Introduction
Hitler had an unexceptional political vocation in World War I. However, by the 1930s, he had turned out to be a powerful person in Germany. There is no specific factor that can be attributed to the rise of Hitler, but a variety of factors that happened either subsequently or concurrently. Investigators responded to queries concerning aspects that gave rise to Hitler’s regime in Germany. The Great Depression is observed as an overriding cause that gave rise to the fallen dictator, Hitler. The agreement made at Versailles was forced by allied authorities on Germany in which Germany was to bear weighty war damages. Joint authorities engraved their regions of control inside Germany by inhabiting particular provinces. The disappointment of Germany to recompense war damages from time to time led to armed battle. This paper discusses Adolf Hitler as an important leader that played a vital role in Germany during its time of need, especially during the Second World War.
Literature Review
Jews and Communists
Conventionally in Germany, Jews had been hated on the foundations of spiritual and cultural labeling. Jews assumed posts of authority in economic organizations such as reservoirs. They had a background and beliefs that were divergent from other Germans. The majority of Germans alleged that the Jews were more dedicated to their belief as opposed to the state. Judaism was perceived to be diverse and unfamiliar to the German religious conviction, which was Christianity (Braun, 1994). The loathing and prejudice to Jews had been an ingredient of German civilization. German logicians, spiritual developers, and musicians had dribbled at the Jews for their conduct, faith, and high-ranking posts. German civilization with its record of anti-Semitism was an ideal reproduction argument for Hitler’s sadistic information. The societal and financial circumstances of the 1930s offered a prolific position for the surfacing of Hitler. German folks were in a situation of disquiet and panic as regards the financial and societal inconveniences of the 1920s and 1930s. Hitler appeared to offer a response to each query as he promised to reinstate Germany to its magnificent precedent. As adversity augmented after the Great Depression, Hitler’s sermon was listened to by scores of Germans who had no employment (Michael, 1987).
The feeble Weimar democracy was held responsible for the unfortunate situations of Germany as they had procured the Versailles accord. An additional scapegoat was that of socialism. German workforce that had initiated demonstrations was presumed to be the apparatus and instruments of the Soviet Union. The Communists were held responsible for several German’s financial troubles. Josephine Herbst correctly observed that Hitler had been victorious in offering the Germans the suggestion that “he hoarded the state and the entire of Europe from bolshevism” (Herbst, 1936). The philosopher further argues that the phrase bolshevism with a lot of utilization has started to misplace its spiky circumference.
German Capitalists
Influential entrepreneurs and industries backed Hitler since they apprehended a socialist conquest of Germany. The rustication of employees by Leninism was thought of as a danger to the influential entrepreneurs of Germany. These industrialists perceived Hitler as an influential collaborator who may perhaps restructure the German financial system and hoard it from socialism. Sutton posits that Hitler’s 1924 Munich tryout capitulated substantiation that the Nazi Party acknowledged $20,000 from Nuremberg entrepreneurs (Sutton, 2000). Monetary backing by the 1930s augmented to Hitler as numerous conferences were conducted between German industrialists. Sutton points out that “Hjalmar Sehaeht and Rudolf Hess” were key individuals who participated in meetings with German industrialists.
Most of the German industrialists who backed Hitler were “German multi-national firms” that according to Sutton was “built up by American loans in the 1920s.” European organizations like the Schneider group also played an important role in providing weapons to Hitler’s war machine. Sutton says that “A total of three million Reichmarks was pledged by well-known firms and businessmen” to warrant that Hitler would win the general election of 1933. The financial donations of German bankers and industrialists were followed by the deferment of constitutional rights and the consolidation of authority by the Nazi Party. Hitler’s high opinion for private assets was one of the chief motives why German industrialists and businesses gave support to the Nazi party. Hitler’s public speaking and demagoguery also stimulated assurance and hope in the German commerce sector that capitalism would be endorsed and the economic problems of Germany would be cracked (Braun, 1994).
Methodology
This study utilized qualitative research methods in which information that does not contain any numerical data was collected from the study sample. The sample of the study comprised of individuals that had less than 30 years of age. The reason for this selection of the sample was to ensure that respondents were well informed because they will have finished college or be exposed much more to world issues than younger persons. Data was collected using questionnaire interviews from 68 respondents. Specific questions that were important to my study topic were developed and then used to capture data from respondents that had so far been identified. For simplicity of data analysis, the research questions were designed to inform of multiple-choice, and respondents were asked to choose one from a list. This survey form for data capture was distributed and collected electronically by sending a blank copy to all the respondents who have been identified. The device used to distribute the electronic survey form was a Blackberry cell phone. While conducting the research, the researcher encountered various issues that included non-responsiveness by the respondents where some of the questions were not answered in the forms thereby interfering with the outcome of the study (Bergman, 1999).
Results and Discussion
The first questions intended to measure the respondent’s general perception and opinion regarding Hitler who was the subject of the research study. In this instance majority of the people surveyed, at 54% responded by saying that Hitler was a genius, while the least 20% answered that he was crazy; only 32% indicated that Hitler was misunderstood. This implies that majority of the respondents; as much as 80% must have approved of Hitler’s actions since it is only 20% who think he was crazy. The rest have chosen to describe him favorably as a genius and as someone who was misunderstood, probably to mean misjudged.
The second question asked respondents if Hitler should be forgotten; to this 88% answers no while only 10% says yes. This is expected and is consistent with the answers provided in question 1; because the majority of the respondents think that Hitler was a genius, it is then not surprising to see the results showing the same respondents say they don’t want him forgotten.
The third question asked the respondents their thinking regarding whether Hitler should be a role model, and as expected and consistent with the previous answers 65% of them said yes while 35% answered no. This makes sense when you consider that if the majority of the respondents think Hitler is a genius and should be remembered, then they will also want him to be a role model (Bock, 1983). The fourth question asked the respondents to give their views on whether Hitler’s actions were good or bad; the majority of them, 48% said yes while the rest were split between saying no and not sure. This is also consistent with the previous feedbacks. Finally, the study asked respondents to list their sources of information regarding Hitler, and the majority at 60% identifies media; this is expected since media is the most common among many people.
Conclusion
Many reasons contributed to the rise of Hitler. The flaws of the Weimar Republic were the main factors that helped Hitler to ascend to power. Hitler was a brilliant orator and demagogue who stirred hope and expectation amongst the German masses. The Great Depression had forced the German citizens to lose their posts. Impoverished and frustrated by the economic and social conditions of Germany, they were prepared to listen to anyone who would resolve their problems. The Nazis formed propaganda in which they blamed the Jews, communists, social democrats, and socialists for having caused German problems. The Jews were perceived as powerful people who had ruined the economy of Germany. The Communists were alleged to be an invention of Jews who wanted to tear down the German industry. In conclusion, it can be said that the great depression was the main reason that endorsed Hitler to become Chancellor of Germany. It is exceedingly doubtful that Hitler would have risen to power if the Great Depression had not taken place.
References
Herbst, J. (1936). The German underground war. Web.
Bergman, J. (1999). Darwinism and the Nazi race holocaust. Creation Nihilo Technical Journal, 13(2), 101-111.
Bock, G. (1983). Racism and sexism in Nazi Germany: Motherhood, compulsory sterilization, and the state. Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 8(3), 400-418.
Braun, R. (1994). The Holocaust and problems of historical representations. History and Theory, 33(2), 22-36.
Michael, R. (1987). Theological myth, Germany anti-Semitism and the Holocaust: The case of Martin Niemoeller. Holocaust Genocide Studies, 2(1), 105-122.
Sutton, A. (2000). Who Financed Adolf Hitler? Web.