The Third Reich Adolf Hitler and his Quest for Racial Empire, Part I.

WWI Set the stage for Nazism Treaty of Versailles : Associated democracy with defeat Reduced Germany’s territory. Destroyed the economy Dismantled the Army The Freikorps 1918-1923 Rowdy ex-soldiers formed paramilitary groups to fight Communists, Poles & Czechs. Many later became Nazi SA men.

Nazism Had many sources... Herbert Spencer Social Darwinism De Gobineau Racism Richard Wagner - Germanic myth German Nationalism Militarism Anti-semitism Nietzsche Secret Societies Thule Society

The Nazi Party Anton Drexler Began as a minor far right political party in Bavaria founded by a locksmith. It was transformed by Adolf Hitler into a mass-movement of frightening power. Hitler Nazi SA Nazi SS Gestapo SD

1923 Beer Hall Putsch An attempt to overthrow the Weimar Republic by the Nazi Party The Nazi Party was banned, Hitler was convicted of treason and jailed Upon his release, Hitler resolved to come to power legally

An attempt to overthrow the Weimar Republic by the Nazi Party

The Nazi Party was banned, Hitler was convicted of treason and jailed

Upon his release, Hitler resolved to come to power legally

1933-1934: The Nazi " National Revolution" Reichstag fire President Hindenburg Dies Enabling Act Fuhrer and Reich Chancellor The Reichstag voted Hitler all legislative power for four years All other parties banned Restrictions on speech, press, trial Concentration camps

Hitler constructs a Racial State Reichsfuhrer-SS Himmler SS and Gestapo persecute Jews Concentration Camps “ Racial Elite”---> Eugenics Goebbels-Propaganda Minister “ Kristallnacht” Secret Euthanasia Program Nazi claims on foreign territory

The Hitler Youth