Unit Test 5 Question 5

Jeromy Rech

Rise of Adolf Hitler relied on various factors, but the loss of German in World War I and the
Treaty of Versailles was a major factor. Germany surrender conditionally in WWI saying the 14
points of Woodrow Wilson was the treaty, but at the Treaty of Versailles, didnt meet this
condition. Some of the points in Wilson proposition were: no more secret alliances reduce army
size, lower tariffs, open trade agreements, draw map according to nationalism, and formation of
League of Nations. From these, the 14 points was very kind on Germany, but when meeting at
Versailles, the 14 points were thrown out the window and harsh penalties were levied against
Germany. Some conditions of the Treaty of Versailles include: Germany was responsible for war,
Germany pays all war debts (32 billion), Germany loses all colonies, Germany loses Alsace
Lorraine to France, draw map according to nationalism, and formation of League of Nations.
When Hitler began to come to power, he talked a lot about how the Treaty of Versailles stabbed
Germany in the back, which was an appeal to nationalism. Germany also had a parliamentary
government established, but it was very weak and did not have the time need to establish. On top
of this, the death of money and the Great Depression seemed like a death sentence to Germany,
but Hitler offered new hope. Germans didnt want socialism/communism because the large
middle class was happy with wealth, and capitalism is failing, so decide to go with fascists.
Hitler also offers a scapegoat to all the problems of Germany, the Jews. The Jews were displaced
from homeland and were very common businessmen and bankers of countries, because they
came late to the game and have no land. Blame the businessman. Hitler also used lots of
propaganda and gathered in large groups. When in large groups, decisions are made run on
emotion rather than careful thought. In the next election, the Nazi party won a plurality and Paul
von Hindenburg elects leader of Nazi party, Hitler, as chancellor of Germany. Some of the goals
or ideas that Hitler had when in power included: build a totalitarian state in order to help
Germany recover all power in the hands of the state/one person, eliminate all political
opposition, stimulate economy by building expressways (die Autobahn) and create an affordable
automobile for everyone (die Autobahn also helped the German troops mobilize quicker),
increase German nationalism, anti-Semitism (hatred of Jews) and Holocaust (elimination of
Jews), and expansion of militaristic policy.