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11. Totalitarianism: Hitler and Nazi Germany
I. Totalitarianism A. Definition: - an authoritarian regime that requires the active involvement on the masses to achieve its goal - the goals are framed in ideology with an emphasis on revolutionary change - employs violent force, intimidation and propaganda
B. The Charismatic Leader - described by Max Weber (1864-1920) as a form of authority based on irrationality > the personal power and appeal of an individual over others - the charismatic leader's power is derived from the people's willingness to believe in his mission and in his superior abilities
II. Adolf Hitler's Rise to Power A. Early Life (1889-1945) 1) Childhood and Youth - born in Austria and had an unhappy childhood - wanted to be an artist, but failed the entrance exam to the Art Academy in Vienna - spent several years hanging out in Vienna > lacked direction
2) Basis for Hitler's Anti-Semitism - as an Austrian believed in the superiority of ethnic Germans over other ethnicities that comprised the Austria-Hungary Empire - concerns over his own paternity - blamed his mother's death on her Jewish doctor - equated the Jews with Marxists - in Vienna admired politicians who advocated anti-Semitism
3) World War I - moved to Munich and enlisted in the army when the war broke out - served four years and reached the rank of
corporal; decorated for bravery decided that he would become a politician so that Germany would never be humiliated again
B. Hitler's Rise to Power 1) Creation and growth of the Nazi Party - 1919 > joined the German Workers' Party - took over the leadership and changed the Party's name to the Socialist German Workers' Party (NAZI)
2) Munich Beer Hall Putsch (1923) - the trial enabled Hitler to air his ideas and gain followers - while in prison Hitler wrote Mein Kampf
3) Nazi ideology was based on: - racial nationalism - anti-Semitism - propaganda
4) Growth of the Nazi Party 1928 > won 810,000 votes and 12 seats in the Reichstag 1930 > won 6.4 million votes and 107 seats 1932 > won 37.3% of the votes and 230 seats
C. Hitler's Seizure of Power - January 1933 > Hitler appointed Chancellor by President Hindenburg after the breakdown of the Parliamentary system - February 1933 > the Reichstag fire - March 1933 > Enabling Acts - June 1933 > all but the Nazi Party declared illegal - Death of Hindenburg > Hitler declared himself Führer
D. Hitler's Domestic Policies 1) demanded an active participation in the realization of Nazi goals - co-ordination > compelled obedience through peer pressure - every organized activity underwent Nazification
2) Women - were encouraged to turn from productive work to reproductive work
3) the Jews - 1933 > barred from certain professions and government positions - 1935 > Nuremberg laws: defined who was a Jew; took from Jews their citizenship; prohibited marriage or sex between Jews and non-Jews - November 9-10, 1938 > Kristallnach: began a more violent phase of action against the Jews - Jews were encouraged to emigrate > problem of finding host countries - the Final Solution > 6 million Jews were murdered, also > 9-10 million "racially inferior" people killed
4) Economic success - used government spending to restart the economy > first public works, later rearming - economy was brought under the control of the government > prices were fixed; production quotas assigned; raw materials allocated - focused on making the economy self-sufficient vs. the Depression - by 1936-1937 a labor shortage existed
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