The Political Alliances Hitler Formed
Adolf Hitler’s rise to power was swift and authoritative. To cement his political authority and make his plans become reality, he established several key alliances. Firstly, Hitler agreed to Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria’s agreement, put in place in 1933, to swear an oath of loyalty to the German state and its leader. This agreement was broken when Hitler demanded loyalty directly to him as Fuhrer.
Furthermore, as Chancellor, Hitler was able to restore the German economy through National Socialist Workers’ Party (NSDAP), which became Germany’s largest political party. By April 1933, Hitler was able to order the arrest of leading Nazis and draw the country into a pro-Nazi stance. At the same time, the German people were promised economic relief in the form of tax concessions, mortgage forgiveness, and public works projects, which were all paid for with money from a secretive source.
The source of this money came from the political alliances Hitler formed. These allies included the German banking and financial institutions, international banks, and industrial conglomerates. In particular, several prominent German and international banking and industrial groups were willing to provide Hitler with the funds he needed to implement his policy initiatives.
By making deals with these allies, Hitler was able to gain the financial backing that was necessary to pursue his plan of German rearmament and expansion into other countries. These deals, together with the support enjoyed by the Nazis, allowed Hitler and the Nazi Party to gain immense financial power. This money was then used to pay for the construction of new factories, military equipment, and other necessary infrastructure.
Hitler did not just rely on financial backing; he also gained the support of industrialists and captains of industry. Companies such as IG Farben and Krupp were heavily involved in the Nazi war effort. These firms provided financial and material support and resources to the Nazi regime through their access to capital and other resources.
Moreover, Hitler claimed power with the support of the rich and powerful, who in turn sought to protect their interests. This included influential businessmen such as Albert Speer, who was appointed as Minister for Armaments and War Production, and Emil Kirdorf, who contributed heavily to the Nazi cause. The support of the elite was extremely important for Hitler, as it enabled him to consolidate his power and expand his reach into Europe.
International Support for Hitler
Besides German investors and industrialists, Hitler and the Nazi Party received support from several international sources. Several multinational firms, such as the J.P. Morgan banking firm and the Schroeder Brothers, provided financial and other resources to the Nazi cause. Large German corporations such as Thyssen, Krupp, and IG Farben also played a role in helping Hitler’s plans come to fruition.
Personalities such as Wall Street banker and powerful industrial magnate Henry Ford also provided financial and material resources to the Nazi cause. In addition to providing capital, several of these international firms and individuals were known to have provided political and diplomatic assistance to the Nazis.
Moreover, some of the world’s most influential political leaders, including the then British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, had effectively granted Hitler moral and material support by signing the Munich Agreement in 1938. This agreement marked a major turning point in the fortunes of Hitler and the Nazi Party, as it allowed Hitler to continue his ambitions without having to go to war with England or France.
Lastly, Hitler was supported by the Japanese government. Following the signing of the Tripartite Pact in 1940, Japan provided military and financial assistance to the Nazi cause. This support continued even after radicalization of the German government, and allowed Hitler to expand his power even further.
Support from the Citizens
It is important to remember that the people of Germany also had a role to play in Hitler’s rise to power. As soon as Hitler arrived in power, he began to invest in public works projects, infrastructure development, and the creation of economic stability in Germany. This, coupled with his strong anti-Semitic and anti-communist rhetoric, made him popular with the majority of the population. He garnered the trust and loyalty of the people through fear-mongering, promises of economic stability and nationalist pride.
Hitler also backed his policies with a degree of reinvigorated enthusiasm and patriotism among the masses. He used propaganda to create an image of himself as a noble and responsible leader, who was willing to make great sacrifices in order to ensure the future of the German people. This propaganda made him an immensely popular leader, and he used this popularity to gain further support and legitimacy.
Hitler was also able to gain the support of the middle-class and large parts of the religious community. As evidenced by his strong anti-communist rhetoric, Hitler piqued the interest of many who were fearful of the perceived threat of Communism. This allowed him to solidify his powerbase and gain further backing from a range of ideological sources.
The Benefits of Hitler’s Support
Despite the significant financial, ideological and political support enjoyed by Hitler, it is difficult to quantify the impact that his supporters had on the Third Reich. It is important to note that, without the support from the international banking and financial institutions as well as the industrial conglomerates and captains of industry, it is unlikely that Hitler would have been able to implement his policy initiatives or gain the loyalty of the German citizens.
Hitler was able to use the financial resources provided by his supporters to build factories, military equipment, and other infrastructure. This, coupled with the popular rhetoric propagated by the Nazi propaganda machine, allowed him to solidify and expand his power. The result was a powerful and dangerous form of political control, which was only brought to an end by the conclusion of World War II.
The Impact on World War II
Hitler was able to use the money from his supporters to fund an ambitious military program and to purchase the necessary weapons and raw materials for the war, making it one of the major factors in his success. His supporters enabled Hitler to mobilize the German economy and build up the strength of the Nazi military machine, allowing him to attempt to expand Germany’s influence over much of Europe.
Moreover, without the assistance of national and international financiers such as Henry Ford and J.P. Morgan, it is unlikely that Hitler’s war effort would have been as effective. These bankers and industrial magnates provided the resources necessary to purchase the weapons and raw materials necessary to wage war, as well as providing political and diplomatic support.
The money and political support of Hitler’s supporters also helped to create a propaganda machine that was used to ensure the public acceptance of Hitler’s policies and to promote hatred and fear. This aided Hitler to gain control of the population, which in turn enabled him to proclaim a vision of a powerful and mighty German nation.
The Legacy of Hitler’s Support
Hitler’s supporters had a profound influence on the course of World War II, allowing Hitler’s ambitions to be realized. To this day, it remains difficult to quantify or evaluate the impact of the support Hitler enjoyed from his supporters. However, it is clear that the money and political capital provided by financiers, industrialists, and captains of industry was pivotal to the success of Hitler and the Nazi regime.
The legacy of Hitler’s support extends far beyond the conclusion of World War II. In addition to the pain and tragedy that it caused, it also serves as a reminder of the power of a totalitarian regime to manipulate and control a population. It also serves to remind us of the power of money and politics to cause immense, far-reaching harm.
The Significance of the Support
For many, the significance of the support Hitler received is that it demonstrated the power of a political leader to gain the backing of influential organisations and individuals, even at the expense of millions of lives. This example serves to remind us of the need to be vigilant and cautious of what kind of support we give to a leader, their policies, and their actions.
The role of Hitler’s supporters should also be viewed in the context of the economic downturn that preceded and followed World War II. For example, the economic downturns on the back of the Great Depression could have been avoided had the international banking and financial institutions not provided the support Hitler needed.
In addition, the legacy of Hitler’s support serves as a reminder of the dangers of unchecked power, and the need to continue to critically evaluate our leaders and the organisations that back them. Whilst the world continues to grapple with issues such as anti-Semitism and totalitarianism, there is much to be learned from the stories of those who provided Hitler with the resources he needed to pursue his disastrous policies.
