Hitler’s Rise to Power

Germany was forced to accept hard terms after World War 1 by powerful countries like the United States and France. As Germany faced invasion, it had no choice but to sign the treaty, accepting full responsibility for the war and its terms. Furthermore, during the Great Depression, Germany faced a severe economic crisis. 

In 1923, France and Belgium occupied the Ruhr Valley after Germany failed to pay war reparations as stipulated in the treaty. Weimar supported France and Belgium’s withdrawal after the people of Germany refused to cooperate.

For Germany’s economic recovery, a large amount of money was loaned. The German economy and foreign relations improved as a result. Following the Great Depression, the worldwide economic crisis severely affected Germany’s economy, resulting in widespread unemployment.

United States loans accounted for most of Germany’s borrowings, along with foreign capital and trade. When it came time to repay loans, the world market for German fares fell, leading to a collapse of the German industrial machine.

Moreover, bank failures resulted in the destruction of all savings accounts and inflation, making buying things with unvalued money difficult. Middle-class life in Germany was destroyed by events beyond Germany’s control.

Germans suffering from poverty and distress during the Great Depression sought a solution to escape their horrible circumstances. After his failed attempt to overthrow German democracy in 1923, Hitler’s Nazi party quickly grew.

Because Germany was placed in bad conditions, he decided to run for office. The essay Adolf Hitler wrote managed to capture the attention of a wide audience seeking change.

He was seen by the German people as a savior during the depression and as the leader of Germany during this time of prosperity. Hitler attracted people from all walks of life, not only the unemployed and lower middle class. Hitler’s rise to power was rapid once he became chancellor.

Through racist and oppressive ideas, Hitler was able to gain full control over corporations, parties, and governments within a few months. Due to this, the Nazis dominated every aspect of German life, including the economy, education, and the law, and only the Nazi party was permitted in Germany after July 1933.

Nazis held government positions, which made Hitler more powerful than other officials. In order to manipulate the people of Germany and blame Jews for Germany’s problems, Hitler exploited the depression in Germany and the desperate need for change.

The propaganda that he produced convinced Germany that the only way to eliminate Jews was to exterminate them. The Nazi regime restricted and eliminated Jewish people from society by using media, posters, and speech to promote antisemitism.

According to the Nürnberg Laws, Jews can only be born to grandparents who were Jews or practiced the religion. There was a pause in anti-Semitic speech and actions during Germany’s hosting of the Olympics. Aryans took over Jewish businesses, and the Aryanization process continued.

It was not allowed for foreigners to attend public schools, colleges, or entertainment venues reserved for pure Germans. There was a Star of David on Jewish clothing, and Jews had to carry identification cards at all times. In World War II, synagogues, institutions, and companies were destroyed by the Nazis.

Around 100 Jews were murdered during the “Night of Broken Glass.” This incident increased the brutality and violence of Nazi persecution of Jews. There were also supposed to be millions of people in these concentration camps.

The German economy was weak after World War I and The Great Depression, so Adolf Hitler used violence and propaganda to generate fear and hatred toward the Jewish people, leading to one of history’s most notorious genocides.