The Rise Of Nazis Essay Research Paper — страница 2

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to a short prison term, much less than would normally be given to someone who committed treason. While in jail Hitler wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle), which detailed the author’s belief in the conspiracies of Jewish business leaders to control and extort money from the German people. It also expressed his eugenical ideas on the superiority of the Aryan race. Following his release, he regained control of NSDAP and designed new logos (swastika), flags, and uniforms. During the prosperous years of the Weimar Republic (1924-29), the Nazi party made little progress. Throughout this period, however, people from all walks of life were recruited into Nazi ideology using common prejudices against Jews. In May 1928, the Nazis won 800,000 votes (2.6%) in parliamentary elections. Although

not a force yet, it was becoming stronger and stronger amongst educated and young people. Following a 1929 alliance with Alfred Hugenberg, the leader of the German National People’s Party (DNVP), the Nazi party won 13.8% of the vote. The turning point in Nazi popularity, however, was the 1929 crash of the American stock market. The German economy broke to pieces and unemployment soared. The Nazis were able to recruit the votes of these individuals, earning 18.2% of the vote in 1930. It had now become the second largest party in the Reichstag after the Social Democrat Party (SDP). Unlike other parties, the Nazis attracted support from all different trades and social classes. Workers, Catholics, business community, nationalists, and professional classes all became loyal

supporters of the party. Hitler’s presence and assurance that he would lead Germany to another Renaissance seduced the people. In 1932, the party won 36% of the vote . President Hindenburg tried to make the Nazi party illegal, but failed when the army showed signs of supporting the NSDAP. In July of 1932 new elections were called and the Nazis received 37% of the vote, becoming the largest party in the Reichstag. Fear of a rising communist party, led industrialists to ask the current President von Poppen to name Hitler Chancellor of Germany. As Hitler waited to be appointed to this office, his party lost votes in the Thuringia state election. When von Poppen failed to get a parliamentary majority, he suggested that the army rule. President Hindenburg refused to institute

martial law and named Kurt von Shleicher as Chancellor. When Shleicher appeased left-wing interests, industrialists became worried. Von Poppen then convinced Hindenburg to name Hitler as Chancellor, which was done on January 30, 1933. After Hitler achieved political dominance, the Nazis staged a fire of the Reichstag. Hitler blamed the burning on the communists and used the resulting political outrage to ask for governing power without the consent of parliament. Once this was accomplished, Hitler and the Nazi party had total control over the government of Germany, the first step toward the “Final Solution.”