Hitler's Rise to Power: 1918 - 1933 Germany

By sch0094

  • Hitler returns to Munich and becomes an education officer.

    On Hitler's return to Munich after the Armistice, he was left with no job, no practical skills and no friends. He remained in the Reichswehr (Imperial Defence) for a few month but eventually ended up joining the Army's Political Department. He took part in "national thinking" courses until his Anti-Semitism and oratory skills caught the eye of an approving army officer. The officer promoted Hitler to an "education officer"

  • German Workers' Party (DAP) is formed.

    At a small gathering in Munich the DAP was formed by combining a few other parties. The DAP was formed by Anton Dexler, Karl Harrer and others.

  • Hitler is appointed intelligence agent.

    Hitler's job was to influence other soldiers and to infiltrate the German Workers' Party. While Hitler gained information and studied the party, he became impressed by one of the founding members' (Anton Drexler) anti-semitic, nationalist, anti-capitalist and anti-Marxist ideas.

  • Hitler is invited to the DAP.

    During a meeting which Hitler was attending, an audience member made comments against Gottfried Feder, an acquaintance of Hitler's. Offended, Hitler stood up and scolded him in front of everybody attending. Impressed with Hitler's oratory skills, Drexler, an important member of the DAP, invited Hitler to join, which he did. Hitler was the 55th member.

  • Hitler becomes the DAP's chief of propaganda.

    Impressed with Hitler's oratory and propaganda skills, Drexler promoted him to chief of propaganda, where he began to transform the party.

  • Hitler pioneers the NSDAP.

    Hitler organised the biggest meeting yet, with around 2,000 people attending. He announced his 25-point program. He changed the DAP to NSDAP (Nazi Party) and came up with the design for the banner, which was a red flag with a white circle containing a black swastika.

  • Hitler organises a "hall protection squad"

    Hitler's protection squad (known as the Gymnastics and Sports Division) was created to maintain order at Nazi Party meetings and keep out those who disrupted meetings. It was later renamed to the Sturmabteilung in October.
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    Hitler delivers speeches in beer halls across Munich.

    After all of Hitler's speeches, he managed to draw in around 2,000 members to the NSDAP throughout 1920.

  • Hitler becomes chairman of the NSDAP.

    After an NSDAP mutiny, Hitler angrily returned to Munich and threatened to leave the party, knowing that it would fail without him. He agreed to rejoin on the terms that he took over as chairman. He rejoined on 26 July.

  • Hitler is arrested.

    Hitler and a fellow party member interrupted an opposing party's meeting and beat up the leader, Otto Ballerstedt, leading to his arrest. He was charged for 3 months but only served 1 and a bit.

  • Hitler forms the Jungsturm and Jugendbund.

    This creation happened in early 1922. This was later renamed to the Hitler Youth.

  • Hitler creates the Stabswache.

    This was created in early 1923. It would later become the Schutzstaffel (SS).

  • Hitler leads the Beer Hall Putsch.

    Hitler lead an attempted coup from 8-9 November. Sixteen NSDAP members and four police officers were killed in the failed coup.

  • Hitler is arrested and put on trial for high treason.

    This was due to the failed coup. This arrest gained great public attention.

  • Hitler's trial begins.

    During the trial, Hitler wanted to end democracy and put the Weimar Republic on trial as traitors to the German people.

  • Hitler is sentenced to jail for 5 years.

    Hitler was sentenced to 5 years jail time at Landsberg Prison. Hitler was treated well there. During his time in prison he thought about his political strategy for when he was released, and planned the first volume of his book, Mein Kampf.

  • Hitler is released from prison.

    Due to the Bavarian Supreme Court issuing him a pardon, Hitler got out of jail on 20 December 1924.

  • Party membership was recorded at 130,000.

    This was a record high.

  • Nazi Party enters Presidential Elections

    The party was represented by Erich Ludendorff, and gained 280,00 (1.1%).

  • German Referendum is held.

    This changed how the Nazi Party was seen by the public, the party gained recognition and credibility.

  • The Great Depression Hits.

    In the early 1930s, many people abandoned popular parties and looked towards extremist parties due to the conditions at the time.

  • First Major Anti-Jewish Operation.

    Hitler's brownshirts smashed the windows of Jewish stores in Potsdamer Platz.
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    Nazi Campaigning Across Germany.

    Nazi's combined terror tactics with tradition campaigning. The SA troops were sent out to ruin the plans of the opposition and also to convince members of the public to vote for them.

  • Hitler becomes chancellor.

    Hindenburg appointed Hitler as chancellor in a coalition arrangement between the Nazis and the Nationalist-Conservatives.

  • Nazi Party declared the only legal party in Germany.

    Due to the Nazi Party intimidating the other parties to back down, it became the only legal party in Germany. Hitler also ordered that Germany depart from the League of Nations afterwards.