History ( WW I, Russian Revolution and the rise of fascism in Germany)
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TheRiseofFascism.pptxI. Germany (1918-1933): Ripe for Radical Change
National Collapse: Military defeat, wounded national pride
Economic Collapse: Inflation, Depression, unemployment
Government Paralysis: Weimar Republic, “candle burning at both ends”; Strong sense that the system has “failed”
Revolutionary Atmosphere: Threat of communist revolution
Psychological Malaise
II. Nazism as Ideology
National Socialist German Workers’ Party founded shortly after World War I
Disgruntled army veterans
Ultra-patriotic
Popular among unemployed, veterans
Emphasis on organization, charisma of messenger (Hitler), and appeal of message of change
What did Nazis Believe?
Restore glory of Germany: ultra-nationalistic
Racist: “Aryan”, Teutonic superiority; blood not class unites and divides “the people”
Anti-Semitic: Jews as alien to nation; responsible for all Germany’s ills
Anti-communist: Class struggles divide the people; Jewish conspiracy; appeals to middle-class
Anti-democratic: parties, parliament divide the nation; worthless bureaucrats
Anti-rich: against Big Business; emphasis on Volk
The Appeal: Struggle, Action, Protest
Contradictions: Society not pure, Jews small population, both communists and capitalists?
Struggle: Conflict is natural; survival of the fittest; might makes right
Action: “Do something”; contradictions melt away
Protest: Depression, Communism, Greed, Foreign Powers===The Jews
Meaning, Identity, and Redemption
III. Adolf Hitler
Austria born, 1889
World War I veteran
Early leader of National Socialist Party
Failed coup in 1923
Mein Kampf (1924)
Charisma, consistency
Belonging; tribalism
Modern media: radio, film, staged rallies, book burnings
Appointed Chancellor in 1933
IV. Fascism: Marriage of Powers
1932: Fascists and Communists earn 50% of votes in Germany
“Junker” establishment: army, bureaucracy; industrialists fear revolution; Communist viewed as worse; Hitler as lesser of threats
Feb. 1933 Reichstag Fire: blame communists and socialists
March 1933: ban all parties except Nazis
Junkers, elite, wealthy side with Hitler
Needs financial support; stops talking social revolution; tones down anti-capitalist rhetoric
Revolution Solidified
1934: Hitler seized power; purged dissidents; integrated establishment
Courts middle class
Begins rapid rearmament
Ends Depression; back to work
Escalation of persecution of Jews
Challenges Versailles Treaty: right to an army, right to lost territory
“secure for the German people the land to which they are entitled”
Fascism and Communism in Comparison
Both anti-liberal
Both one-party regimes
Both one-man dictatorships
Both use secret police, terror against population
Both have radical, transformative ideology
Both have scapegoats
Fascism: focus on race, protected elites, ultimately pro-capitalist
Communism: focus on class, destroyed elites, ultimately anti-capitalist
