Why Is Hitler Rose To Power
Why Hitler Rose to Power
History 102
Professor Stokes
April 13, 2014
The country of Germany is and always has been a very cultured and literate place. Germany helped shape the culture of Western Civilization. German literature goes back to the middle ages, with important and worldwide known works of literature coming from Germany. For example, Martin Luther was a German, and his writing not only influenced the world, but changed the whole landscape of religion in the Western society. German philosophers help shape the best well known Western philosophy. Gottfried Leibniz was a German. Immanuel Kant was a German, and Friedrich Nietzche was a German. Germany has certainly influenced the history of music. …show more content…
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German.
Ludwig Van Beethoven was a German. Johannes Brahms was a German. Richard Wagner was a German. George Frideric Händel was a German. Joseph Haydn, Felix Mendelssohn and Carl Orff were Germans. Germany has always been a leader in music in Europe and the world. Germany has also been a leader in architecture styles. Germany is known for Baroque style, Ottonian style and Gothic style. Germany has produced leaders in technology. Germany has brought the world Hans Geiger, inventor of the Geiger counter; Konrad Zuse, inventor of the computer; and Rudolf Diesel, inventor of the Diesel engine and a name that is still a leader in the automotive industry. Germans, Max Planck and Albert Einstein are big names in physics, and they and other Germans contributed to the beginnings of space travel. Germany has certainly been an influence on the modern world. It has been said of Germany, “Germany is a country whose history has decisively shaped the map and the politics of modern Europe and the world in which we live” (Berghahn, 1987). So, with
Germany being perhaps the most literate and cultured country in Europe, why did someone like Adolph Hitler rise to power there? There are a number of answers to the stated question. The first answer deals with pride, or more appropriately said, the loss of pride. Hitler begins to influence German society in 1919, when Adolph Hitler joined the NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers Party), or the Nazi Party. Hitler was very charismatic and had a great command of oratory. Many said of Hitler, “Hitler is the most talented demagogue of his day” (Kershaw, 1998). Subsequently, Hitler became a leader in the Nazi Party. Hitler even designed the Nazi Party 's infamous logo. Hitler also founded two groups that influenced German society and the history of the world: the Hitler Youth and the black shirted S.S. Hitler founded the Hitler Youth along with a young law student named Kurt Gruber: “Under the organization of this young law student, Kurt Gruber, “The first Hitler Youth style uniforms featuring a brown shirt and black shorts and a unique arm band with a Nazi swastika were introduced” (The History Place). The forming of the Hitler youth was quite significant, and it spoke clearly about Hitler’s true influence on German society: “By controlling the minds of the German youth, persuading the people of the country to support his cause through the use of propaganda, as well as his use of anti-Semitism resulted in Hitler’s control of the German society” (Cmarada). Hitler rose to prominence quickly within the ranks of the Nazi Party. As one prominent German put it, “‘He understands his subjects because they are so like himself’, said W. H. D. Vernon” (Chen). Hitler 's groups were also formed because of frustrations over the results of World War I. Germany suffers defeat in World War I, and as a result, Germany must abide by the terms of the war treaty, the Treaty of Versailles. This treaty forced Germany to “accept the responsibility for causing all the loss and damage” (The History Place). Germany was also forced to give up land and to disarm as result of the Treaty of Versailles. Some Germans at the time thought that the demands of the Treaty were too harsh. They also thought that Germany lost too much money because of the Treaty, and as a result was economically crippled. Some of these same individuals thought that Germany was betrayed at home by the signing of this treaty, and that “there were enemies within Germany” (The History Place). Many of these individuals blamed the Jews for this betrayal. These individuals felt betrayed, loss of pride, and they turned to a new leader to be consoled: Adolph Hitler. The second answer as to why Hitler rose to power in the very cultured and literate Germany has to do with loss of security, or more appropriately said, fear. At the time Hitler rises in the ranks of the Nazi Party and is widely accepted as a leader among the German people, there is much fear in Germany. The early 1920s in Germany was a tenuous time. There was much doubt during this time among Germans. Many Germans were reeling from the country 's loss in World War I and the subsequent limiting Treaty of Versailles. Adding to the woes of some Germans, the Russian Revolution occurred, ushering in Bolshevism. Bolshevism was founded by Vladimir Lenin, a follower of Karl Marx. Lenin brought about a government that put into action Karl Marx 's ideas of the working class rising up and taking over the means of production. A number of Germans feared the idea of further loss of control. These individuals certainly found a friend in Hitler. Hitler despised Bolshevism. He abhorred the idea of the means of production not being in the hands of the state. Hitler saw this as chaos. He also viewed Bolshevism as a means for the enemies of Germany to further betray the Fatherland. Hitler saw himself as a means of keeping the German people from this shame: “Hitler, once in power, was convinced that fate had chosen him to rescue a humiliated nation from the shackles of the Versailles Treaty, from Bolsheviks and Jews” (Jewish Virtual). What is more, Adolph Hitler saw this as the further feminization of the German culture. Hitler offered fearing Germans a truly masculine approach to ruling, which was something sorely needed, according to Hitler supporters. Hitler provided a strong father figure in the land that revered fathers. Hitler presented himself as a “man of iron” to counter the very soft approach of the ruling government at the time (The History Place). Hitler inspired confidence in those Germans who had lost confidence, and who were very afraid. To those Germans, Adolph Hitler was a breath of much needed fresh air. A final answer as to why Hitler rose to power in the very cultured and literate Germany deals with loss of money. When the Great Depression hit in 1929 in the United States, it had a rippling affect throughout the world, and Germany was not immune. Germany felt the sting pretty hard, as it was already suffering a bad economy through the 1920s, which some Germans blamed on the Treaty of Versailles. There was very high unemployment throughout this time period. With unemployment, comes lack of money, and with lack of money, comes depression. Human beings are generally happiest when they have the things they need and want. In regards to this economic plight, Hitler was just what the doctor ordered for many Germans. Hitler promised security and stability. Hitler delivered on those promises. Hitler gained support of Germans of all classes. This was certainly made crystal clear after the Great Depression began: The onset of the Great Depression with its devastating effects on the middle classes helped Hitler to win over all those strata in German society who felt their economic existence was threatened. In addition to peasants, artisans, craftsmen, traders, small businessmen, ex-officers, students and declasse intellectuals, the Nazis in 1929 began to win over the big industrialists, nationalist conservatives and army circles. With the backing of the press tycoon, Alfred Hugenberg, Hitler received a tremendous nationwide exposure just as the effects of the world economic crisis hit Germany, producing mass unemployment, social dissolution, fear and indignation. With demagogic virtuosity, Hitler played on national resentments, feelings of revolt and the desire for strong leadership using all the most modern techniques of mass persuasion to present himself as Germany 's redeemer and messianic savior. (Jewish Virtual) Hitler brought about much more than material things that the people craved. Hitler also delivered confidence. He brought about the strong, masculine image that flew in the face of the status quo government at the time, which was accused of being soft, weak and feminine by Hitler supporters. By the time Hitler was appointed Chancellor in early 1933 by then German President, Paul von Hindenburg, he was the champion of the German people. He had already proven himself as the strong, charismatic and effective leader that many of the German people wanted. So, with Germany being perhaps the most literate and cultured country in Europe, why did someone like Adolph Hitler rise to power? Well, the answer is pretty understandable when it is spelled out. With a sound defeat in World War I, the German people experienced a loss of pride. With the rise and success of Bolshevism, the German people experienced a loss of security. When the bottom fell out of the market in America in 1929, ushering in the Great Depression, the German people experienced a loss of money. When people lose pride, security and money, they become desperate. Literacy and culture mean very little when the people are desperate. Adolph Hitler for a time soothed that German desperation. However, at the same time, Adolph Hitler used that German desperation to fuel his ambitious rise to power, his taking control of a once proud nation, and his becoming one of the most ruthlessly effective and heartless leaders the world has ever seen.
References
Berghahn, Volker. Modern Germany: Society, Economy and Politics in the Twentieth Century, 2nd Edition. CUP. Cambridge. 1987.
Chen, C. Peter. “Adolf Hitler.” World War II Database. http://ww2db.com/person_bio.php?person_id=95.
Cmarada, Jake. “The Nazification of German society.” http://www.ithaca.edu/history/journal/papers/fa03Nazification.htm.
Jewish Virtual Library: Everything You Need to Know from Anti-Semitism to Zionism. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/hitler.html.
Kershaw, Ian. Hitler 1889-1939: Hubris. Penguin Books. 1998.
The History Place. “The Rise of Adolf Hitler.” Chapter Index. http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/riseofhitler/index.htm.
History 102
Professor Stokes
April 13, 2014
The country of Germany is and always has been a very cultured and literate place. Germany helped shape the culture of Western Civilization. German literature goes back to the middle ages, with important and worldwide known works of literature coming from Germany. For example, Martin Luther was a German, and his writing not only influenced the world, but changed the whole landscape of religion in the Western society. German philosophers help shape the best well known Western philosophy. Gottfried Leibniz was a German. Immanuel Kant was a German, and Friedrich Nietzche was a German. Germany has certainly influenced the history of music. …show more content…
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German.
Ludwig Van Beethoven was a German. Johannes Brahms was a German. Richard Wagner was a German. George Frideric Händel was a German. Joseph Haydn, Felix Mendelssohn and Carl Orff were Germans. Germany has always been a leader in music in Europe and the world. Germany has also been a leader in architecture styles. Germany is known for Baroque style, Ottonian style and Gothic style. Germany has produced leaders in technology. Germany has brought the world Hans Geiger, inventor of the Geiger counter; Konrad Zuse, inventor of the computer; and Rudolf Diesel, inventor of the Diesel engine and a name that is still a leader in the automotive industry. Germans, Max Planck and Albert Einstein are big names in physics, and they and other Germans contributed to the beginnings of space travel. Germany has certainly been an influence on the modern world. It has been said of Germany, “Germany is a country whose history has decisively shaped the map and the politics of modern Europe and the world in which we live” (Berghahn, 1987). So, with
Germany being perhaps the most literate and cultured country in Europe, why did someone like Adolph Hitler rise to power there? There are a number of answers to the stated question. The first answer deals with pride, or more appropriately said, the loss of pride. Hitler begins to influence German society in 1919, when Adolph Hitler joined the NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers Party), or the Nazi Party. Hitler was very charismatic and had a great command of oratory. Many said of Hitler, “Hitler is the most talented demagogue of his day” (Kershaw, 1998). Subsequently, Hitler became a leader in the Nazi Party. Hitler even designed the Nazi Party 's infamous logo. Hitler also founded two groups that influenced German society and the history of the world: the Hitler Youth and the black shirted S.S. Hitler founded the Hitler Youth along with a young law student named Kurt Gruber: “Under the organization of this young law student, Kurt Gruber, “The first Hitler Youth style uniforms featuring a brown shirt and black shorts and a unique arm band with a Nazi swastika were introduced” (The History Place). The forming of the Hitler youth was quite significant, and it spoke clearly about Hitler’s true influence on German society: “By controlling the minds of the German youth, persuading the people of the country to support his cause through the use of propaganda, as well as his use of anti-Semitism resulted in Hitler’s control of the German society” (Cmarada). Hitler rose to prominence quickly within the ranks of the Nazi Party. As one prominent German put it, “‘He understands his subjects because they are so like himself’, said W. H. D. Vernon” (Chen). Hitler 's groups were also formed because of frustrations over the results of World War I. Germany suffers defeat in World War I, and as a result, Germany must abide by the terms of the war treaty, the Treaty of Versailles. This treaty forced Germany to “accept the responsibility for causing all the loss and damage” (The History Place). Germany was also forced to give up land and to disarm as result of the Treaty of Versailles. Some Germans at the time thought that the demands of the Treaty were too harsh. They also thought that Germany lost too much money because of the Treaty, and as a result was economically crippled. Some of these same individuals thought that Germany was betrayed at home by the signing of this treaty, and that “there were enemies within Germany” (The History Place). Many of these individuals blamed the Jews for this betrayal. These individuals felt betrayed, loss of pride, and they turned to a new leader to be consoled: Adolph Hitler. The second answer as to why Hitler rose to power in the very cultured and literate Germany has to do with loss of security, or more appropriately said, fear. At the time Hitler rises in the ranks of the Nazi Party and is widely accepted as a leader among the German people, there is much fear in Germany. The early 1920s in Germany was a tenuous time. There was much doubt during this time among Germans. Many Germans were reeling from the country 's loss in World War I and the subsequent limiting Treaty of Versailles. Adding to the woes of some Germans, the Russian Revolution occurred, ushering in Bolshevism. Bolshevism was founded by Vladimir Lenin, a follower of Karl Marx. Lenin brought about a government that put into action Karl Marx 's ideas of the working class rising up and taking over the means of production. A number of Germans feared the idea of further loss of control. These individuals certainly found a friend in Hitler. Hitler despised Bolshevism. He abhorred the idea of the means of production not being in the hands of the state. Hitler saw this as chaos. He also viewed Bolshevism as a means for the enemies of Germany to further betray the Fatherland. Hitler saw himself as a means of keeping the German people from this shame: “Hitler, once in power, was convinced that fate had chosen him to rescue a humiliated nation from the shackles of the Versailles Treaty, from Bolsheviks and Jews” (Jewish Virtual). What is more, Adolph Hitler saw this as the further feminization of the German culture. Hitler offered fearing Germans a truly masculine approach to ruling, which was something sorely needed, according to Hitler supporters. Hitler provided a strong father figure in the land that revered fathers. Hitler presented himself as a “man of iron” to counter the very soft approach of the ruling government at the time (The History Place). Hitler inspired confidence in those Germans who had lost confidence, and who were very afraid. To those Germans, Adolph Hitler was a breath of much needed fresh air. A final answer as to why Hitler rose to power in the very cultured and literate Germany deals with loss of money. When the Great Depression hit in 1929 in the United States, it had a rippling affect throughout the world, and Germany was not immune. Germany felt the sting pretty hard, as it was already suffering a bad economy through the 1920s, which some Germans blamed on the Treaty of Versailles. There was very high unemployment throughout this time period. With unemployment, comes lack of money, and with lack of money, comes depression. Human beings are generally happiest when they have the things they need and want. In regards to this economic plight, Hitler was just what the doctor ordered for many Germans. Hitler promised security and stability. Hitler delivered on those promises. Hitler gained support of Germans of all classes. This was certainly made crystal clear after the Great Depression began: The onset of the Great Depression with its devastating effects on the middle classes helped Hitler to win over all those strata in German society who felt their economic existence was threatened. In addition to peasants, artisans, craftsmen, traders, small businessmen, ex-officers, students and declasse intellectuals, the Nazis in 1929 began to win over the big industrialists, nationalist conservatives and army circles. With the backing of the press tycoon, Alfred Hugenberg, Hitler received a tremendous nationwide exposure just as the effects of the world economic crisis hit Germany, producing mass unemployment, social dissolution, fear and indignation. With demagogic virtuosity, Hitler played on national resentments, feelings of revolt and the desire for strong leadership using all the most modern techniques of mass persuasion to present himself as Germany 's redeemer and messianic savior. (Jewish Virtual) Hitler brought about much more than material things that the people craved. Hitler also delivered confidence. He brought about the strong, masculine image that flew in the face of the status quo government at the time, which was accused of being soft, weak and feminine by Hitler supporters. By the time Hitler was appointed Chancellor in early 1933 by then German President, Paul von Hindenburg, he was the champion of the German people. He had already proven himself as the strong, charismatic and effective leader that many of the German people wanted. So, with Germany being perhaps the most literate and cultured country in Europe, why did someone like Adolph Hitler rise to power? Well, the answer is pretty understandable when it is spelled out. With a sound defeat in World War I, the German people experienced a loss of pride. With the rise and success of Bolshevism, the German people experienced a loss of security. When the bottom fell out of the market in America in 1929, ushering in the Great Depression, the German people experienced a loss of money. When people lose pride, security and money, they become desperate. Literacy and culture mean very little when the people are desperate. Adolph Hitler for a time soothed that German desperation. However, at the same time, Adolph Hitler used that German desperation to fuel his ambitious rise to power, his taking control of a once proud nation, and his becoming one of the most ruthlessly effective and heartless leaders the world has ever seen.
References
Berghahn, Volker. Modern Germany: Society, Economy and Politics in the Twentieth Century, 2nd Edition. CUP. Cambridge. 1987.
Chen, C. Peter. “Adolf Hitler.” World War II Database. http://ww2db.com/person_bio.php?person_id=95.
Cmarada, Jake. “The Nazification of German society.” http://www.ithaca.edu/history/journal/papers/fa03Nazification.htm.
Jewish Virtual Library: Everything You Need to Know from Anti-Semitism to Zionism. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/hitler.html.
Kershaw, Ian. Hitler 1889-1939: Hubris. Penguin Books. 1998.
The History Place. “The Rise of Adolf Hitler.” Chapter Index. http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/riseofhitler/index.htm.