-
National Socialist German Workers' Party
This group originated from the Weimar Republic, which had s legislature, a President, and a Chancellor. In 1920, many political parties were in the running to get elected and the NSDAP was one of those parties. The group, more commonly known as the Nazis, wanted nationalism and had anti-Semitic ideas. -
Hitler's a-Takin Over
Hitler first attended one of the NSDAP's meetings in September of 1919 where he was a spy for the army before joining. Then he (oh so rudely) declared himself the absolute ruler, or Fuehrer, of the Nazis. He gave many speeches to the Nazis, most of them blaming groups like the politicians that signed the Treaty of Versailles, liberals, Jewish bankers, et cetera, for all of Germany's problems. -
Jail Time for Hitler... But Turns Out it Helps Him Instead
Hitler tried to overthrow the government and ended up getting caught for attempting to do so. He had wanted to overthrow them so that the size of the Nazi party would increase. Well, overthrowing the government didn't quite do it, but the trial did! -
Period: to
The Big Sad
The Great Depression caused a lot of the German citizens that were eligible to vote to want to vote for radical parties, the Nazi party being one of those. In the elections of July 1932, the Nazis won a total of 230 seats, the most seats held by a single party in the Reichstag. -
The Deal of Chancellors
President Paul von Hindenburg refused to appoint the "ridiculous Austrian corporal" to the chancellorship. He offered the position to Kurt von Schleicher, the defense minister. This upset Hitler so in 1933, with the support of Franz Von Papen, Hindenburg offered the chancellorship to Hitler, allowing him to form a government. -
Givin' Reichstag the Fire
When Hitler was appointed chancellor, he had powerful supporters in the military, media, and big businesses, but he still had some critics too. Hindenburg, being the president, could still replace Hitler with someone else whenever he wanted to, if he felt the need. It is unknown yet as to whom it was, but someone set fire to the Reichstag in Berlin, as an act of support for Hitler. -
New Rules
About a month after the fire, the Nazis proposed the new "Enabling Act," which allowed Hitler to rule without reference to the Reichstag. This meant that his government could rule by decree, avoid the constitution, start taxes, spending, and determine foreign policy all without the need of Reichstag approval. This act passed 444-94, but the Nazis rigged it by arresting many of the members of opposing parties. More than 24 Reichstag representatives didn't attend because they'd been intimidated. -
The Two P's
Presidents and Protesters. Hitler had authorized the building of concentration camps earlier in 1933 and their purpose was to hold political prisoners that disagreed with the policies and ideas of the Nazi party. June 30, 1934, Hitler ordered the killing of several leaders of his former Nazi enforcers. On August 2, 1934, Hindenburg died so Hitler gained full control of the German government. He would now be called Fuehrer and acted as the head of state, government, and armed forces. -
Guess What's Back!
In 1935, Hitler reinstated the draft and the year after introduced his 4-year-plan. The was his plan to get German's military ready for war. By 1939, their army consisted of more than 900,000 soldiers, 8,000 aircraft, and 95 warships. -
Rhine River Region
The area around the Rhine River was a "buffer zone" between Germany and France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Holland. The Treaty of Versailles stopped Germany from stationing troops in that area. In 1936, Germany ordered the troops into the Rhineland area, going against the treaty. -
Y'all Know They Got Those New Policies
Hitler was concerned about Germany's economic growth and he believed in the need for the country's self-sufficiency in raw materials and food. His solution? Expand into Eastern Europe so Germany can use the resources and land there. -
Conjoined Countries
Austria had their own Nazi group by the mid-30s, and with much pressure from the Nazis, Austria decided to become independent. Hitler thought it was rigged so he told their chancellor to give up power or face invasion. Neither Britain nor France helped so he resigned. The next day, German forces crossed the border and Hitler combined Germany and Austria in one government. -
"WeLl HiTlEr PrOmIsEd NoT tO iNvAdE cZeChOsLoVaKia JeReMy"
Hitler claimed that the Germans in Sudetenland were being persecuted by the Czechs. The British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, met with Hitler three times in September of 1938. At the first meeting, Chamberlain agreed to everything. At the second, Hitler demanded that Germans could have immediate access to the Sudeten region. At the third meeting, Hitler, Chamberlain, Mussolini, and Daladier met to resolve it. They agreed to the invading of Sudetenland as long as he didn't invade further.
