Nazi Party: Definition, Philosophies & Hitler

Overview

• The National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi Party) ruled Germany through totalitarian means from 1933 to 1945 under Adolf Hitler.
• Founded in 1919 as the German Workers Party, promoted German pride, anti-Semitism, and dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Versailles.
• Hitler became its leader in 1921; appointed Chancellor of Germany in 1933, assuming dictatorial powers.
• After WWII, the Nazi Party was outlawed and officials were convicted of war crimes.

Nazi Party Origins

• Founded in 1919 by Anton Drexler, Karl Harrer, and others, promoting German nationalism and anti-Semitism.
• Dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Versailles, which burdened Germany with reparations.
• Hitler joined in 1919, gaining prominence as a public speaker, promoting extreme nationalism and the Aryan master race.
• Renamed as the Nationalist Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi Party) in 1921.

Mein Kampf

• Hitler's political autobiography, made him a millionaire.
• Free copies were given to every newlywed German couple between 1933 to 1945.
• Illegal to publish in Germany after WWII.

Beer Hall Putsch

• In 1923, an attempted coup in Munich aimed at triggering a larger revolution.
• Hitler was convicted of treason, served less than a year in prison, during which he wrote Mein Kampf.
• Trial publicity made Hitler a national figure; upon release, rebuilt the Nazi Party.

Nazi Rise to Power

• By 1929, Germany faced economic depression; Nazis criticized the government and gained political support.
• In July 1932, Nazis won 230 out of 608 seats in the Reichstag.
• January 1933: Hitler appointed Chancellor; Nazi regime banned all other political parties.

Concentration Camps

• Established Dachau in 1933 for political prisoners.
• Evolved into a death camp; targeted Jews, artists, intellectuals, Roma, handicapped, and homosexuals.

Nazi Foreign Policy

• Aimed to undo the Treaty of Versailles, restore Germany's international standing.
• Opposed postwar European map, arguing it divided Germans.

Germany Invades Poland

• Mid-late 1930s: Germany withdrew from the League of Nations, rebuilt military, reoccupied Rhineland, annexed Austria, invaded Czechoslovakia.
• 1939: Germany invaded Poland, triggering WWII.

Nazis Fight to Dominate Europe

• Targeted Britain, France; allied with Japan, Italy in the Tripartite Pact.
• Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact honored until 1941; launched blitzkrieg on the Soviet Union.
• By 1944-45, Nazi Germany was fighting to survive.

The Holocaust

• Nazi regime's anti-Jewish policies began in 1933.
• Systematic murder of Jews and other groups in death camps across Europe.
• By 1945, approximately 6 million Jews were killed.

Denazification

• Post-WWII: Allies occupied Germany, outlawed the Nazi Party.
• Nuremberg trials held from 1945 to 1949 prosecuted Nazi war criminals.

Sources

• Holocaust Encyclopedia
• University of South Florida
• Holocaust Memorial Day Trust