Rise to Power

 "Is it my unpleasant duty then to appoint this fellow Hitler as Chancellor?"

- Hindenburg

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Germany was in a state of confusion when Hitler was starting his plan.  Many people were without jobs, and the economy was in shambles.  Hitler promised better times.  "By 1923, there were nearly fifty thousand card-carrying Nazis" (Ayer 41).  Hitler continued to push his political views through speeches and rallies.  He had a wonderful way of moving people through speaking. (Click Here to read more about Hitler's speeches).  At this same time the Nazis were gaining power, the government of Germany was getting weaker.  The time was right for an overthrow. 

On November 8, 1923, a patriotic meeting was scheduled at a beer hall in Munich.  Adolf charged into the hall with a pistol.  He said that the building was surrounded and that a revolution had begun.  Neither one was true, and Hitler was arrested and a trial was scheduled because of his actions. 

His trial was a good opportunity for publicity.  Adolf carefully planned a speech, and it impressed the judges.  So much so, that he got special treatment in jail and was let out early.  After he got out of prison, he began rebuilding the Nazi Party.  He needed money and support.  These things he got from German businessmen. 

In 1932, the chancellor of Germany, Hindenburg, vowed that he would not make Hitler the next chancellor.  Instead, he appointed Franz von Papen.  Papen wanted to create a government that was made up of members from each political party.  Hitler didn't agree; he wanted absolute power.

After Papen proved to be weak, Hindenburg appointed Kurt von Schleicher as the new chancellor.  This put the Nazi party in a rage.  They were more determined than ever to get their way.  Schleicher also proved to be weak and unfit for the office. 

Hitler finally secured an appointment with Hindenburg for discussing the office.  Hindenburg said "Is it my unpleasant duty then to appoint this fellow Hitler as Chancellor?"  It was.  On January 30, 1933, Adolph Hitler was named chancellor of Germany.  In August of 1934, President Hindenburg's health was failing.  Just moments after he died, a new law was created that combined the offices of Chancellor and President.  Hitler now had full and complete power. 

He started small.  Adolph tried to get jobs for the many unemployed Germans.  He created the DAF.  All Germans were required to join.  Even though this meant that they (the workers) could no longer go on strike, they were happy just to have jobs again.  Anyone during this time who didn't like Hitler was considered a complainer.  Most people felt that while he had faults, he had given them jobs, money, and food (Ayer, 59).  Slowly, Adolph began his war on the Jews.  They were not allowed to hold political office.  Later, they were restricted from many professions, and soon they couldn't own their own businesses.  Finally, the Nuremberg Laws were put in place. 

With mass rallies and displays of power, Hitler convinced the German people of Nazi supremacy.  All of the servicemen in Germany took an oath that gave complete allegiance to Hitler at any cost, even their lives.  He also had the Hitler Youth.  This orgainization was devoted to the Fuhrer.  These youth were required to report anyone who deviated from Nazi laws and politics, even their family members.  Parents could hardly speak openly to their own children for fear of being turned in (Bartoletti 83).  

The Hitler Youth kept an eye on their peers.  For instance, there was a group of teens who ignored German culture and instead preferred to listen and dance to swing music.  They would say "Swing Heil" instead of the Nazi salute "Heil Hitler".  These children were considered dangerous by the Hitler Youth.  (Bartoletti 112)

Click here to go back to the Main Hitler page, or continue and read Hitler's Decline in Power.