Hitler's Legacy and Pre-Nazi Germany

Hitler's Legacy and Impact

• Orchestrated the Holocaust, a genocide of 6 million Jews and millions more, setting a horrific precedent for mass extermination.
• Initiated World War II, resulting in 70-85 million deaths and reshaping global relations through aggressive expansionism.
• Established a totalitarian regime dismantling democratic institutions, suppressing dissent, and fostering an atmosphere of terror.
• Effectively used propaganda to promote Nazi ideology, fueling nationalism and anti-Semitism to justify atrocities.

Problems in Pre-Nazi Germany

• Hyperinflation crippled the German economy, rendering currency worthless and causing widespread poverty post-World War I.
• Political instability plagued the Weimar Republic due to ineffective governance, civil unrest, and rising radicalism, creating opportunities for extremists.
• Social discontent fueled by the Treaty of Versailles' harsh terms and a desire for drastic solutions fueled support for radical solutions like Hitler.

Hitler's Rise to Power

• Joined the Nazi Party after World War I.
• Led the failed Beer Hall Putsch in 1923, resulting in his imprisonment.
• During his imprisonment, he wrote "Mein Kampf."

Suppressing Opposition

• Eliminated SA leadership and other rivals in the Night of the Long Knives (1934).
• Implemented strict censorship, banning opposing views and promoting Nazi propaganda.
• Used the Gestapo, the secret police, instilling fear through intimidation and surveillance.
• Used concentration camps to imprison and execute political opponents and perceived enemies.

Key Policies

• Pursued militarization and expansion, violating the Treaty of Versailles and seeking Lebensraum (living space).
• Prioritized military spending and public works to reduce unemployment, sometimes compromising individual freedoms.
• Implemented systematic extermination policies against Jews, Roma, and other targeted groups—the Holocaust.
• Created a cult of personality around himself through propaganda, promoting Aryan supremacy and justifying his actions.

Hitler and World War II

• Initially achieved quick victories using blitzkrieg tactics, expanding Nazi territory rapidly.
• Suffered major setbacks like the Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943) marking the decline of the Third Reich.
• Died by suicide in his Berlin bunker in April 1945 as Allied forces approached.