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End of WW1
WW1 ended in 1918 with a total 2 million German soldiers dead. German propaganda had not prepared the nation for defeat, resulting in a sense of injured German national pride. The leaders responsible for the propaganda claimed that Germany had been "stabbed in the back" by its leftwing politicians, Communists, and Jews. -
New Government
When a new government, the Weimar Republic, tried to make Germany a democratic country extreme political parties from both sides struggled violently for control. The new regime could neither handle the depressed economy nor the rampant lawlessness and disorder. -
Treaty of Versailles
The German population faced a bitter defeat as the victorious Allies punished Germany severely. In the Treaty of Versailles , Germany was disarmed and forced to pay reparations to France and Britain for the huge costs of the war. -
The German Workers Party
The German Workers' Party embraced a right-wing ideology. Adolf Hitler joined this small political party in 1919 and rose to leadership through his emotional and captivating speeches. He changed the name of the party to the National Socialist German Workers' Party, called for short, the Nazi Party (or NSDAP). -
Jail Time
After a failed attempt of trying to overthrow local authorities, Hitler and the other leaders of the Nazi party were imprisoned. Hitler then used the courtroom as a platform for his propaganda. By the end of the 24-day trial Hitler had actually gained support for his courage to act. The right-wing presiding judges sympathised with Hitler and sentenced him to only five years in prison, with eligibility for early parole. Hitler was released from prison after one year. -
Rebuilding the Nazi Party
When Hitler was released from prison he started rebuilding the Nazi Party. The Conservative military hero Paul von Hindenburg was elected president in 1925, and Germany stabilised. Hitler manoeuvred his was into becoming the sole leader of the Nazi Party. The Führerprinzip established Hitler as the one and only to whom Party members swore loyalty unto death. Hitlers strategy was to develop a highly centralised and structured party that could compete in Germany's future elections. -
Mein Kampf
While in prison Hitler wrote a book called Mein Kampf (my struggle). It was then published in 1925. Hitlers book became the base for the Nazi party's racist beliefs. -
The Fall of The German Government
1929 brought the Great Depression and started worldwide economic, social and psychological consequences. The Weimar democracy couldn't cope with national despair as unemployment doubled from 3 million to six million. Whilst arguing about the rising cost of. unemployment benefits, the government fell apart. Because of this a new presidential system was put in place. -
Nazi Party in Power
In September there were the second elections for the presidential system. The nazi party won 18.3% of the publics votes to make it the second largest party in the Reichstag