INTRODUCTION
Hitler and the Nazi Party rose to power due to the social and political circumstances that characterized the interwar period in Germany. Many Germans could not concede their country’s defeat in World War I, arguing that “backstabbing”and weakness in the rear had paralyzed and, eventually, caused the front tocollapse. The Jews, they claimed, had done much to spread defeatism and thus destroy the German army. Democracy in the Weimar Republic, they argued, was a form of governance that had been imposed on Germany and was unsuited to the German nature and way of life. They construed the terms of the Versailles peace treaty and the steep compensation payments that it entailed as revenge by the victors and a glaring injustice. This frustration, together with intransigent resistance and warnings about the surging menace of Communism, created fertile soil for the growth of radical right-wing groups in Germany, spawning entities such as the Nazi Party.
Hitler and the Nazi Party rose to power due to the social and political circumstances that characterized the interwar period in Germany. Many Germans could not concede their country’s defeat in World War I, arguing that “backstabbing”and weakness in the rear had paralyzed and, eventually, caused the front tocollapse. The Jews, they claimed, had done much to spread defeatism and thus destroy the German army. Democracy in the Weimar Republic, they argued, was a form of governance that had been imposed on Germany and was unsuited to the German nature and way of life. They construed the terms of the Versailles peace treaty and the steep compensation payments that it entailed as revenge by the victors and a glaring injustice. This frustration, together with intransigent resistance and warnings about the surging menace of Communism, created fertile soil for the growth of radical right-wing groups in Germany, spawning entities such as the Nazi Party.
BIRTH OF THE PARTY
The Nazi party (previously the German Workers Party or DAP) was born out of other smaller parties on the fringes of poltical life in the Post WWI era. Anton Drexler is often credited as being the founder of the party and its earliest guiding voice. Like many in Germany at the time, Drexler was dissatisfied with the path that the Weimar Repulic was taking. He was disstressed by Germanys defeat in WWI and detested the Treaty of Versailles and the harsh conditions it imposed on Germany. Drexler also was an ardent anti-communist, anti-semite, and anti-monarchist who believed whole heartedly in the idea of the German master race.
The party slowly gained membership throughout 1918, but it was not until 1919 that a young Adolph Hitler crossed paths with Drexler and the DAP. Hitler, a solider in WWI, was sent to gather intelligence on the up and coming German Workers Party. He attended a meeting, and entered into a heated debate with another attendee. Drexler, and other, were impressed by Hitlers views and his ability to defend them. A master of public speaking, Hitler wowed the audience and was invited to join the party.
The Nazi party (previously the German Workers Party or DAP) was born out of other smaller parties on the fringes of poltical life in the Post WWI era. Anton Drexler is often credited as being the founder of the party and its earliest guiding voice. Like many in Germany at the time, Drexler was dissatisfied with the path that the Weimar Repulic was taking. He was disstressed by Germanys defeat in WWI and detested the Treaty of Versailles and the harsh conditions it imposed on Germany. Drexler also was an ardent anti-communist, anti-semite, and anti-monarchist who believed whole heartedly in the idea of the German master race.
The party slowly gained membership throughout 1918, but it was not until 1919 that a young Adolph Hitler crossed paths with Drexler and the DAP. Hitler, a solider in WWI, was sent to gather intelligence on the up and coming German Workers Party. He attended a meeting, and entered into a heated debate with another attendee. Drexler, and other, were impressed by Hitlers views and his ability to defend them. A master of public speaking, Hitler wowed the audience and was invited to join the party.
1919-1920
As the party grew throughout 1919, Adolph Hitler climbed the party ranks. By 1920 Hitler had assumed control of the German Workers Party. At this point, he changed the name to the National Socialists German Workers Party, or the Nazi party for short. Hitler and the Nazi's continued to espouse their beliefs of extreme nationalism, militarism and a committment to the pure German Volk. or people. Along with this, Hitler and the Nazi's continued their degradation of the Jews and those they viewed as inferior. At this point, Hiter and the Nazi's begin to lay out a plan to restore Germany to its former glory. Initially the Nazi's chart a violent course, but after the failure of the Munich Putsch and Hitlers arrest, the Nazi Party will have to take a different, more political path. Click here for a timeline on the rise of the Nazi party through the 1920's. Be sure to examine the web links within the timeline for deeper meaning.
As the party grew throughout 1919, Adolph Hitler climbed the party ranks. By 1920 Hitler had assumed control of the German Workers Party. At this point, he changed the name to the National Socialists German Workers Party, or the Nazi party for short. Hitler and the Nazi's continued to espouse their beliefs of extreme nationalism, militarism and a committment to the pure German Volk. or people. Along with this, Hitler and the Nazi's continued their degradation of the Jews and those they viewed as inferior. At this point, Hiter and the Nazi's begin to lay out a plan to restore Germany to its former glory. Initially the Nazi's chart a violent course, but after the failure of the Munich Putsch and Hitlers arrest, the Nazi Party will have to take a different, more political path. Click here for a timeline on the rise of the Nazi party through the 1920's. Be sure to examine the web links within the timeline for deeper meaning.
THE EARLY 1930'S
The early 1930's were filled with political intrigue, backroom politicing and backstabbing in Germany. However, by the beginning of 1933, Adolf Hitler had been named Chancellor of Germany, and within weeks, he would become the absolute dictator of the newly formed Third Reich. To gain a deeper understanding of the appointment of Adolf Hitler, click here and here.
The early 1930's were filled with political intrigue, backroom politicing and backstabbing in Germany. However, by the beginning of 1933, Adolf Hitler had been named Chancellor of Germany, and within weeks, he would become the absolute dictator of the newly formed Third Reich. To gain a deeper understanding of the appointment of Adolf Hitler, click here and here.