Hitler’s Ascent: The Nazi Transformation of Germany
The Rise of Nazism and Hitler’s Early Years
The Nazi Party, an extreme nationalist right-wing movement, was led by Adolf Hitler. The Nazis attempted a failed coup, leading to Hitler’s imprisonment. The party advocated racism, antisemitism, expansionism, and a deep hatred of socialism and communism. The Nazi Party was best known for the violence of its Sturmabteilung (SA) assaults against communist sections. Following an economic crisis, many members of the middle class joined the Nazis.
Hitler’s Ascent to Absolute Power
In less than two years, Hitler transformed Germany from a democratic republic into a dictatorship. The new government called for general elections. During an election campaign marked by Nazi aggression, the Reichstag (parliament building) was burned. While officially blamed on a Dutch communist, many believe the Nazis themselves orchestrated the fire. This event provided an excuse for a violent campaign against the Communist Party, leading to the arrest of many of its activists.
The Nazis won the elections but initially failed to secure the two-thirds majority needed to change the constitution, as Socialists and Communists together gained 30% of the vote. However, with the support of centrist parties, they were eventually able to modify it. This granted Hitler full dictatorial powers for four years. Leftist political parties were subsequently banned, and eventually, the Nazi Party became the only authorized political organization by law.
Hitler sought to eliminate leaders, particularly within his own SA, who advocated for the improvement of workers’ living conditions and posed a potential threat to his authority. Approximately 300 members of the SA, along with various other opponents of Hitler, were murdered in the so-called Night of the Long Knives (June 30, 1934). Following the death of President Hindenburg, Hitler combined the offices of Chancellor and President, consolidating absolute power as Führer and Chancellor of the Reich.
Consolidating the Nazi Dictatorship
Hitler became Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and all political opposition was systematically eliminated. The regime established the first concentration camps for political and trade union opponents. The Gestapo (secret police) and the SS (paramilitary organization) operated with unchecked authority. Antisemitism was a core foundation of Nazi ideology.
Soon, the systematic persecution of Jews began, marked by boycotts of Jewish-owned stores and their exclusion from public administration and universities. The assassination of a German diplomat in Paris by a Jewish teenager served as a pretext for the infamous Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) in November 1938, during which synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses were burned, and thousands of Jews were arrested. By 1939, approximately 200,000 Jews had fled Germany, including prominent scientists like Albert Einstein and writers such as Thomas Mann.
Totalitarian Control of Society and Economy
The regimentation of various social groups was swiftly implemented. The Hitler Youth, divided by sex and age, was responsible for the indoctrination of young people, as well as organizing sports and paramilitary activities, all promoting alleged Aryan superiority. Independent trade unions were dissolved and replaced by the German Labor Front (DAF), which included both employers and workers, thereby controlling the German labor movement.
Economic recovery was achieved through strong state control, primarily aimed at achieving economic self-sufficiency (Autarky) and preparing for war. Extensive public works projects were undertaken, and the arms industry was significantly expanded. This reduced unemployment and increased the number of soldiers, but the primary beneficiaries of Nazi economic policy were heavy industry and banking. Workers were deprived of the freedom to organize independent unions or strike.
The Ministry of Propaganda and Public Enlightenment, led by Joseph Goebbels, utilized the press, radio, and film to disseminate Nazi messages. Cultural and artistic life, as well as intellectual life and education, were heavily censored and controlled. Universities were purged of Jewish faculty and opponents of the regime, and ‘dangerous’ books were removed from libraries and publicly burned.