Political Climate
Adolf Hitler’s rise to power during the early 20th century was a complex process that left a lasting legacy. After facing monumental defeats in World War I, Germany had become politically, economically and socially unstable. The defeated nation underwent a period of hyperinflation and its people were left demoralized and desperate for a leader. Unfortunately, Hitler was able to exploit this instability, tapping into the country’s extreme discontent with the Weimar government and riding this wave of resentment to power.
Before Hitler’s rise to power, German politics had been characterized by consensus and compromise. The Weimar Republic had been created in the wake of WWI to ensure political stability and to prevent the war crimes of Kaiser Wilhelm II from occurring again. The Weimar Republic adopted the constitution of the German Empire, replacing it in most respects. On the surface level, the Weimar Republic was a success, but beneath this façade, economic instability plagued the new government.
Economic hardship led to widespread political discontent and the rise of far-right parties whose ideologies promoted racism, xenophobia and national purity. Prominent among these was Hitler’s Nazi party which promised to return Germany to its former glory. Hitler himself was a powerful speaker, able to mobilize the masses and rally them behind his divisive rhetoric.
Nazi Propaganda
As the Nazi party gained more momentum, the other political parties were unable to respond effectively. With the backing of the party’s wealthy financiers and the support of its paramilitary wing, the SA, Hitler was able to gain a stronghold on the nation. Even more significantly, the advent of mass-media allowed Hitler to further his influence through the use of extremely effective propaganda.
Radio broadcasts and newsreels gave Hitler unprecedented access to the public, and he used it to cultivate an image of invincibility, authority and certain success. He justified his political ambitions as necessary steps to restore Germany’s honor, and even legitimize his nationalist ideals. Nazi propaganda also sought to promote unity and a sense of purpose to its followers. Nazi ideology was designed to guard against any form of dissent and opposition, as such, open political debate was actively discouraged.
The combination of economic need and the powerful appeal of Nazi propaganda drove many people to embrace Hitler’s ideals. To many Germans, Hitler was a hero and a savior, someone who could restore the country back to its former glory. Such sentiment was further bolstered by the lack of any significant opposition to the Nazi party. The polls of 1932 and 1933 saw a dramatic increase in Nazi support, and in 1933 Hitler was appointed chancellor, effectively ending the era of Weimar democracy.
Ingrained Anti-Semitism
It is clear that economic instability and effective propaganda are key factors behind Hitler’s rise to power, however anti-semitism had a tremendous impact in that it provided a shared enemy. As early as 1920, Hitler had tapped into the ingrained anti-semitic sentiment within the German people, scapegoating Jews for the country’s plight and painting them as an enemy that had to be eliminated.
The Nazi party had coopted the symbol of the swastika, a traditional German symbol, to represent their cause. Jews were blamed for the spread of communism, moral degeneration and the deaths of many German soldiers during WWI. Such rhetoric was tied in with Hitler’s broader promise of returning Germany to its former glory, and as such it had tremendous appeal to many of the country’s citizens.
The government was soon influenced by Nazi policies and laws with an anti-semitic bias were introduced. Jews were discriminated against and stripped of their civil liberties, culminating in the Nuremberg Laws of 1935 which determined who would be classified as a Jew and subjected to further restrictions. A combination of ignorance, fear and isolation laid the groundwork for the horrific crimes of the Holocaust.
Rise to Totalitarianism
Faced with economic hardship and political instability, the German people had opted for an authoritarian leader that promised certain success and glory. Such an environment made it possible for Hitler to enact his radical policies without much resistance or objection. By the end of WWII, Germany had been taken over by a totalitarian regime, as the Nazi party had total control over the population and opposition had been effectively quashed.
To better understand how Hitler came to power, it is essential to consider both the external forces that were at play as well as the forces of the collective unconscious. The conditions of the post-WWI era, the actions of Hitler and those around him, and the population’s adherence to Nazi ideology all played a critical role in Hitler’s rise to power.
Post-WWI Legislation
The First World War had left Germany in a state of disarray and the Weimar government was desperate for legislative solutions that would help stabilize the nation. In its attempt to do so, the government passed several laws, mainly the Article 48 provision, which enabled the president to suspend civil liberties during times of emergency. This gave the president sweeping control over the nation for the duration of the emergency.
Hitler and members of the Nazi party saw this legislation as an opportunity to further their political agenda, and President Hindenburg was persuaded to grant Hitler emergency powers, allowing the Nazi’s far-reaching domination and censorship of the media, giving Hitler total control over the nation and paving the way for his rise to power.
Economic Turmoil
Germany had suffered catastrophic losses during the war and then had to endure the severe economic depression that followed. This was compounded by the hyperinflation that left many Germans with worthless money and little hope. The country was politically divided and in disarray and facing an uncertain and tumultuous future. Hitler was able to capitalize on the nation’s discontent to mobilize people to his cause.
Hitler’s clear vision of national unity and a strong economy gave his supporters hope in a time of hardship and instability, providing him with popular support and allowing him to rise to power. This support was strengthened by the growing anti-semitic sentiment and Nazi propaganda. As a result of all these factors, Germany was taken over by a totalitarian regime and allowed Hitler to establish an autocratic and oppressive dictatorship.
Influence of Anti-Democratic Movements
The era of Weimar democracy also opened the door to far-right movements, primarily through free elections, which allowed movements such as the NSDAP to gain substantial influence and popularity. These anti-democratic forces, motivated by their fascist ideologies, sought to overthrow the Weimar Republic and impose their own rule. Such movements provided the groundwork for Hitler’s takeover of the nation.
Given Germany’s economic and political instability, Hitler’s rallying cry for national unity was met with immense enthusiasm. His message of national confidence, absolute power, and a sense of destiny resonated with the German people, and allowed him to ascend to power in 1933. Hitler’s fierce opposition to any form of dissent also ensured that no real opposition could form, enabling him to maintain power with uncharacteristic control.
Lack of Resistance
The German people were in desperate need of leadership and direction, and Hitler was able to tap into this desperation and provide the nation with a vision of hope. He was able to take advantage of the nation’s weak political climate and exploit it to further his own power. However, as his grip on the nation increased, the population became increasingly complacent and resigned to Hitler’s rule. As a result, any opposition was quickly silenced and Hitler was able to remain in power for many years.
The lack of effective or organized resistance further enabled Hitler’s ambitions, and without any significant opposition, he was able to effectively establish a totalitarian state in Germany. Ultimately, it was the perfect storm of a variety of factors that allowed Hitler to come to power.
Political Polarization
The political atmosphere at the time was one of extreme polarization, as the far-right and far-left clashed in an ideological battle for the future of Germany. The Nation was divided between those that favored the Weimar Republic and those that favored the Nazi party, and ultimately it was the Nazi party that won out. The Nazi party promised the return of Germany to its former glory and promised to deal with what they saw as the degenerate culture that had resulted from the turmoil of the post-WWI era.
Hitler and the Nazi party had mastered the art of propaganda and were able to win the people’s hearts and minds with their seductive message of national unity and purpose. Thus, Hitler was able to capitalize on the nation’s political and economic hardship, leading to his eventual rise to power.
Political Opportunism
In addition to the unstable climate of the time, Hitler and his Nazi party had been able to rise to power by manipulating the existing political environment. Taking advantage of the failure of the Weimar government, Hitler was able to exploit their discontent to his own benefit, using his rhetoric to polarize the population and pit people against one another.
Hitler and the Nazi party had also used their position to manipulate the existing laws and use them to their own advantage, allowing them to erode the existing political infrastructure and install their own totalitarian regime. In the end, Hitler had taken advantage of the nation’s discontent and ridden this wave of resentment to power.
