World War Ii
World War Ii
World War Ii
In 1932, Hitler ran against the war hero Paul von Hindenburg for
president, and received 36.8 percent of the vote. With the government
in chaos, three successive chancellors failed to maintain control, and in
late January 1933 Hindenburg named the 43-year-old Hitler as
chancellor, capping the stunning rise of an unlikely leader.
January 30, 1933 marked the birth of the Third Reich, or as the Nazis
called it, the “Thousand-Year Reich” (after Hitler’s boast that it would
endure for a millennium)
Reichstag Fire
Though the Nazis never attained more than 37 percent of
the vote at the height of their popularity in 1932, Hitler
was able to grab absolute power in Germany largely due
to divisions and inaction among the majority who opposed
Nazism
After a devastating fire at Germany’s parliament building,
the Reichstag, in February 1933—possibly the work of a
Dutch communist, though later evidence suggested Nazis
set the Reichstag fire themselves—Hitler had an excuse to
step up the political oppression and violence against his
opponents.
On March 23, the Reichstag passed the Enabling Act, giving
full powers to Hitler and celebrating the union of National
Socialism with the old German establishment (i.e.,
Hindenburg).
That July, the government passed a law stating that the
Nazi Party “constitutes the only political party in
Germany,” and within months all non-Nazi parties, trade
unions and other organizations had ceased to exist.
His autocratic power now secure within Germany, Hitler
turned his eyes toward the rest of Europe.
Hitler's Foreign Policy
In 1933, Germany was diplomatically isolated, with a
weak military and hostile neighbors (France and Poland).
In a famous speech in May 1933, Hitler struck a
surprisingly conciliatory tone, claiming Germany
supported disarmament and peace.
But behind this appeasement strategy, the domination and
expansion of the Volk remained Hitler’s overriding aim.
By early the following year, he had withdrawn Germany
from the League of Nations and begun to militarize the
nation in anticipation of his plans for territorial conquest.
Night of the Long Knives
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