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)
