UNIFORM USED BY SOLDIERS AND HITLER DURING WW1

During World War 1, Hitler was a private and then a corporal. He earned an iron cross for bravery and after the war; he joined the German’s workers party, which later then became known as the Nazis.
He discovered that he had a gift for debate and soon he became the leader of this small party.

Hitler gained more and more followers as he developed the Nazis. The swastika became their badge and they wore uniforms.

Members saluted Hitler with a strong arm salute and practiced a new march that they called “GOOSE STEP”.

Hitler blamed Jews and communists for all the problems being experienced by the Germans.

He promised to:

· Break the chains of the Versailles treaty

· Bring back the glory and pride of Germans

· Make Germany the master race again

In 1923, Hitler felt confident of overthrowing the government. In Bavaria, in a bar, he stood up on a table and fired a few shots to the ceiling. He then announced that he had taken over the government.<div

The next day, he planned to take control of Munich. But the 3000 Nazi’s under Hitler were quickly stopped by 100 policemen, whom Hitler thought would join him. Hitler ran away but was later caught.

At his trial, Hitler used the platform to tell the world what he believed. He was sentenced to five years in prison, but he was later released after having served just 9 months. This failed incident was known as the Beer Hall Putsch or the Munich Putsch. In prison, Hitler wrote a book which contained all of his ideas and policies for the future. This book was called Mein Kampf (My Struggle)

THE GREAT DEPRESSION OF 1929 AND ITS EFFECTS ON GERMANY

When Hitler was released from prison, the Weimar republic was experiencing the start of a Golden Era, which lasted from 1923 to 1929.

The economic situation had improved under its chancellor Stresemann. Germans began to have a new faith in democracy and did not find Hitler’s policies very attractive in 1923

America also experienced a period of prosperity between 1923 and 1929. New products and industries were introduced. A huge demand was created for new consumer goods such as radios, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners and telephones.

However the American economy was not was not sound and the government was ignorant of the pending disaster. Profits increased but salaries did not increase to the same extent. People bought luxuries on credit that was freely available. Over production in agriculture led to falling prices. Because of high tariffs on imports, foreign trade fell.

There was no control over banking and unsound banks were allowed to do business. Banks also granted unwise loans and people used this money to invest in the stock market.

A large number of companies listed on the stock exchange were small and economically weak. A huge demand for shares forced the stock prices up to new heights. When the shares began to fall, people panicked and tried to sell their shares.

In 1929 the American Wall Street Stock Exchange collapsed. Money became valueless and thousands of people lost their savings. This time became known as THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

America had been giving Germany enormous loans to help get its industries going again after World War 1. The Weimar Republic was devastated when all of Americas' loans stopped. They were also shocked when their popular leader, Stresemann, died in 1929.

The Great Depression spread from America to Europe and then to Germany. The Weimar Republic was again hit by HYPER INFLATION. Companies went bankrupt and millions of people were unemployed

THE FAILURE OF DEMOCRACY IN THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC

In 1929, Germans were critical of the Weimar Republic for being too weak to handle all the crises that came its way. In a democracy, many parties are allowed to compete with each other for power. The Weimar Republic was a coalition of parties who were always arguing over what should be done and they were slow to take action. There was a feeling among Germans that democracy had failed.

The Weimar Republic had to deal with riots, gun battles, assassinations and massacres. This civil unrest was combined with food shortages, hyperinflation and massive unemployment, which did not make democracy and the Weimar Republic very popular. it is not surprising, therefore, German people turned to the more extreme political parties of the Nazi’s and Communists.

PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE NAZI PARTY

The Nazi Party had not been popular before 1929. Hitler used the economic and political crisis caused by the great depression as an opportunity to get German people to support him. His ideas were simple, they appealed to everyone and the people felt that he understood them.

HITLERS IDEAS:

· Germany had to get rid of the Treaty of Versailles because of the humiliation.

· Germany had to re-arm

· Communism had to be destroyed

· Jews were blamed for economic troubles and had to be removed

· A strong central government was needed

· Germans were MASTER {ARYAN} RACE of the world

Wealthy industrialists gave Hitler huge financial backing to spread his ideas across Germany. He played on popular issues.

HITLER’S METHODS OF SPREADING HIS IDEAS INCLUDED:

· Propaganda posters

· Radio speeches

· Rallies, with music, marching, banners, uniforms, salutes

· Processions through streets

· Powerful speeches

· The STORMTROOPERS (SA) beat up opponents

THE 1932 AND 1933 ELECTIONS

Germans became increasingly impressed after 1929 with the Nazi image of strength and discipline. Hitler’s ideas and promises gave the Germans hope that their glorious past could be restored. They saw Hitler as a saviour and strong leader to get them out of the poverty and miseries of the Great Depression.

THE FOLLOWING GROUPS OF PEOPLE VOTED FOR THE NAZI’S IN THE 1932 AND 1933 ELECTIONS:

• Young people joined the uniform Hitler Youth

• Farmers were promised tax cuts and protection of food prices

• Workers were promised an equal share in the profits of factories.

• Ex-soldiers were attracted to the Nazi’s because of the emphasis on military discipline.

• Poor people were promised that unemployment would end

Ernst Rohm and his 400 000 Nazi Storm troopers played a vital part in the 1932 and 1933 elections. There were many incidents where the Storm troopers threatened and beat up members of opposition parties. They were not afraid to bully Jews. There were 2 general elections in 1932. In the July election, the Nazi’s won 230 seats in the Reichstag. Due to violence of the Storm troopers, the Nazi only achieved 196 seats in the November election. The results of the election showed that no party had gained outright majority. Hitler lost the vote to be president to the ex-war hero, Von Hindenburg, who had been president since 1925. Industrialists persuaded Von Hindenburg to ask Hitler to become the chancellor of Germany. On 30th January, Hitler was made chancellor. After Von Hidenburg died, hitler bacame president and turned the lives of jews into hell. he made a strict set of rules dealing with them

1. They could not do what they pleased

2. They could not have well paying jobs

3. They could not do what career they wanted to do

THE END

REFERENCES:

1.https://www.britannica.com/biography/Adolf-Hitler

2.https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/349310514828336846/

3.https://fascistlegion47.deviantart.com/art/Rehashed-Nazi-Logo-73766182

4.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4513804/Goose-stepping-may-have-encouraged-people-to-follow-Nazis.html

5.https://annoyzview.wordpress.com/tag/jews-in-nazi-army/

6.https://www.amazon.ca/Kampf-german-Language-Adolf-Hitler/dp/0984158456

7.https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gustav-Stresemann

8.https://www.thoughtco.com/treaty-of-versailles-hitlers-rise-power-1221351

9.http://skepticism.org/timeline/july-history/7451-augsburg-priest-transferred-for-refusing-give-heil-hitler-greeting-salute.html

10.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_R%C3%B6hm