Hitlers Rise to Power Destruction of social clubs

Hitler’s Rise to Power • Destruction of social clubs and organizations and creation of separate individuals. • Recreates those organizations along party lines for control and support. • Hitler viewed individual as having no value except as it contributed to collective society.

• Society is defined by leaders (Hitler). • Hitler attempted to create a utopian state (with him in charge)-Based on race (Unifying factor that crossed party and social lines). • Aryan utopia would occur as “Pure” Germans were “nationalized” into a community-what Hitler called Gemeinschaft.

Hitler would unify all Germans into his utopian community • Power and support. • Importance of symbols, uniforms, propaganda and conformity. – Hitler understood this. – Source of pride and sense of belonging. – Made the bitter pill of racism easier to swallow and hid negative aspects of the movement.

-Shades of Christian Trinity.

Formation of the SS • Hitler felt need to create out of the SA a group that would show total loyalty to him. • March 1923 -creates Stabswache (staff guard)members swore total loyalty to Hitler. • May 1923 -to avoid confusion, they were reorganized into a 30 man squad called Stosstrupp Adolph Hitler. – Led by Julius Schreck & Josef Berchtold. – One member was severely wounded during the Beer Hall Putsch as he saved Hitler’s life.

Julius Schreck

• After the Putsch, the party was banned and the SA broken up. • After prison, Hitler rebuilds party and SA becomes unarmed. • March 1925, Schreck recommends Stosstrupp be reformed and expanded. Would be set up as small guard details and is renamed Schutzstaffel (SS, protection squads). – Sole purpose was to protect Hitler and other party leaders. – Headed by Berchtold under title of Reichsführer der SS.

• March 1927 -Berchtold losses interest and is replaced by Erhard Heiden. • SA was jealous of expansion and worked to keep the SS subordinate-morale among SS very low. • Jan. 6, 1929 -Heinrich Himmler takes command of SS.

SS under Himmler • By 1930 it had grown to 2, 000 men. • After failed attempt by SA in northern Germany to take power, Himmler rewarded with role as head of the party police. • By summer of 1932 there were 25, 000 members.

• As Hitler gained power, SA under Ernst Röhm complained about lack of position in new party and Government. – Talks of “Second Revolution”. – Non party members called for action. • June 30, 1934 -”Night of the Long Knives”- Röhm and about 1, 000 of SA leadership eliminated By the SS.

• July 20, 1934 -SS declared independent from SA. • 200, 000 strong. • Himmler comes under direct command of Hitler. • SS split into 2 sections.

Hitler Himmler Allgemeine SS Waffen SS • Political Branch • Armed Branch • Police Functions • Elite Army troops

Allgemeine SS • January 1936, Himmler appointed Chef der Deutschen Polizei. – Takes control of Geheimes Staats Polizei (Gestapo). • Set up to handle any government function in event of an emergency. • Selected on racial purity, good health and disciplined character.

• Strict legal and disciplinary codes governed behavior. – Answerable only to special SS and police courts. • Racial qualities looked for in wife, Christian marriage replaced by neo-pagan ceremony. – Expected to have a minimum of 4 children. • Also set up Lebensborn-provide homes for SS mothers. • By June 1944 had seized almost total political, military and economic power.

Waffen SS • Combat units of the SS. • Also served as concentration camp guards.

Gemeinschaft “nationalized” all adults and children into Nazi culture, even if they did not join the party (uniforms & Swastikas are present & prevalent).

Women in the “National Community” • Nazi attitudes were conservative and reactionary to the emancipation women were experiencing during the Weimer Republic. • Nazi’s believed women should confine themselves to “natural” occupations. – Kinder, Kirche and Kuche (children, church and kitchen).

• Good jobs were wives, mothers, nursing and social work which did not endanger reproduction. • Marriage, family and motherhood were the most important jobs. – Imprisonment for those who gave abortions to “healthy Aryans”. – Mothers given special privileges.

Ehren Kreuz der Deutschen Mutter (Honor Cross of German Motherhood) • Came in 3 classes. • 3 rd Class (Bronze): for 45 children. • 2 nd Class (Silver): for 67 children. • 1 st Class (Gold): for 8 or more children. • All Hitler Youth required to salute award.

• Divorce laws ammended to allow the end of unproductive marriages. • Government provided interest free loans to young married couples if woman gave up a job. • Reich Mother’s Service setup-gave classes in child care and domestic sciences. • Women grouped into an organization called NS-Frauenschaft (NS-Womanhood).

NS-Frauenschaft (NS-Womanhood)

Men in the “National Community” • Most men’s groups were organized by occupation or interest. • Purpose was to unify the labor movement to work toward Nazi goals and to prepare men for possible military service.

Reicharbeitsdienst (RAD) Reich Labor Service • At 19 or 20 men may be called up for labor and military service (6 months of labor service). • Toughen them up for military service.

NSKK (NS-Kraftfahrkorps) • Was a transportation service. • Again training for potential military drivers and tank crewman.