The%20Third%20Reich

1
The Third Reich

• The Nazi Seizure of Power

2
Problem how and why?

• NSDAP as a relatively small group one of many
  volkish/nationalist elements, kicking around in
  the early 1920s
• How and why was it able to
• come to power in 1933?
• Consolidate power within six months?
• Establish a totalitarian regime by 1936?

3
Possible explanations

• German culture
• deep-seated authoritarianism,
• fragmentation/divisions
• Fragility of Weimar Republic
• Hitlers skill/charisma
• Use of propaganda

4
Hitler

• Disaffected Austrian, social misfit
• Serves in German army in World War I
• After war, one more ex-soldier in streets of
  Munich, haranguing about defeat
• Becomes leader of a small party, NSDAP National
  Socialist Workers Party

5
Ideology or Weltanshaung

• Supremacy of Aryan race
• Nationalism/Romanticism
• Establishment of new order
• Anti-Semitism
• Need of Germany to expand to the east
  (lebensraum)
• Importance of struggle
• Fuhrer principle
• Vague anti-capitalism promises of something
  better for everyone

6
Early years

• Origins as a paramilitary group
• 1923 Beer Hall Putsch, arrest and imprisonment as
  a turning point
• From 1924-25, pursuit of legality
• Emphasis on building up party, while propagating
  message
• Organization increasingly refined, with
  subsections for different occupations, broader
  contacts with society

7
Gaining power

• Impact of depression
• Divisions among parties
• Collapse of SPD-led government (1928-30)
• Elections of 1930 NSDAP gains 18,
• Brüning (Centre Party, but no democrat) able to
  govern only by recourse to presidential emergency
  power (article 48) of constitution

8
1932

• 1932 Presidential election Hindenburg defeats
  Hitler 53-37
• Brüning dismissed, replaced by Von Papen
• SPD govt in Prussia ousted Socialists fail to
  resist
• new elections held (NSDAP wins 37)
• Nationalists attempt to form governments
• Von Papen and then Schleicher try to enlist NSDAP
  in a coalition Hitler refuses

9
1932-33

• Following second 1932 election (NSDAP wins 32)
  coalition formed with Hitler as chancellor, von
  Papen as vice-chancellor
• Hitler assumes office Jan. 30, 1933
• Rapidly consolidates power by successively
  eliminating his opponents

10
Consolidating power

• Dividing and ruling
• New elections called (Nazis win 44)
• Reichstag fire as pretext for emergency
  legislation, suspending civil liberties, banning
  communists from new Reichstag
• Enabling Act, 1933 transfers power to chancellor
• Centre Party supports, lest it be banned,
  supplying necessary 2/3 majority

11
Moves against other organizations

• Social Democrats banned
• Unions promised freedom to pursue economic goals
• later reorganized into comprehensive labour front
• Centre Party disbands following concordat with
  Vatican, guaranteeing position of R.C. Church
• Nationalists subsequently marginalized --

12
Control of government

• Power enhanced by creating new ministries with
  Nazis in charge
• Enabling Acts used to take control of provincial
  governments,
• Military and business acquiesce
• Hitler placates by moving against more radical
  elements SA attached and destroyed during
  Night of Long Knives (June 20, 1934), making way
  for more disciplined SS

13
1934-35

• Death of Hindenburg, 1934, allows Hitler to
  consolidate offices of chancellor and president
  --
• Endorsed by plebiscite
• 38 million for, 5 million opposed
• Nazi penetration of government structures, social
  organization enhances control (Gleichschaltung
  bring things into line)
• Increasing use of terror by SS., Gestapo

14
Policies and directions

• Expansive economic policy rearmament, public
  works (construction of autobahns), creates jobs,
  reflates economy, generates support
• Successive moves against Jews, minorities
• Restrictions on numbers of Jews in professions
• Nuremberg laws, 1935, remove citizenship
• Kristallnacht, 1938
• Foundation laid for war
• Rearmament in violation of Versailles, 1933
• Attempted anschluss with Austria 1934
• Reoccupation of Rhineland, 1936

15
The Nazi state

• Partial fusion of party and state
• Hitler at the centre
• remote issuing vague directions
• Numerous empires within the system,
• SS
• Gestapo

16
Why was this possible?

• Mass attitudes?
• Attitudes of elites?
• Hindenburg, military, monarchists, others
• Fragmentation of Weimar society?
• Hitlers skill?
• Success of divide and rule tactics?
• Success of propaganda, big lie?
• Cumulative radicalization?