German Enthusiasm To Hitler
German Enthisiasm To Hitler
In order to thoroughly understand German enthusiasm to the Nazi regime, we must first understand the 2 great events that preceded the Nazi power in Germany: World War I and the Great Depression.
Out of World War I came the Treaty of Versailles in which Germany lost 13% of its territory, 10% of its population. Economically, Germany was required to pay installments towards the reparations debt, 28 billion dollars total, to be paid over a period of 42 years. Militarily, Germany was not allowed an army larger than 100,000 men and was not allowed to produce most any of it’s own military devices. The treaty put Germany in great debt. In the years to follow the Treaty, Germany’s economy underwent several unpredictable waves, which ultimately resulted in a social loss of status, and a rise in crime, suicide and prostitution. The middle class, once known for its patriotism, now rose in revolt against a government who failed to protect their property and security.
However, Germany bounced back, and by mid 1920s, Germany, functioning under a constitution and an elected president, had begun to reenter the world market in automobile production.
Nevertheless, by 1930, due to the Depression, Germans found themselves once again unemployed and run by an incapable government which offered neither hope nor policy to its citizens.
When Germany was at it’s weakest, and in dire need of a strong government capable of digging the country out of it’s misery, the NSDAP, also known as the Nazi party, began to rise in popularity. Perhaps the core reason for the growth and ultimate popularity of the Nazis was the seducing tongue and manipulating mind of Adolf Hitler.
To gain status, Hitler promised the German nation a strengthened country, through the setting aside of the Peace Treaty and unification of all Germans. He stated the treaty “was made in order to bring 20 million Germans to their deaths, and to ruin the German Nation”.
Hitler knew exactly how to win over the German nation. In his speeches and publications, he reduced everything to simple terms, (yes/no, black/white, German/Jewish) making the solutions for a better German seem easy and within reach.
Among his talents was manipulation. He manipulated the German people into thinking that the world was conspiring against them. He played on their fears and idiosyncrasies, promising them...