Rise of Nazism in Germany: Weimar Republic to 1933
The Introduction of Nazism in Germany
The Weimar Republic (1918-1933)
In 1918, nearing the end of World War I, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated, and the Weimar Republic was proclaimed. It was established with a democratic constitution. Germany had to accept military defeat and the harsh peace terms imposed by the victors. Many Germans considered the Treaty of Versailles humiliating because it accused Germany of causing the war, seized territories, reduced its army, and imposed substantial economic reparations.
The post-war years were marked by economic crisis, poverty, and unemployment in Germany. War debts and reparations caused high inflation, leading to a significant depreciation of the Mark. The Weimar Republic, governed by Christian Democrats and Socialists, faced this challenging economic situation and the dissatisfaction of large segments of the population. In its early years, it was threatened by revolutionary movements on the left and several attempted coups d’état from the extreme right.
Hitler and the Nazi Party
Adolf Hitler was a demobilized soldier from World War I who had not accepted the German defeat. In 1920, he founded the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi Party) and became its undisputed leader. The party adopted the red flag with the swastika as its emblem and established a paramilitary organization, the *Sturmabteilung* (SA) or Storm Troopers.
Hitler’s ideology was detailed in his book, Mein Kampf, expressing his contempt for parliamentary democracy and his hatred of Bolshevism. He also advocated for antisemitism, the superiority of the Aryan race, and the need to forge a great empire uniting all German-speaking people.
To attract the working classes, Hitler promised work for all, reduced industrial profits, better wages, and a more cohesive society. He strongly attacked those he accused of being responsible for the German crisis: Jews, Communists, and Democrats. Nazi militias violently opposed the Republic and engaged in several rebellious attempts. They also clashed with Communist military organizations and presented themselves as a guarantee of social order against revolutionary agitation.
The Nazis’ Ascent to Power
The period between 1924 and 1929 saw improved economic conditions and a degree of social stability. However, the consequences of the 1929 crisis were severe in Germany. The withdrawal of American capital led to the collapse of many banks, factory closures, and increased social unrest. By 1932, there were more than six million unemployed in Germany.
Social malaise pushed much of the population towards the proposals of extremist parties. Ruined bourgeois, desperate peasants, and unemployed workers were attracted by Nazi promises, while intellectuals and the majority of workers leaned towards the Communist Party. Furthermore, the Nazi Party began to receive support from prominent figures in industry and finance, obtaining substantial economic aid.