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Key Stage 4 History
Who?
Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) was an Autrian born man who fought for the Germans in the First World War, became the leader of the Nazi Party, was elected to German Chancellor then became Fuhrer of Nazi Germany leading them into and through the Second World War.
About Hitler
- Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) was the Chancellor (from 1933) and later Fuhrer (from 1934) of Germany. He was leader of the Nazi Party and led Germany through the Second World War, which he initiated by invading Poland on 1 September 1939.
- Hitlers role in the Holocaust makes him widely regarded as one of the most brutal genocidal dictators of modern history, similar to Joseph Stalin and Mao Tse-Tung.
- Hitlers far-right nationalist and anti-semitic ideas were spread throughout Germany and Europe as leader of the Nazi Party.
Hitler before the Nazi Party
Born in Austria, Hitler moved to Germany in 1913, and served as a soldier in World War One, even being decorated for his efforts. After World War One, he was one of a large group of Germans who believed the Treaty of Versailles had stabbed the German people in the back, the idea of Dolchstoss. In 1919, a year after the end of the war, Hitler joined the German Workers Party (DAP - Deutsche Arbeiterpartei), which in 1921 became the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) in 1921, of which Hitler was leader. At this time, the NSDAP was a very small, populist right-wing political party based around the idea of reclaiming power in Germany from the Weimar Government, taking revenge for the Dolchstoss.
Hitler's Role in The Munich Putsch
In 1923, Adolf Hitler, alongside approximately 2,000 NSDAP members and former high ranking German officers such as Eric Ludendorff (the leader of the Ludendorff Offensive), stormed the Feldherrnhalle in Munich, in southern Germany on 8 November 1923. Known as the Munich or Beer Hall Putsch, the aim was to seize power in Munich, one of Germany's largest cities and was key in raising Hitler's profile across Germany. The coup was unsuccessful, but can be seen as planting the seed which would see the NSDAP, or Nazi Party, grow across Germany. It is considered by many to be a success for Hitler, as although he failed to seize power, his following widely publicised, 24-day trial for treason saw him able to widely spread his nationalist ideas throughout the nation.
Hitler in Prison
Having been sentenced to 5 years in prison for treason, Hitler began writing Mein Kampf, or My Struggle, describing Hitler's reasoning for his beliefs and outlines his political ideology and plans for the future after his release. Volume One of Mein Kampf was published in 1925 and Volume Two a year later, selling slowly before his future rise to power in Germany in 1933. Hitler was released from prison just 9 months later in 1924.
Hitler as Leader of the Nazi Party
After Hitler was released from prison, his main aim was to legitimise the Nazi Party and gain power in Germany through legitimate, democratic political means, instead of a coup like the Munich Putsch. The first German election the Nazi Party were involved in was May 1924. In this they gained 32 seats in the Reichstag and 6.5% of the vote, before their vote subsequently declined in elections in December 1924 and 1928. However, by 1930 the Nazi Party began to gain a legitimate following across Germany, as the Great Depression hit in 1929, the German economy was in ruins and unemployment in particular was at a high. Hitler promised to restore the economy, bring back jobs and also defy the widely unpopular Treaty of Versailles. This was perfect timing for Hitler's Nazi Party to take advantage of the political climate in Germany; people wanted a big change from their lives and the Nazis offered it. As a result of this, in 1930 the Nazis gained 107 seats and 18.3% of the vote. Two years later, when Hitler was President Hindenburg's main opposition for the German Presidency, the Nazi Party became the largest in Germany, with 230 seats. Hitler's run for the presidency was unsuccessful, gaining 36.8% of the vote to Hindenburg's 53%.
Hitler as Chancellor
With the Nazis as the largest party in the Reichstag, Hitler was the Chancellor, but this meant he worked alongside the President, Hindenburg. Hitler wanted complete control of Germany; he wanted to remove democracy and choice from the German people and make Germany a totally National Socialist nation. Within the German Cabinet were three Nazi members: Hitler was named chancellor, Wilhelm Frick Minister of the Interior, and Hermann Göring Minister of the Interior for Prussia. However, this wasn't enough for Hitler.