Nazism
Objectives : Identify the core beliefs and values that shaped Nazi ideology.
Explain how Nazi ideology influenced policies and actions in Germany during Hitler’s rule.
Analyze how propaganda was used to spread and reinforce Nazi beliefs.
Evaluate the impact of Nazi ideology on different groups within German society, especially
Jews and other minorities.
Discuss the dangers of totalitarianism, racism, and propaganda in shaping political power.
- Adolf Hitler – background:
- Before WWI
- During the War
- His activism immediately after the end of the war
- His joining the “Nazionalist Party” as member number 7 in 1919
- His fast assumption of the leadership of the Party as of 1920
- The Beer Hall Putsch, also known as the Munich Putsch, was a failed coup d'état by Nazi
Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP) leader Adolf Hitler,
Generalquartiermeister Erich Ludendorff and other Kampfbund leaders in Munich,
Bavaria, on 8–9 November 1923, during the Weimar Republic.
- As a result of the failed putsch, Hitler was imprisoned for two years, from late 1923 till
1925, during which he wrote his book 'Mein Kampf’ or My Struggle
• Key Nazi beliefs contained in the 25-Point Programme:
• A strong Germany - the Treaty of Versailles should be abolished and all German-speaking people
united in one country.
• Führer - the idea that there should be a single leader with complete power rather than a
democracy.
• Social Darwinism - the idea that the Aryan race was superior and Jews were 'subhuman'.
• Autarky - the idea that Germany should be economically self-sufficient.
• That Germany was in danger - from communists and Jews, who had to be destroyed.
• Lebensraum - the need for 'living space' for the German nation to expand.
• The appeal of the Nazis:
• In the 1920s, the Nazis tried to appeal to a lot of different members of society. The 25-Point Programme
had policies that were:
• Socialist:
• farmers should be given their land
• pensions should improve
• public industries such as electricity and water should be owned by the state-
• Nationalist:
• all German-speaking people should be united in one country
• the Treaty of Versailles should be abolished
• there should be special laws for foreigners
• Fascist:
• focused on creating a strong central government
• government control of the newspapers and the media
• Ideology :
• Racial superiority: Belief in the supremacy of the "Aryan" race, particularly Germans as the
"master race" (Herrenvolk).
• Anti-Semitism: Hatred and scapegoating of Jews, blaming them for Germany’s problems
and viewing them as a threat to racial purity.
• Volksgemeinschaft ("People's Community"): Vision of a racially unified and hierarchically
organized national community, excluding Jews and other minorities.
• Führerprinzip ("Leader Principle"): Absolute loyalty to Adolf Hitler, who was seen as the
infallible leader with total authority.
• Militarism and expansionism: Promotion of aggressive nationalism, rearmament, and the
goal of expanding German territory (Lebensraum or "living space") in Eastern Europe.
• Anti-communism: Rejection of Marxism and communism, which Nazis associated with
Jews and viewed as a threat to the state.
• Anti-democracy: Opposition to liberal democracy and the Weimar Republic, favoring a
totalitarian, one-party state.
• Traditional gender roles: Emphasis on women as mothers and homemakers to preserve
racial purity and grow the Aryan population.
• Propaganda and censorship: Use of media, education, and culture to indoctrinate the
public and suppress dissent.
• State control over economy (but not socialism): Support for private property and business
under state supervision, rejecting both capitalism and Marxist socialism.
• https://
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• https://
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