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The National Socialist German Worker's Party emerges in January 1919. This party pushed for nationalism and used anti-Jewish ideas.
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The party's fate changes with Adolf Hitler as he first attends a meeting held in September of 1919. He was a spy for the army before joining.
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In 1920 multiple political parties began fighting to become elected.
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In 1921 Hitler declares himself the party's Fuehrer. He ordered the formation around the enforcement group Sturmabteilung, who was later known as 'brown shirts'.
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Hitler is released in 1924 after he attempted to overthrow the government. His trial gave his party lots of publicity. After being released he pledged to make NSDAP an actual party and to participate in democracy but not use it to destroy.
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The great depression began in 1929 and lasted until 1939. It led German voters to look towards more radical parties (Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party). The Wiemar government failed to respond appropriately to the crisis. Eleven months after the start of the Great Depression NSDAP was able to increase its share of the Reichstag's vote.
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The Great Depression begins with numerous of unemployment and very limited job sources.
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In the mid 1930's Austria had own Nazi group.
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In July 1932 the Nazis won 230 seats in the election. This was the highest number held by one party at any point of the Weimar period
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Early in 1933 Hitler authorized the construction of concentration camps. These camps were secure holding facilities for political prisoners who disagreed with his ideas or ruling.
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Hindenburg offers the chancellorship to Hitler. He invited him to join a government.
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The urge for Hitler to move into power so quickly resulted in a destructive fire at the Reichstag Building. Investigators found flammable material all around the building. Still, no one knows who set the fire to this day. Regardless, Hitler used the building to extend his power of Germany. The Nazi leader declared a state of emergency and asked the president to invoke the emergency power. The decree was worded so broadly it allowed Nazis to define their own legal limits.
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On March 23, 1933 the Germans introduced the enabling act. This allowed Hitler to govern without reference to the Reichstag. The act passed 444 to 94. However, the Nazis rigged the vote by arresting dozens of members from their party. More than 24 members did not actually attend the voting.
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" The National Socialist German's Worker Party constitutes the only political party in Germany... Whoever undertakes to maintain the organization of another political party or a new political party shall be punished with imprisonment. "
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In June of 1934 Hitler gained the support of the German army by killing off several leaders of the SA (former Nazi enforcers).
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President Hindenburg died and left Hitler in full power without any limitations. This put him in head of state, government, and the armed forces. He convened a large public vote with the results being nearly 9/10 of the Germans approving. Although, some people claimed that the voting was rigged.
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In 1935 Hitler reintroduced the draft.
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Hitler introduces the four year plan. This was a schedule to prepare the nation's military for war.
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In March of 1936 Hitler ordered troops back into Rhineland. He was attempting to defend the treaty. France and Britain did nothing.
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In November of 1937 Hitler spoke about his concerns for Germany's economic growth. He felt they needed self sufficiency in food and raw materials. He proposed a military solution. This was to expand into Eastern Europe so Germany could access food and raw materials there.
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In September of 1938 British prime minister Neville Chamberlain meets the fuhrer three times.
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In March of 1938 the Austrian Chancellor held a vote on Austrian independence. The claimed the vote was rigged and Hitler threatened him to give up power to the Austrian Nazis or prepare for invasion. The chancellor looked for help from Britain and France, but was refused. After refusal he resigned. Germany crossed the borders and that same day Hitler conjoined Germany and Austria into one government.
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The first meeting of fuhrer and chamberlain. Chamberlain agreed to Hitler's demands. In the next meeting Hitler demands German forces to be granted immediate access to the Sudeten region.
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Hitler, Chamberlain, Edouard Daladier, and Benito Mussolini meet in Munich to resolve the crisis. They signed an agreement approving the take over of Sudeten land. However, Hitler had to agree not to go further into Czechoslovakia. Chamberlain returned to Britain where he stated the Munich agreement had secured peace for their time.
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German troops roll into Sudetenland two days after agreement was made.
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By the start of 1939 Germany boasted more than 900,000 soldiers, 8,000 aircraft, and 95 war ships.
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Hitler was appointed chancellor on January 30th of 1990. His grip on power however was still weak. Hindenburg had the power to replace Hitler at any time. Hitler had many supporters and publicity, but he also had many critics.
