¶ … First World War were felt far and wide. These effects were difficult on everyone as both the victors and losers of the war both suffered. Germany, who mady blamed for initiating the War, may have felt the most acute effects. Germany lost a large percentage of its available workforce as the result of the work and, as a result, they were hard pressed to rebuild their struggling economy.
Hard economic times are an advantageous time for new and radical political ideologies to emerge. Therefore, Germany, suffering from deprivation and devastation following the First World War, was fertile ground for political change. Hitler and his Nazi party, founded on the philosophy of fascism, used the situation to advance their political agenda and in the form of the German people they found vulnerable victims.
The philosophy underlying Fascism is based upon the ideas of one of Germany's most famous philosophers Nietzsche. Fascism attempts to politically activate the people against the actions of perceived oppressors or enemies and thereby create a unified state. For Hitler and his Nazi party finding possible oppressors to target was not difficult due to the economic conditions within Germany subsequent to the Treaty of Versailles.
The Treaty of Versailles was not kind to Germany. Not only was Germany forced to admit responsibility for starting the First World War it was also forced to pay lofty reparations to the victorious nations and limit the size of its army. The Nazis used these factors as propaganda in their rise to power.
Pinpointing the precise reason for the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany...
A variety of factors came to play but the fact that the Nazis were so well organized and well disciplined must be seen as an important advantage for them. These two factors instilled the masses of the German people a feeling of security and order that was desperately needed in the era subsequent to the war. Add in the fear of Communism that was taking over the continent of Europe following Lenin's rise to power in Russia and you have an environment ripe for radical change.
The Nazi party did not actually attain full power in Germany until 1933 but the foundation for their rise occurred much earlier. A forerunner to the Nazi party was actually founded in 1918 as the German Workers' Union. This party was a loose confederation of individuals who were strong nationalists and strong opponents of Bolsheviks and Jews. The party was on the verge of collapse following the end of the war when a young Adolph Hitler, by accident, stepped into the picture.
Somehow Hitler was able to transform a small party of approximately forty members into a dominant political force. Hitler's use of propaganda was largely the key to his success. Hitler understood that going to the people directly was the best way of getting his message out. Using small meetings in local taverns and restaurants, Hitler quickly made those attending feel like they were part of an important and powerful movement.
When Hitler first became a member of the German Workers' Union its political philosophy was not well formulated. As the party grew and became more popular, Hitler recognized the need for the party to more clearly set out its…
