Adolf Hitler Influence

On June 28th 1919, in the Versailles Palace of France, the treaty of Versailles officially ended World war one. The signers of this treaty implemented certain restrictions on Germany that were to guarantee Germany would never start another world war. This begs the question, “what did the end of one war have to do with the start of World War Two?”. The evidence shows that it was this treaty’s influence on Adolf Hitler that led to the Versailles Treaty’s ultimate failure and provoked the start of the next world war. Because of this treaty Adolf Hitler’s economic plan, proposed while he was seeking political election, was focused on rebuilding and reclaiming Germany. This went hand in hand with the nationalist ideas of the Nazi party.

Due to the failure of the Weimar Republic and general public dissatisfaction arising from poor economic conditions exacerbated by the Treaty of Versailles, coupled with the 1929 Wall Street Crash, German citizens were understandably desperate for change. Until this point in time the Nazi party, and Hitler, had been essentially unpopular. However, the economic situation ensured Hitler’s increasing popularity as the people looked toward more extreme but non-communist ideals. The initial consolidation of Nazi power in 1933 arose from key events such as the support of the Nationalist Party with the Nazis to form a coalition government, implementation of the Enabling

According to Abc.News, Germany had signed the debts to pay 269 million gold marks and around 96,000 tons of gold in Treaty of Versailles during 1919. The debts were unaffordable for Germans since they had also lost a lot of properties during the Great War. Followed along the debts that they had to pay to the Allies, there were the Great Depression. During 1930, the Great Depression occurs. “The total number of German workers involved in the unemployment easily reaches four million”(20,000,000 Unemployed in World," Revolutionary Age). Germans were frustrated with the government. Germans were ravenous and overwhelmed. Under this circumstances, the hopeless Germans started to believe that Hitler was the man who could bring the glory of Germany back. The propaganda poster below has shown that people were tiresome of trusting the government. The German words translated into English was “Our Last Hope— Hitler”. It indicated that Hitler was the last person as a leader they were going to believe. The poster enlarged the name “Hitler” to emphasize his importance, to attract attention, and to encourage people to join the Nazi Party.

The topic that I chose was “Identify Adolf Hitler and his role in the Third Reich.” Adolf Hitler was an Austrian born German politician that was also the leader of the Nazi Party. He was a decorated veteran of World War 1. Hitler joined the German Worker’s Party in 1919. Hitler had a side of him that was good and during his imprisonment in the mid 1920’s he wrote his memoir, Mein Kampf which means (my struggle). Hitler had gained his popularity from the support on attacking the Treaty of Versailles and promoting the Pan-Germanium for the Nazi Propaganda.

To fully answer this question one must look at the underlying philosophies behind Hitler’s leadership. What did he stand for and did his ideologies have any redeeming characteristics? Indisputably he had an ability to lead and motivate. He was revered with almost God – like fanaticisms by his people. This essay will set out to establish the basis of his leadership and within that framework, the nature of the man and his vision for the world.

In the lead up to the depression the Nazis had 12 seats and just two years later in the peak of the economic crisis the Nazis had 107 seats. This reflects the dissatisfaction that was shown in the present government and the fact that Hitler was the only person who promised the solutions that they people wanted. Many historians have stated that if Stressman had not died in 1929 then Germany may have recovered to its former strength and Hitler may never had the chance at gaining power. From 1930 onwards the country is being ruled by presidential decree through the use of Article 48, so therefore no party could gain a majority for the German economy to get back on its feet. Hitler took advantage of these times of hardship and promised these desperate people what they wanted, employment and a way out of these poverty times. Hitler was the only option left, and is desperate time people look for desperate politics to solve these problems. Weimar

Germany was now desperately seeking a strong leader that would rescue their country. The domestic crisis was the source of their anguish and Hitler who called for self determination and the abolition of the Treaty of Versailles appealed to the people. According to the revisionist views “The depression also helped to destroy German democracy and contributed to Hitler’s rise to power, and it was his dictatorship which brought war”. The rise of the Nazis cannot therefore be blamed solely on the reparations, the Weimar Republic and the Wall Street Crash both independent factors from the consequences of WWI highly contributed to the rise of the Nazis.

From the time Hitler and the Nazi’s took control of Germany in 1933 until the collapse of the Third Reich in 1945, the aim of the regime under the calculating guidance of Hitler himself sought no less than global conquest. This ambitious objective can be further dissected into short term and long term goals that provide insight into Hitler’s character, thoughts and actions.

Even though Germany was left in a period of struggle and economic weakness after WW1, Adolf Hitler would take a stand by creating a party that would help refine the structure of the economy. This party, when abbreviated, was called Nazi, would also create harsh laws and unrelentless punishment. Due to the Nazi party’s quick growth, there was an immediate impact on lifestyle and politics for the people of Germany. The long term impact brought forth by the consequences or legacy of the Nazi party included a population decrease and an increase in deaths. To make both of these impacts, Hitler had to overcome many hard challenges.

The rise and subsequent take-over of power in Germany by Hitler and the Nazi Party in the early 1930s was the culmination and continuation not of Enlightenment thought from the 18th and 19th century but the logical conclusion of unstable and cultural conditions that pre-existed in Germany. Hitler’s Nazi Party’s clear manipulation of the weak state of the Weimar Republic through its continued failure economically and socially, plus its undermining of popular support through the signing the Treaty of Versailles all lead to the creation of a Nazi dictatorship under the cult of personality of Hitler. This clear take-over of power and subsequent destruction of any

Some of the most significant aspects of this included the widespread myth of the ‘stab in the back’, the humiliation of Germany that came from the treaty, and the multiple times that the Nazis criticised the Treaty of Versailles. The powerful ‘stab in the back’ myth was a very common belief in Germany, a belief that was greatly strengthened by the Treaty of Versailles and was later reinforced by the Nazi party who used its popularity to attract support. The humiliation of Germany that was brought about by the Treaty was also meant that the German people were angry with their government, making it easier for the Nazis to later take advantage of this anger by attacking the treaty and the government that signed it. It also meant that the Nazis could attract support through the means of making themselves appealing to the people who were angry and believed the myth by having their 25 point program say outright that, if elected, the Nazis would abrogate the Treaty all together. Sources 2 and 4 are both examples of times when the Nazis party has attacked the Treaty and show how Nazis felt about the Treaty and how they used the treaty to gain popularity among the German people who were known to feel humiliated and bitter about it. This humiliation and bitterness is shown in sources 1, 3, 5 and 6 where either German sources from the timer period exhibit their feelings towards the treaty of Versailles or historians recount these feelings. Overall, the sources shown demonstrate that the social implications of the Treaty of Versailles were able to aid in the Nazi’s rise to power, as it meant the Nazis were able to attract support through appealing to the people who felt anger about the Treaty

The Great Depression was a key factor as to why the Nazi’s came to power. The economic crisis highlighted the weakness of the Weimar republic and it caused the public to turn to extreme parties. However, in comparison to other factors it is arguably not the most important reason. The other factors such as the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic, the Nazi appeal and the role the elite played in bringing Hitler to power have to be taken into account. It is also important to reflect on the concern that Germany had frail fundamental struggles within itself due the effects of the War. It can be argued that the Depression wouldn’t have had an overwhelming effect on Germany’s economy and Government if they hadn’t suffered as much as they did due to the War. The demoralizing effect led people to desperate positions and in return they chose to support the views of extremist parties, I.e. the Nazis. The Nazi’s and Hitler had presented solutions to their problems and this appealed to the public as they lost belief in the government.

In the following investigation, the following question will be addressed: In what ways did economic and political issues in Germany between 1922 and 1932 contribute to Hitler's rise to power? The scope of my research will fall between the years of 1922-1932, the start of Hitler’s attempt to run for office. A variety of primary and secondary sources will be used to answer the question. The bitterness caused upon the change of government systems in Germany will be analyzed, along with his childhood that all primarily drove Hitler to run for power. Then, the harsh effects World War I had on Germany along with the Great Depression that followed as a result will also be looked at. Finally, a conclusion will be reached.

Adolf Hitler was fundamental to the Nazi State between 1933 to 1939. From his consolidation of power to the start of World War II, Hitler played a crucial role in nearly every aspect of Nazi Germany: its politics and internal administration, culture, military, and international relations. However, Hitler’s involvement in the German economy was limited and he neglected overseeing the daily governance of the state. Nonetheless, as the absolute dictator of Germany, his programs and policies set a determined course for the Nazi State. Essentially, the will of Hitler became the driving force and the sole embodiment of the Third Reich, as encapsulated by Bullock, ‘No other man played a role in the . . . history of the Third Reich remotely

First of all, the situation that Germany was facing during the Depression was not easy. For the Germans and for Hitler himself, this situation was one of the worst conditions to live. When Hitler’s ideas appeared in Germany, the people did not think twice but to accept his ideals. Hitler’s aim was to rebuild a new Germany with the discipline that he believed. For this to happen new people would need to appear and for Hitler those new people would be the Germany future, the children.