Initial Rise of Hitler and The Nazis

Helmuth, an eleven-year-old German kid, was laying in bed in the spring of 1945 when he overheard his parents discussing something important. His father, a famous physician, debated with his wife whether it was time to kill the entire family or commit suicide by himself. Now the Allies will do to us what we did to the handicapped and Jews, his father said, expressing his dread of retaliation. The next day, he took Helmuth to the woods, where they spent their last happy minutes together singing old children's songs.

Helmuth's father later committed suicide at his office. Helmuth recalls seeing his father's bloodied uniform burned in the home fireplace. He was so traumatised by what he had overheard and saw that he responded by refusing to eat at home for the next nine years! He was worried his mother might try to poison him.

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Helmuth's father had been a Nazi and an admirer of Adolf Hitler, even if he didn't realise what that meant. Many of you are familiar with the Nazis and Hitler. You're certainly aware of Hitler's aim to transform Germany into a powerful nation and his desire to conquer all of Europe. You may have heard that he was a murderer of Jews. However, Nazism was not the result of a single or a few isolated deeds. It was a system, a framework of worldviews and political beliefs. Let us attempt to comprehend what the initial rise of Hitler and the Nazis were all about.

Rise of Hitler in Germany

The backdrop to Hitler's ascent to power was a crisis in the economy, politics, and society. Hitler grew up in poverty in Austria, where he was born in 1889. When the First World War broke out, he enlisted in the army, served as a front-line courier, rose through the ranks to corporal, and was awarded medals for courage. He was appalled by Germany's loss and enraged by the Treaty of Versailles. 

In 1919, he became a member of the German Workers' Party, a tiny party. He then assumed control of the organisation, renaming it the National Socialist German Workers' Party. The Nazi Party was the name given to the Hitlers party. Hitler intended to gain control of Bavaria in 1923, march on Berlin, and seize power. He was imprisoned, tried for treason, and eventually freed after failing. Until the early 1930s, the Nazis were unable to successfully mobilise public support. 

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Nazism emerged as a mass movement during the Great Depression. After 1929, as we have seen, banks failed and businesses closed, people lost their jobs, and the middle class was threatened with poverty. In such a circumstance, Nazi propaganda instilled optimism in the prospect of a brighter future. In the German parliament, the Reichstag, the Nazi Party received only 2.6% of the vote in 1928. With 37% of the vote in 1932, it had become the most popular party. 

Hitler was an eloquent public speaker. People were moved by his enthusiasm and words. He pledged to establish a strong nation, right the wrongs of the Versailles Treaty, and restore the German people's dignity. He promised job opportunities for the unemployed and a bright future for the youth. He vowed to eliminate all foreign influences and fight any foreign "conspiracies" against Germany. 

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Hitler pioneered a new approach to politics. In mass mobilisation, he grasped the importance of rituals and spectacle. Massive rallies and public gatherings were conducted by Nazis to show popular support for Hitler and to instil a sense of solidarity among the people. This display of authority included red banners with the Swastika, the Nazi salute, and ritualised rounds of applause after speeches. Nazi propaganda skillfully portrayed Hitler as a messiah, a saviour, someone who had come to save the people from their suffering. It's an image that sparked the imagination of a people whose sense of dignity and pride had been destroyed, and who were suffering through severe economic and political difficulties.

Hitler ideology

However, it is equally vital to know Hitler's role. People sometimes remark, "No Hitler, no Holocaust." But everyone believes it is critical to consider who lights the match or tosses the spark that ignites a potentially flammable situation. There's a lot of unpredictability all around us. It isn't necessarily followed by genocide. The importance of leadership cannot be overstated. The importance of Hitler's leadership is undeniable. One of the most important things to remember about Hitler, is that he did have an ideology. They were fairly firm by the time he became chancellor in 1933. 

Think about those two terms race and space to help you recall. It's two pillars of Hitler's worldview that are linked. The concept of race was based on the belief that humanity was split into several groups, each of which was engaged in a battle with one another. It's a very Social Darwinian viewpoint, the concept that there isn't just one group of humans, but many different and competing groups. They're supposedly battling for space and land. Some books are also available on Hitler Ideology like Hitler's Ideology, Embodied Metaphor, Fantasy and History, By Richard A. Koenigsberg.

In the spring of 1945, Helmuth, an eleven-year-old German boy, was lying in bed. His father, a well-known physician, and his wife argued if it was time to murder the entire family. Helmuth recalls his father's bloodied uniform being burned in the fireplace at home. Hitler was both an articulate and eloquent impassioned public speaker. He promised to build a strong country, correct the wrongs of the Treaty of Versailles, and restore German honour. 

A crisis in the economy, politics, and society surrounded the Initial rise of Hitler and the nazis. Hitler pioneered a new political strategy. He was aware of the significance of rites and spectacles. He offered the unemployed work prospects and a bright future for the youth. Hitler was depicted as a messiah, a saviour, and someone who had come to save the people in Nazi propaganda.