Adolf Hitler's rise to power

• 1. Weimar Political Chaos

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  In September 1919, Adolf Hitler joined the Deutsche Arbeiterpartei within the newly established Weimar Republic. The German state had just emerged from World War I and was drowning in socialist upheaval. Munich served as a hotbed for revolutionary activity following the armistice of November 1918. Socialist Kurt Eisner lay dead after being shot by a nationalist on the 21st of February 1919. His rival Erhard Auer also suffered wounds during an attack that same month. Major Paul Ritter von Jahreiß and conservative MP Heinrich Osel faced similar violent fates. Berlin responded to this chaos by sending military forces known as the White Guards of Capitalism. Communists labeled these troops with that derogatory name while they moved into the city. On the 3rd of April 1919, Hitler was elected liaison for his military battalion amidst the turmoil. He urged his unit to stay out of fighting and avoid joining either side of the conflict. The Bavarian Soviet Republic officially collapsed on May 6 when Lieutenant General declared Munich secure. Arrests and executions followed quickly in the aftermath of the uprising. Hitler denounced fellow liaison Georg Dufter as a Soviet radical rabble-rouser during this period. Other testimony he provided allowed authorities to root out members infected with revolutionary fervor. This anti-communist stance enabled him to avoid discharge when his unit disbanded in May 1919.

• 2. Hitler's Early Oratory

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  On the 12th of December 1919, Hitler took umbrage at comments made against Gottfried Feder during a meeting. An audience member asserted that Bavaria should secede from Germany to form a new South German nation. The volatile Hitler arose and scolded the man until he left before adjournment. Impressed by his oratory skills, Anton Drexler encouraged him to join the party. Within a week, Hitler received a postcard stating he had been accepted as a member. He attended a committee meeting held at the run-down Alte Rosenbad beerhouse. Later writings described joining the fledgling party as the most decisive resolve of his life. He registered as a member of the German Workers Party and received provisional membership card number 7. Normally enlisted army personnel were not allowed to join political parties. Captain Mayr granted special permission for Hitler to join the DAP. He was also allowed to stay in the army while receiving weekly pay of 20 gold marks. By early 1920, the DAP had grown to over 101 members. Hitler received membership card number 555 since numbers started from 501. With support from Drexler, he became chief of propaganda for the party in early 1920. His actions began transforming the organization significantly. He organized their biggest meeting yet with 2,000 people on the 24th of February 1920. That event took place in the Staatliches Hofbräuhaus in Munich. There Hitler announced the party's 25-point program known as the National Socialist Program.

• 3. The Beer Hall Putsch

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  A pivotal moment arrived when Hitler led the Beer Hall Putsch on November 8-9, 1923. At the Bürgerbräukeller in Munich, Hitler and deputies announced plans to depose Bavarian government officials. They intended to install Hitler at the head of government using Munich as a base camp. Nearly 2,000 Nazi Party members proceeded to Marienplatz in Munich's city center. Police summoned a cordon to obstruct them there. Sixteen Nazi Party members and four police officers died during the ensuing violence. Hitler briefly escaped the city before being arrested on the 11th of November 1923. He faced trial for high treason which gained him widespread public attention. The trial began in February 1924 and ended with conviction on April 1. He received five years of fortress confinement at Landsberg Prison. Guards treated him friendly; he had a room overlooking the river. Regular visitors came to his chambers while mail from supporters was allowed. A private secretary could use his chambers freely. His greatest worry involved risk of deportation back to Austria by the Bavarian government. Trial judge Georg Neithardt held that Weimar Republic laws could not apply under Protection of the Republic terms. Pardoned by the Bavarian Supreme Court, he was released on the 20th of December 1924 after serving nine months. During imprisonment, Hitler dictated first volume of Mein Kampf principally to deputy Rudolf Hess.

• 4. Economic Collapse Strategy

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  The Wall Street crash of 1929 heralded worldwide economic disaster across Germany. People tired of old economic systems voted for Nazis and Communists who made great gains. Between them they secured almost 40% of Reichstag seats requiring moderate parties to negotiate. Historian Alan Bullock wrote that Communists openly preferred seeing Nazis in power rather than saving the republic. Leon Trotsky criticized shifting Comintern policy under Joseph Stalin directing German Communists to treat Social Democrats as social fascists. Bertrand Patenaude believed Comintern policy following Great Break facilitated rise of Hitler's party. In September 1930 federal election, Nazi Party obtained 107 seats representing 18.3 percent or 6,409,600 votes. They became second-largest party in Germany while essentially becoming dominant political force on right. An unprecedented amount of money funded campaign efforts increasing momentum significantly. Over one million pamphlets were produced and distributed during this period. Sixty trucks were commandeered for use in Berlin alone where campaigning was rigorous. Areas with less rigorous campaigning saw vote share drop as low as 9 percent. The Great Depression also factored into Hitler's electoral success dramatically. Against legal backdrop, SA began first major anti-Jewish action on the 13th of October 1930. Groups of brownshirts smashed windows of Jewish-owned stores at Potsdamer Platz. A middle-class liberal party strong enough to block Nazis did not exist. People's Party and Democrats suffered severe losses to Nazis at polls throughout country.

• 5. Backroom Power Deals

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  On the 30th of January 1933, new cabinet sworn in during brief ceremony inside Hindenburg office. NSDAP gained three posts including Hitler named chancellor position. Wilhelm Frick became Minister of Interior while Hermann Göring served as Minister Without Portfolio. Göring simultaneously held title of Minister of Interior for Prussia province. SA and SS led torchlit parades throughout Berlin streets that night. This event would become termed Hitler's Machtergreifung or seizure of power. Papen served as Vice-Chancellor in majority conservative Cabinet falsely believing he could tame Hitler. Initially Papen spoke out against some Nazi excesses before narrowly escaping death in Night of Long Knives. Afterward he no longer dared criticize regime being sent off to Vienna as German ambassador. Conservatives helping make him chancellor convinced they could control Hitler and tame Nazi Party. Foreign ambassadors played down worries emphasizing Hitler was mediocre if bad copy of Mussolini. Even SPD politician Kurt Schumacher trivialized Hitler as piece of scenery decoration within government. Benno Reifenberg of Frankfurter Zeitung wrote that impossible establish dictatorship because barrier existed over which violence cannot proceed. Growing number keen observers like Sir Horace Rumbold revised opinions quickly. On the 22nd of February 1933 he wrote Hitler may be no statesman but uncommonly clever audacious demagogue fully alive to every popular instinct.

• 6. Legal Dictatorship

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  Following Reichstag fire Nazis began suspending civil liberties eliminating political opposition systematically. Communists excluded from Reichstag entirely during March 1933 elections where again no single party secured majority. Hitler required vote of Centre Party and Conservatives to obtain powers desired. He called on Reichstag members to vote for Enabling Act on the 23rd of March 1933. Plenary powers granted temporarily by passage allowing freedom act without parliamentary consent even constitutional limitations. Employing characteristic mix negotiation intimidation offered possibility friendly cooperation promising not threaten Reichstag President States Churches. With Nazi paramilitary encircling building said it up to gentlemen decide between war peace. Centre Party joined conservatives voting Act after obtaining promises non-interference religion. Only Social Democrats voted against measure passing law. Act allowed Hitler Cabinet rule emergency decree four years though Hindenburg remained President. Immediately set about abolishing powers states existence other political parties organizations formally outlawed the 14th of July 1933. Reichstag abdicated democratic responsibilities completely while Hindenburg retained commander-in-chief military power negotiate foreign treaties. Law did not infringe upon powers President until death August 1934 when Hitler achieved full dictatorial power. Journalists diplomats wondered whether appoint himself President who might succeed him as Chancellor army would do. Army supported Hitler after Night Long Knives combining two positions President Chancellor into one office. All soldiers took Hitler Oath day Hindenburg death swearing unconditional obedience personally nation.