Rise of Hitler in 1930s

¶ … rise of Hitler in 1930s was a logical final of the outcomes of WWI and economical crisis in Weimar Republic, which paralyzed German nation for more than a decade. Moreover, Hitler's rise was legal as his party NSDAP (National-Socialist) won elections and he became Reich's counselor (prime-minister). After the death of 83-year-old president Hindenburg Hitler became the head of state or Fuhrer of Germany, which defined the history of Germany until 1989.

The phenomenon of Hitler has logical explanation. Humiliated nation, with prolonged economical crisis, social stagnation and depression was disillusioned by inability of Weimar republic to solve major national problems: unemployment, high inflation rate and poverty:.".. What the salary was worth was difficult to estimate; its value changed from month to month. One month 100 million marks could be quite a substantial sum; a little while later 500 milliards would be small change."(Haffner, 58) People lost any trust to government, which was disintegrated and weak. Such social atmosphere created fertile soil for development of different radical political ideas of revenge. Nation had nostalgia for the "good old times" of imperial rule and iron order. Militarism and philosophy of superiority of German nation, which was an integral part of Imperial propaganda, lived in the minds of common citizens, especially of former soldiers and officers who were dismissed after the defeat of Germany in WWI. Hitler's political program was very simple and close for common Germans: establishment of strong government, which would have total control over economy, industry and political activities inside the country. His program had to solve "nation questions" and unite German people into a single nation, which would include German ethnic groups of Czechoslovakia (Sudetzenland) and Austria. Popularity of Hitler's ideas of National Socialism was growing during the years of depression in 1920s. Nevertheless, he didn't have any clear political program until the year of 1924 after the failure of "beer putsch" in Munich on November 8. 1923. Hitler spent in prison little more than a year and then was released. In prison he wrote his fundamental work, which became ideological program of national socialists: Mein Kampf. This work is illogical, based on radical chauvinism, anti-Semitism and conservative political ideas of popular rule, and it could become popular only in the years of deep social depression and apathy. In middle 1920s it became clear that Communist scenario in Germany would not take place as all attempts of Communist revolts were oppressed, in addition communism was an alien ideology as Germans were a nation with developed civil institutions of private property and individualism. Social Democrats, who were the most popular political party among working class, failed to change economical situation in the country and were losing political influence. Such conditions were more than favorable for Hitler's political success. It's important to say that Weimar constitution played the most fatal role in Hitler's rise to power as it guaranteed wide political freedoms for all parties and it guaranteed absence of state political censorship. Hitler's program was not only beneficial for working class who hoped to get social guarantees and protection but also to big business and German corporations who would of course benefit from state stability and strong government after years of economic stagnation and hyperinflation. Hitler's ideas to refuse from paying reparations and rearmament were also welcomed by corporations as such policies would only promote their prosperity and guarantee state orders.

After appearing on political arena of Germany Hitler quickly got acceptance. His speaking skills were outstanding; he was a great orator with individual orator style. His speeches showed that he was a charismatic outstanding personality with self-confidence and energy. He knew how to influence and manipulate crowd; civilians, SA or German army. He spoke what people wanted to hear, what they were afraid to say but what they thought about. This was his weapon and he used it skillfully. He believed that German was a great nation and he made people to believe it. In his speeches and political program Hitler paid a lot of attention to propaganda of a new Germany, with iron order and strict social hierarchy. In order to solve political and economical problems Hitler proposed to eliminate "hidden enemies of state": Jews and communists. It was much easier to accuse someone in own faults than to find origins of the problem, and "hidden enemies of state" were the best scapegoats. Anti-Semitism was common for Germans in the twentieth century and it was often a part of German official imperial ideology since Middle Ages. It was not clearly expressed on public but it survived in minds of people, especially of poorly educated.

After victory in parliamentary elections of 1933, Hitler started usurpation of power. Fascists hired Dutchman adventurer Van-der-Lubbe to fire Reichstag (building of German parliament) in order to accuse communists in preparation for the revolt in the country. Countrywide anticommunist propaganda and Hinesburg's loyalty to Hitler's conservative ideas allowed him to get total control over the governmental system of the country using legal methods. Liberal constitution of Weimar republic allowed changes in political structure of state on the base of political need. Article 48 of Weimar constitution, which was also called decree of emergency (or Notverordnung provision) gave to the Reich president a number of privileges and rights to cut civil liberties and get control over state institutions on the bas of emergency need. Hitler used it in order to seize power and starts to promote polices of political repressions and ethnic purges: "That very night, Goering declared a supreme state of emergency throughout his police forces. The Nazis rounded up 4,000 political activists, mostly Communists, but including several non-Communist intellectuals." (Chronicles of Holocaust)