The coming to fore of Nazism in Germany was one of the most significant event of the 20th century. Nazis rose under Hitler’s leadership during the decade of 1920-30 indicating a sea change in the equations of European politics. It was an internal metamorphosis of Germany. Nazi element was there in Germans in dormant form ever. Hitler only woke it up by screaming the injustices of Versai Treaty.
Hitler laid the foundation of Third Reich.
It all started with the messiah of iron and blood policy Bismarck. Between 1866-71 he politically united the divided German parts by use of force. Infact it was not an honest merger but extension of Prussian dominance.
Bismarck was Prussian nationalist. In January, 1871, declaration of the establishment of German Empire the king of Prussia was made the Emperor. Through the nationalist movement what emerged as German Empire was merely Prussia plus the other Saxon regions won by it.
From the time Germany came into existence Bismarck was its Chancellor. In 1888 Wilhem-II became German Emperor. He developed some differences with Bismarck. The latter resigned from his post. In 1914 European War Germany had to side with Hungary and Austria. On the other side France, Britain and Russia were allies. This war flared up into the First World War. German soldiers subdued France in mere 42 days and planned to turn to Russia. The plan did not work. Internal war had broken out in Russia between Czar’s forces and Communist Bolsheviks. Bolsheviks managed to seize power and Russia became a Communist empire. The war between Germany and Russia came to end.
In Mach, 1918 Communist Russia signed Brestlitobsk Treaty with Germany and pulled away from the war.
German army had two prominent leaders—Paul Fonn Hindenberg and Sarich Ludendroff. In 1914 after destroying Russian army units they had established dictatorship in Germany. They were the architects of the militarisation of entire Germany.
On 9 November, 1918 Germany was declared to be a republic. It was the result of the war. The people of Germany were fed up with war and wanted peace. The victors also demanded Germany to become a republic to soften up the military mindset of Germans.
After Prince Max the German government came under the influence of Social Democrats. Fredrick Abert was their leader. They were ideologically Marxists. But the Russian Bolshevik Communists used to consider them chicken Marxists and termed them as reactionaries. As result a group of hardcore Marxists separated from the Social Democrats. This splinter group was called ‘Spartacus’ which later evolved into German Communist Party under the leadership of Carl Librecht and Reza Lufxemberg.
Before the First World War both these leaders were in Social Democratic Party. Later they rebelled and street wars began sending Hamburg and Prussian sector in chaos.
Social Democrats were able to crush down the Spartacus rebellion. But the way it was done put the future of German republic in a dark tunnel. It opened the way for the progress of Hitler.
Around 1925 everything appeared to be setting down to normally in Germany. It became a member of the League of Nations (Earlier version of UNO). The situation became favourable. But in 1929 world was hit by economic recession creating trouble for all the countries. Germany turned to extremism in the form of Hitler and Nazism.
Shopping Cart
