The Rise of Nazism and its Impact
The Political Consequences of the Economic Crisis
The economic crisis exacerbated social discontent and tension, leading workers and the middle class to vote for extremist options. Both the Communist Party and the National Socialist Party saw immense increases in their vote counts.
Hitler’s Rise to Power
In 1932, elections were held for both Parliament and the Presidency. The Communists and Nazis emerged as the strongest forces in the parliamentary elections. President Hindenburg, pressured by businessmen and conservative groups, appointed Hitler as Chancellor in January 1933.
Elimination of the Opposition
Within months, the Nazis consolidated power and eliminated all opposition parties. Using the Reichstag fire of February 28, 1933, allegedly started by a communist, as a pretext, they suppressed dissent. In June 1934, political opponents were murdered during the Night of the Long Knives. Upon Hindenburg’s death in August, Hitler seized full power.
The Holocaust
As victorious troops entered concentration camps, the horrors of the Holocaust became undeniable. The genocide raised profound questions about human nature and the capacity for mass killing.
Schindler’s List
This story follows Oskar Schindler, a Nazi Party member and businessman of Czech origin, who arrives in Krakow and initially profits from the situation in recently invaded Poland. He establishes a kitchenware factory and secures an agreement for forced labor from the Krakow Jewish ghetto. Schindler’s Jewish accountant, Itzhak Stern, becomes instrumental in his operations. After seven months, facing financial collapse due to inefficient production and bribes, Schindler pivots to saving the Jewish workers from extermination. He famously declares, “I could have saved ten more people by selling this car.” Looking at his Nazi Party badge, he adds, “I could have gotten two more people for this.” This realization leads him to protect the Jews in his factory. They present him with a gold ring inscribed with “Whoever saves one life saves the whole world.” Schindler helps his Jewish workers escape to a nearby town with a letter of recommendation from the Soviets.
Nazi Germany’s Militarism and Expansionism
Expansionist Ideology
The Nazi era was marked by an expansionist ideology aimed at reversing the limitations imposed by the Treaty of Versailles.
Expansionist Policies
Hitler implemented a foreign policy that systematically violated the Treaty of Versailles. He initiated a massive rearmament program and reinstated compulsory military service under Göring’s leadership. He then annexed Austria in 1938 and the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia in 1939, later occupying the rest of Czechoslovakia, facing little resistance from other powers.
War Economy
While the early years of Nazi rule saw high unemployment, this was addressed through public works projects. The regime’s economic policy prioritized autarky, creating new factories and products to reduce reliance on foreign imports. Private industries collaborated and profited significantly.
Hitler’s Ideology
Hitler’s ideology shared many characteristics with fascism, including a cult of the leader, the primacy of the state, and the exaltation of violence and youth.
Racist Ideology
A core element of Nazism was its racist ideology. Hitler believed Germans belonged to the Aryan race and implemented increasingly harsh anti-Semitic policies, culminating in the “Final Solution” of 1942. Jews, Roma, and other targeted groups from invaded countries were transported to extermination camps.
The Rise of Mussolini
Italy faced significant debt from financing the war, leading to rising prices and inflation. Demobilization further increased unemployment. Amidst the economic crisis, support for extremist parties grew, including the Italian Communist Party and the National Fascist Party, led by Benito Mussolini. The March on Rome (October 27-28, 1922) resulted in King Victor Emmanuel III appointing Mussolini as Prime Minister.
Mussolini’s Government: Characteristics of Fascism
- Undemocratic and anti-communist ideology.
- Rule by a powerful leader (Il Duce) with suppression of individual freedoms.
- One-party state (Fascist Party).
- State intervention in the economy to achieve self-sufficiency.
- Harsh repression of opposition.
- Fierce nationalism and expansionism, with the goal of creating a colonial empire.
- Cult of violence and militarism.
Post-War Germany and the Weimar Republic (1919-1933)
Post-World War I Germany, under the Weimar Republic, faced numerous challenges that contributed to Hitler’s rise. The abdication of the German emperor led to the formation of a new republic based on the Weimar Constitution. The Socialist Party initially held a parliamentary majority, but the fragile democracy faced opposition from extremist groups.
Weaknesses of the Weimar Republic
- Right-wing extremists opposed the republic and attempted a coup in 1919.
- Conservatives viewed the republic as illegitimate due to its acceptance of the Treaty of Versailles.
Adolf Hitler joined the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP). His attempted coup in 1923 (Munich Putsch) failed. The economic crisis, including hyperinflation caused by printing money to pay war debts, fueled discontent and support for the NSDAP.
The Economic Crisis of the 1930s
A coalition government briefly stabilized the economy in 1924, but the 1929 crash severely impacted Germany. By 1932, unemployment reached six million. This widespread economic hardship contributed to Hitler’s rise.
Domestic Policy: A Totalitarian Regime
Upon consolidating power, Hitler outlawed all other political parties. The state was led by the Führer (leader).
Control of the Population
- Police State: Heinrich Himmler’s police force, including the SS (Hitler’s personal guard) and the Gestapo (secret police), persecuted opponents. Between 1933 and 1939, one million Germans were sent to concentration camps.
- Propaganda: Joseph Goebbels controlled the propaganda machine, manipulating all media to support the Nazi Party. Education promoted Nazi ideology, and youth were indoctrinated through the compulsory Hitler Youth.
As a result of this pervasive control, opposition was effectively silenced.