Nazism and the Rise of Hitler

• How Hitler rose to power in Germany after World War I.
• Core ideas of Nazi ideology — race, propaganda, anti-Semitism.
• The Holocaust — what happened and why it matters.
• How Nazi Germany was defeated and its aftermath.

Germany after World War I

Rise of Adolf Hitler

• Born: Austria, 1889; failed art student; volunteered for German army in WW1.
• Joined German Workers' Party (1919); renamed National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP / Nazis).
• Munich Putsch (Beer Hall Putsch, 1923): attempted to seize power; failed; arrested; wrote Mein Kampf ("My Struggle") in prison.
• In prison wrote Mein Kampf — laid out his ideology: German racial superiority, hatred of Jews, need for Lebensraum (living space in the east).
• Great Depression gave Nazis their opening: people desperate, disillusioned with Weimar.
• 1932 elections: Nazis became largest party in Reichstag (parliament) — 37% of vote.
• 30 January 1933: Hitler appointed Chancellor (PM) by President Hindenburg.

Consolidation of power

Nazi ideology

• Racial hierarchy: Aryans (blond, blue-eyed Germans) at top; Slavs, Romas, Black people in middle; Jews and disabled at bottom as Untermenschen (sub-humans).
• Anti-Semitism: Jews blamed for Germany's defeat in WW1 and economic problems — a deliberate lie but effective propaganda.
• Lebensraum: Germany needed more "living space" in Eastern Europe; Slavs to be enslaved or eliminated.
• Cult of the Führer: Hitler presented as messianic figure; total obedience required.
• Youth indoctrination: Hitler Youth (boys) and League of German Girls — taught Nazi ideology, military drills, anti-Semitism from childhood.

Persecution of Jews

The Holocaust

• Holocaust = systematic murder of Jews and others by Nazi state.
• 6 million Jews killed — two-thirds of European Jewry.
• Also killed: ~5 million others — Roma, disabled people, homosexuals, Soviet POWs, political opponents.
• Major extermination camps: Auschwitz-Birkenau (Poland), Treblinka, Sobibor, Belzec.
• Method: gas chambers using Zyklon B.
• Wannsee Conference (January 1942): senior Nazi officials formally planned "Final Solution to the Jewish Question."
• Elie Wiesel (Night), Anne Frank (Diary) — survivor testimonies that document the horror.

World War II (1939–1945)

• September 1939: Germany invaded Poland → Britain and France declared war.
• Blitzkrieg (lightning war): rapid tank + air force attacks; France fell in 6 weeks (1940).
• June 1941: Hitler broke non-aggression pact; invaded Soviet Union — turning point; bogged down in Russian winter.
• December 1941: Japan attacked Pearl Harbor → USA entered war.
• Stalingrad (1942–43): massive Soviet counter-offensive; German 6th Army surrendered — beginning of Nazi defeat.
• D-Day, 6 June 1944: Allied invasion of Normandy, France.
• 30 April 1945: Hitler committed suicide in Berlin bunker.
• 8 May 1945 (VE Day): Germany surrendered.

Aftermath

• Nuremberg Trials (1945–46): surviving Nazi leaders tried for war crimes, crimes against humanity; 12 sentenced to death.
• Germany divided: West Germany (democratic, US/UK/France zone); East Germany (communist, Soviet zone) until reunification 1990.
• United Nations (1945): created to prevent future wars.
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948): response to Nazi atrocities.
• Israel founded (1948): homeland for Jewish survivors.

• What was the Weimar Republic? Why was it weak?
• How did the Great Depression help Hitler come to power?
• What were the Nuremberg Laws?
• What was the Holocaust? How many people were killed?
• What is the significance of the Nuremberg Trials?

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Nazism and the Rise of Hitler.