Homework 4

Chapter 1
A

1. Almost 200 people were either wounded or killed on the first day of World War II. Streets were lined with German soldiers. The invasion into their country ruined a stable, safe, and secure place in which they lived.
2. a) They were anonymous because the original authors clearly didn't want their names known when speaking out against the invasion. They were afraid of what would happen to them if German soldiers found the sources with their names. It gains a limitation because we do not know anything about the authors.
   b) Source D provides the visual that Sources A and C describe.
   c) They were published probably as propoganda to support the war.
   d) I think it's biased because its all about the German invasion from Polish people who were being invaded. 

B

1. Nothing in those sources promote anything 'humane.' Everything in them are cruel.
2. They killed women and children and burned down houses and buildings without warning. People were killed at random.
3. They don't prove anything because they fail to provide any facts. The only thing that could be taken as fact is the picture, which only shows burned buildings. Burned buildings do not mean they were inhumane, as that could be expected from war.

C

1. I DONT KNOW
2. The men and women were forced to wear gas masks due to fear of consuming gas from enemy bombs.
3. Because no fighting took palce between Britain, France and Germany in the first 9 months of the war.
4. They shouldnt.

Chapter 2
A

1. "Blood, oil, toil, tears, and sweat." The alternative would be peace without fighting, which wasn't possible by this point.
2. It promotes the sense of nationalism in the country. "Victory" is what they want. They want to remain free from the fighting, and are going to get it by whatever means.

Homework 1

1. What attempts were made at improving international relations in the 1920s and 30s and how successful were they?
In the 1920s and 30s the world attempted to improve international relations. These attempts were hardly successful. One of the first attempts made was a committee for promoting collective security, the League of Nations. It had few successes, but the successes were outnumbered by a vast collection of failures that seemed to happen on after another. The League itself made few attempts. The attempts it did make never really sufficed to anything, with a select few successes in less-powerful countries in the world. The attempts made to solve issues in the major world powers such as the US, Great Britain, France, Germany, the USSR, China, Italy, and Japan could have been better. But the problem in the league was that the world powers were never apart of the committee at the same time. This prevented agreements from being agreed upon by all the countries. Events such as the invasion of the Rhineland by Germany never even had attempts made to fix. The events of the Ethiopian invasion by Italy had an attempt at economic sanctions, but was not upheld. No attempts were made to stop Japan from invading Manchuria. Appeasement was the attempt being used for Germany and Japan. It was successful for Japan and Germany, but not for the rest of the world who would be forced to suffer at the hands of Germany and Japan.

2. Knowing what you know now, what could the international community have done differently to make collective security more effective in the 1920s and 30s?

If the US joined the league of nations that came from Wilson's fourteen points, the attempts made might have actually worked. There would have been a way to enforce an economic sanction on Italy for oil, which was not possible with the US not in the league since the US was Italy's main supplier of oil. Also, there would have been more strength in the league in general to enforce it's attempts at collective security.
The League also could have cracked a whip down on Germany when she broke agreements from the treaty of versailles. Especially during the militirization of the Rhineland. A simple group of troops sent from GB or France would have forced Germany to retreat and give up on the Rhineland. Appeasement should never have been employed as way to promote collective security because it only provoked Germany and Japan to continue with their actions.

Homework 3

Discuss a political cause of WWII that could be related to the reading.

• A political cause of WWII could be the Anti-Comintern pact of 1936. The pact was a response to the growing threat of communism in the middle-east. This pact also solidified Germany and Japans alliance, a growing threat already.
  

Discuss an economic cause of WWII that could be related the the reading. 

•  An economic cause was the trade ban issue against Japan after the Japanese invasion of China. This was a huge blow to Japan's economy.
  

Discuss an ideological cause of WWII that could be related to the reading. 

• An ideological cause of WWII was the different types of governments believing theirs was right. It is demonstrated in the Anti-Comintern Pact and the call for a Communist revolution.
  

Answer question A from Chapter 8. 

• The country being represented by the black sun is Japan
• The dark clouds could be a representation of the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, with the clouds being Japan.
• The cartoonist could be trying to say that the Japanese invasion was ominous, that it was a bad thing it was a bad thing in the world. Or something along those lines.
  

Answer question B from Chapter 8. 

• I cant even see the picture. It's too dark...
• They were immigrating somewhere else so that they didn't have the Japanese all up in their grill.
• ahah. :D
  

Causes of World War II - Paper 2

 World War Two began in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. Great Britain and France, who had alliances with Poland, declared war almost immediately after the invasion. The argument most historians make is that World War II was caused by Germany’s actions after world war one. But the actual cause of the Second World War was the failures of the League of Nations and the attempts at Collective security. Germany’s actions do tie in to the failures, but they are not the main cause.
    The League of Nations was a failure from the beginning. One of the greatest failures of the league was that the main world powers were never apart of the league at the same time. In fact, one of the greatest weaknesses of this was that the US never joined, despite the idea coming from Woodrow Wilson. The US’s non-involvement would prove to be a large factor in the cause of world war two when the Ethiopian crisis occurred.  The League of Nations did not permit Germany to enter until 1926. Seven years later Germany would leave the league so that Hitler could continue his work at Lebensraum. The USSR would join in 1934, and would remain in for the rest of the League’s life. In 1935 Italy left to invade Ethiopia. The League of Nations never could have promoted Collective Security if there was never a chance for the world’s main powers to work collectively to resolve domestic and international issues.
    There was another failure in the League of Nations that would prevent Collective Security. There was a perception by the members of the League that it was run by Great Britain and France. This perception was justified because it seemed as if France and Great Britain were the strongest members in the league, were the first to join, and never left. However, though the perception is that these two countries dominated over the others in the League, it is not completely true, and it would have made no difference even if they did. It would be a good thing and a bad thing that they ran the league. It would be good because they were the strongest world powers involved (the US was a rival for their standing in the world, but not apart of the league). It would be bad because the other countries would feel cheated. Realistically speaking, France and Great Britain were the strongest in the league, but not strong enough to put the League’s aims in action. Because of the World Economic Crisis of 1929 GB and France couldn't afford to send armies or rebuild the armies for Peacemaking in the League of Nations. They were also a lack of will to enforce the attempts made because of their current economic standing, thus the attempts at Collective Security failed.
    World War II probably could have been prevented if the League of Nations had all of the World Powers. There would have been more support to enforce collective security, and there wouldn’t be the perception that two countries were dominating over the others.
    In 1935 Mussolini left the League of Nations. There was an incident at the natural borderline set up by Italy and Ethiopia, known as the Welwel, where Italian and Ethiopian soldiers got into a turf battle. This small fight went against the 1928 pact made between Mussolini and Haile Sellassie (emperor of Ethiopia) to remain neutral. Mussolini used this incident to accuse Ethiopia of being aggressive and in turn to invade the country. Mussolini did invade in October of 1935. Upon being invaded The Emperor of Ethiopia went to the League of Nations for support. The League of Nations set up economic sanctions on Italy, but they were not effective until six months after fighting began in Ethiopia. These sanctions were a good attempt, but unfortunately for Ethiopia, not enough. The League sanctioned nearly everything except oil, one of two things that could have stopped the invasion from being as devastating as it was. The US was Italy’s main supplier of oil, and because they were not apart of the League of Nations, a sanction of oil would have been ineffective. Great Britain could have prevented the invasion as well if they had closed the Suez canal to Italian ships, but due to a lack of will to enforce collective security, the Italian invasion of Ethiopia was a success for Italy, and Germany as well, for Germany and Mussolini were strongly allied at this point of time.
    Through all these failed attempts by the League of Nations, Germany was rebuilding her forces and doing her own bit of invading herself. As was her ally, Japan. The League of Nations used appeasement to promote peace-making. It was the worst choice the League could have made. Appeasement was giving Germany (and Japan when she invaded Manchuria in 1936) the “OK” to go against treaties made. One of the greatest failures of the League of Nations that would be a main cause of World War II was the lack of will to enforce the Treaty of Versailles. Germany was unhappy with these conditions, they felt they were too harshly treated in the treaty, and therefore sought to abolish it. They retook the Rhineland and made it a military zone once again. If the League of Nations had sent any number of troops into the Rhine to stop Hitler, they would have been able to. Hitler was gambling. He only sent a small number of soldiers into the Rhine to test the League. They would have been forced to retreat if any number of French or British troops had gone in, but no troops were sent to stop Germany.
    This sort of peacemaking by allowing Germany to break treaties was not just a one time deal.  In fact, the League of Nations let Hitler get away with everything they did except for the invasion of Poland. Germany was able to rebuild her army and navy, even though the Treaty of Versailles clearly stated that Germany could have only six naval ships, no tanks, no air force, and no submarines. Germany had all four by the start of World War II.
    There is an argument made that states that Germany would have done these things anyway even if Britain and France and the League didn’t use appeasement. They would have, yes, but they would have failed. No way would they have been able to take the Rhineland if the League intervened. It was preventable. The invasion of Poland was preventable, too. All the League had to do was enforce a treaty and Germany would not have been able to rearm and rebuild and invade countries for land. They would not have been able to invade Poland, and the declarations of war from Great Britain and France would not have been issued.
    The League of Nations was weak. There were solid attempts made to promote Collective Security, and some did in fact succeed, but these successes were outnumbered by the failures. The League of Nations could have prevented World War II if they had the main world powers involved, if they had the will to enforce the attempts made, and if they did not allow Germany and Japan to invade and take over countries and break agreements from the treaty of the first world war. The League of Nations wanted to prevent another war, but they were unable to do so because of its own failures at Peacemaking after World War One.

The League of Nations and Causes of WWII

The aim of the league of nations was to promote collective security and prevent another world war.

Failures of the League

• Main world powers never were in the league at the same time.
• the US never joined, even though it was Wilson who suggested the idea
• Germany wasn't able to join until 1926, and then left in 1933.
• the USSR didn' join until 1934
• Italy left in 1935
• Perception that it was "run by" Great Britain and France. (Victors of WWI)
• France and GB made mandates out of the Middle East
• Took away colonies from Germany in Africa and the Pacific

Long and Short Terms Causes of WWII

• World Wide Economic Crisis 1929
• US Stock Market collapses, US cuts off loans to Germany.
• Crisis spreads to Europe and Asia.
• Countries began focusing on domestic issues rather than foreign policy.
• Lack of will to enforce collective security.
• GB and France couldn't afford to send armies or rebuild the armies for Peacemaking in the League of Nations.
• Treaty of Versailles - regain territories and restore German pride
• League of Nations
• Japan invades Manchuria in 1931
• Some consider this the start of WWII
• in the late 20s and 30s military takes control of the Japanese Government
• Japanese exports shrink
• silk trade goes down
• hurts Japanese farmers
• Chinese squeeze out some Japanese Business
• 1931 the Army invades Manchuria without Governments Permission
• Japanese PM objects and is assassinated
• PM, who was friendly to the army, was put into office.
• Washington Naval Conference 1921-1922
• USA and Japan (and Great Britain) have conflicting economic interests in Asia.
• Fight over who would get control over raw materials
• Japanese ideology in the 1930s was "Asians for the Asians
• The purpose of the Naval Conference was to improve relations between Japan and the USA (and Great Britain)
• The conference wanted to prevent another Naval Race
• Agreement: The Japanese Navy would be 3/5 the size of US and British Navies.
• Great Britain and the USA promise not to build any more Navy bases within striking distance of Japan. Bases already set up in the Philippines and Guam would remain.
• US, France, Great Britain, and Japan agree to the Neutrality of China
• German Invasion of Poland - 1939
• Immediate cause of World War II.
• Germany invades Poland, expecting Britain and France to remain passive.
• Upon invading Poland, Britain and France declare war almost immediately.
• Italian Invasion of Ethiopia
• Mussolini and Haile Selassie signed a pact to remain non-aggressive.
• Mussolini breaks the pact after accusing Ethiopia of aggression after a class at Wal Wal.
• The League of Nations attempted to impose economic sanctions on Italy. This attempt took six weeks before it started working, but even then it wasn't enough. There was a  sanction on goods like steel and gold, but a sanction on oil could have halted the invasion immediately.
• The League could not stop the invasion, mainly because the US was not apart of the LoN.
• This invasion was a blow to the attempts at peacemaking in the 1930s, and would be a factor in war.

Paper 2

Question :
Evaluate the successes and failures of one single-party state.

    Adolf Hitler led his country for about thirteen to fifteen years. During his rule he made his aims very clear and specific. Though some historians may argue that Hitler's aims were unspecific and unsuccessful, there are many reasons to support that Hitler's rule was in fact mostly successful.
    Hitler wanted the world to think he only wanted peace. He knew the other countries looked down upon his country, and in order to gain a place in the world he knew he had to make them believe his intentions to be good. One of the ways he did this was through making alliances with other countries, including Poland, Russia, and Italy.
    In 1934 Hitler signed a Ten Year Non Aggression Pact with Poland. He did this because he knew the Poles and her allies were afraid that Germany would soon start to try and take back the German parts of the country. In order to make the Eastern world calm down, Hitler knew what he had to do. He agreed to not go to war with Poland or to have any sort of quarrel for ten years. This was definitely one of Hitler's greatest successes at the time. Britain took this pact as further evidence of his peaceful intentions, it ruined the French's Little Entente_{, which was mostly dependent on Poland, and it guaranteed Poland neutrality when Germany made actions against Austria and Czechoslovakia.} Though this pact would end up broken in five years due to Germany's invasion, it can still be considered a success when it was first made. This pact made it possible in those five years for Hitler to continue building his military, navy, and country.
    The Saar was returned to Germany (January 1935) after a plebiscite resulting in a 90% vote in favour. Though the plebiscite had been provided for at Versailles, Nazi propaganda made the most of the success, and Hitler announced that now all causes of grievance between France and Germany had been removed.
    After World War One, Hitler and the rest of Germany believed they were mistreated in the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler took advantages of these negative feelings towards the treaty and made it a public aim to abolish the treaty.
    Hitler’s first successful breach of Versailles came in March 1935 when he announced the reintroduction of a draft. His excuse was that Britain had just announced air force increases and France had extended their draft from 12 to 18 months (their justification was German rearmament). Much to their dismay, Hitler told his startled generals and the rest of the world that he would build up his peacetime army to 36 divisions (about 600,000 men). The generals need not have worried: although the Stresa Front (a planned alliance between France, Britain and Italy) condemned this violation of Versailles, no action was taken, the League was helpless, and the Front collapsed anyway as a result of Hitler’s next success, the militarising of the Rhineland.
    The treaty of Versailles called for the demilitarization of the Rhineland. This was dangerous for Germans to not have a defense in place if France chose to invade through the Rhine. Hitler aimed to remilitiraize as soon as he could.
    He took the opportunity in March of 1936. He sent a small army, small enough that if Britain or France reacted to the illegal action, Germany would have to retreat and suffer the consequences. Britain was completely unprepared to take any action. France would not do anything without British support, and Germany was backed up by Mussolini. Germany was able to militarize the Rhineland due to his decision to gamble. Historians argue that it was the conditions in the other countries that made this successful. But the fact of the matter is, the world knew it was going to happen. It was anticipated for years, the only question was when Germany would act. Hitler took the chance when he saw the opening.
    Hitler allied himself with Mussolini when Italy invaded Ethiopia. This alliance would make German militarization of the Rhine more possible. If France had in fact acted, Germany would have had the support from Mussolini to succeed anyway. Hitler's choice to ally with Italy during the invasion of Ethiopia was looked down upon in the world, but it was a success of Hitler in the end.
    Hitler and Mussolini made the alliance more concrete with the Rome - Berlin Axis. Japan and Germany also made an alliance at the same time, known as the Anti-Comintern pact that Italy would later join. Hitler's aim to ally himself with other countries succeeded.
    Germany had many foreign policy aims. These aims were almost all successful at first, but due to poor planning the successes became failures. It is argued that because they became failures they were not at all successful. But when looked at with the time they were made and the immediate effect the aims had, they were successful. Germany also had many domestic policies that lasted throughout Hitler's rule.
    The aims included Hitler Youth, the Law for the Enforcement of Marriage, the Hitler schools, improved work situations, and more. These all lasted throughout his rule and were supported by the country. The only reason why these aims would eventually fail was because of Germany's surrender in World War II.
    Whatever the truth about his long-term intentions, Hitler began his foreign policy with a series of brilliant successes (one of the main reasons for his popularity in Germany). By the end of 1938 almost every one of Hitler’s aims had been achieved, without war and with the approval of Britain. Only the Germans of Poland remained to be brought within the Reich. Unfortunately, it was when he failed to achieve this by peaceful means that Hitler took his fateful decision to invade Poland. His domestic policies were also succeeding, but it would be Hitler's fatal mistake of invading Poland that would bring about his failure.

Hitler's Foreign Policy - Incomplete Notes

Foreign Policy Aims

• Destroy the Treaty of Versailles
• Unite German-Speaking People
• Take back the Rhineland as a militarized zone
• Expand into Poland and Russia (Lebensraum)
• Make Alliances/Agreements with Great Brittian and Franc (as well as others) to set the stage for expansion. His aim was to remilitarize the country to create fear in his enemies. Great Britain and France were expected to be reluctant for a repeat of WWI so Hitler hoped they would be ready to compromise.
• Non-Aggression-Pact with Poland (1934). This was more of a tactical move. It lasted 5 years out of the 10.
• Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact (1939)
• Munich Agreement (1938)
• Rome-Berlin Axis (1936) Mussolini - Hitler
  
• "The Pact of Steel" 1939 ~ These agreements were to stop the spread of communism in Europe. Mussolini - Hitler
  

F~Fear tactic used to compromise / set stage for expansion into Poland and Russia.
O~
R~ (the) Rhineland was demilitarized due to the Versailles Treaty. Hitler's aim was to reestablish a strong military and return the Rhineland into a militarized zone.
E~
I~
G~ Great Brittain was reluctant to go to war and repeat World War One, thus Hitler took advantage of the situation to attempt compromise.
N~ Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

P~ Poland and Germany signed a non-agression pact. This was a tactic Hitler used to achieve his aims.
O~
L~ Lebensraum was an aim of Hitler's. He aimed to move into Poland and Russia and expand the country.
I~
C~ Czechoslovakia contained a German minority in the Sudentan Land. Hitler's used this minority to take control over the country by encouraging Germans in the Sudentanland to demonstrate against the Chzech government.
Y~

Appeasement was a policy (established by Chamberlin) of giving into Hitler’s reasonable demands in order to prevent war.

Nazi Domestic Policies

Nazi Domestic Policies

• Law for the Encouragement of Marriage - Established in 1933 - Newly married couples were given 1000 marks. 250 marks were taken off the loan for each child that the couple produced.
  
• Order Castles -  - Type of schooling after age 14.. Reserved for the best in Hitler's schools. At these schools they stretched children's endurance limits. Forced to wake up in the middle of the night during winter season to do exercises.
• Children, Church and Cooking ( Kinder Kuche Kirche ) - - Women could only have children. August a motherhood award was given to mothers with a lot of children. Government set up homes for unmarried mothers. Church was excluded from life. 
  

• Hitler Youth - 1934 - Indoctrination of the youth. 8,000,000 Germans belonged to Hitler's youth. Propaganda to ensure that people would follow Hitler's uprising. Physically and psychologically torturous. 
• Hitler Schools - 1937 -

• Lebensborn - 1939 - Increased the birth rate. Set up homes for unmarried mothers. 8,000 children were born in these homes.
• National Reich Church - 1936 - Preached Mein Kampf.
• National Labour Service - 1933 - Decreased unemploymenet.

• Rearmament - ~ - Made more jobs available. 
• Compulsory military service - 1935 - Draft. More jobs made available.
  
• German  Labour Front- 1933 - After abolition of unions. Make shift union. made improvements, strongly government ruled.
  

The Silence ~ Journal Entry

19 November 1941
There’s water dripping from the pipes. Drip. Drip. Drip. It’s almost unbearable in this silence; the silence after death is beyond my tolerance. Yet I stand in it everyday.

But they deserve it. This is just their punishment for all they’ve done; done is their punishment. So why do I have to be punished, too? I am doing the right thing. I’ll be thanked one day. Perhaps when the Fuhrer makes his visits he’ll recognize my efforts and I’ll be rewarded. Maybe. I said this last month when the Fuhrer was making rounds through the camps.

There’s a knock at the door; Bang. Again; Bang. And once more; Bang. Three knocks and the door swings open. I salute the soldier standing before me. He speaks softly, hesitantly. “Number 93182.” I’m happy to hear the silence break. I reply to back to a him; there’s a smile on my face. He goes off; He must think I’m smiling to kill again. I’m smiling because I’m relieved to hear something other than ~ Drip. Drip. Drip. There it goes again, but this time I’m unaffected.

I can hear things now. I hear screaming from somewhere in the camp. I hear other soldiers laughing and yelling. They’re drunken in the kitchens. I wonder what they’re all thinking right now, or any other moment of the day.

Bang. Bang. Bang. He’s back. The door opens to reveal the soldier. He walks in, dragging someone by their arms inside. Their face is covered by a bag. We salute, the soldier and I do. He speaks. This time his voice is harsh and controlling. “Number 93182.” He throws the number in my direction and leaves.

That’s all they are to me; numbers. I look at this number and wonder who they are and where they came from. I have these questions every time a new number enters my “office.” I never inquire, for their answers are unimportant. They’re an enemy of the state, and that’s all that matters. I walk over to the number and bring them to the chair; I have to force them to sit down. I remove the bag covering their face, as I do every time.

His eyes stare at me in horror. They’re blue and filling with tears. He can’t be more than seventeen years old. He’s different than the others. He looks like one of…one of us. I want to ask what he’s done, but I do not. His answer is still unimportant. He’s here because he has done wrong, why else? He’s here to be punished.

I remove my gun from my holster and check it to make sure it’s loaded. One shot left. I raise my arm and take aim at his head. The center of his two eyes; it will be an instant kill.

My finger’s on the trigger, I’m about to pull. He speaks softly and chokes on his words. “Please don’t shoot me.” I hesitate to pull now. I hate when they beg. It only makes them seem lower in my eyes. As if that were possible. I know we are better, and they know it, too. Begging only makes them worse.

I regain my composure and the trigger’s pulled. The solider from before comes in with another and remove then number. The door closes and I sit down in my chair.
Drip. Drip. Drip.

The silence after murder is beyond my tolerance.

The Road To Dictatorship - Work Section A-C

A.
Chancellor - Prime Minister
Reichstag - The Parliament
Enabling Law - A law that gave Hitler unlimited power, ability to bypass the Reichstag.
One Party State - A state in which a single party that rules everything.
Gauleiters - District leaders.
Block Leaders - A leader in charge in one group of houses/flatts/block.

B.
March 23 - The Reichstag agrees to the Enabling Law.
April 7 - Nazi officials took charge of local governments.
May 2 - Closed trade unions, prisoned the leaders.
July 14 - Law Agaisnst the Formation of New Parties initiated.
June 30 - Arrested, imprisioned and shot Roehm and other SA leaders. Killed 400 more people in the next few days.
August 2 - Because Fuegrer and Reich Chancellor.

C.
1) Enabling Law, Formation of New Parties.
2) Freedoms were taken away. People were unjustly imprisoned, chained, tortured, exectued, etc.

NSDAP 25 Points

bolded points were done in group.
non-bolded points were added during class discussion.
 
Aims of the NSDAP

• *Unify Germany - Pure Aryan Race
• *Militarism - Regain military strength. Abolish mercenary troops, establish National Army.
• Abolish rent-slavery (working without wages)
• *Abolish the Treaty of Versailles 
• Control the Media
• Change German education
• Regain lost territories (Poland, AlsaceLorraine, Rhineland)
  

Examples of Ideology

• Equal citizen's rights. Citizens were demanded to be of the Pure Aryan decent. Women were allowed to be citizens.
• The Nazi's were very Nationalistic. 
• The NSDAP believed other religions were allowed to be practiced, so long as the other religions didn't contradict or oppose the NSDAP.
• Lebensraum. 
  

Question

• The Nazi's wanted to control education; they wanted to make it better and more effective. What were the Geramn's being educated on before the NSDAP took over, and what did they want to add to the program or change?
• Answer?
  

Hitler's Rise to Power

Analyze the methods used and the conditions which helped in the rise to power of one ruler of a single-party state. Adolf Hitler - Germany.


Adolf Hitler's rise to power took 4 years. He began his rise in 1919 and by 1933 he was leader of Nazi Germany. There were many reasons that this happened. The main reason that Hitler rose to power was because of the economic and social conditions that were taking place in these four years.

The rise to power all began in September of 1919. On September 12, 1919 Hitler attentended one of the meetings for the German Workers' Party which was held in the back room of a Munich beer hall. At this time in his life, Adolf Hitler was a corporal. He was dressed in civilian's clothing, even though he was not a normal civilian. He was among 25 other members. Hitler listened to a speech on the economic conditions, and then proceeded to leave until another man spoke out about how he thought that the German state of Bavaria was making a good choice to breakaway from Germany. This outraged Hitler because he had strong nationalistic beliefs for the country. After speaking out against this man's judgement Hitler was accepted into the Workers' Party because he had "a gift." In his speeches Hitler railed against the Treaty of Versailles and delivered anti-Semitic tirades, blaming the Jews for Germany's problems. Attendance slowly increased, numbering in the hundreds. Hitler took charge of party propaganda in early 1920, and also recruited young men he had known in the Army. He was aided in his recruiting efforts by Army Captain Ernst Rohm, a new party member, who would play a vital role in Hitler's eventual rise to power. In Munich, there were many alienated, maladjusted soldiers and ex-soldiers with a thirst for adventure and a distaste for the peace brought on by the Treaty of Versailles and the resulting democratic republic. They joined the German Workers' Party in growing numbers. The members of the Workers' Party were moved greatly by what Hitler said in his speeches. The social conditions of the Treaty of Versailles, and the ideas of anti-sematism gained Hitler the support he needed to continue his rise. In February of 1920, one of the greatest breakthroughs of Hitler's rise to power took place. On February 24, Hitler entered the Munich Beer Hall to find two thousand people waiting for him. He had only spoken for a few minutes before brawling began between the Workers' Party and the Communists who had also attended. Eventually the shouting turned into applause because of Hitler's moving words on the country. He outlined the twenty five points of the German Workers' Party, its political platform, which included; the union of all Germans in a greater German Reich, rejection of the Treaty of Versailles, the demand for additional territories for the German people (Lebensraum), citizenship determined by race with no Jew to be considered a German, all income not earned by work to be confiscated, a thorough reconstruction of the national education system, religious freedom except for religions which endanger the German race, and a strong central government for the execution of effective legislation. After nearly five-hours of speech the meeting adjourned and the members left the hall. Hitler decided that there was not enough of a "movement" in the members, for he felt it lacked something. He created the symbol that would eventully be the Nazi symbol, the swastika. Previously, the swastika had appeared as the symbol for other anti-sematic parties, so Hitler added a white circle. He said that "In the red we see the social idea of the movement, in the white the national idea, in the swastika the mission to struggle for the victory of Aryan man and at the same time the victory of the idea of creative work, which is eternally anti-Semitic and will always be anti-Semitic." This symbol and description fed to the social ideologies of the time and German people, thus putting Hitler in a brighter light and gaining him more supporters. Hitler changed the name of the Worker's Party to the National Socialist German Workers' Party, Nazi for short. He would eventually be named party leader with 543 votes to 1. Hitler had the support of his entire party by this point. He was certainly on his way. This support was a result of how Hitler fed the anti-semitic beliefs of the people, the nationalistic views, the hatred for the Versailles treaty, and the idea that the Workers were not being treated fairly.

In 1921 a bill was issued to Germany that gave the Nazis an oppurtunity to make their move and gain more support. France and Germany demanded 33 billion dollars from Germany for damages done due to World War I. The German mark fell to 18,000 to the dollar. By July 1923, it sank to 160,000. By August, 1,000,000. And by November 1923, it took 4,000,000,000 marks to obtain a dollar. Germans lost their life savings, salaries were paid in worthless money groceries cost billions, and hunger riots broke out. The Nazis used this event and time to speak out against the democratic government. By November they had over 55,000 supporters. Hitler and the Nazis devised a plan in which they would kidnap the leaders of the Bavarian government and force them at gunpoint to accept Hitler as their leader. Then, with the aid of famous World War One General, Erich Ludendorff, they would win over the German Army, proclaim a nationwide revolt and bring down the German democratic government in Berlin.This plan was put into action once the Nazis learned there was going to be a large gathering of businessmen in a Munich beer hall and the guests of honor were scheduled to be the Bavarian leaders. On November 8, 1923, SA troops under the direction of Hermann Goring surrounded the hall. At 8:30 p.m., Hitler and his storm troopers burst into the beer hall causing instant panic. Hitler shouted about the takeover of government buildings and army barracks that had actually not worked, but Hitler was unaware. When word of the failed attempts Hitler left the beer hall. General Ludendorff advised Hitler it would be effective for him to march straight into Munich and take over. This coup d'tat failed and Hitler was arrested on treason. But his arrest was one of the greatest things that happened to the Nazi Party.

The trial of Adolf Hitler for treason after the Beer Hall Putsch was not the end of Hitler's political career as many had expected. In many ways marked the true beginning. His trial went on for 24 days. At the end he was found guilty with a possible life sentence. But he was only given one year, in fact the presiding judge has to presuade the other three judges to find Hitler guilty at all. Hitler used the trial as a platform to let known the Nazi beliefs. His trial was public and word was spread throughout Germany. The country had heard what they needed to. The Nazi revolution was not over. The Nazi Party after the Putsch became fragmented and disorganized, but Hitler had gained national influence by taking advantage of the press to make his ideas known. Now, although behind bars, Hitler was not about to stop communicating.

While in prison, Hitler paced back and forth through his "spacious" cell rambling on and on about his ideas. They were recorded and published in the first volume of a book known as Mein Kampf. In Mein Kampf Hitler divides humans into categories based on their physical appearances. The categories went in a list. At the top are men with his fair skin, blond hair and blue eyes, Germans. Hitler refers to this type of person as an Aryan. Hitler then says that the Aryan race is the master race. He also blames the Jews for the conditions of Germany, he calls them parasites to the country, he promotes Lebanarsum, etc. Basically this book contained all of the Nazi beliefs and ideologies that catered to the people's. But this book didn't sell as greatly as Hitler would have liked. It wasn't until Hitler was personally appointed as Chancelor by President Hadenburg that the book sold and gained Hilter more support.

The years 1926-1929 were known by Hitler as the quiet years. It wasn't until October 29 that things started again. The Wall Street stock market crashed with worldwide effects. First in America and  then the rest of the world, companies went bankrupt, banks failed and people instantly lost their life savings. Unemployment soon soared and poverty and starvation became real possibilities for everyone.
The people panicked. Governments seemed powerless against the worldwide economic collapse. Fear ruled. Governments stood on the brink. The Great Depression had begun. Hitler acted then.

NOT DONE.

Notes and HW 10

• "There is no compassion for traitors. There is no mercy for traitors."
• "You'll see men, I'll be proved right."
• Hermann (Eva Brauhn's sister's husband) was executed because he had worked with Himmler. Eva begs the Fuher to keep him alive, but Hitler orders his execution anyways. When the soldiers order him to stop, Hermann turns around and realises what is to happen, so he buttons his jacket and Heils Hitler as he is shot dead. Hitler's men were faithful to him to their very end. This is an example of Hitler's totalitarian government.
• Hitler marries Eva Brauhn on his final days. He's asked if he is of pure Aryan decent and then is asked for ID. "You're talking to the Fuher."
• Marriage laws: in order to be wed, the two parties must have been of pure Aryan decent. This was a legal method that Hitler used.
• Nuremberg laws were a legal discrimination of Jewish people. Treatment of other religions.
  
• "I will never surrender, never...I forbid you to surrender."
• Upon Hitler's death the new government begins peace negotiations, despite the orders Hitler gave. Geobbels wishes to stand by this order, he seems to be the only one who does.
• Everyone is committing suicide as the hours come to an end. Geobbels' wife kills  her children.
• Eva Brauhn's sister tries to leave Berlin.
• An immediate ceasefire is ordered to stop the civilian's suffering, and the suffering of those wounded in battle.

Notes and HW 9

• "What I am proud of is that I openly confronted the Jews and clensed German lands of Jewish poison." -Hitler. One of Hitler's aims was to clense his country of impurities, and as Hitler displays here, he has done just that.
• Another aim was to glorify the military and rebuild German strength in the world. They believed that in order to do so (they being the Nazis) they would have to make their army as strong as possible.
• The ideology of social darwinism is re-touched upon in this segment of the movie. Hitler says "life never forgives weakness." 
• Hitler tells those who have joined him for dinner that he never permits himself to feel compassion. This is how Hitler says he ruled...but I can clearly see Hitler showing compassion. When he told those two people (for the life of me I cannot remember their names) that they are to board the next flight out the country, they tell him that they have decided to die in Berlin along side him. He tells them in turn that their loyalties are much appreciated, but still wishes them to get on the flight any how.

Notes and HW 8

• Civilians left on their own. Laying next to dead bodies.
• When Hitler is informed that Steiner's plan wasn't in effect due to Steiner's failure to mobilze enough men, he goes into an outrage. "The military has been lying to me." They have no honor. 
• Ideology: He thinks that he should have liquidated the high ranked soldiers "as Stalin did!"
• Hitler admits his defeat. Though he has done this, some of his men still wish to follow the oath they have made to the Fuher. Some wish to leave. Hitler's orders were to not surrender, and those who are still wishing to stay and fight say "We won't repeat November 1918."
  
• Hitler tells the woman of the flight they are to board, but they tell their Fuher that they wish to stay.
• Aims of the regime: Conquer Europe.

Notes and HW 7

"Hitler Youth" - Organization where Hitler trained boys from the age of 7. Shows Hitler's control over education. Young kids brainwashed.
"I'm proud of you all."
"And when Germania rises up from these ashes, you'll be the heroes."

Ideology, the Nazi's were Social Darwinist. Hitler says that the people have proven themselves too weak, their primitive survival needs are not the concern. Survival of the Fittest.

HW 6

Connections From Film To Topic Three Themes. List Four.

1. Totalitarianism: the aim and the extent to which it was achieved.
-Hitler had complete control over what went on in his Nazi Germany. People under him didn't wish Hitler to follow through with his plan to evacuate Berlin, but have him stay. Trying to convince to do otherwise was useless. Hitler had made up his mind. His country, his rules. He was still venerated by his Nazi soldiers, displayed by their Hail when he walks into the room, despite most of them talking behind his back.

2. Form of government, (left and right-wing) ideology.
- When Berlin was about to be invaded and destroyed, Hitler's view was "Well now we can rebuild it." or something along those lines. His government was Totalitarian.

3. Nature extent and treatment of opposition.
-Opposing Hitler was treason, punishable by law. Treason is brought up in the movie when one of the guys, I forget his name, talks about going to the Allies to talk. Also, when Hitler's men are talking in the room before his birthday, none of them have influence over him except one man. Hitler didn't view most of these men as equals.

4. Status of women, treatment of religious groups and minorities.
-Women were working for Hitler as his recorders(?) when he dictated messages. Women also are seen wearing army uniforms, talking about defending the country. They were soldiers in the army during WWII. This was not seen very often.

HW 5

The move "Downfall" is a 2005 German film. It was produced by Germans in Germany, as well as directed by them. They based this film off of the first hand accounts from Nazis and Germans. (There is a difference!) These accounts are from people who were with Hitler in his final days. These days were pretty much his final 12. There are transcripts from Nuremberg war Crimes and Trials portrayed in the movie. A man named Traudl Junge, secretary to Hitler, compiled a diary that became the movie's key source. This film was one of the first German produced films on the subject, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

The purpose of the film was to capture the entire Nazi experience of the last days of Hitler's life in one movie. The idea was to make it as real as possible. They wanted to accurately and truth of Hitler's regime.