Page 64 - Understanding NCERT Histroy 09th

l Hitler joined a small group called the German Workers’ Party in 1919. He took over the
organisation and renamed it the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, which later
came to be known as the Nazi Party.
l In 1923, he planned to seize control of Bavaria, march to Berlin and capture power. During
Goyal Brothers Prakashan
the Great Depression, Nazism became a mass movement. After 1929, banks collapsed,
businesses shut down, workers lost their jobs, and the middle classes were threatened
with destitution. In such a situation, Nazi propaganda stirred hopes of a better future.
l In 1928 the Nazi party got 2.6% votes in Parliament which rose to 33% votes in 1932.

l Hitler was a powerful speaker, and his passion and his words moved people. In his
speech, he promised to build a strong nation, undo the injustice of the Versailles Treaty
and restore the dignity of the German people.
l He also promised employment for those looking for work and a secure future for the
youth. He promised to remove all foreign influences and resist all foreign ‘conspiracies’
against Germany.
l Hitler started following a new style of politics, and his followers held massive rallies
and public meetings to demonstrate support. According to the Nazi propaganda, Hitler
was called a messiah, a saviour, and someone who had arrived to deliver people from
their distress. This image captured the hope and imagination of people, who were living
in times of crises.

2.1 The Destruction of Democracy

l President Hindenburg offered the Chancellorship, on 30 January 1933, the highest position
in the cabinet of ministers, to Hitler.
l Hitler began to break democratic fabric with cunning and deceit.
l The Fire Decree of 28 February 1933 suspended civic rights like freedom of speech,
press and assembly that had been guaranteed by the Weimar Constitution. On 3 March
1933, the famous Enabling Act was passed, which established a dictatorship in Germany.
l The state took control over the economy, media, army and judiciary. Apart from the
already existing regular police in a green uniform and the SA or the Storm Troopers,
these included the Gestapo (secret state police), the SS (the protection squads), criminal
police and the Security Service (SD).

l The police forces acquired powers to rule with impunity.
l It was the illegal powers of these forces that made Nazis, a criminal state. Deportation,
detention in Gestapo torture cells and concentration camps began on large scale.

2.2 Reconstruction
l Economic recovery was assigned to the economist Hjalmar Schacht by Hitler, who aimed

at full production and full employment through a state-funded work-creation programme.
This project produced the famous German superhighways and the people’s car, the
Volkswagen.
l Hitler pulled out the League of Nations in 1933, reoccupied the Rhineland in 1936, and

integrated Austria and Germany in 1938 under the slogan, “One people. One empire and
One leader”.
l He then annexed Sudetenland and finally entire Czechoslovakia.. Schacht advised Hitler
against investing hugely in rearmament as the state still ran on deficit financing.

History Class IX H-55