Nazi Ideology

Consider your homework on the Nazi 25-Point Program, Hitler's writings in Mein Kampf, and Hitler's background. Take all of your knowledge of the above and develop several solid paragraphs that discuss and analyze Nazi ideology. I've provided you several guiding questions below.

Ideology: A statement of broad principles and vision for the future

Key questions to consider when analyzing the ideology of a leader:

• What ideas are proposed?
• What issues or grievances do they address?
• Do they represent a new form or structure for the society?
• Do they introduce entirely new concepts, values or goals to the society?
• Have they been inspired by a particular individual, school of thought or philosophy?
• How relevant or effective are they in attracting support within the local, regional and international community?
• Is it revolutionary, visionary, or inspirational?
• Can it inspire support, cause excitement? Does it appeal to broad sectors of society? Who does it attract?
• Which groups in the society will feel challenged or threatened by the new ideas?

When Hitler was rising to power, he utilized his different ideologies in order to make the NSDAP the main part in Germany. With his propaganda, Hitler was able to address the problems in Germany that were on everybody's minds. He was able to capture the minds of the German people with his eloquence and charismatic speaking that included his 25 point program that he though was surely going to better Germany and convince the people that the NSDAP was the right vote. His words were inspirational, revolutionary and visionary to a people tired of the economic and political sufferings of Germany.

He was very effective when persuading the people of Germany to vote for him. He made them think that Germany would be in the hands of someone great when he was to take power and that they should not fear the future. They needed guidance at this time and saw Hitler as someone who would help them even if they didn't believe everything he said.

Hitler gave the people of Germany things to look forward to in the state regarding politics and government. He was planning on making the state a single party and making the NSDAP the leader because democracy was so "weak" and capitalism was only stealing from the people of Germany. He promised them that they would have a strong leader. Regarding the economy, Hitler told the people that he would help the crisis by proposing a new idea. He thought that if the people worked for the state, the state would in turn work for the people and make everything better. People were very happy with the ideologies of Hitler and thought that he would bring new change to a struggling Germany.

The Munich Putsch and the Nazis 25-Point Program

The Munich Putsch

1. Finish / Transcribe your paragraph response to the failed Munich Putsch. You started it / completed it during class today. Please keep in mind that next week you will be asked an open-ended question regarding the causes and significance of the Munich Putsch.

The Munich Putsch seemed to be a "failed" attempt for Hitler to spread Nazi ideas in the Bavarian state. There were different reasons that the Munich Putsch failed. One of these reasons was because it was poorly planned and the Nazis were not ready for power. They were not organized enough for the march and everything they had planned turned sporadic and disorganized. Another reason the Putsch failed was that Hilter's drive was low. If it wasn't for Ludendorff marching on, the Putsch would have been a completely ended when Hitler ran away because of his dislocated shoulder. It also seemed like the crowds at the Beer Hall that were once eagerly listening to Hitler's speeches had stopped and lost intrest all together. It seemed as though the Nazi Party was on its death bed and there would be no victory that they once thought would come.

It turned out that in the longrun many of the "failed" aspects in the attempt turned out to be slow victory for the Nazis. Once the Munich Putsch was over, the Nazis had time to figure everything out and learn from the mistakes that they had made. Hitler was given time in a comfortable jail to think about the different policies he was previously trying to enforce and how he could change them. He also had time to finish writing his book Mein Kampf a success for him that would pave the road to the beliefs he was trying to persuade the German people with. Overall the fail of the Munich Putsch had given Hitler time to think about what he could change to the government to make the people of Germany side with him, getting him the all important popular vote.

The Nazis 25-point Program

2. Based on the 25-point Program, what were the main ideas of the NSDAP when Hitler joined it? (He helped framed these points after joining in 1919, along with Nazi founder Anton Drexler. Hitler would replace Drexler as leader in 1921.) The 25-point Program is at my website. Please keep in mind that on next week's exam you will be asked to discuss the main ideas of the NSDAP.

• Exclude the Jewish people from the Government
• Expand the German Empire (get Germany + Austria back) - Lebensraum
• Get rid of the Treaty of Versailles
• Only German blood can live in Germany -- Except the Jews
• Everyone must work except for the mothers
• Nationalization of Industry
• Kill the criminals
• Education will be reformed -- taught the "Germany way"
• Education of the gifted children
• Encouraging sports like gymnastics and swimming
• Create national Army
• The state must provide for its people
• The people must provide for the state