Nazi's Rise To Power
In the 1920’s, German nationalist opposed democracy & supported the German military. They wanted the government to be held by a single ruler, either monarch or dictator. They opposed the 1918 revolution that led to the overthrow of the Kaiser along with the Weimar Republic that followed. Nationalist were almost always anti-jewish. Following the 1917 Russian Revolution, communists took over the government to form the Union of Soviet Socialists Republics (USSR) with several attempts to earn power. With secret police & strong military, government used strong-arm tactics to maintain power. The German Workers’ Party (about 40 people) was led by Anton Drexler, a locksmith. Soon, Hitler became one of the party's leaders & its most effective public speaker then changing its name to the National Socialist German Workers’ Party. It wasn't long after that Hitler took over the party & added storm troopers. Nazi’s gained strength by 1923, with over 15,000 members & over 5,000 storm troopers. Hitler had many strong connections with the army. November 9, 1923, the Nazi’s in Munich made their move to overthrow the Weimar Republic. During the speech on November 8th, storm troopers surrounded the hall. Hitler rushed to announce that the “National Revolution” had begun threatening those who refused the march with a gun. Recently after Hitler was released from prison, he tried to reorganize the Nazi Party. On June 28, 1919, Germany, under threat of invasion, is forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles , accepting the responsibility for war and agreeing to make reparations, limit its military to 100,000 troops and transfer territory to its neighbors. Adolf then gained support by promising to over turn it. Hitler promised the mislead a better life and a new and glorious Germany. This soon attracted many unemployed, young people and members of the lower middle class. Before the economic depression happened, the Nazi's were practically unknown, winning only 3% of the vote to the the Reichstag in elections in 1924. October of 1929, six million are unemployed leading to economic distress which contributed to the rapid rise in the support for the Nazi Party. Hitler and the Nazi Party rose to power due to the social and political circumstances that characterized the interwar period. During the 1932 elections, the Nazi Party won 33% of the votes, more than any other party, then appointing Hitler as chancellor (head of German government) in 1933, many soon began to believe they found a savior for their nation.
At the risk of appearing to talk nonsense, I tell you that the Nazi movement will go on for a thousand years!
- Adolf Hitler