The Nazi Seizure of The Nazi Seizure of PowerPower

1933-39

“Lesson of 2 Novembers”

Emphasize humiliation of VersaillesBeer Hall putsch—failure and lesson “legality strategy”—shift after 1928Electoral tactics—”Hitler over Germany”S.A.—rendering democracy impotentCrisis of 1931-33—Bruning, rule by

decree, and von Papen

Political Consolidation

Reichstag Fire and Enabling ActElection of March 1933Civil service act, loyalty oathBlood Purge—S.A. (Rohm) and armyGleichschaltungTerror—Gestapo, S.S., concentration

campsPropaganda—Nuremberg rallies

Economy and Labor

Reich Labor Front—Robert Ley “pump-priming”—Autobahn,

rearmamentAutarky—synthetic fuels, rubberSupport of industrialistsMembership of Nazi party—young,

(lower) middle-class, teachers, farmers, civil servants

Education,Youth, and SocietyHitler Youth and League of German

Maidens “Strength Through Joy” (Kraft durch

Freude)Study of eugenicsOpposition of churches (Confessional

Lutheran Church and Concordat)Art patronage and “degenerate” artSports and 1936 Olympics

Racial Policy

“racial welfare state”S.S. and “Aryan” raceNuremberg Laws—1935T-4 program and sterilizationKristallnacht—1938Shift after 1938St. Louis—1939

Women and Family

Emphasized traditional female role—women pushed out of industry & workplace

League of German MaidensS.S. officers and “breeding” “race and space” & “feed and breed”Lebensraum