Causes of Hitler's Rise to Power in Germany

-
The Main reasons why Hitler rose to power in Germany are:

3. Failure of Weimar Republic government to tackle the problems faced by the nation.
6. Years of depression after 1929.

This crisis in the economy, polity and society formed the background to Hitlers rise to power. Born in 1889 in Austria, Hitler spent his youth in poverty. When the First World War broke out, he enrolled for the army, acted as a messenger in the front, became a corporal, and earned medals for bravery. The German defeat horrified him and the Versailles Treaty made him furious. In 1919, he joined a small group called the German Workers Party. He subsequently took over the organisation and renamed it the National Socialist German Workers Party. This party came to be known as the Nazi Party.

In 1923, Hitler planned to seize control of Bavaria, march to Berlin and capture power. He failed, was arrested, tried for treason, and later released. The Nazis could not effectively mobilise popular support till the early 1930s. It was during the Great Depression that Nazism became a mass movement. As we have seen, after 1929, banks collapsed and businesses shut down, workers lost their jobs and the middle classes were threatened with destitution. In such a situation Nazi  propaganda  stirred hopes of a better future. In 1928, the Nazi Party got no more than 2. 6 per cent votes in the Reichstag  the German parliament. By 1932, it had become the largest party with 37 per cent votes.

Hitler being greeted at the Party Congress in Nuremberg in 1938.


Hitler was a powerful speaker. His passion and his words moved people. He promised to build a strong nation, undo the injustice of the Versailles Treaty and restore the dignity of the German people. He promised employment for those looking for work, and a secure future for the youth. He promised to weed out all foreign influences and resist all foreign conspiracies against Germany.

Nuremberg Rally, 1936. Rallies like this were held every year. An important aspect of these was the demonstration of Nazi power as various organisations paraded past Hitler, swore loyalty and listened to his speeches.

Hitler devised a new style of politics. He understood the significance of rituals and spectacle in mass mobilisation. Nazis held massive rallies and public meetings to demonstrate the support for Hitler and instil a sense of unity among the people. The Red banners with the Swastika, the Nazi salute, and the ritualised rounds of applause after the speeches were all part of this spectacle of power.

Hitler addressing SA and SS columns. Notice the sweeping and straight columns of people. Such photographs were intended to show the grandeur and power of the Nazi movement

Nazi propaganda skilfully projected Hitler as a messiah, a saviour, as someone who had arrived to deliver people from their distress. It is an image that captured the imagination of a people whose sense of dignity and pride had been shattered, and who were living in a time of acute economic and political crises.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Israel palestine conflict

-
Image
  The Israel-Palestine conflict is a deeply rooted and complex geopolitical issue that has persisted for decades, with its origins dating back to the late 19th century. At its core, the conflict revolves around competing national narratives, historical grievances, and territorial claims, making it a deeply emotional and contentious issue for both Israelis and Palestinians. The roots of the conflict can be traced to the late 1800s when Zionist movements emerged, advocating for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. The Balfour Declaration in 1917, issued by the British government, expressed support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine. This declaration, coupled with the British mandate over Palestine, sowed the seeds for future tensions. In 1947, the United Nations proposed the partition of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem as an international city. The Jewish leadership accepted th...
Read more

Nationalism in Europe, Dream of Democratic and social republic in 18th century

-
Image
    The Dream of Worldwide Democratic and Social Republics – The Pact Between Nations,  a  print prepared by Frédéric Sorrieu,  1848. During the 18th the people of the European countries were not happy with the monarchism. so people in the European countries started overthrowing the monarchy and eventually democracy was introduced to the world. This democracy forged through different struggles. here we are going to study some important struggles. before going into history we need to understand some of the important terms like: 1.Liberty: The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views 2.Nationalism: Identification with one's own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations. 3.Fraternity: A group of people sharing a common profession or interests. the people wanted a liberal nation wher...
Read more

Political Radicalism in the Weimar Republic Germany

-
Image
The birth of the Weimar Republic coincided with the revolutionary uprising of the Spartacist League on the pattern of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. Soviets of workers and sailors were established in many cities. The political atmosphere in Berlin was charged with demands for Soviet-style governance.  this is a rally organised by the radical group known as the Spartacist League. In the winter of 1918-1919 the streets of Berlin were taken over by the people. Political demonstrations became common. Those opposed to this  such as the socialists, Democrats and Catholics  met in Weimar to give shape to the democratic republic. The Weimar Republic crushed the uprising with the help of a war veterans organisation called Free Corps .  The  anguished Spartacists later founded  the Communist Party of Germany.  Communists and Socialists henceforth became irreconcilable enemies and could not make common cause against Hitler.  Both revolutiona...
Read more