History Lecture: Early Years of the Nazi Party and the Munich Putsch

Overview

• Focus: Early years of the Nazi Party up to 1923 and the Munich Putsch.
• Relevance: Useful for students of Edexcel and other exam boards.

Adolf Hitler’s Early Involvement

• Post-WWI:

  • At 29, Hitler was in the hospital due to temporary blindness when WWI ended.
  • Became involved with the DAP (German Workers Party) while working as a spy.

• DAP Formation:

  • Formed by Anton Drexler in March 1919.
  • Initially small, only 23 attendees at the first meeting.

Hitler’s Rise in the DAP

• Party Joining: Joined in September 1919 due to alignment with their views.
• Key Influence: Quickly rose to be a leading member, taking control by 1922.

Strategies for Control

• Development of Party Policy:

  • 25-Point Program (Feb 1920):
    • Opposition to Weimar Government and Treaty of Versailles.
    • Anti-Democracy: Advocated for a strong single ruler.
    • Anti-Semitic: Blamed Jews for Germany’s economic issues.

• Hitler’s Personal Appeal:

  • Effective speeches, persuasive techniques, and charismatic oratory.
  • Around 3,000 attendees by end of 1920.

• Party Organization:

  • 1920: Set up a permanent office, renamed to the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP or Nazi).
  • Logo and Branding: Adopted swastika and straight-arm salute for distinct identity.
  • Newspaper: Launched "Volkischer Beobachter" to spread Nazi ideology, reaching 17,000 readers.

Leadership and Loyalty

• Key Figures Introduced:

  • Rudolf Hess, Hermann Goering, Ernst Rohm.
  • Developed connections with business and military leaders.

• Creation of SA (Sturmabteilung):

  • Formed in August 1921 as a private army.
  • Members known as "Brown Shirts".
  • Subsequently, the SS was formed to act as Hitler’s personal bodyguard.

Consolidation of Power

• Party Conference (Jan 1922):
  • Hitler delivered a 2.5-hour speech.
  • Gained complete dictatorial control over the NSDAP, now with 50,000 members.

Conclusion

• This segment covered the critical strategies and organizational changes that led to Hitler’s dominance in the early Nazi Party.

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