HITLERS RISE TO POWER Racism in Canada During

HITLER’S RISE TO POWER

Racism in Canada… During the Depression some Canadians were attracted to Fascism by the hope of economic improvement Jews in Canada were unofficially kept out of many professions and the civil service There were violent attacks against Jews

The Riot at Christie Pits August 16, 1933 in Toronto A six-hour riot took place at Christie Pits between the Anglo-Canadian Pit Gang (aka the Swastika-Club) and the Jewish Spadina Avenue Gang. Tensions existed between the teams. During one baseball game, crowds displayed flags and a blanket with a large swastika painted on it. The Spadina Avenue Gang responded to the displays, and a riot ensued.

The Toronto Daily Star Reported: "While groups of Jewish and Gentile youths wielded fists and clubs in a series of violent scraps for possession of a white flag bearing a swastika symbol at Willowdale Park last night, a crowd of more than 10, 000 citizens, excited by cries of ‘Heil Hitler’ became suddenly a disorderly mob and surged wildly about the park and surrounding streets, trying to gain a view of the actual combatants, which soon developed in violence and intensity of racial feeling into one of the worst free-for-alls ever seen in the city. Scores were injured, many requiring medical and hospital attention…. Heads were opened, eyes blackened and bodies thumped and battered as literally dozens of persons, young or old, many of them non-combatant spectators, were injured more or less seriously by a variety of ugly weapons in the hands of wild-eyed and irresponsible young hoodlums, both Jewish and Gentile".

A Heritage Toronto plaque was presented to commemorate the 75 th anniversary of the riot in August 2008. Significance: This event demonstrates how common were racial tensions in the 1930 s in Canada.

Racist Ideas in Germany So, if racist ideology was present in Canada, think about what was going on in Germany when the country was feeling vulnerable!

Impact of the Treaty of Versailles The peace terms were designed to weaken Germany The Allies also decided that Germany should make reparations (payment for the damage of WWI) The treaty demanded that Germany: Accept total blame for the war Give up its weapons and ships Give back all the lands it had conquered Pay $33 million in damages Allow Allied troops to be stationed on its territory Treaty of Versailles ) (at the Palace of Versailles

From the German POV How is Germany portrayed? Was this treaty fair? Consider this situation from the German perspective!

Add Economic Problems Instead of taxing the people to finance WWI, Germany had borrowed money. The country had a huge debt! To pay it off, the government Black Tuesday 1929 - stock market crashes just printed more paper money. This was not supported by real economic value and caused severe inflation. Spring 1922, 300 marks could buy an American dollar. Early 1933, it took 50, 000 marks.

Depression and Unemployment After stock market crash, Americans could no longer buy German goods and the banks could not lend money to the German government Many German businesses went bankrupt and people lost their jobs Great Depression during People were homeless and starving 1930 s

Add Political Instability After WWI, Germany had more than a dozen political parties. No party was strong enough to undertake the task of rebuilding the war-torn country.

Political Instability Cont. No party won a majority, elections marked by violence People started listening to extremist Nazi views The Nazis believed: - Gov’t should run the army - Industry should be privately owned - Military should hold power - No democratic government, no elections - Activities of Jews and foreigners- restricted

So, the German people felt victimized by Versailles and were bitter about inflation and economic troubles. Hitler saw his chance! “Believe me, our misery will increase! The government itself is the biggest swindler and crook. People are starving on millions of marks! We will no longer submit! We want a dictatorship. ”

Hitler’s Promises He promised the German people he would get back the land lost during WWI Restore Germany to world leadership Aryans were the “master race” and they deserved to rule the world Promised to “deal” with the Jews. He blamed the Jewish people for Germany’s defeat in WWI and for the economic problems that followed

Treaty of Versailles Black Tuesday 1929 - stock market crashes Great Depression during 1930 s TOTALITARIANIS M Total Control of State by a Dictator Increasing influence of new political parties that emphasize state control -For example: Communism, Nazism, Fascism

Government establishes complete control of all aspects of the state (political, military, economy, social, cultural) Highly nationalistic (flags, salutes, rallies, uniforms) Strict controls and laws Military state (secret police, army, military) Censorship (opposing literature and ideas) Propaganda (media – radio, newspapers, posters) One leader (dictator); charismatic Total conformity of people to ideas and leader Terror and Fear

Nazism TAKE OUT Totalitarianism YOUR DICTATOR HANDOUT! Communism Fascism *These theories, specifically Communism and Fascism, are different theories that are completely opposed; however they exhibit the same behaviour.

I am Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union from 1922 -1953. What is Communism? • LEFT WING • based on theory by Karl Marx • revolutionary idea of a political, economic and social system that creates a “classless society” • state ownership and control of the means of production (no private ownership) • Soviet Communism or “Stalinism” was more of a totalitarian and military state combined with elements of communism

I am Benito Mussolini the leader (Il Duce) of Italy from 1922 to 1943. What is Fascism? • RIGHT WING • intense nationalism and elitism • totalitarian control • interests of the state more important than individual rights • maintain class system and private ownership

I am Adolf Hitler the leader (der Führer) or dictator of Germany from 1933 to 1945. What is Nazism? • Extremely fascist, nationalistic and totalitarian • based on beliefs of the National Socialist German Workers Party • belief in the racial superiority of the Aryan “master race” • belief that all Germans should have “lebensraum” or living space in Europe • Violent hatred towards Jews and blamed Germany’s problems on them

• GESTAPO: the Secret State Police • SS (Schutzstaffel): Defense Corps “black shirts”, an elite guard unit formed out of the SA • SA (Sturmabteilung): Stormtroopers "brown-shirts" early private Nazi army that protected leaders and opposed rival political parties • Lebensraum (living space): concept that emphasized need for territorial expansion of Germany into east • Einstazgruppen: Nazi Death Squad; mobile killing units • Volk: all inclusive concept of nation, people and race, implying the superiority of German culture and race; led to policy of Volksgemeinschaft (idea of a harmonized racial Nazi community in gov’t policies and programs)

Saluting the Troops

Nazi Spectacle

Book Burning E. g.

Nazi Propaganda: The Fuhrer Cult Victory at all costs

“The Eternal Jew” ‘Behind the enemy powers: the Jew’ Depiction of a Jew holding gold coins in one hand a whip in the other. Under his arm is a map of the world, with the imprint of the hammer and sickle. Posters like this promoted a sharp rise in anti-Semitic feelings, and in some cases violence against the Jewish community.

How did Hitler turn the Chancellorship into a dictatorship by 1934?

HITLER BECAME CHANCELLOR THE REICHSTAG FIRE THE ENABLING ACT Der Führer OATH OF LOYALTY TO HITLER DEATH OF PRESIDENT HINDENBURG THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES

January 1933 The Depression that followed the stock market crash made many more people vote for the Nazis. In 1933 President Paul von Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor (head of government). Wow!!

February 1933 q The Reichstag building burnt down q A communist was found inside the building He ‘admitted’ responsibility q Chancellor Hitler was able to convince people that the Communists were trying to take power by terrorism q Hitler was able to have the Communists banned from the Reichstag THE REICHSTAG FIRE

THE ENABLING ACT With the Communists banned from the Reichstag Hitler was able to pass: March 1933 HITLER CAN RULE ALONE FOR FOUR YEARS. THERE IS NO NEED TO CONSULT THE REICHSTAG (parliament)

THE ENABLING ACT GAVE HITLER THE POWER TO MAKE HIS OWN LAWS. SO, HE BANNED ALL OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES! SPD- Social Democrats KPD- Communists DDP- German Democratic Zentrum- German Centre Party (Catholic)

June 1934 “Now I have taken care of opposing political groups, I can deal with the opposition within my party! Ernst Rohm (an old friend), is the head of the SA and is very unpopular with the German army leaders. I want the army on my side, and the SA is a threat to my absolute power. The SA must be executed. THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES

The Night of the Long Knives Hitler had to get rid of Rohm. Under his leadership, the SA (Storm Troopers – ‘Brown Shirts”) were too much of a threat On the night of June 30 th 1934 Hitler’s S. S. (protective squad) killed over 1, 000 SA (storm-troopers, a Nazi paramilitary group) members, including Rohm The army was pleased and Hitler gained their support

A final note August 1934 PRESIDENT HINDENBURG’S DEATH GAVE HITLER THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMBINE THE ROLE OF CHANCELLOR AND PRESIDENT. HE CALLED HIMSELF ‘DER FUHRER’. (the Leader) DEATH OF PRESIDENT HINDENBURG

Every soldier swore a personal oath of loyalty to ADOLF HITLER. OATH OF LOYALTY TO HITLER

to a t c i d a e om c e b y l l a g r le e l t i H d i d So, how r?

HITLER BECAME CHANCELLOR THE REICHSTAG FIRE THE ENABLING ACT DER FUHRER OATH OF LOYALTY TO HITLER DEATH OF PRESIDENT HINDENBURG THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES

KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER Germany suffered a depression in the 1930 s and severe repercussions from WWI. These conditions were significant in creating an environment where Hitler was able to succeed Politically, a series of events enabled Hitler to become dictator

Mackenzie King’s Impressions. . . In 1937, Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King met with Hitler and was left with a generally positive impression of him. He declared that the German leader was: “…a simple sort of peasant, not very intelligent, and no serious danger to anyone. ” LOL