A History of Nazi Germany - Essay Example

The German economy was greatly hindered as Germany, after the First World War, was taking the complete responsibility of the financial loss, the lives that were lost and mass destruction, this brought down the whole country. The German soldiers turned to fascism as they were unable to the proper supplies for their survival after their return from war. Germany could not get any help to recover from their financial loss, after the First World War the whole world went into great depression this too was not of any help to the German economy. As a result the country turned to fascism to get its wealth and pride back. Adolf Hitler, the political leader of the National Socialist German Workers, was one of the main personalities who promoted the fascist ideas. Hitler was assisted in promoting this Nazi concept by Albert Speer. Hitler was supported by the Germans and they turned to his ideas as he promised to meet their monetary needs after the world war I. The offer made by Hitler was irresistible by the Germans and they declared him the Chancellor of their country. Hitler's government was fascist in nature which was led by dictatorship, and the dictator had absolute power, he suppressed other political parties, had control over the financial affairs and the dictator was considered to be a strong nationalist. The complete order and control of the German Government was in Hitler's hands through this philosophy. Hitler through his personal guard the SS, enforced fascism and his government hated particular groups of people and also was very racial. Hitler joined a group called the German Workers Party in the year 1919 in the city of Munich. Within no time he became one of the seven committee members who headed the party. This party held meetings in which different issues like the threat posed by the enemy namely the Bolshevisks that is the Communists who had come to power in Russia, the areas where the present government lacked, the weakness of the government and the threat posed by the Jews who were the enemies within the country were brought forth. They also spoke about the better times before the first world war. "In March 1920 he was discharged from the army and became a professional politician. His meteoric rise had begun." 1 Hitler began operations in forming his new political party, it was renamed as the National Socialist German Worker's party which is in short the Nazi party. the party won around eight hundred thousand votes, however it was more than just a political party. it was being turned into a military force by their leader Adolf Hitler. A group called the "Storm troopers" were trained by him to act as militia at his command. The Nazi party and its troops were being supported by the past German military leaders. In Bavaria in the beginning the Nazi party was formed and started out as a small group called the German Worker's party. The party was resisted and opposed to the Treaty of Versailles and Communism. the party came to existence and was formed by the Germans due to the humiliation they faced as they a result of their defeat in the First World War and the severe terms and regulations imposed on them by the Allies. At first Hitler joined this party as a secret agent and later became one of the most influential members of the party, as a result of his power to inspire and enthusiasm for the cause he became the leader of this small party, influencing and promoting his ideas to the people of similar ideology. 1. Carsten, Francis Ludwig, 1967. The Rise of Facism. (University of California Press: USA, 1967), 95. This party was soon renamed as the National and Socialist German Workers Party, their political manifesto was based on a twenty five point program that was adopted by the party. it was due to their strength of their belief in the twenty five points that the Nazi's chose to take force in Munich in a coup d' etat. Despite an initial success in achieving the coup's main objective of seizing power, the coup was unsuccessful. The party seemed to be destroyed and Hitler was imprisoned. Hitler had very little to offer to the majorities of Germany throughout the 'Golden Years' of Weimar Republic. The economy was improving and the treaty of Versailles was gradually going through amendments. During this period extremist views such as Nazi ideology were not popular. In Munich in the year 1924, Hitler reestablished the NSDAP. Fuhrer principle was followed in organizing the party it was headed by the Fuhrer, his deputy and Reiechsleiter had the national leadership, heading all departments of the party nation wide. "Despite all of Weimar's problems, the Nazi triumph was not inevitable." 2 The support for Nazi's was sparked because of the Wall Street Crash. Suddenly the country faced economic crises and was isolated as the American support and the aid plans were withdrawn. Importance was given to Hitler's message and ideas as there was a rise in unemployment and the fear of a Communist uprising. Germans again had an inclination towards the Nazi views of his fascist party. As the government was struggling to to combat the problems any option that could over come problems of the country were seen in a positive manner. 2. Bendersky, Joseph W., A History of Nazi Germany: 1919-1945. Rowman & Littlefield: USA, 1956. 18 An electoral strategy was devised by the Nazis to win white collar voters in small towns and the northern farmers, which due to the depression was successful in the 1930 September elections. Between 1931 and 1933 the Nazis joined the Communists in violence and disorder, and were unwilling to form a cabinet and share a coalition regime. Hitler competed for President in 1932 and wone 30% of the vote, forcing Paul von Hindenburg, who was the consequent victor to a runoff election. "Throughout 1931 and 1932 Hitler campaigned vigorously. He showed his talents as a speaker and had crowds in ecstasy" 3 . Hitler lost the presidential election to Paul a World War I veteran in April in 1932. And he decided to enter as Chancellor in a coalition government in 1933 January. Hitler was the consensus successor in August 1934 after the death of Hindenburg. Hitler established himself a dictator with an improving economy, he claimed credit to consolidate his position. He succeeded in the elimination of challenges from other political parties of the country and government institutions. In preparation for war the German industrial machine was built up. A 'Fuhrer Conference' was called in November 1937, in the conference Hitler called his top military aides together and outlined plans for an aggression war in Europe, the members who did not agree with the plan were dismissed. By the year 1933, Hitler was considered to be the only person who could put a stop to the drift towards the political and economic downfall. Though senior politicians from other political parties were worried about Hitler's political leanings and methods, they joined hands with him and the Nazi party. In a span of five years the Nazi's with the leadership of Hitler emerged as masters of the German Republic, and brought the end of the Weimar Republic. 3. Lee, Stephen J., Weimar and Nazi Germany. Heinemann: United Kingdom, 1996. 32. One of Hitler driving forces were his speeches. He was a tremendous public speaker. His speeches had the power to enthuse masses and brought in a feeling of faith and belief in his policies. Hitler's policies focused on those areas of politics that the masses in Germany disapproved of, for example the Treaty of Versialles. Hitler and the Nazi party made promises that would in some way or the other benefit all sections of the German population. His party was very organized and at the same time flexible in their opinions. In addition to this, was the Nazi's open, along with the forced opposition to communism. The Nazi's very intelligently used force along with discipline and brought success to themselves. The Pan-German ideology was also adminstered and advocated by Hitler, Austrian exetremist preferred this ideology.according to Pam-Germanism, all Germans were to be united in one single state. Hitler also did not believe in Marxism, which stressed on oneness of international working class instead of racial harmony. "Pan-German policy was a covert declaration of war against all powers with German minorities Austria-hungary and Russia" 4 Hitler's policies and ideologies were backed by the weak Weimar government. Relative representation led to a number of events and ineffective and weak governments which in turn allowed the Nazi's to become an important part of the political system even without having majority of the public support. 4. Geiss, Imanuel,. The Question of German Unification, 1806 - 1996. Routledge: Great Britain, 1997. 56. The people blamed the goverment for signing the Treaty of Versailles, and it had also lost the trust of the people for not being able to handle the economic crisis. Finally, the Hitler impressed the masses with feasible solution to these problems which helped him gain the confidence and support of the masses and eventually brought him to power. "Confidence in Hitler was unbounded" 5. Hitler's rise to power was based on a number of factors like the bitterness in the Germans, the weakness and failure of the Weimr goverment, which Hitler exploited, along with this was the terror of his party workers and last but not the least the brilliant and powerful speeches. 5. Kershaw, Ian, 1987. The"Hitler Myth": Image and Reality in the Third Reich. Oxford University Press: Great Britain, 1987. 159. Reference List -Bendersky, Joseph W., A History of Nazi Germany: 1919-1945. Rowman & Littlefield: USA, 1956 -Lee, Stephen J. Weimar and Nazi Germany. Heinemann: United Kingdom, 1996. -Carsten, Francis Ludwig, The Rise of Facism. University of California Press: USA, 1967. -Kershaw, Ian, The"Hitler Myth": Image and Reality in the Third Reich. Oxford University Press: Great Britain, 1987. -Geiss, Imanuel. The Question of German Unification, 1806 - 1996. Routledge: Great Britain, 1997. Read More