Nazism and the Rise of Hitler

06 October 2023 12:20

Birth of the Weimar Republic:

After World War I, Germany found itself in a dire situation. The country had fought alongside
the Austrian Empire against the Allies, which included England, France, and Russia. This war
had drained the resources of not just Germany but the entire continent of Europe. Germany
had even occupied France and Belgium for a time, but the tide turned when the United States
entered the war in 1917. Ultimately, the Allies won, and Germany, along with the Central
Powers, faced defeat in November 1918. In the city of Weimar, the National Assembly
gathered and established a democratic constitution with a federal structure. This marked the
birth of the Weimar Republic. It introduced a significant change by allowing deputies to be
elected in the German Parliament through equal and universal suffrage, including women.
However, the Treaty of Versailles held Germany responsible for the war and the damages
suffered by the Allies, which included loss of overseas colonies. The Allies even occupied the
Rhineland in the 1920s.
The Effects of the War:
The aftermath of World War I left deep imprint on Europe, both psychologically and economically. Germany, in particular,
was burdened with the task of compensating the Allied countries for the damages incurred during the war. This war of
guilt and national humiliation was carried by the Weimar Republic, which was financially crippled by the heavy
reparations imposed upon it. The government had the support of various groups, including Socialists, Catholics, and
Democrats. However, they were mockingly referred to as the 'November criminals' by critics. The war had left a profound
impact on European society and politics. The military had been prioritized over civilians during the conflict, leading to a
difficult transition to democracy, which was still fragile and unable to withstand the instabilities of post-war Europe.

Political Radicalism and Economic Crises:

The birth of the Weimar Republic coincided with radical political upheaval in Germany. In the image of the Bolshevik
Revolution in Russia, the Spartacist League, a revolutionary group, attempted an uprising. They were crushed with the
help of a war veterans' organization known as the Free Corps. This marked the beginning of hostilities between
Communists and Socialists. The Weimar Republic's stability was further tested by the economic crisis of 1923. During this
period, Germany refused to make reparations payments, leading to France's occupation of the industrial Ruhr region to
claim its coal. This event, coupled with the widely publicized image of Germans needing cartloads of currency notes just
to buy a loaf of bread, resulted in hyperinflation, where prices skyrocketed to unimaginable levels.

The Years of Depression:

Between 1924 and 1928, Germany experienced a brief period of stability. However, this
stability was short-lived. In 1929, the Wall Street Exchange in the United States crashed,
triggering the Great Economic Depression. Over the next three years, from 1929 to 1932, the
national income of the USA plummeted by half. This economic downturn hit Germany
particularly hard. Workers lost their jobs and took to the streets with placards that read
'Willing to do any work.' Young people turned to criminal activities, and the middle class and
small business owners lived in fear of being reduced to the working class or facing
unemployment. The Weimar Republic, politically fragile from its inception, faced further
challenges. Its constitution had inherent defects, one of which was proportional
representation. Another significant flaw was Article 48, which granted the President sweeping
powers to impose emergencies, suspend civil rights, and rule by decree.
Hitlerÿs Rise to Power:
In the midst of these tumultuous times, Adolf Hitler rose to power. Born in 1889 in Austria,
Hitler grew up in poverty. During World War I, he enlisted in the army, initially serving as a
messenger on the front lines. Over time, he rose to the rank of corporal and earned medals for
bravery. After the war, in 1919, Hitler joined a small political group called the German
Workersÿ Party. Soon, he took over the organization and renamed it the National Socialist
German Workers' Party, commonly known as the Nazi Party. In 1923, he devised a plan to
seize control of Bavaria, march on Berlin, and capture power. However, his efforts were
unsuccessful. It was during the Great Depression, after 1929, that Nazism gained momentum
as a mass movement. As banks collapsed, businesses shut down, and workers lost their jobs,
Hitler's propaganda offered hope for a better future. He became a powerful and persuasive
speaker, using his words to promise a strong nation, the reversal of the Versailles Treaty's
perceived injustices, and the restoration of the German people's dignity. Hitler also pledged
employment opportunities for those seeking work and a secure future for the youth. His
rhetoric revolved around removing all foreign influences and resisting foreign 'conspiracies'
against Germany. Hitler and his followers adopted a new style of politics, organizing large
rallies and public meetings to demonstrate their support. According to Nazi propaganda, Hitler
was portrayed as a messiah, a savior, and the one who had come to deliver people from their
distress.
The Destruction of Democracy:
On January 30, 1933, President Hindenburg offered Hitler the position of Chancellor, the highest position in the cabinet of
ministers. Subsequently, on February 28, 1933, the Fire Decree was issued, suspending civic rights like freedom of
speech, press, and assembly that had been guaranteed by the Weimar Constitution. On March 3, 1933, the infamous
Enabling Act was passed. This act effectively established a dictatorship in Germany. It granted the state extensive control
over the economy, media, army, and judiciary. In addition to the regular police force in their green uniforms, Hitler's
regime introduced various other policing and security agencies, including the Gestapo (secret state police), the SS
(protection squads), criminal police, and the Security Service (SD).

Reconstruction:
To address the economic challenges, Hitler assigned the task of economic recovery to the economist Hjalmar Schacht. The
goal was to achieve full production and full employment through a state-funded work-creation program. This program led
to the construction of the famous German superhighways and the creation of the Volkswagen, a people's car. It's worth
noting that despite these grand projects, Germany still ran on deficit financing. Hitler's regime made significant
geopolitical moves during this period. In 1933, Germany withdrew from the League of Nations. In 1936, it reoccupied the
Rhineland, and in 1938, it integrated Austria into Germany under the slogan 'One people, One empire, and One leader.'
Schacht, however, advised against excessive investment in rearmament, as the state was already running on deficit
financing.

The Nazi Worldview: The Nazis adhered to a specific system of belief and practices. Central to their ideology was the
notion of racial hierarchy, where different races were not considered equal. Instead, there existed a rigid hierarchy with
the Aryan race at the top. Hitler's racist beliefs drew inspiration from thinkers like Charles Darwin and Herbert Spencer.
The Nazi argument was straightforward: the strongest race would survive, and the weaker ones would perish. According
to Nazi ideology, the Aryan race was considered the finest, having retained its purity and strength, which allowed it to
dominate the world. Another critical aspect of
Hitler's ideology was the geopolitical concept of Lebensraum, or living space. Hitler sought to expand German boundaries
by moving eastwards, with the goal of concentrating all Germans geographically in one territory.

Establishment of the Racial State:

Once the Nazis came to power, they swiftly moved to implement their vision of creating an exclusive racial community of
pure Germans. They aimed to create a society of 'pure and healthy Nordic Aryans.' One horrifying manifestation of this
ideology was the Euthanasia Programme, where people with disabilities were condemned to death. Additionally, after
occupying Poland and parts of Russia, the Nazis captured civilians and forced them into slave labor.

The Racial Utopia:

Genocide and war became closely intertwined during the Nazi regime. Poland was divided, and large portions of north-
western Poland were annexed to Germany. Polish people were forcibly removed from their homes and properties. The
Polish intelligentsia faced mass murders, and children who resembled Aryans were cruelly separated from their mothers
and subjected to 'race tests' by supposed experts.

Youth in Nazi Germany:

Adolf Hitler took a keen interest in shaping the minds of young people in Germany. He initiated a series of reforms within
the education system. Schools were cleansed and purified, with Germans and Jews not allowed to sit or play together. In
the 1940s, Jews faced the horrors of gas chambers. Racial science was introduced into the curriculum to justify Nazi
notions of race. Children were indoctrinated to be loyal and submissive, to harbor hatred towards Jews, and to worship
Hitler. Youth organizations played a significant role in educating German youth in 'the spirit of National Socialism.' At the
age of 14, boys were required to join the Nazi youth organization, where they were taught to glorify war, aggression,
violence, condemn democracy, and hate Jews, communists, Gypsies, and anyone classified as 'undesirable.' Later, they
would enter the Labor Service at the age of 18 and eventually serve in the armed forces or join other Nazi organizations.
In 1922, the Youth League of the Nazis was established to further indoctrinate young minds.

The Nazi Cult of Motherhood:

The Nazis promoted a particular view of motherhood in their society. Children were taught that women were
fundamentally different from men. Boys were instructed to be aggressive, masculine, and 'steel-hearted,' while girls were
encouraged to become good mothers and raise pure-blooded Aryan children. Girls were charged with the responsibility of
maintaining the racial purity of the population, distancing themselves from Jews, managing their households, and
instilling Nazi values in their children. However, not all mothers were treated equally; those who encouraged women to
have more children received honors. They were awarded a bronze cross for four children, a silver cross for six, and a gold
cross for eight or more. Women who maintained contact with Jews, Poles, or Russians faced public humiliation, including
head-shaving, blackened faces, and placards declaring their supposed dishonor.

The Art of Propaganda:

Propaganda played a crucial role in spreading Nazi ideas and beliefs. The Nazis employed various mediums, including
visual images, films, radio broadcasts, posters, catchy slogans, and leaflets. They systematically targeted and stereotyped
different groups, particularly Orthodox Jews, whom they depicted as vermin, rats, and pests. The Nazis made concerted
efforts to appeal to various segments of the population, suggesting that only the Nazis could solve their problems and
promising a brighter future under their leadership.

Ordinary People and the Crimes Against Humanity:

As the Nazi ideology spread, ordinary Germans began to adopt the Nazi mindset and language. Many Germans came to
share the hatred and anger directed towards Jews and genuinely believed that Nazism would bring prosperity and
improve their overall well-being. Surprisingly, there was widespread silence among ordinary Germans regarding the
brutal and organized crimes committed by the Nazi regime. Even those who might have had reservations often remained
passive in the face of these atrocities. Pastor Niemoeller was among the few who protested the eerie silence of ordinary
Germans in response to the brutal crimes committed in the Nazi empire. Charlotte Beradt's book, 'The Third Reich of
Dreams,' provides insight into how Jews themselves began to internalize Nazi stereotypes about them.

Knowledge about the Holocaust:

As World War II came to an end and Germany faced defeat, the Holocaust emerged as a tragic chapter in history. While
Germans were preoccupied with their own plight, Jews sought to ensure that the world would remember the atrocities
and suffering they endured during the Nazi killing operations, often referred to as the Holocaust. Recognizing the
impending defeat, the Nazi leadership distributed petrol to its functionaries, instructing them to destroy all incriminating
evidence present in offices, further obscuring the horrors of the Holocaust from the world's view.

These detailed explanations cover the critical aspects of Chapter 3, providing a comprehensive understanding of the rise
of Nazism and the policies pursued under Hitler's leadership in Germany during this period.