Nazi Totalitarianism

Weimar Republic

• In 1919 German leaders drafted to constitution in city of Weimar.

• This created the Weimar Republic. The Weimar Republic  was a democratic government.

• It was led by a chancellor or prime minister.

• It gave women the right to vote and had a bill of rights.

 

Political Struggle

Ruhr Valley

• France had control of the Ruhr Valley which was rich with coal.

• The German Workers refused to work and the government backed them by not paying them.

• Inflation spread very quickly and the German mark became extremely worthless.

• Most middle class families suffered.

 

Recovery

• Help from the Western Powers brought inflation under control.

• In 1924 the U.S. got Britain and France to approve a plan to lower reparation payments.

• France withdrew troops from Ruhr Valley and the U.S. loaned money to Germany for economic recovery.

•  The Great Depression soon hit and the miseries of 1923 came back.

Rise of Nazies

• Germany quickly turned to the energetic Adolf Hitler, who promised to solve economic crisis and restore Gernamys former glory.

• Hitler was born in Austria in 1889.  When he was 18 he went to the Capital of Hapsburg Empire.

• The German-Austrians felt superior over Jews, Serbs, Poles , and many others.

• Hitler formed an anti-semitism group of prejudice against Jewish people, this would be a big part in his rise to power.

• While Hitler was in Jail he wrote the book Mien Kampf which means My Struggles. it was the book of the nazi goals.

• This book showed Hitlers deep hatred towards Jewish people.

Rise of Nazis (cont.)• The rise of Nationalism in the 1800s caused people to

identify the Jews as ethnic outsiders.• Hitler thought the Jews were not a seperate religion but a

seperate race.• He blamed Germanys defeat in WW1 on a conspiracy of

Marxists, Jews, and politicians/business leaders.• His idea for recovery was that Germans everywhere needed

to unite into one great nation, Germany must expand to gain living space for its people

• To achive its greatness Germany needed a strong leader or Fuhrer.Hitler wanted to be that leader.

• Hitler was released from prison.• In 1933 Hitler was apointed chancellor through legal means• Within a year Hitler was dictator of Germany.

Nazi Youth

• The Nazi ideology was taught to the youth• Youth pledged absolute loyalty to Germany in camps, and

were trained and prepared for battle there. • School courses and textbook were rewritten to fit the Nazis

beliefs • Pure-blood aryan women were rewarded for having more

children to increase the population

Purging

• sought to purify german culture.• denounced modern art saying it was corrupted by jews• condemned jazz for it African roots• glorified old German myths

Kristallnacht

• Also known as the "Night of broken glass" • On Nov. 7. 1938 a Jew shot and wounded a German

diplomat in Paris• Hitler used that to stage an attack on all Jews• Nov 9-10 a Nazi led mob attacked Jewish communities in

Germany• Before long Hitler was making the final solution which is the

execution of all Jews

Nuremberg Laws

• in 1935 Nazis passed the nuremberg laws• it took German citizenship away from Jews• prohibited them from marrying non-Jews, attending or

teaching at German schools, or holding a Government job

Gestapo

• Nazis secret police• rooted out opposition of Hitler

Third Reich

• Hitler created the Third Reich when he took power• wanted Germany to dominate all of Europe for thousands of

years