The Rise of Hitler
Hitler’s Early Years
Young Hitler
Although the future dictator of Germany, Adolf Hitler was born in ______. Hitler had no siblings and both his parents died at a young age.
Hitler wanted to become an ______, but he twice failed the entrance exam into the Fine Arts Academy of Vienna. This enraged Hitler, and he used the Jews as a ______claiming they controlled admissions.
Hitler later moved to ______and fought for the Kaiser in WWI. A decorated soldier, Hitler suffered temporary blindness due to a ______attack.
Hitler loved Germany and could not accept defeat. He hated Germany’s new ______Republic for signing the humiliating Treaty of Versailles.
Hitler Leads the Nazis
Nazi Fascism
In 1919 Hitler joined the ______, a small fascist group (National Socialist German Workers’ Party).
Fascism -dictatorial government that is violently nationalistic, imperialistic, and anti-communist.
Both Hitler and ______, Italy’s fascist dictator, felt democracy was weak because it put individual rights above national goals. Both also believed in creating an imperial ______and crushing communism.
Hitler was an intense, energetic, and motivating public ______. These talents quickly elevated Hitler to become the leader of the Nazi party. As leader Hitler perfected Nazi ideology, and introduced symbols such as the ______and the Nazi flag.
Hitler organized the Nazis into squads known as ______who fought against political enemies, such as the ______.
Beer Hall Putsch
Anxious for power, in 1923 Hitler led a takeover of a government meeting at a Munich ______.
Unfortunately for Hitler, the ______surrounded the beer hall, killed several Nazis and ended his failed revolution.
Hitler was sentenced to prison, but because of a sympathetic judge he would spend less than a _____ behind bars. During this time Hitler wrote ______.
Hitler’s Ideology
Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf (______) became the Nazi bible and a German best seller. The book gives Hitler’s ideology of extreme nationalism, racism, and ______.
Hitler believed that Jews were inferior and that Germans belonged to a superior master race of ______, or light -skinned northern Europeans.
Hitler also argued that Germany needed to gain ______, or “living space” in the east by conquering and then inhabiting the racially inferior countries of Poland and Russia.
Hitler also argued that the German military did not lose WWI but was ______by corrupt politicians, communists, and Jews.
Hitler’s dramatic failed putsch and new book made him ______, and upon leaving prison he gained many followers among veterans and those frustrated with the Weimar Republic.
Winning the Masses
The Great Depression
Extreme ______during the Great Depression caused Nazi membership to grow. Hitler’s message of ending the Versailles ______, job creation, militarism and nationalism appealed to many.
With the democratic Weimar government weak and divided, the Nazis continued to win more and more seats in the German legislature, known as the ______.
Hitler Appointed Chancellor
Because the Great Depression increased Nazi representation in the Reichstag, Hitler was appointed ______in January 1933.
However, Hitler did not have total control. Power in Germany was split ______ways between the chancellor, the Reichstag, and President Hindenburg. There was also the ______, which currently favored Hindenburg and the Reichstag, but not Hitler.
Path to Dictatorship
Step 1: The Reichstag Fire
The Reichstag building was mysteriously set ______less than a month after Hitler was appointed chancellor.
Hitler convinced citizens that ______were the arsons, and had them banned from the Reichstag. However, today historians believe ______did it.
Step 2: The Enabling Act
______then erupted in the streets between Nazi Brownshirts and German communists. Property was destroyed and ______reigned.
Hoping to restore order and prevent a communist takeover the Reichstag agreed to the ______which gave Hitler power to single-handedly pass emergency ______for four years.
With the power to make his own laws Hitler threw out the democratic constitution, banned other political parties, ______the media, and spread Nazi ______.
Those who protested the takeover were sent to concentration camps by the ______, a branch of Hitler’s SS (special security) that carried out his brutality within Germany.
Step 3: Winning the Army
The ______still did not support Hitler because they often fought with his Brownshirts, and viewed them as competition.
To win over the army, in June of 1934 Hitler ordered the killing of nearly 500 Brownshirt leaders on what was dubbed the “______.” Army generals were now pleased and supported Hitler.
Step 4: Der Fuhrer
President Hindenburg was Hitler’s last obstacle in the way of a total ______, but in August 1934 the aging Hindenburg died.
With Hindenburg gone, Hitler declared himself “______” or ultimate leader of Germany. A ______was held and the Germans voted in favor of having Hitler as Fuhrer.
Hitler’s Rise to Power
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