Nazis

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=__Nazis__= toc Germany's loss in WWI was the catalyst that enabled the Nazi party to gain power in Germany. Germany's economy was suffering greatly at this time with the reparations from WWI. The countries that had fought Germany in the first world war were demanding repayment for the damages done to homes buildings, and other things destroyed during the fighting. Germany's people had lost all hope in ever being able to get out of debt and get back on their feet. Not only that but they had lost hope in themselves and any hope of being the great country it once was.

The Rise of Nazisim
The rise of Nazism is mostly attributed to Germany's defeat in WWI and Adolf Hitler who led the Nazi party. Hitler's life before he joined the German Worker's Party at the age of thirty could be described as listless. He seemed to lack ambition and failed at many endeavors. Upon joining the Nazi party, he seemed to have dramatically changed. Adolph Hitler was a charismatic orator and seemed determined to rise through the ranks. Few people attended the early meetings until they decided to advertise in an anti-semitic newspaper. Over one hundred people came and heard the fiery speech of Hitler. In `924, Hitler was tried for treason. Far from being the end of his political career, it marked the true beginning. His defense appealed to the masses because they were undergoing extremely difficult economic times. The Germans had suffered defeat in WWI and their economy suffered from incredible inflation making the German mark almost worthless. The people needed something to believe in and Hitler offered them exactly that. He used the Jews as a scapegoat for everything that had gone wrong. He wrote "Mein Kampf" while pacing in his prison cell. In this book, he divides humans into categories based on physical appearance. He identifies people with blond hair and blue eyed people as Aryans. He asserted that Aryans were the master race. After leaving prison, Hitler had a new idea of how to topple the government- play by the democratic rules and be elected. When the Stock Market collapsed in 1929, the German economy was especially vulnerable. Hitler knew his opportunity had arrived. He broadened his appeal to the masses. His chief assets were his oratory skills and his intuition for what people wanted to hear. Adolph Hitler traversed Germany campaigning. His appearances were carefully staged. He offered something to everyone. On election day September 14,1930, the Nazi's received 18% of the vote. It was a stunning victory. He had no intention of cooperating with the government. Nazi storm troopers dressed in civilian clothes smashed the windows of Jewish shops, restaurants, and department stores. In February, 1932, Hitler decided to run for president. On March 13, 1932, Hitler got over eleven million votes. A run-oof was held, and President Hindenburg was re-elected. Due too much intrigue, Hitler emerged as Chancellor of the German nation on January 30, 1933. Within weeks, Hitler became the absolute dictator of Germany. The world was set on a collision course that would result in WWII and the deaths of fifty million human beings.

Overview
Hitler wanted more land. On March13, 1938, Germany took over Austria. The French and British handed Germany a large part of Chechoslovakia at the Munich Conference in September, 1938. People believed at the time that appeasing Hitler would prevent WWII. Hitler then made a pact with the Soviets and invaded Poland in 1939. Hitler claimed that Poland had invaded Germany, but this was a lie. On September 3rd Great Britain and France both declared war on Germany. WWII had begun. Within three years, Germany and its AXIS powers, Italy and Japan, occupied most of Europe and large parts of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Ocean. His forces committed numerous atrocities during the war.

Propaganda
"Propaganda is not an end in itself, but a means to an end. If the means achieves the end then the means is good...the new Ministry has no other aim than to unite the nation behind the ideal of the national revolution." Joseph Goebbels

Propaganda is the art of persuasion. Adolph Hitler realized the importance of it, and used propaganda to gain the support and trust of the German people. He appointed Dr. Joseph Goebbels to be the Minister of Propaganda and National Enlightenment. Goebbels had two main tasks: he needed to ensure that no one in Germany could see or read anything damaging to the Nazi Party and to ensure that the views of the Nazi Party were seen in the best light. Goebbels worked with Albert Speer, the head of the SS and Gestapo, to hunt down anyone who might be say or publish anything derogatory to the Nazis. To persuade people to think in a like manner he monitored all organizations that dealt with literature, art, music, radio, film, newspapers, etc. To produce anything you had to be a member of the Reich Chamber and Goebbels decided if you could be a member or not. Any disobedience resulted in severe punishment. Book burnings were common place. Films concentrated on certain issues including the greatness of Hitler, the Jews, and the way of life for a true Nazi. Goebbels even organized the sale of cheap radios so that everyone could hear speeches by Hitler. Goebbels organized rallies that were designed to show the world the might of the Nazis.

Jews in Nazi Germany
" None but members of the nation may be citizens of the State. None but those of German blood may be members of the nation. No Jew, therefor, may be a member of the nation." Adolf Hitler, 1920

Hitler blamed the Jews for every bad thing that happened to Germany. He blamed them for Germany's loss in WWI. The treaty of Versailles, hyperinflation, and the Depression of 1929. The Jews were Hitlers scapegoats. Bye 1934 all Jewish shops had to be marked with the Star of David. This was a sign that the store was owned and run by Jews. On buses, trains, and park benches Jews had to sit on seats marked for them. At school children were taught anti' Semitic ideas. In 1935 the Nuremberg Laws,were passed. Jews lost their citizenship and the right to marry a non-Jew. Then the violence really started. Those Jews who could afford to pay a fine could leave the country. Many couldn't and shops refused to sell them food or medicine. On November 10, 1938, 10,000 shops owned by Jews were destroyed and their contents stolen. Homes and synagogues were set on fire. Even though a huge amount of destruction against the Jews occurred, the Jewish community was ordered to pay a one billion mark fine and the Jews were forced to scrub the streets clean. Once WWII began, Hitler had even more freedom to destroy the Jews.Concentration camps were deliberately barbaric. Horrors were everyday occurrences. The Jewish population was rounded up and transported to the camps where they were either immediately exterminated or were forced to work with little food and absolutely no comfort. Millions died from mistreatment, disease, starvation, or overwork. Even gruesome medical experiments were conducted on the Jews and other "misfits". The camps were liberated between 1943 and 1945, but often too late to save te remaining prisoners.

The Nuremberg Trials
Nuremberg, Germany, was chosen for the site for trials of some of those responsible for the Holocaust. Judges from the Allied powers, the United States, Britain, France, and Russia, presided over the indictment of twenty-four major Nazi criminals. Nazi organizations were also indicted because there was a need to delal with the problem of what to do about the hundreds of thousands of people who had been members of the Gestapo and the SS. One of those indicted hung himself before the trials began. Twelve prominent Nazis were sentenced to death. Most of the defendants admitted their guilt and most claimed they were simply following orders. Those that were directly involved in the killings during the Holocaust received the most severe sentences. Others, including high-level government officials and business executives who used concentration camp inmates as laborers, received minimal sentences or no time at all. The person most responsible, Adolph Hitler, had committed suicide. Some fled Germany, changed their names, and were never tried.