THE N.S.D.A.P STORY NationalSozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei A bunch of arrogant thugs dabbing in Proletarian Primitivism |
In the beginning of 1918, a party called the Freier Ausschuss für einen
deutschen Arbeiterfrieden (Free Committee for a German Workers'
Peace) was created in Bremen, Germany. The berliner Anton Drexler,
locksmith and poet, formed a branch of this league on March 7, 1918, in
Munich. In 1919, Drexler, with Gottfried Feder, Dietrich Eckart and Karl
Harrer, changed its name to the Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (German Workers'
Party, abbreviated DAP).
After the Great War, Germany was bursting at the seams with political
committees more or less "stained" by Marxist penchants or/and impregnated
with " völkisch movements" ideas. In order to investigate the DAP, German
army intelligence officer Hauptmann Mayr sent Obergefreiter Adolf Hitler to
monitor the party activities. At the end of his first monitoring session, "der
Obergefreiter" Hitler was unimpressed and reported to his officer that the
movement had only a handful of members and was harmless. But he was
given by Drexler a brochure and spent some time in his bedroom reading it
and he changed his mind : he suddenly realized that the pamphlet was a
medley of his own political ideas.
In severe breach of democratic principles of neutrality
When he talked to Hpt. Mayr about his interest for the party, the latter and
Gal. Ludendorff, WWI hero, advised Adolf Hitler to join the organization in
order to report better about its activities. It was ordered in total breach of
German military tradition and Code of Honor that stipulated that no member
of the army would ever be member of a party. The army will live to regret this
breach to sound democratic principles. So Hitler joined the DAP, got a
member card #7 (according to Mein Kampf)(1) and very efficiently and swiftly
made his way to the summit. In February 1920, he proposed that the DAP be
renamed Social Revolutionary Party but to the insistence of Rudolf Jung,
Austrian author of Der Nationale Sozialismus, who had expressed the hope
that his book would play the same role for national socialism that Das Kapital
did for Marxian socialism, it was re-baptized National-Sozialistische Deutsche
Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP).
In December 1919, Hitler and Drexler wrote a National Socialist Program
containing 25 points or revendications of whom Hitler said that "it would
make look pale the 95 thesis of Wittemberg by Martin Luther." In August
1920, its first important meeting was hold under the theme "Why we
are against the Jews" and the Swastika cross was adopted as the emblem of
the party. The word Swastika comes from the Sanskrit language and means
"All is all." The meeting was a huge success and revealed Hitler -and
his muscular methods- to the German public.
| Hitler with Gal. Ludendorff who supported his attempted putsch of 1923 |
Supported by the SA of Ernst Roehm who had replaced
Hauptmann Mayr as Hitler commander, the party embarked
itself on a campaign of terror and Jews bashing that can be
summed up in this satirical and prophetic poem written in 1920
by Walter
Mehring, a Dadaist :
* C'mon, boys, let's all go
* Off to the pogrom with a ho-ho-ho
* Pull on your bellies and throw out the Jews
* With swastikas and poison gas
* Let's have a go at murder in the mass.
Hauptmann Mayr as Hitler commander, the party embarked
itself on a campaign of terror and Jews bashing that can be
summed up in this satirical and prophetic poem written in 1920
by Walter
Mehring, a Dadaist :
* C'mon, boys, let's all go
* Off to the pogrom with a ho-ho-ho
* Pull on your bellies and throw out the Jews
* With swastikas and poison gas
* Let's have a go at murder in the mass.
It is at this time that a young architect named Alfred Rosenberg (pic to the
right), born in Estonia and a virulent anti-semite, came to attend one of Hitler's
meetings. He was "overwhelmed', he said later. Rapidly Rosenberg become
chief-editor of the racist newspaper the Völkisher Beobachter (The Popular
Beholder) where he could spill his hatred of the Jews and develop his racial
theories. The Beobachter even published the infamous "Protocols of the
Elders of Zion", a shameful and hateful forgery going back to 1905 and made up
by the tzarist police. Hitler made clear that the NSDAP alone "will free the people
from the power of the Jews" and called for an all-out war against them to the
death. Then Hitler received the help of Gal. Ludendorff himself who introduced
him to Otto and Gregor Strasser to whom Hitler promised to make him the first
Gauleiter (party district leader). Gregor had as many decorations as Hitler, was
an ardent Nationalist, opposed to both Marxism and capitalism and a rabid
anti-Jews, those "brains and bones of both economic systems."
right), born in Estonia and a virulent anti-semite, came to attend one of Hitler's
meetings. He was "overwhelmed', he said later. Rapidly Rosenberg become
chief-editor of the racist newspaper the Völkisher Beobachter (The Popular
Beholder) where he could spill his hatred of the Jews and develop his racial
theories. The Beobachter even published the infamous "Protocols of the
Elders of Zion", a shameful and hateful forgery going back to 1905 and made up
by the tzarist police. Hitler made clear that the NSDAP alone "will free the people
from the power of the Jews" and called for an all-out war against them to the
death. Then Hitler received the help of Gal. Ludendorff himself who introduced
him to Otto and Gregor Strasser to whom Hitler promised to make him the first
Gauleiter (party district leader). Gregor had as many decorations as Hitler, was
an ardent Nationalist, opposed to both Marxism and capitalism and a rabid
anti-Jews, those "brains and bones of both economic systems."
A rising violence
At the time of its first national congress in January 1921, the party
had become a respected force in Bavaria even if most its founders,
like Drexler, grew immensely concerned with the apparent violence of
some of its followers like Roehm, Goering, the Strassers and
Rosenberg. "Future or Ruin" was its theme and it was an immense
success. In July 1921, Hitler took over the Presidency of the party and
at once began a program where the NSDAP became a radical and
revolutionary organization. Drexler was sidelined and under the
influence of Hitler the party became a hotbed of Jews and
Marxists haters. Hitler had the "Fuehrer prinzip" adopted by the
Central Committe, the totality of the party apparatus was henceforth
under Hitler's control. It had taken only some months to make of the
party the total property of the future dictator.
However the failed putsch of November 1923 almost killed the
party. Sentenced to 5 years in prison in April 1924, Hitler
however was freed before Christmas of the same year. During
his time in prison at Landsberg, near Munich, Hitler was the
object of a constant attention from the most influential people
in Germany : Frau Wagner, Frau Hanfstangl, Frau Hoffmann,
Gottfried Feder, Rudolph Hess (who typed the book on an old
typing-machine) were his companions almost every day and
helped him to write the first volume of Mein Kampf that was
published in July 1925 and sold 10,000 copies before
year-end. The German public who paid for this book and read
it henceforth knew that Hitler was now convinced that he was
"acting as an agent of God by fighting off the Jews" and that he
was "doing the Lord's work.
At the time of its first national congress in January 1921, the party
had become a respected force in Bavaria even if most its founders,
like Drexler, grew immensely concerned with the apparent violence of
some of its followers like Roehm, Goering, the Strassers and
Rosenberg. "Future or Ruin" was its theme and it was an immense
success. In July 1921, Hitler took over the Presidency of the party and
at once began a program where the NSDAP became a radical and
revolutionary organization. Drexler was sidelined and under the
influence of Hitler the party became a hotbed of Jews and
Marxists haters. Hitler had the "Fuehrer prinzip" adopted by the
Central Committe, the totality of the party apparatus was henceforth
under Hitler's control. It had taken only some months to make of the
party the total property of the future dictator.
However the failed putsch of November 1923 almost killed the
party. Sentenced to 5 years in prison in April 1924, Hitler
however was freed before Christmas of the same year. During
his time in prison at Landsberg, near Munich, Hitler was the
object of a constant attention from the most influential people
in Germany : Frau Wagner, Frau Hanfstangl, Frau Hoffmann,
Gottfried Feder, Rudolph Hess (who typed the book on an old
typing-machine) were his companions almost every day and
helped him to write the first volume of Mein Kampf that was
published in July 1925 and sold 10,000 copies before
year-end. The German public who paid for this book and read
it henceforth knew that Hitler was now convinced that he was
"acting as an agent of God by fighting off the Jews" and that he
was "doing the Lord's work.
| Anton Drexler, founder of the DAP was rapidly sidelined by Hitler and his henchmen. He was an idealist and not a match for the tougher Nazis. |
| Under his "volkish" Austrian outfit, Hitler hid an iron will and an cold mind, he thought that the dirty jobs of the NSDAP were ordered by God. |
A new beginning
On his prison release, Hitler immediately settled to revigorate the party
-that was then prohibited- under the name of National Socialist Freedom
Movement more than convinced that the Jews were a "pest." In February
1926, the ban on the NSDAP was removed and the Beobachter that had
been converted into a daily newspaper in 1923 (2)
was back in the stands with large headlines announcing "A new
beginning." In March, Hitler turned over the fate of the party in North
Germany to the Strasser brothers whose organization skills made
miracles but it also made of Strasser his most formidable rival.
Later this year Hitler lost at his demand the Austrian citizenship and
became citizenshipless. It is only in 1933 that he will be granted German
citizenship in order to allow President Fieldmarshall Hindenburg to
appoint him Chancellor of the Reich. In november 1926, Hitler met Paul
J. Goebbels, a Ph.D. in literature, who supported himself with menial
jobs in banks and to the stock exchange floor but whose ambitions
were unlimited. Goebbels for some time sided with Strassers who openly
entered in opposition to some of Hitler's ideas but he finally was
subdued by Hitler and got into an ecstatic adoration for his Fuehrer that
will lead him to his death.
At the end of 1926, the NSDAP was totally submitted to Hitler who had
full control of the organization in Bavaria like in the North and the
second volume of Mein Kampf was published. This volume clearly
indicated that the first enemy was now not the French but Russia which
had fallen "under the yoke of the Jew." In May, a meeting had invested
him with the supreme power to appoint or revoke the Gauleiters and the
subleaders. However the party still had only 50,000 members and some
members complained about this low figure.
A Socialist Christ
Joseph Goebbels was about to change all that. Appointed
Gauleiter of Berlin in 1927, he made a fantastic job of
developping the party. The German public then discovered the
endless faces of his propaganda skills and applications for
membership were literally dumped by the thousands in the
NSDAP post office box in Berlin. In May 1928 he was elected to
the Reichstag and then continued to accumulate success for the
party in Berlin where traditionally the Socialists were stronger.
In 1930, the assassination of a law student and SA leader called
Horst Wessel, who had became a devoted Nazi, by a Communist
gave to Goebbels the opportunity to deploy all his talents : he
transformed the young man into a working-class Jesus, victim of
the Reds, "a Socialist Christ" (sic). Goebbels even made a
national song of his name that became the "Horst Wessel lied",
emblem-song of the NSDAP (opposite right, his grave
somewhere in Germany). At the September 1930 general
elections, helped by the crisis that caused the collapse of Wall
Street in 1929, the NSDAP won 6,3 millions votes (18%) against
810,000 two years earlier. It was a phenomenal success largely
due to the tireless speeches of Hitler who offered something at
every German and to the talents of Goebbels who was literally
brainwashing every German into his Hitlerite Credo. On October
1930, 107 new Nazi deputies marched into the Reichstag and
promised a democratic peace to the people of Germany. The
sales of Mein Kampf peaked at the end of 1930 at 40,000 copies
and in 1931 they reached 54,000 copies, making Hitler rich and
famous abroad.
Joseph Goebbels was about to change all that. Appointed
Gauleiter of Berlin in 1927, he made a fantastic job of
developping the party. The German public then discovered the
endless faces of his propaganda skills and applications for
membership were literally dumped by the thousands in the
NSDAP post office box in Berlin. In May 1928 he was elected to
the Reichstag and then continued to accumulate success for the
party in Berlin where traditionally the Socialists were stronger.
In 1930, the assassination of a law student and SA leader called
Horst Wessel, who had became a devoted Nazi, by a Communist
gave to Goebbels the opportunity to deploy all his talents : he
transformed the young man into a working-class Jesus, victim of
the Reds, "a Socialist Christ" (sic). Goebbels even made a
national song of his name that became the "Horst Wessel lied",
emblem-song of the NSDAP (opposite right, his grave
somewhere in Germany). At the September 1930 general
elections, helped by the crisis that caused the collapse of Wall
Street in 1929, the NSDAP won 6,3 millions votes (18%) against
810,000 two years earlier. It was a phenomenal success largely
due to the tireless speeches of Hitler who offered something at
every German and to the talents of Goebbels who was literally
brainwashing every German into his Hitlerite Credo. On October
1930, 107 new Nazi deputies marched into the Reichstag and
promised a democratic peace to the people of Germany. The
sales of Mein Kampf peaked at the end of 1930 at 40,000 copies
and in 1931 they reached 54,000 copies, making Hitler rich and
famous abroad.
| In the eraly 20s, Hitler, like million of Germans, was still traumatized by the horrors of WW1 and outraged by the conditions of the Versailles Treaty. The war changed Hitler for ever and made of a failed artist a successful tribune. |
| The Nazis had this childish fascination and love for flags, banners and huge gatherings that exalted German souls |
| Tumb of Horst Wessel assassinated by a pimp who was proclaimed to be Marxist by the Nazis |
In 1931, Captain Roehm, back from Bolivia where he had fought
the war against Paraguay, became new Chief of staff of the SA
and took in his own hands the future of the Brown Shirts. He was
in this job as efficient as Goebbels in draining to the party
thousands of disillusioned Berliners. Roehm was a brutal man
with deep Socialist convictions although they have been derided
by Trotsky who saw in it a "barrack Socialism from where
pederasty was not remote". Unfortunately for the party, at the
Presidential elections of 1931, Hitler -who had decided against
Goebbels's will to run against President Hindenburg- only
secured 13,4 million votes (i.e. 37.3% of all the votes).
Hindenburg received 53% ot the total. Most observers then
started to think that Hitler had no serious chance to become a
major political figure in Germany and a lot of foreign journalists,
like the Daily Telegraph correspondent, started to write him off as
a "definitive loser".
No "Bohemian Obergefreiter" as Chancellor of Germany
Von Papen (pic right) tried to save Germany from Hitler but
eventually caved in and gave him the keys of the Chancellery.
Some days later, the ill-advised Chancellor Heinrich Brüning
edicted a decree banning the SA and the SS that provoked a fury
in the public. As political instability continued in the wake of the
SA and SS dissolution, Hindenburg dismissed Chancellor
Brüning who was the only capable politician Weimar Germany
has had but his economic deflationary policy was a disaster.
Furthermore such was Hindenburg’s fear of communism that
the association of Brüning’s planned economic reforms with
communism was enough to prevent their introduction. It also
ensured the dismissal of Brüning. The new Chancellor,
conservative Franz von Papen, decided to dissolve once more the
Reichstag and summoned general elections for July 1932.
the war against Paraguay, became new Chief of staff of the SA
and took in his own hands the future of the Brown Shirts. He was
in this job as efficient as Goebbels in draining to the party
thousands of disillusioned Berliners. Roehm was a brutal man
with deep Socialist convictions although they have been derided
by Trotsky who saw in it a "barrack Socialism from where
pederasty was not remote". Unfortunately for the party, at the
Presidential elections of 1931, Hitler -who had decided against
Goebbels's will to run against President Hindenburg- only
secured 13,4 million votes (i.e. 37.3% of all the votes).
Hindenburg received 53% ot the total. Most observers then
started to think that Hitler had no serious chance to become a
major political figure in Germany and a lot of foreign journalists,
like the Daily Telegraph correspondent, started to write him off as
a "definitive loser".
No "Bohemian Obergefreiter" as Chancellor of Germany
Von Papen (pic right) tried to save Germany from Hitler but
eventually caved in and gave him the keys of the Chancellery.
Some days later, the ill-advised Chancellor Heinrich Brüning
edicted a decree banning the SA and the SS that provoked a fury
in the public. As political instability continued in the wake of the
SA and SS dissolution, Hindenburg dismissed Chancellor
Brüning who was the only capable politician Weimar Germany
has had but his economic deflationary policy was a disaster.
Furthermore such was Hindenburg’s fear of communism that
the association of Brüning’s planned economic reforms with
communism was enough to prevent their introduction. It also
ensured the dismissal of Brüning. The new Chancellor,
conservative Franz von Papen, decided to dissolve once more the
Reichstag and summoned general elections for July 1932.
| Born to a wealthy and noble Roman Catholic family[1] in Werl, Province of Westphalia, son of Friedrich von Papen zu Köningen (1839 – 1906) and wife Anna Laura von Steffens (1852 – 1939), Papen was educated as an officer, including a period as a military attendant in the Emperor's Palace, before joining the German General Staff in March 1913. He entered diplomatic service in December 1913 as a military attaché to the German ambassador in the United States. |
Hitler led a terrific campaign appearing in more than 50 cities
and holding under his magnestism hundred of thousands of
people totally disgusted by the current regime and the economic
crisis which had generated 6 millions unemployed. On July 31, the
Nazis won 13.7 millions votes (37.3%), half a million more than the
combined score of their rivals, the Social Democrats and the
Communists. Hitler thought it was time to apply for Chancellorship
but Strasser and Goebbels opposed the move. Hitler insisted and
the demand was forwarded to Hindenburg who proposed only the
function of vice-Chancellor. When some high members of the
Governement insisted, Hindenburg got really angry and said that
he could not appoint a "Bohemian Obergefreiter" as Chancellor of
Germany.
The SA took to the streets and claimed the Chancellorship for
their leader but after a few hours, Hitler regained his composure
and even started to tell his entourage :"Wir werden ja sehen. Es
ist vielleicht besser so."(3) He was right because the machinery of
parliamentary government had brought Germany to a political
standstill. Nothing could be done anymore in the country without
the approval of the Nazi machinery. In November, 39 prominent
businessmen (4) tired of the situation, begged Marshall
Hindenburg to appoint Hitler Chancellor. The old
Generalfeldmarshall refused again.
In Decembrer 1932, Franz von Papen left the place of
Chancellor to General Kurt von Schleicher but the reign of this
brilliant soldier -whose surname means "intriguer"- lasted a few
weeks only. Schleicher offered the job of Vice-Chancellor to
Gregor Strasser but the faithful Strasser refused out of fidelity for
his Fûhrer.
and holding under his magnestism hundred of thousands of
people totally disgusted by the current regime and the economic
crisis which had generated 6 millions unemployed. On July 31, the
Nazis won 13.7 millions votes (37.3%), half a million more than the
combined score of their rivals, the Social Democrats and the
Communists. Hitler thought it was time to apply for Chancellorship
but Strasser and Goebbels opposed the move. Hitler insisted and
the demand was forwarded to Hindenburg who proposed only the
function of vice-Chancellor. When some high members of the
Governement insisted, Hindenburg got really angry and said that
he could not appoint a "Bohemian Obergefreiter" as Chancellor of
Germany.
The SA took to the streets and claimed the Chancellorship for
their leader but after a few hours, Hitler regained his composure
and even started to tell his entourage :"Wir werden ja sehen. Es
ist vielleicht besser so."(3) He was right because the machinery of
parliamentary government had brought Germany to a political
standstill. Nothing could be done anymore in the country without
the approval of the Nazi machinery. In November, 39 prominent
businessmen (4) tired of the situation, begged Marshall
Hindenburg to appoint Hitler Chancellor. The old
Generalfeldmarshall refused again.
In Decembrer 1932, Franz von Papen left the place of
Chancellor to General Kurt von Schleicher but the reign of this
brilliant soldier -whose surname means "intriguer"- lasted a few
weeks only. Schleicher offered the job of Vice-Chancellor to
Gregor Strasser but the faithful Strasser refused out of fidelity for
his Fûhrer.
| French ambassador in Berlin, André François- Poncet, wrote at the time that Papen's selection by von Hindenburg as chancellor "met with incredulity." Papen, the ambassador continued, "enjoyed the peculiarity of being taken seriously by neither his friends nor his enemies. He was reputed to be superficial, blundering, untrue, ambitious, vain, crafty and an intriguer."[1] The cabinet which Papen formed, with the assistance of General Kurt von Schleicher, was known as the "cabinet of barons" and was widely regarded with ridicule by Germans. Except from the conservative German National People's Party (DNVP), Papen had practically no support in the Reichstag — he had never been elected to the legislative body. Papen ruled in an authoritarian manner by launching a coup against the Social Democrat-led government of Prussia (the so-called Preußenschlag) and repealing his predecessor's ban on the SA as a way to appease the Nazis, whom he hoped to lure into supporting his government. He will get away with all his deeds in Nuremberg in 1946 |
His acceptance could have changed the
fate of Germany because he had a huge
support from within the Nazi party. It is as well
possible that he had no more illusions about
Hitler and his sycophants. He then said
to Hans Frank that he feared Hitler and his
henchmen and that he saw "black" : "Goering
is a brutal egotist who cares nothing for
Germany as long as he becomes something,
Goebbels is a limping devil and basically
two-faced, Roehm is a pig. This is the old
guard of the Fuehrer. It is terrible." It was also
the old guard of the Nazi party and it
was probably more terrible.
fate of Germany because he had a huge
support from within the Nazi party. It is as well
possible that he had no more illusions about
Hitler and his sycophants. He then said
to Hans Frank that he feared Hitler and his
henchmen and that he saw "black" : "Goering
is a brutal egotist who cares nothing for
Germany as long as he becomes something,
Goebbels is a limping devil and basically
two-faced, Roehm is a pig. This is the old
guard of the Fuehrer. It is terrible." It was also
the old guard of the Nazi party and it
was probably more terrible.
| Hitler (extreme left) circa 1916 is wearing the famous German helmet adorned with a spike. He is looking fiercely to the photographer and does not seem at all demoralized by the tough conditions of life in the trenches where he served as an estafette |
And now, gentlemen, forward with God !!
Schleicher's Chancellorship quickly showed its
limits and in a few weeks the Chancellor-General
antagonized everybody in the country. Weary of
the perpetual unrest, he proposed to Hindenburg
to appoint Hitler as Chancellor. During a dramatic
reunion of the Cabinet, the old Feldmarshall
eventually gave up. He refused to formally gave
his consent to Hitler's appointment and satisfied
himself with a :"And now, gentlemen, forward with
God !". Hitler was thus made Chancellor of the
Germany on the 30th of January 1933. The
NSDAP had triumphed over the will of millions of
German democrats, over the almost totality of the
political establishment and against the predictions
of every foreign government. A party which was led
by sycophants and thugs without programs like
Heydrich, by cynics and double-faced like
Goehring and Goebbels, by hatred-monger like
Rosenberg or by naive idiots like Hess, was
henceforth in command of Germany. In March of
the same year, new general elections brought to
the Reichstag 288 NSDAP deputies, i.e. 44% of the
votes.
Schleicher's Chancellorship quickly showed its
limits and in a few weeks the Chancellor-General
antagonized everybody in the country. Weary of
the perpetual unrest, he proposed to Hindenburg
to appoint Hitler as Chancellor. During a dramatic
reunion of the Cabinet, the old Feldmarshall
eventually gave up. He refused to formally gave
his consent to Hitler's appointment and satisfied
himself with a :"And now, gentlemen, forward with
God !". Hitler was thus made Chancellor of the
Germany on the 30th of January 1933. The
NSDAP had triumphed over the will of millions of
German democrats, over the almost totality of the
political establishment and against the predictions
of every foreign government. A party which was led
by sycophants and thugs without programs like
Heydrich, by cynics and double-faced like
Goehring and Goebbels, by hatred-monger like
Rosenberg or by naive idiots like Hess, was
henceforth in command of Germany. In March of
the same year, new general elections brought to
the Reichstag 288 NSDAP deputies, i.e. 44% of the
votes.
|
| Membership of the NSDAP 1919-1945 (5) |
| A photograph that says much, probably too much : a triumphant Hitler who can contain his joy and whose expression betrays the pleasure to have won and probably "screwed" his adversaries is seated next to the old Hindenburg whose expression shows worries and antipathy for the "Austrian Obergefreiter". January 1933. |
The stage had been set for the big showdown between the Nazi party
and the rest of its ennemies, some 120 Social Democrats and 80
Communists that Hitler and the Nazis hated with a unquenchable
sense of revenge. On February 27, 1933, the Reichstag burnt down. A
dazed Dutch Communist named Marinus van der Lubbe was found at
the scene and charged with arson. He was later found guilty and
executed. It was the pretext the Nazis were looking for. On February 28,
1933, Hitler asked President Hindenburg to invoke Article 48 of the
Weimar Constitution which permitted the suspension of civil liberties in
time of national emergency. The decree of the Reich President for the
Protection of the People and State abrogated the following constitutional
protections :
and the rest of its ennemies, some 120 Social Democrats and 80
Communists that Hitler and the Nazis hated with a unquenchable
sense of revenge. On February 27, 1933, the Reichstag burnt down. A
dazed Dutch Communist named Marinus van der Lubbe was found at
the scene and charged with arson. He was later found guilty and
executed. It was the pretext the Nazis were looking for. On February 28,
1933, Hitler asked President Hindenburg to invoke Article 48 of the
Weimar Constitution which permitted the suspension of civil liberties in
time of national emergency. The decree of the Reich President for the
Protection of the People and State abrogated the following constitutional
protections :
* Free expression of opinion
* Freedom of the press
* Right of assembly and association
* Right to privacy of postal and
electronic communications
* Protection against unlawful
searches and seizures
* Individual property rights
* States' right of self-government
* Freedom of the press
* Right of assembly and association
* Right to privacy of postal and
electronic communications
* Protection against unlawful
searches and seizures
* Individual property rights
* States' right of self-government
Hindenburg caved in. The Nazis
triumph was total. When the Nazi Party
came to power in 1933, party
membership had risen to 2.5 million. In
1945, when the Nazi Party was
disbanded, official membership rolls
listed a total of 8.5 million. A reign of
unchequered terror, arbitrary and
rabid hatred at last ended. It had taken
take 6 years of war and millions
of deaths to put a term to the second
bloodiest dictatorship -after the
Soviet one- of all times. Young Hitler,
the failed artist who applauded the
outset of WW1, had won. His
machiavelic and fantical plans could be
set in.
triumph was total. When the Nazi Party
came to power in 1933, party
membership had risen to 2.5 million. In
1945, when the Nazi Party was
disbanded, official membership rolls
listed a total of 8.5 million. A reign of
unchequered terror, arbitrary and
rabid hatred at last ended. It had taken
take 6 years of war and millions
of deaths to put a term to the second
bloodiest dictatorship -after the
Soviet one- of all times. Young Hitler,
the failed artist who applauded the
outset of WW1, had won. His
machiavelic and fantical plans could be
set in.
(1) Other sources mention the number 555 (alphabetical order in 1920 after the first mass meeting). Hitler was
in fact only the 7th member of the Central Committee of the party. Hitler always gave to himself the "beau role"
in his account of history. He was a pathological liar
(2) Thanks to a loan from Ernst Putzi Hanfstangl of 1000 dollars at a 5% interest rate the Party could buy two
modern presses
(3) "We shall see. It may be better like this."
(4) Among them, Hjalmar Schacht, Chairman of the Reichsbank, former Chancellor Cuno, Krupp, Thyssen,
Bosch, Wörmann, Vögler
(5) Source :M.Kater, The Nazi party : a social profile of members and leaders Oxford 1983. By comparison, le
Communist Party of the USSR had only 9 millions members in 1953 at the date of Stalin death
in fact only the 7th member of the Central Committee of the party. Hitler always gave to himself the "beau role"
in his account of history. He was a pathological liar
(2) Thanks to a loan from Ernst Putzi Hanfstangl of 1000 dollars at a 5% interest rate the Party could buy two
modern presses
(3) "We shall see. It may be better like this."
(4) Among them, Hjalmar Schacht, Chairman of the Reichsbank, former Chancellor Cuno, Krupp, Thyssen,
Bosch, Wörmann, Vögler
(5) Source :M.Kater, The Nazi party : a social profile of members and leaders Oxford 1983. By comparison, le
Communist Party of the USSR had only 9 millions members in 1953 at the date of Stalin death
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