Who was Hitler and the Nazis and what did they believe in?
In this section we will briefly examine antisemitism over time before looking at length at Hitler's beliefs and how he made these public policy after gaining support of the German Workers Party. His (and the later the Nazis') ideology of National-Socialism will be analysed in light of its racist origins deeply seeded in Social Darwinism - the survival of the fittest. Here students will gain insight into how Hitler gained the support of a nation devastated after WW1 through the promise to return Germany to its former glory.
SUMMARY:
The Nazis grew out of a small right-wing party, which Hitler took over after 1919. He developed a Twenty-Five Point Programme based on hatred, and built up a paramilitary group (the SA) to defend his meetings and attack other parties.
The Nazis appealed to a wide range of people, but especially the 'middling' sort of people, and the party grew rapidly in the years of crisis 1919-1923.
After the disaster of the Munich Putsch, and during the prosperity of the Stresemann years, however, support for the Nazis fell. During this time Hitler believed that he could be elected to power. He used these years to develop and strengthen the party's organisation. (John Clare 2013)
RECOMMENDED READING/VIEWING:
BBC History - Nazi Beliefs: CLICK HERE
The Longest Hatred - From the Cross to the Swastika (44 min.): CLICK HERE
ACTIVITY: ASPECTS OF INQUIRY - Backgrounds and Definitions
i) Read the information on Antisemitism from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum Website and define it in your glossary: CLICK HERE
Extension opportunity: you may want to click and read further in the 'Related Articles' section for greater understanding
ii) Watch the clip on Antisemitism below and add points noted in video to your timeline (you could create a 'time period labelled Antisemitism through history' if using TimeToast)
iii) Watch the following BBC clip 'Scientific Racism' below and then define in your glossary the term: 'EUGENICS'
ACTIVITY: Discussion
How well/accurately has film portrayed Adolf Hitler? Can we 'CORROBORATE' any of this film with the sources below?
ACTIVITY: SHAMBLES PAD ACTIVITY - Overview of the Nazis Rise to Power
Click on the following link to the SHAMBLESPAD LINK and work with a partner to answer the questions collaboratively (as a class). You will view the A Quirky view of the Nazis and their rise to power
ACTIVITY A:
ANALYSIS OF 25 POINTS OF NATIONAL-SOCIALISM - After reading Hoepper et al (1996) Inquiry 1. Jacaranda. pp. 90-91 and answering the questions, go to the condensed version of the 25 Points of national-Socialism below to discuss and categorize:
- identify in the source the Nazi beliefs that are NATIONALISTIC (who thought the German race was better than others)? Then, categorize which beliefs are SOCIALIST (those who wanted to help the poor people)? And then, someone who was angry about losing the war? And someone who hatred the Jews?
- decide which demands are fair and why/not;
- Explain how these demands differ or reflect the rights of Australian citizens today.
ACTIVITY B: CORROBORATING SOURCES
Explain your answers to the questions below in notebooks/OneNote including evidence from the sources.
SOURCE A. HITLER ADDRESSES THE PARTY FAITHFULThis painting depicts Hitler addressing a meeting of the Nazi Party in the early 1920s.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What impression of Hitler is conveyed by the painting? How would you describe the atmosphere among the audience? Judging by the painting, what type of people supported Hitler, in terms of age and sex? Do you think this painting was painted by a supporter of Hitler, an opponent, or by a neutral artist?
SOURCE B. EXTRACT FROM MEIN KAMPF
Hitler's views on responsible government in Mein Kampf, 1925
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What is Hitler Proposing? Do you agree? Why/not? Conduct research on what is Charles Darwin's 'Origin of the Species' theory HERE and HERE and define 'SOCIAL DARWINISM' in your glossary before identifying where Hitler uses it to push his agenda below.
There must be no majority decisions, but only responsible persons ... Surely every man will have advisers by his side, but the decision will be made by one man ... only he alone may possess the authority and the right to command ... It will not be possible to dispense with parliament.
The strong man is mightiest alone ... by virtue of a natural order, the strongest man is destined to fulfil the great mission ... It must never be forgotten that nothing that is really great in the world has ever been achieved by coalitions, but that it has always been the success of a single victor. Coalition successes bear by the very nature of their origins the germ of future crumbling ... Great, truly world-shaking revolutions of a spiritual nature are not even conceivable and realizable except as the struggles of individual formations...
Hitler, A. (1925) Mein Kampf
How would you describe Hilter's ability to speak in public (orate)? And has SOURCE A and the film above portrayed his public speaking accurately? Also, might the leader of your country make you feel when he/she addresses you i this manner?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
How do SOURCES A & D corroborate (agree and support each other)? From your study of the 25 Points of National-Socialism, why wouldn't you expect many lawyers, doctors and aristocrats to support the Nazis?
SOURCE E. NAZI POSTER, 11 May 1920.
This Nazi poster, 11 May 1920, advertises a speech by Hitler: ‘What Do We Want?’ It reads: "Do not believe that other parties can save the Germany of misfortune and misery, the nation of profiteers and debt, the land of Jewish corruption!"
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
How does SOURCES B & E corroborate? Explain using evidence from each source! Why would you expect this to be believed by those supporters of the Nazi Party outlined in SOURCES A & C?
National Labour Service: Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD)
When Hitler came to power in 1933, six million Germans were unemployed. His most important task was to find them jobs. During the
election he had promised voters ‘work and bread’ if he ever became leader. Here is further information on Hitler's social policy for improvimg Germany's economy and creating jobs - lowering unemployment.
LINK 1
LINK 2
ACTIVITY: History UK website activities: Click on the following sites and after reading the material, respond to the questions using all the material covered in this section so far: CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE
ACTIVITY: Test Your Knowledge!
Test your knowledge by taking this quiz: CLICK HERE
Video Summary of how Hitler & the Nazis came to power
A Continuation of the Series "Hitler: The Rise of Evil",
As you watch this series, keep in mind the focus question for this section of the course and look for areas where you have seen corroboration in the sources already studied. Also, consider whether historical films are a good source of information for studying a period of history. Are there any issues with films as historical sources that we need to take into consideration?A Continuation of the Series "Hitler: The Rise of Evil",
What are your thoughts on Eugenics (scientific justification of racism)? Do you think that there is a strong argument for this science? Can it ever be justified?
ReplyDeleteWho was Hitler and the Nazis and in what did they believe (i.e. their political philosophy)?
ReplyDeleteTo begin with, I do not believe Eugenics to be scientific justification of racism, as I personally believe there is no justification for racism, ever. The idea of Eugenics is absurd, and if people believe that this can possibly be true in any form then, I would like to know other than simply being whatever race they are, what exactly is it that makes them better? They way they dress? The way they speak? How can this make anyone rise above the rest? There are many answers that they can give to these questions, but do any of their answers have any merit? Can it's merit really be accurately applied in such a situation? For example; I believe that because Australians speak English they must be better than German people because there is a higher population of English speakers in the world, therefore, we must be better. There is a little merit to that argument more people, must give the English language some credit. However, in what way does that make us as human beings, 'better'? It doesn't all it really means is that lots of people speak English, so it's a good language to know. It's only people's minds and thoughts that give it the alternate meaning.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lillie on her thoughts about Eugenics. I do not believe there is a strong argument for this type of 'science'. In today's society it can never be justified, especially after the events of the Holocaust. Separating races and virtually calling one better than the other can never be a good thing.
ReplyDeleteEugenics seems to be quite a naive and quite simply, a stupid idea to make a certain group in society inferior; in turn making the German's extremely megalomaniac. I completely agree with Lillie when she said that there isn't any justification for racism.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, the Nazi party was a right-winged party, governed by Adolf Hitler. The beliefs of this group, were directly from the Chairman, Hitler himself. These beliefs of the group were evident in the 25 points of national-socialism. As the name suggests, the points were directed at guiding Germans on Germany's nationalistic and socialistic ideas. Their political policies were for the most very negative towards 'unpure' blood, ie. foreigners in Germany. Despite these rather racial views, Hitler's views on socialism in Germany; the points discuss a Germany were all (Germans) are of equal status add should earn and receive the same benefits, despite ones occupation. Hitler's Mein Kampf, the book he wrote when he was in jail. This book openly discusses his ideas surrounding German's current state and what he strongly believed would take to return Germany to a powerful country. While Hitler's beliefs consisted of many positive aspects in particular about socialism and how to return Germany to a strong nation, but it falters as it is extremely racist, demoralizing other other countries and people, especially the Jews.
In answer to the second question. Hitler was the leader of the Nazi party and eventually the leader of Germany. The Nazi Party was the Nationalist Socialist Workers Party (shortened to NAZI) these people were Hitler's most dedicated followers. The 'cause' or ideas they believed on were mainly Hitler's 25 points of National Socialism. The 25 points of National Socialism were Hitler's ideas of a perfect Germany. These were very much Nationalist ideals, many having to do with the preservation of a pure Germany, one made only of people of German descent, and unaccepting of foreigners. If not based on this, Hitler's points were based upon equality for all the German people, one could say his ideals were just falling short of communist. The ideals he held for the German people were very socialist and if not for the extreme racist views and extreme antisemitic views, Hitler had the potential to have been a truly great leader and to use his talent and power for good, however this was not to be the case.
ReplyDeleteShould make a more obvious mention of social Darwinism and how he justified his ideas to the people through his speaking skills and the certainty that he showed as he spoke. Hitler was giving the people answers to very difficult questions and although his answers and ideas did not have much merit, he was someone who was assertive and sure of himself and the way he expressed his ideas made them more appealing and all the more believable for the people and his party. Hitler had a strong belief that having a dictatorship would be more powerful for Germany as things we get done. He also makes a point that he, by natural selection is the destined leader.
DeleteHitler was a German politician and the leader of the Nazi party. The Nazi party was originally called the German Workers party which was renamed when Hitler became the Leader. They believed that the loss of World War 1 was the responsibility of the communists and the Jews, ‘True Germans’ and Hitler strongly believed in Social Darwinism. After the defeat of World War 1, the people of Germany were angry and humiliated, they lost hope and when Hitler spoke out, he gain a lot supporters as he gave the people someone the blame the defeat on, the communists and the Jews. ‘True German’ was the racially pure called Aryan. Hitler wanted everyone in Germany to be an Aryan. Hitler also strongly believed in Social Darwinism, which is the ‘survival of the strongest’ meaning that the weak should die. Most of their beliefs came from Hitler’s book, “Mein Kumpf” which all Germans were encouraged to study when Hitler became Fuhrer.
ReplyDeleteGood work Stef, but you really need to include the 25 pts of National-Socialism as it is the core political policy of the Nazi Party and stems from Hitler's political ideas stated in Mein Kampf.
DeleteQuestion 2: Hitler was the leader of the National Socialist Party (the Nazi Party). He became the head of the party in 1919 and soon developed a 25 point programme which laid the basis for the beliefs of the party. The programme consisted of extreme prejudice towards the Jews and other such groups and called for Germany to be reinsatated as the 'great' country it once was. Also in the programme Hitler called for equality amongst the German people and wanted to raise old age pensions, which shows that the Hitler and the Nazis did beleive in some limited socialism. When Hitler was in prison for a few short months, he dictated a book, Mein Kampf, which revealed his beliefs and hopes for Germany to a greater extent, including concepts such as the belief that only one true superior race could exsist in Germany.
ReplyDeleteJust don't forget to make a clear mention of social Darwinsism clearly. I could get that it was basically what you were talking about anyway.
DeleteShould have mentioned social darwinism explicitly.
DeleteHitler and his Nazi party would have appealed to the middle class German population, as Hitler was providing them with answers to questions that no one else was giving them. He was also able to explain the reasons why Germany was in such economical and social termoil. Because Hitler and the Nazi party also believed in equalily, for example in the 25 point programme Hitler refers to socialism, people of the upper classes, eg doctors, lawyers and aristocrats would not be persuaded to join the party, as they may have felt threatened and would have seen the faults in Hitler's ideaologies.
DeleteThere is no justification for racism, scientific or other wise. There is no proper justification for racism of any type or for any reason. After the holocaust, there is no tolerance for racism in our society. There is no fair or good reason for separating races and calling one batter than the other.
ReplyDeleteAdolf Hitler was the leader of the National Socialist Party (or Nazi party). He started making speeches in the Munich Beer Hall about his beliefs on how to rebuild Germany and gained more and more followers as he preached what the people wanted to hear. He proposed idea's like Social Darwinism and had profound beliefs that only one race was needed to create a perfect Germany. Most of his set beliefs were based on equality, which some would say could work for a good community, but the way that they were meant that they were still harsh for most, being Nationalistic.
ReplyDeleteAdolf Hitler was a man of power and had totalitarian control over Germany. He was the leader of the National Socialist Party, (the Nazi Party) and gained followers after he started speaking of his beliefs about Germany and Jews in the Munich Beer Hall, as he appealed to the unemployed and small business men. Hitler made it out that Jews were all to blame and gained more and more followers as he spoke of the things people wanted to hear. Following his rise to having control and power, Hitler and the Nazi Party came up with the 25 Points of National-Socialism, stating the core philosophy of the German Workers' Party and the doctrine in which they used for propaganda. Many of these points were nationalistic and some socialistic. This shows that while Hitler and the Nazi Party wanted Germany to have the power and hated Jews, gays, blacks and communists, which means they were a party of nationalism, however they did want Germany to have equality, which proves that they were socialistic in some way. While in goal, for a few months Hitler wrote Mein Kampf, a book that included Hitler's belief in the radical and cultural superiority of the German people and the benefits of strong political leadership. Hitler was a man of many ideas, including Social Darwinism and strongly believed that to create an ideal and perfect Germany, only one race, Germans, was needed.
ReplyDeleteWell done Eleanor. You make reference of the main points for this focus question and tie them together quite well. One thing to work on is the inclusion of evidence to support your ideas - you could quote one or two of the articles in the 25 pts of National-Socialism to bolster your statements above. Overall, well done.
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