jews). Eventually, he created the Nazi Party after the founder stepped down from his position. Therefore, the ideology, his leadership abilities and charisma has helped him to rise in power by gaining support politically and militarily. With military help, he was enabled to carry out his plan to hunt down his opponents and the Jews, making him being feared by many but also supported (due to the idea of wiping out the Jews) .
Tuesday, 24 June 2014
Exploitation of the fears of Communism & Reorganisation of the Nazi Party
Hitler’s
Exploitation of Communism in Germany post WW1, Pre WWII
Side notes:
·
Political Views of Hitler towards communism,
o
Seen as the primary enemy of Germany,
o Marxism seen as a Jewish
strategy to dominate/subjugate Germany and the world
(Note that Marxism spawned the
idea of communism, so Marxism is also seen as communism… More or less)
o
Due to all of this, all leftists (Those in
politics who believe in equality) were targeted
by the Third Reich (Nazi Party)
·
Before becoming the dictator of Nazi Germany, Hitler
worked within the Educational department of the army.
o
Tasked to lecture returning soldiers (From war)
on the dangers of communism, socialism, and pacifism.
o
His oratory skills of influencing large crowds
have impressed his senior officers and the Colonel.
·
Joined the German Workers’ Party in September
1919
o
Was an extremely Anti-Semitic, Anti-Communist,
Right-Wing (Belief that there will always be social Hierarchy) Nationalist
political group.
o
Unfortunately, Hitler joined this political
group as it reflects himself really well
§
Turned into the National Socialist German
Workers’ Party, which then corrupted into the Third Reich (Nazi Party)
MAIN POINTS
-The
German Communist Party (KPD - Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands) was a rival
contender to the NSDAP (Infamously known as the Nazi Party) during the years of
Weimar Germany in who acquires national power.
-The KPD posed a threat to the Nazis as it appealed to the unemployed
community, what by giving them a stable job.
-However, like in Soviet Russia (USSR), the idea was
unappealing to the rich, as it meant that all their assets would be government
controlled.
-However,
the appointment of Hitler as Chancellor in January 1933 and the Reichstag Fire of February 1933 and the consequences surrounding the fire, spelt the
end of any political influence that the KPD might have had.
-Conveniently,
Adolf Hitler was the Chancellor of Germany (The Head of the Government of
Germany), and he persuaded the President of Germany of that time, Paul von
Hindenburg to pass an emergency decree to suspend civil liberties in order to
counter the "ruthless confrontation of the Communist Party of
Germany".
-The
Reichstag Fire was blamed on the KPD and in the immediate aftermath of the
fire, KPD leaders were rounded up and were among the first people to be put
into the newly created Dachau concentration camp, which was just outside of
Munich. After the Enabling Act was passed in March 1933, it was very dangerous
for anyone to openly espouse their support for the KPD and the influence of the
party swiftly dwindled. Some KPD members fled to the USSR while others spent
years in hiding.
-Hitler
sent out his what so equivalent of a PMC, the Schutzstaffel; Abbreviated as the
SS (Defence Corps, which will be discussed in a later topic). Also an
interesting point, they are classified as paramilitary, so explains the
militaristic attitude
-This
helped Hitler in the fact that NSDAP; Nazi party to go on to win more seats in
the Government, even way more than Hitler’s expectations of winning 50 seats,
but 143 seats, almost a 200% increase.
(Side
note: Apparently the Reichstag Fire was also committed by a communist, giving a
really good reason to accuse the KDP of the Arson)
-Another
way that Hitler exploited the Germans’ fear of communism is by giving them
really vague promises, through his speeches and propaganda.
-Following
the Wall Street Crash in 1929, the Germans were effectively bankrupt, and
millions of Germans were retrenched. As Britain and France were still
recovering from the effects from WWI, and Soviet Russia; Stalin’s Russia was
still underdeveloped, Germany had to borrow loans from the only superpower, US,
which then, became effectively bankrupt due to the large loans from Germany,
such as the 1924 Dawes Plan, and in 1929 Young Plan. (The US gave 90 days to
Germany to repay the hefty loans.)
-The
Nazis were also bankrupt that time due to excessive amounts spent on Parades
and other events, but they were bailed for connections with a right-wing (POLITICS)
businessman with firms in the filming industry.
-The
Wall Street Crash also crumbled several major banks.
-Hitler
then took advantage of the situation by promising the people that he and his
party will provide jobs, strengthen the economy of Germany, and repudiate the
Treaty of Versailles, after causing much embarrassment to the Germans, if they
are in office.
-This
helped the NSDAP’s reputation to increase significantly.
Reorganisation of NSDAP
-The Nazi Party structure is a rather hierarchical one, with the Fuhrer
being the head of the Nazi Party.
<<<Structure of the Nazi Party on the left
The
previous “variant” of the Nazi Party, The German Workers’ Party, was an extreme
Anti-Semitic, Anti-Communist, Right-Wing (Belief that there will always be
social Hierarchy) Nationalist political group.
It became the NSDAP and corrupted to become the infamously known Nazi
Party.
Before
the reorganisation, Hitler was the Fuhrer of the party, and was sentenced to
jail for high treason after a failed coup d’état, known as the Beer Hall Putsch
(Which was inspired by Benito Mussolini’s March on Rome). He was intended to be
held in prison for 5 years, instead of his served 1 year.
When
he was released, Germany’s Economy was stabilised and less agitated (less
violent), greatly limiting the chances of overthrowing the government. He was
also barred from public speaking, until lifted in 1927 with a meeting with the
Bavaria Prime Minister, Heinrich held in 1925, where Hitler agreed to respect
authority and work within bounds to get power (via democratic means). Also
during the ban, all affiliated organisations with the NSDAP were also banned in
Bavaria.
Whilst
during the ban, Hitler appointed 3 of his men, Gregor Strasser, Otto Strasser,
and Joseph Goebbles to expand the NSDAP in northern Germany. With Gregor
Strasser’s talent of organising, the NSDAP support up in the north of Germany
is strong.
Once
he is out, he formed divisions (Party Organisations), most notably, the
Sturmabteilung, or Stormtroopers (SA), and the afford mentioned Schutzstaffel ,
or Defence Corps (SS), both of which are paramilitary, and also infamous, due
to its involvement with the persecution of Jews.
Nuremberg
remained a Nazi Party stronghold, and the first Nuremberg Rally was held there
in 1927. These rallies soon became massive displays of Nazi paramilitary power
and attracted many recruits. The Nazis' strongest appeal was to the lower
middle-classes – farmers, public servants, teachers, small businessmen – who
had suffered most from the inflation of the 1920s, so who feared Bolshevism
more than anything else.
The
party attracted more from WWI veterans to
whom Hitler as a decorated frontline veteran could particularly appeal, as well
as small businessmen and disaffected former members of rival parties. Nazi
rallies were often held in beer halls, where downtrodden men could get free
beer. The Hitler Youth was formed for the children of party members, although
it remained small until the late 1920s. The party also formed groups in other
parts of Germany.
Propaganda
was also used to help Hitler rise to power.
The Nazis used a wide range of media to propagate the Germans, like
through newspapers, speeches, posters, and more. One noticeable example would
be his memoir, Mein Kampf (My
Struggle) that showed his political beliefs.
The
Völkischer Beobachter ("People's Observer") was the official daily
newspaper of the NSDAP since December 1920. It disseminated Nazi ideology in
the form of brief hyperboles directed against the weakness of parliamentarism,
the evils of Jewry and Bolshevism, the national humiliation of the Versailles
Treaty and other such topics.
There
were many speeches during the time, and is the most relied on propaganda before
they came to power. Hitler, in Mein Kampf, recounted that he had realized that
it was not written matter but the spoken word that brought about changes, as
people would not read things that disagreed, but would linger to hear a
speaker. His talent in public speaking gave his party an edge, as he can easily
influence an audience. He also can see the reaction of the audience of his
speeches.
An Example of Nazi
Propaganda before NSDAP went into power (Resolution is 2145x3473) Posters
were not hard to come by in Germany during the time, unlike other forms of
propaganda. The visual effect, being striking, would reach the viewer easily.There
were other forms of propaganda, through the radio, textbooks, magazines, books,
comics, photography, art, and films of Nazi propaganda. But most of them
appeared after the NSDAP went into power. Nazi
propaganda promoted Nazi ideology by demonizing the enemies of the Nazi Party,
especially Jews and communists, but also capitalists and intellectuals. It
promoted the values asserted by the Nazis, including heroic death,
Führerprinzip (leader principle), Volksgemeinschaft (people's community), Blut
und Boden (blood and soil) and the youth were taught early to take pride in the
Germanic master race (Herrenvolk). Propaganda was also used to maintain the
cult of personality around Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, and to promote campaigns
for eugenics and the annexation of German-speaking areas. After the outbreak of
World War II, Nazi propaganda vilified Germany's enemies, notably the United
Kingdom, the Soviet Union and the United States, and exhorted the population to
partake in total war.
Reference:
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_views_of_Adolf_Hitler
-www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/riseofhitler/trial.htm
-en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler#Rebuilding_the_NSDAP
- http://ghdi.ghi-dc.org/images/NSDAP.jpg (For
NSDAP structure Picture)
Charisma & Skillfulness of Hitler
Hitler's speech has many different characteristics then others.Firstly,he must be silent a long time before the speech, until the masses by the alarm to the static, and from static to twitter,he then began to speak.Secondly, he started the speech intonation is very gentle, but soon passionate surging up, accompanied by the dance with joy, but also often stand on tiptoe, can reach a few hysteria. Minutes of the realm.Thirdly,his speech was always shorter and not more than half an hour.When he was giving a speech he never give people chance to release or fall a sleep.His speech was very simple and fast.He always mention words like "Germany","national","justice"
Hitler had also use of "patriotism"to steal the alliance leadership.With resourcefulness in speech, he make a trick to incite violent emotions.He also very smart,when he catch some small things,he will tried to make the event turn into a big things.He use of "patriotism" in exchange for sympathy.In the end,this had led to his rise to power.
From the sources shown in "http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/
From the sources shown in "http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/
From the picture ,it shows that Hitler was respect and support by the people and he was having a meeting with the politicians.This shows that his charisma and oratorical led to his success and how he making deals with politicians.
Nazi Ideology
First of all, there are several elements to take note on Nazism:
- Anti-Semitism (Especially Jews)
- The idea of Herrenrasse (a.k.a. The Master Race)
- Rejection of other ideologies
- Relation to Fascism
- Anti-Semitism (Especially Jews)
- The idea of Herrenrasse (a.k.a. The Master Race)
- Rejection of other ideologies
- Relation to Fascism
Anti-Semitism
Fig. 2.1 (from left to right) A Jew and a German
Roughly translates "The year of it ends. Let the rampage proceed."
This is a Anti-Semitism poster that encourages Germans to mistreat the Jews.
 |
| (Fig 2.2 A portrayed rich Jew) |
Anti-Semitism is an idea of being against the "Shem" race (Semites is derived from Shem) and Anti-Slavism is an idea of being against the Slavics. However, the most targeted race in Germany was Jews. This hatred for Jews was not only started in the 20th century but since the ancient times. For Europeans in the early 1900s, the Jews are hated for their wealth and successes in business, politics and media. Germans especially despised the Jews because of this reason as well. Not much native Germans were really rich and successful and they blame it all to the Jews because most of them are successful. The Germans even claimed that the Jews are controlling Germany.
 |
| (Fig 2.3 "Germany's Children are Starving" Photograph in 1923) |
Because of the wealthy Jews in Germany, the Germans have believed that the Jews are responsible for the poverty of Germany. Many said that "Jews are stealing our bread from our tables." -quoted from Hitler:The Rise of Evil. With the help of the economic crisis in Germany, it let Hitler use the Semites to take the blame and made it easy to persuade his fellow Germans to believe that it is all the Semites fault for the suffering of the Germans. Hitler mainly used this example to gain support from middle and lower class. His speech about Jews causing harm to Germany was an effective catalyst to wake up the nationalism among the native German population.
 |
| Fig 2.4 An Anti-Semitism propaganda poster |
"What the Jews did to the Germans during the Weimar period they are now doing to the American people. They have stolen our wealth—our freedoms—our prosperity—our traditions— our moral character—our honour, our wholesomeness, and our Christian heritage. Should a strong new voice of clarity and conviction appear and convince me and my family that he could and would lead us out of this occupation by aliens and unite our people in a just cause—ending Jewish influence—I would follow him since there is no other choice—no other hope—you’re damn right I would. Perhaps Jewry would do well to learn a lesson from Weimar and how it was addressed by the Third Reich—because next time it just might be the whole world screaming for justice and an end of Jewry’s evil. This time, once and for all!" - Joe Cortina
Hitler believed that the Jews have migrated to Germany to strip them from their heritage, contaminate the Purity of the German Race, and destroy Germany socially and economically as what Joe Cortina explained. Hitler believed strongly in Nationalism and have believed that Jews should not be compromised with. All because they are not Pure Germanic Race or part of the Aryan race. He only believed in the nobility and purity of Germans that could only make German great again. In Fig 2.4, this poster tells about the perverse traits of the Jews, mainly believed as backstabbers, lustful, and greedy, and how they harm (from knife pointing at a soldier) the Germans in order to get the benefits they wanted. This poster intended to support the idea of eliminating Jews from Germany.Hence, Hitler further gained a large support base.
The Herrenrasse
This ideology is close to Anti-Semitism however this focuses on the unification of the Germanic states. This idea is to unify all German blood or the Aryan race and eliminate the inferior races. The Aryans was known as a superior race -worth of nobility and are pure. Additionally, their race were known as
naturally having health, more moral than others, more noble than other races
known. So, in this ideology, the hierarchy structure is by race. The most superior are the Aryans, the lowest are the inferior races like Slavs and Jews. Of course, the people of Germany will really support this idea since they have been separated from Austria-Hungary after the WWI. Because of this element, the people of Germany supported Hitler which helped him to rise in power.
The Rejection of Other Ideologies
Karl Marx was a Jew and this has sparked Hitler an idea that the Jews are making way to control the world through Communism. This is also because in Communism and Bolshevism emphasized on working with different races and compromise with them to reach the nation's goal. In my perspective, if different races worked together to achieve one goal then all of these races has the credit. Whereas, if it is only the Germans made Germany rise again, then all credits goes to the Germans. Not Jews, not Slavs -Purely Germans only. This concept of crediting helps more to understand why Hitler reject Communism and Bolshevism. Not only that, but economically speaking, Hitler rejected Communism as it was a threat to Germany and the people. Hitler feared Communism as it may worsen the status of Germany. The people feared Communism because it may lead to deaths like what happened to Russia in October 1917. Hence, Germans (who are neutral especially) would support Hitler from this element.
Secondly, Hitler rejected Democracy as well. This is because of the outcome of the Weimar government's action towards the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler could not fathom the fact that the new government surrendered and allowed misfortune upon Germany. As a patriotic veteran Hitler was, he could not simply accept it. My opinion regarding his rejection of the democratic government is that, democracy can allow stupid people to be in charge of the country -frankly speaking. Since it is everyone chooses a leader, the people would go for the one they think is more comfortable but not exactly what they need. As for Hitler, he believes truly in his country and I believe that he knows what should be done but it could not be possible through a democratic governemnt.
Overall Analysis
As far as I have researched on this topic, most clearly show that Nazism is about strong nationalism to the extent of there is no such thing of being compromised. Hitler's Nazi ideology is all based on defense of blood and soil (which are represented as red and black on his flag) as his main goal was to create a pure German state that is known to be a great nation. However, I have observed that as his life goes on from childhood, there are incidents that made him hate the Jews more. The immorality influence in Germany -especially media, the Jewish people in politics and army. He solely believed in the rights of the German people to their country and this reason gave him passion to be a voice to his people. All because of the elements of the Nazism ideology, Hitler was able to catch the attentions of investors, publishers and more people that could help him to rise, and eventually become a speaker that could appeal people because of his ideology to a leader. Without the Nazism ideology, he would not be even interested in politics. He would not have gotten attention from people and would still be an average person. Therefore, I believe Nazi ideology allowed him to rise in power.
Great Depression
Impact of the Great Depression on Germany
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic
depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied
across nations, but in most countries it started in 1930 and lasted until the
late 1930s or middle 1940s. It was sparked by the stock market crash of 1929 in the New
York Stock Exchange. The depression affected almost every country in the world,
but It ht Germany particularly badly, because Germany was dependent on loans
and investments from the USA. When the USA suddenly recalled the loans and
deposits from German banks, Germany suffered an economic crisis, which in turn
caused a social crisis. Factories closed down. Millions lost their jobs. The
government also had to make cuts to social services. Poverty, homelessness and
even starvation were commonplace. By 1932, six million people, or one-third of
the working population, were unemployed.
Companies throughout Germany - though
primarily in the industrial zones such as the Ruhr - went bankrupt and workers
were laid off in their millions. Unemployment affected nearly every German
family just 6 years after the last major economic disaster - hyperinflation - had hit Weimar.
September 1928
|
650,000 unemployed
|
September 1929
|
1,320,000 unemployed
|
September 1930
|
3,000,000 unemployed
|
September 1931
|
4,350,000 unemployed
|
September 1932
|
5,102,000 unemployed
|
January 1933
|
6,100,000 unemployed
|
After
the Wall
Street Crash, America gave Germany 90 days to start to re-pay money loaned to
her. No other world power had the money to give Germany cash injections.
Britain and France were still recovering from the First World War and the Wall
Street Crash was to have an impact on industrial Britain. Stalin’s Russia was still in a desperate state and embarking on the 5
year plans. Therefore, an impoverished Weimar Germany could only call on
America for help and she was effectively bankrupt
by the
end of 1929 and quite incapable of lending money.
by the
end of 1929 and quite incapable of lending money.Pictures of events that had happened during the great depression:
Adolf Hitler knew his opportunity had arrived.
 |
Breadline in New York City’s
Bryant Park
during the Great Depression.
|
In the good times before the Great Depression the Nazi Party experienced slow growth, barely reaching 100,000 members in a country of over sixty million. But the Party, despite its tiny size, was a tightly controlled, highly disciplined organization of fanatics poised to spring into action.
Since the failed Beer Hall Putsch in 1923, Hitler had changed tactics and was for the most part playing by the rules of democracy. Hitler had gambled in 1923, attempting to overthrow the young German democracy by force, and lost. Now he was determined to overthrow it legally by getting elected while at the same time building a Nazi shadow government that would one day replace the democracy.
 |
Shack, built of loose boards
and parts of boxes in New York
City
during the Great Depression
|
Hitler had begun his career in politics as a street brawling revolutionary appealing to disgruntled World War I veterans predisposed to violence. By 1930 he was quite different, or so it seemed. Hitler counted among his supporters a number of German industrialists, and upper middle class socialites, a far cry from the semi-literate toughs he started out with.
He intentionally broadened his appeal because it was necessary. Now he needed to broaden his appeal to the great mass of voting Germans. His chief assets were his speech making ability and a keen sense of what the people wanted to hear.
By mid-1930, amid the economic pressures of the Great Depression, the German democratic government was beginning to unravel.
Gustav Stresemann, the outstanding German Foreign Minister, had died in October 1929, just before the Wall Street crash. He had spent years working to restore the German economy and stabilize the republic and died, having exhausted himself in the process.
 |
| A run on a bank in Berlin |
The crisis of the Great Depression brought disunity to the
political parties in the Reichstag. Instead of forging an alliance to enact
desperately need legislation, they broke up into squabbling, uncompromising
groups. In March of 1930, Heinrich Bruening, a member of the Catholic Center
Party, became Chancellor.
Despite the overwhelming need for a financial
program to help the German people, Chancellor Bruening encountered
stubborn opposition to his plans. To break the bitter stalemate, he went to
President Hindenburg and asked the Old Gentleman to invoke Article 48 of the
German constitution which gave emergency powers to the president to rule by decree.
This provoked a huge outcry from the opposition, demanding withdrawal of the
decree.
to help the German people, Chancellor Bruening encountered
stubborn opposition to his plans. To break the bitter stalemate, he went to
President Hindenburg and asked the Old Gentleman to invoke Article 48 of the
German constitution which gave emergency powers to the president to rule by decree.
This provoked a huge outcry from the opposition, demanding withdrawal of the
decree. |
| Admiration for Soviet Russia |
As a measure of last resort, Bruening asked Hindenburg in July 1930 to dissolve the Reichstag according to parliamentary rules and call for new elections. The elections were set for September 14th. Hitler and the Nazis sprang into action. Their time for campaigning had arrived. The German people were tired of the political haggling in Berlin. They were tired of misery, tired of suffering, tired of weakness. These were desperate times and they were willing to listen to anyone, even Adolf Hitler.
Hyperinflation
The WW1 winners took away a part of Germany's territories with 3/4 of its iron ore reserves.
German was suppose to pay $33 billion of reparations.
Germany plunged into chaos of inflation. (1 US$ cost 4200000000000 Deutsch Marks)
Foods were paid with bags of money.
That was the time when Adolf Hitler came in and urged Germany to switch to Dictatorship to save the country economy.
German authorities conducted a monetary reform in 1923, which made the economy of the country grow.
The frequent change of government in the country makes the hyperinflation even worst.
Adolf Hitler became the fifth chancellor on January 30, 1933.
Everyone hopes that Adolf Hitler would stay at power for a couple of months.
Hjalmar Horace Greeley Schacht is a legendary person.
He chaired Germany’s Reichsbank in 1923, conducted successful reforms, stopped the hyperinflation and attracted loans from the United States.
He became known as the savior of the nation.
Schacht resigned in 1930 and became an official spokesman for Morgan, a renowned banker linked with Rockefeller and Rothschild.
Schacht did a lot to help German Nazis and Hitler rise to power.
It was obviously easy for Hitler to destroy his political rivals.
However, it was a lot harder to retrieve the paralyzed economy of the country with 68,000 bankrupt enterprises and a huge army of the unemployed.
Fuhrer(leader) issued the law about the reduction of unemployment in June of 1933.
Over two million people started building autobahns, railways and channels.
The government was reducing taxes for the companies that were expanding their investment activities and contributing to the growth of employment.
The unemployment rate was halved in a year and was completely liquidated in 1936.
The nation extricated from the crisis in the heavy industry in 1935.
The Fuhrer was getting ready for war.
Schacht did his best to fund the defense industry of Germany.
He used a parallel currency – Mefo bills – to cover a half of all expenses to rearm the German army.
Germany pulled out from the League of Nations.
Germany officially announced its plan to concentrate fully on the defense industry within four years.
Germany was controlling all of its imports strictly.
The nation launched enterprises to produce synthetic rubber and fuel made of local coal since there were no oil reserves in the country.
Over 250,000 people were involved in the aircraft-building industry.
On September 1, 1939 marks the start of a new World War with the German invasion of Poland.
-Links-
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)