BACKROUND
- Half Austrian and half German. Serves with distinction, wounded returns to Bavaria after war (served in a Bavarian regiment).
- German nationalist+supporter of authoritarianism+ opposed to democracy and socialism + racially motivated (anti-Semitism v German Volk)
- Pseudo spy for Bavarian govt and runs into the DAP (German Workers Party). Likes their anti-capitalist, anti-Semitic and nationalist message. Anton Drexler is founder/head; Hitler has energy, oratory and propaganda skills.
- 1920 – 25 Points authored by Hitler/Drexler. DAP>NSDAP. Hirtler in charge of propaganda: salute, uniforms,swastika. Also creates armed squads.
- Drexler alarmed – power play but loses as Hitler offers to resign and instead becomes chairman and Fuehrer.
- 1921-23 party reorganization.
A) Armed squads reorganized into SA headed by Ernst Roehm: intimidation and violence.
B) 1921 Newspaper – People’s Observer
C) Julius Streicher gives Hitler support (rival right wing group in Bavaria)
D) Hermann Goering joins party in 1922. Aristocracy/high society makes party “more respectable”
1923 – 20,000 members – powerful mainly in one part of Bavaria.
1923 – Beer Hall Putsch: successful example of Mussolini and weaknesses of Weimar: a) hostility of elites (top army brass, aristocracy, industry); b) limited popular support, and economic problems. c) Nostalgia for Kaiser and Imperial Germany, not used to democracy d) Economic problems: costs of WWI and debts, reparations, new welfare benefits provided by State (health insurance, housing), hyperinflation because of Ruhr crisis. e) Association with defeat in war – Treaty of Versailles, November criminals and stab in the back myth.
Hitler plots “March on Berlin” with Gustav von Kahr (ultra-conservative leader of Bavarian govt) and General von Lossow (local head of army). However, poor planning, not enough public support, too much reliance on General Ludendorff, Kahr and Lossow back out at last minute. Nov