Events Leading to the Rise of Hitler
Like many who had served in the German Army during World War I, Hitler had come to believe that the Weimar government was primarily responsible for Germany’s humiliation at the hand of treaty makers in Versailles. Hitler had a natural ability for public speaking and by 1920 rose into a position of leadership in a local party which he renamed the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) or Nazi Party. The Nazi Party’s ideological beliefs were much in line with that of Hitler’s own, a combination of extreme nationalism, deep hatred of Communism, a distrust of democratic government, and most importantly a burning hatred for non-ethnic German, particularly Jews.
Anti-semitism or hatred for Jews gained steam in Germany at the end of World War I. Hitler held a pyramidical conception of races; Germans as descendant of Aryans positioned at the top and those he considered as sub-human races, such as Jews, Poles and Russians at the bottom. Nazis glorified the concept of a strong leader, a dictator who would personify the national beliefs and practices of the country.
Like many who had served in the German Army during World War I, Hitler had come to believe that the Weimar government was primarily responsible for Germany’s humiliation at the hand of treaty makers in Versailles. Hitler had a natural ability for public speaking and by 1920 rose into a position of leadership in a local party which he renamed the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) or Nazi Party. The Nazi Party’s ideological beliefs were much in line with that of Hitler’s own, a combination of extreme nationalism, deep hatred of Communism, a distrust of democratic government, and most importantly a burning hatred for non-ethnic German, particularly Jews.
Anti-semitism or hatred for Jews gained steam in Germany at the end of World War I. Hitler held a pyramidical conception of races; Germans as descendant of Aryans positioned at the top and those he considered as sub-human races, such as Jews, Poles and Russians at the bottom. Nazis glorified the concept of a strong leader, a dictator who would personify the national beliefs and practices of the country.
The Great Depression and National Socialism in Germany
Beginning in 1929 the global economy showed signs of collapsing and the Nazis used the crisis as an opportune moment to gain power. The Great Depression began primarily in the United States, but gradually impacted the whole world. Germany particularly suffered as its trade with other countries declined. Unemployment skyrocketed across the country, leading to widespread political instability. By 1930 the Weimar government showed signs of disintegration as it failed to cope with the financial crisis.
The German middle class and the country’s youth deeply disillusioned with the Weimar government held onto the promises of the Nazis. In September 1930 the Nazi Party gained 107 seats in the German parliament. By January 1932 the NSDAP was the largest single party in the German government. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was named as the chancellor of Germany.
Beginning in 1929 the global economy showed signs of collapsing and the Nazis used the crisis as an opportune moment to gain power. The Great Depression began primarily in the United States, but gradually impacted the whole world. Germany particularly suffered as its trade with other countries declined. Unemployment skyrocketed across the country, leading to widespread political instability. By 1930 the Weimar government showed signs of disintegration as it failed to cope with the financial crisis.
The German middle class and the country’s youth deeply disillusioned with the Weimar government held onto the promises of the Nazis. In September 1930 the Nazi Party gained 107 seats in the German parliament. By January 1932 the NSDAP was the largest single party in the German government. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was named as the chancellor of Germany.
Key Characteristics of National Socialism
Nazism as a political movement was fueled by an intense desire to reinstate Germany as one of the foremost powers of Europe. To realize this goal, the Nazis needed to territorially expand Germany. The fertile lands of Eastern Europe with other rich natural resources, therefore, became the target of German territorial ambition. Eastern Europeans racially inferior to Germans would provide the required Lebensraum or living space.
Nazism saw race as the defining element of its doctrine. As he elaborated in his autobiography, Mein Kampf, Hitler was completely driven by a desire to create a racially pure German state, consisting of so-called Aryan people. They planned the most horrific purging of people who they considered undesirable, such as the Jews, homosexuals, Romas, and those with any forms of disabilities.
Nazis glorified the concept of a strong leader, a dictator who would personify the national beliefs and practices of the country.
Nazism as a political movement was fueled by an intense desire to reinstate Germany as one of the foremost powers of Europe. To realize this goal, the Nazis needed to territorially expand Germany. The fertile lands of Eastern Europe with other rich natural resources, therefore, became the target of German territorial ambition. Eastern Europeans racially inferior to Germans would provide the required Lebensraum or living space.
Nazism saw race as the defining element of its doctrine. As he elaborated in his autobiography, Mein Kampf, Hitler was completely driven by a desire to create a racially pure German state, consisting of so-called Aryan people. They planned the most horrific purging of people who they considered undesirable, such as the Jews, homosexuals, Romas, and those with any forms of disabilities.
Nazis glorified the concept of a strong leader, a dictator who would personify the national beliefs and practices of the country.
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Key Events Prior to 1938-39
On the night of February 27, 1933, the German parliament building, the Reichstag, mysteriously caught fire and burned. Hitler pinned the act on the Communists who, he claimed, did so to destabilize the German state. He used the incident to force the passage of the Enabling Act, which suspended the Weimar constitution for four years, granting Hitler almost complete power. All other political parties were quickly outlawed and the foundation of the new Nazi state was decisively laid.
In terms of foreign policy, Hitler moved very quickly to openly disregard the various provisions of the Versailles Treaty. In October 1933, Hitler took Germany out of the League of Nations. In March 1935, he announced the a sizeable increase of German military, made military service compulsory and proposed rebuilding of the German air force. The following year, Hitler ordered German troops to move into the demilitarized Rhineland region. Though all the steps taken by Hitler were in direct violation of the Versailles Treaty, Great Britain and France refused to challenge Hitler’s actions.
The same year, Hitler joined Mussolini in supporting the right-wing forces of Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War, which played a decisive role in Franco’s eventual victory. In 1936, Hitler also officially aligned with Imperial Japan-and with Fascist Italy in 1937-via the Anti-Comintern Pact in an effort to hem in the Soviet Union, where he expected to find Germany’s lebensraum. By 1938, a crisis situation was already palpable and the Western powers continued to appease the Nazi dictator.
On the night of February 27, 1933, the German parliament building, the Reichstag, mysteriously caught fire and burned. Hitler pinned the act on the Communists who, he claimed, did so to destabilize the German state. He used the incident to force the passage of the Enabling Act, which suspended the Weimar constitution for four years, granting Hitler almost complete power. All other political parties were quickly outlawed and the foundation of the new Nazi state was decisively laid.
In terms of foreign policy, Hitler moved very quickly to openly disregard the various provisions of the Versailles Treaty. In October 1933, Hitler took Germany out of the League of Nations. In March 1935, he announced the a sizeable increase of German military, made military service compulsory and proposed rebuilding of the German air force. The following year, Hitler ordered German troops to move into the demilitarized Rhineland region. Though all the steps taken by Hitler were in direct violation of the Versailles Treaty, Great Britain and France refused to challenge Hitler’s actions.
The same year, Hitler joined Mussolini in supporting the right-wing forces of Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War, which played a decisive role in Franco’s eventual victory. In 1936, Hitler also officially aligned with Imperial Japan-and with Fascist Italy in 1937-via the Anti-Comintern Pact in an effort to hem in the Soviet Union, where he expected to find Germany’s lebensraum. By 1938, a crisis situation was already palpable and the Western powers continued to appease the Nazi dictator.
Militarism in Japan
At the end of World War I, Japan emerged a stronger country with little economic turmoil and making a move towards a more liberal, democratic political system. Politicians attempted to lessen the traditional influence of the Japanese army and navy in political life and universal male voting right was achieved in 1925. There were, however, some deep-seated issues in Japan’s social life that prevented the country from achieving a democratic polity at the end.
First there was the long standing debate in Japanese society over the need to preserve Japanese identity and the appeal of the western world. Beginning with the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Japanese leaders opted for a middle ground between these two positions. The tension between tradition and westernization, however, continued to prevail which often soured Japan’s relation with the West.
The second issue was the constant interference of the navy and the army in the functioning of the civilian government. When the Great Depression struck Japan, the army made an attempt to overturn the civilian government. Eventually it was the economic problems associated with the Great Depression that led Japan to adopt a government based on militarism. The central idea behind a militaristic government is that a country must maintain a strong military and utilize it to aggressively expand its place in the world or to defend itself from outside threats. Evidently, by 1931 Japan felt the need to make a shift to militarism based on these factors.
At the end of World War I, Japan emerged a stronger country with little economic turmoil and making a move towards a more liberal, democratic political system. Politicians attempted to lessen the traditional influence of the Japanese army and navy in political life and universal male voting right was achieved in 1925. There were, however, some deep-seated issues in Japan’s social life that prevented the country from achieving a democratic polity at the end.
First there was the long standing debate in Japanese society over the need to preserve Japanese identity and the appeal of the western world. Beginning with the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Japanese leaders opted for a middle ground between these two positions. The tension between tradition and westernization, however, continued to prevail which often soured Japan’s relation with the West.
The second issue was the constant interference of the navy and the army in the functioning of the civilian government. When the Great Depression struck Japan, the army made an attempt to overturn the civilian government. Eventually it was the economic problems associated with the Great Depression that led Japan to adopt a government based on militarism. The central idea behind a militaristic government is that a country must maintain a strong military and utilize it to aggressively expand its place in the world or to defend itself from outside threats. Evidently, by 1931 Japan felt the need to make a shift to militarism based on these factors.
Japan in the 1930s
In order to save Japan from economic ruin, army officials demanded that Japan expand into a portion of northeastern China known as Manchuria which was rich in resources and possessed a critically important railroad network. Manchuria at that time was ruled by Chang Hsueh-liang outside the direct control of the Nationalist government of Chiang Kai-Shek. On September 18, 1931, Japanese military blew up a section of the railroad that supplied Japan with critically important raw material and then pinned the incident on Chang’s forces. Japan used the Mukden incident an an excuse to invade and conquer the whole of Manchuria. In September 1932, the Japanese established a new, independent country in place of Manchuria called Manchukuo. The ruler of the new state had very little effective power and was a puppet of the Japanese army. Japanese experts inspect the scene of the ‘railway sabotage’ on South Manchurian Railway
In the period between 1932-37, Japan began establishing common ground with the Axis powers. Japan became formally linked to Germany and later with Italy when it signed the anti-Communist treaty known as the Anti-Comintern Pact in November 1936.
In order to save Japan from economic ruin, army officials demanded that Japan expand into a portion of northeastern China known as Manchuria which was rich in resources and possessed a critically important railroad network. Manchuria at that time was ruled by Chang Hsueh-liang outside the direct control of the Nationalist government of Chiang Kai-Shek. On September 18, 1931, Japanese military blew up a section of the railroad that supplied Japan with critically important raw material and then pinned the incident on Chang’s forces. Japan used the Mukden incident an an excuse to invade and conquer the whole of Manchuria. In September 1932, the Japanese established a new, independent country in place of Manchuria called Manchukuo. The ruler of the new state had very little effective power and was a puppet of the Japanese army. Japanese experts inspect the scene of the ‘railway sabotage’ on South Manchurian Railway
In the period between 1932-37, Japan began establishing common ground with the Axis powers. Japan became formally linked to Germany and later with Italy when it signed the anti-Communist treaty known as the Anti-Comintern Pact in November 1936.
Crises of 1938-39
A very aggressive political situation evolved, particularly, in Europe with the emergence of these new dictatorial regimes in Italy, Germany, and Japan. The Great Depression with its economic problems aggravated the situation even further.
A very aggressive political situation evolved, particularly, in Europe with the emergence of these new dictatorial regimes in Italy, Germany, and Japan. The Great Depression with its economic problems aggravated the situation even further.
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Anschluss (annexation) with Austria
The first crisis made its appearance when Hitler, ignoring the clauses of the Treaty of Versailles sought to bring Austria under German control. This step he believed would further strengthen the racial composition of his Aryan state. In February 1938, Hitler asked the Austrian government to appoint a number of pro-Nazi officials to important government positions which the Austrian authority refused. Hitler thus decided to engineer widespread Austrian Nazi protests and to threaten military action. After Chancellor Schuschnigg was forced to resign, German troops entered Austria, thus bringing about the country’s complete absorption into the German state. The German attack met no challenge either from the French or the British who were unwilling to declare a war and more in the mood to appease Hitler.
The first crisis made its appearance when Hitler, ignoring the clauses of the Treaty of Versailles sought to bring Austria under German control. This step he believed would further strengthen the racial composition of his Aryan state. In February 1938, Hitler asked the Austrian government to appoint a number of pro-Nazi officials to important government positions which the Austrian authority refused. Hitler thus decided to engineer widespread Austrian Nazi protests and to threaten military action. After Chancellor Schuschnigg was forced to resign, German troops entered Austria, thus bringing about the country’s complete absorption into the German state. The German attack met no challenge either from the French or the British who were unwilling to declare a war and more in the mood to appease Hitler.
The Munich Crisis
Hitler next targeted Czechoslovakia which was situated at Germany’s south-eastern border. Hitler claimed that the Sudeten Germans were being purposefully discriminated against by the Czech government and demanded that the territory be added to Germany or the two countries would go to war. The Czech government refused handing over the region because it would mean jeopardizing the best line of defense in case of a German invasion. To diffuse the situation, the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and the French Prime Minister Edouard Daladier traveled to meet Hitler in the German city of Munich at what became known as the Munich Conference.
To avoid war the British and the French prime ministers successfully persuaded Czechoslovakia to hand over those border regions to Germany. This helped to avert the war but western leaders have been heavily criticized for continuing to appease Hitler. The Fuehrer on his part showed no signs of containment, instead after Munich he began to move more aggressively to meet his goals.
Hitler next targeted Czechoslovakia which was situated at Germany’s south-eastern border. Hitler claimed that the Sudeten Germans were being purposefully discriminated against by the Czech government and demanded that the territory be added to Germany or the two countries would go to war. The Czech government refused handing over the region because it would mean jeopardizing the best line of defense in case of a German invasion. To diffuse the situation, the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and the French Prime Minister Edouard Daladier traveled to meet Hitler in the German city of Munich at what became known as the Munich Conference.
To avoid war the British and the French prime ministers successfully persuaded Czechoslovakia to hand over those border regions to Germany. This helped to avert the war but western leaders have been heavily criticized for continuing to appease Hitler. The Fuehrer on his part showed no signs of containment, instead after Munich he began to move more aggressively to meet his goals.
Hitler and Poland
Poland became the center of the next European crisis. Poland created after the First World War contained areas from the old German empire. The most important of these was a strip of land known as the Polish Corridor, a twenty-mile-wide swath of land that gave Poland access to the Baltic Sea. The problem lay in the fact that a large number of inhabitants of the region were ethnic Germans.
To ensure that his attack on Poland would not propel the USSR to declare war against Germany, Hitler proposed an understanding with Stalin. The Soviet president welcomed Hitler’s gesture because he considered that this would provide Russia with much needed security from future Fascists aggression. In August 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. While Hitler knew that ultimately the Soviet Union was his main target, the pact was convenient at the moment. Secure in the knowledge that the Soviets would not move against him now, in late August 1939 Hitler demanded that Poland allow Germans in the Polish Corridor to vote on whether or not to return to Germany and to give up the port city of Danzig. The demands were really nothing more than window dressing as Hitler had already issued orders for the German army to invade Poland starting on September 1, 1939. The Polish government for its part resisted the German advances, primarily because of guarantees from the British and French governments of military support if Germany did resort to force. On the morning of September 1, Europe found itself once again engulfed by war as German forces crossed over the border, thereby beginning World War II.
Poland became the center of the next European crisis. Poland created after the First World War contained areas from the old German empire. The most important of these was a strip of land known as the Polish Corridor, a twenty-mile-wide swath of land that gave Poland access to the Baltic Sea. The problem lay in the fact that a large number of inhabitants of the region were ethnic Germans.
To ensure that his attack on Poland would not propel the USSR to declare war against Germany, Hitler proposed an understanding with Stalin. The Soviet president welcomed Hitler’s gesture because he considered that this would provide Russia with much needed security from future Fascists aggression. In August 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. While Hitler knew that ultimately the Soviet Union was his main target, the pact was convenient at the moment. Secure in the knowledge that the Soviets would not move against him now, in late August 1939 Hitler demanded that Poland allow Germans in the Polish Corridor to vote on whether or not to return to Germany and to give up the port city of Danzig. The demands were really nothing more than window dressing as Hitler had already issued orders for the German army to invade Poland starting on September 1, 1939. The Polish government for its part resisted the German advances, primarily because of guarantees from the British and French governments of military support if Germany did resort to force. On the morning of September 1, Europe found itself once again engulfed by war as German forces crossed over the border, thereby beginning World War II.