Germany After Wwi – Adolf Hitler

Germany under the rule of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party believed they were superior to the peoples of all other nations and all individual efforts were to be performed for the betterment of the German State. Germany’s loss in World War I resulted in the Peace Treaty of Versailles, which created tremendous economic and social hardships on Germany. Germany had to make reparations to the Allied and Associated Governments involved in World War I. As a result, Adolf Hitler gradually embarked upon his rise to power in Germany creating the National Socialist German Workers’ Party. As part of the surrender terms of World War I, Germany was forced to sign the Peace Treaty of Versailles, which held Germany responsible for the war. The country went bankrupt, millions of Germans were without work and food, and the nation was in despair and turmoil. Adolf Hitler’s rise to power began during these very difficult economic and social times. In the fall of 1919, Hitler began to attend meetings of a small nationalist group called the German Workers’ Party. Hitler soon took control over the group and renamed it the National Socialist German Workers’ Party. The group later became known as the Nazi Party. The Nazis called for the union into one nation of all Germans. They demanded that citizens of non-German descent or of the Jewish religion be deprived of German citizenship and also called for the annulment of the Peace Treaty of Versailles. These demands were the primary cause for the Nazi Party to compose the document The Program of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party in 1920. Hitler blamed the Jews for the evils of the world. He believed a democracy would lead to communism. Therefore, in Hitler’s eyes, a dictatorship was the only way to save Germany from the threats of communism and Jewish treason. The Program of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party was the instrument for the Nazis to convince the German people to put Hitler into power. Point one of the document states, “We demand the union of all Germans in a great Germany on the basis of the principle of self-determination of all peoples.” 1 This point explicates the Nazi proposition that Germany will only contain German citizens and also, that these citizens would display his or her self-determination towards Germany to the fullest. Point two of the document declares, “We demand that the German people have rights equal to those of other nations; and that the Peace Treaty of Versailles shall be abrogated.” 2 The National Socialist German Workers’ Party desired to do away with the peace treaty because the treaty held Germany responsible for World War I. Germany did not want to pay millions of dollars in reparations to the other nations involved in World War I. Point four of the document cites, “Only those who are fellow countrymen can become citizens. Only those who have German blood, regardless of creed, can be our countrymen. Hence, no Jew can be a countryman.” 3 This is similar to point one of the document by expressing that only people who were one hundred percent German were allowed citizenship. Therefore, any non-Germans or Jews were denied citizenship. Point five of the document states, “Those who are not citizens must live in Germany as foreigners and must be subject to the law of aliens.” 4 This point explains that the non-citizens of Germany would be treated as foreigners in the country, providing that they were of non-Jewish religion. Point seven of the document declares, “We demand that the State shall above all undertake to ensure that every citizen shall have the possibility of living decently and earning a livelihood. If it should not be possible to feed the whole population, then aliens must be expelled from the Reich.” 5 If, however, this plan was not possible, those living in Germany as aliens or foreigners would be told to leave the country. Point eight of the document cites, “Any further immigration of non-Germans must be prevented. We demand that all non-Germans who have entered Germany since August 2, 1914, shall be compelled to leave the Reich immediately.” 6 Any further immigration of aliens