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Hitler is Born in Branau, Austria
As a penniless student, he aspired to be an artist, but was rejected from an Art School in Vienna. When World War I began, he joined the army in order to find a sense a purpose. He was a very successful, winning many awards for his bravery. -
Hitler Joins the National Socialist German Workers’ Party.
This group, also known as the Nazi Party, was a small, extremist, right wing political party that consisted of soldiers, laborers, adventurers, and outcasts. They were anti-sematic, against Communism, and believed that the Treaty of Versailles needed to be eradicated. In addition, they created Nazism, a form of fascism. -
Germany signs the Treaty of Versailles
The provisional government in place at the time was the Weimar Republic, who had taken control after Kaiser Wilhelm II stepped down from power. They were branded the “November Criminals” because they were responsible for signing the Treaty of Versailles and the armistice. The signing divided Germany and were a reason the Weimar republic was diminished because of the terrible territorial, financial, and political impacts it had on the country. -
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Reign of the National Socialist German Worker's Party
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Hitler becomes the leader of the Nazi Party
After a lot of success as a speaker in the party, he is appointed der Fuhrer. The Nazi party was characterized by their violent nationalism, anti-Semitism, and opposition to the democratic government and that was their biggest enemy (the Weimar Republic) -
Beer Hall Putsch Nazi Party Attempts to Seize Power in Munich
After the Nazi Party attempts to seize power in Munich, Hitler is tried for treason and sentenced to 5 years in prison, however in 1924 Hitler leaves jail after only 9 months. While in jail, Hitler writes his book Mein Kampf (My Struggle) which lays out his plan for Germany. He states his belief that Germans are “Aryans,” and therefore superior to all other races, and that other races and religions, such as Jews, are inferior. -
Hitler leaves Jail
Once Hitler got out of jail, he restored the Nazi Party. During his time in jail he had made a plan to appeal to the German people, and use propaganda to gain support for the Nazi Party and overthrow the Weimar Republic. Through his trial, he had gained sympathy from many people, and he hoped to continue raising support until he was powerful enough to take control of Germany. -
Hitler forms the elite unit Schutzstaffel.
This protection unit dressed in all black, was similar to the SA or brownshirts that Hitler had used as a military force earlier. Eventually, the SS would be one of the keys to Hitler’s rise. By 1934 they had killed many of Hitler’s enemies, and instilled fear into the people which made them cooperative with Hitler’s demands. With the help of the SS, Hitler was able to take control of Germany’s economy, including businesses and laborers. -
Nuremberg Rally
NSDAP(Nazi Party) organizes the first Nuremberg party congress, a mass political rally. This rally was a big gathering of Nazi members, journalists from around Europe, and the public. It included events such as dances, marches, concerts, bonfires, fireworks, and processions. The grounds were decorated with Nazi flags, colors, and symbols. Hitler and other members of the Nazi Party gave long speeches to gain support, sometimes these speeches outlined new Nazi rules or l -
Nazi party membership exceeded 100,000.
Hitler had encouraged other right wing parties to combine with the Nazi’s; he didn’t want a threat to his party or his power. Most of the membership of the party was made up of Hitler Youth, as well as students of universities. Despite their large numbers though, the Nazi party did not do well in the elections that year. -
NSDAP - DNVP
NSDAP forms an alliance with The German Nationalist Peoples Party. Also known as DNVP, this was a conservative party led by Alfred Hugenberg. Hitler’s party gains respectability and financing for their party, and Hugenbern hopes that Hitler will attract people’s support. -
The Great Depression Begins
The Great Depression was set off by the Stock Market Crash. People owned stocks that were worthless, factory production slowed, and businesses plummeted. People lost their money, jobs, and lands as unemployment rates increased. American bankers wanted immediate repayment of loans they had agreed upon overseas, and businessmen began to pull their investments out of Europe, leading to a Global Depression. The Dawes Plan of 1924, would create direct consequences for Germany. -
Unemployment figure reaches 6 million out of the 65 million population.
NSDAP exploits the situation by blaming the Treaty of Versailles and its reparations for the crisis, while Nazi propaganda attacks the Weimar political system, Marxists, internationalists and jews. Nazis give the people a solution and a sense of nationalism. -
Nazi’s become the largest political party
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Hitler is appointed Chancellor of Germany.
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Fire at the Reichstag
Reichstag, a Parliament building is destroyed by a fire one week before new elections were supposed to be held. While it was the Nazi’s fault, they blamed the fire on the Communists. This was because they want to spark a hatred of Communists among the German people. -
The Enabling Act
It was a decree that had been signed by President Paul Von Hindenburg on February 28. Hitler presents the Enabling Act to the Reichstag, and it was passed with 441 votes to 84. This decree gave Hitler dictatorial powers for 4 years. -
Hitler turns Germany into a Totalitarian state
In order to prevent people from challenging him, Hitler has his enemies arrested or killed, and bans individual labor unions to prevent strikes. Members from the government were removed, as well as jews who were also purged from universities. -
Hitler Violates the Enabling Act
Hitler made a new law that combined the offices of the president and the chancellor of Germany, and even though it went against the Enabling Act, it was allowed by a National Plebiscite. Hitler made himself the supreme German leader, and forced the military to take an oath proving their loyalty to him. Quickly after, Hitler beings creating and spreading his propaganda, which mainly advocated Nazi ideology, or Nazism. The central ideas of Nazism were based on fascism, and revolved around Germany -
Kristallnacht
After Hitler invigorated anti-Semitism, extending it throughout Germany, he also deprived Jews of the majority of the rights. Violence against the Jews began to escalated, and on this night mobs of Nazi’s attacked Jews in their homes, in the streets, and destroyed buildings that were owned by Jewish people. Known, as the The Night of Broken Glass, this event began the onslaught and eradication of Jews which eventually led to World War II.
