Rise of the Nazi Party:

• (1921) Hitler leader of National Socialist German Workers' Party
• Sturmabteilung (SA) force of intimidation
• (1923) Growth of Nazi Party due to Hitler's speaking skills
• Failure of Beer Hall Putsch

Nazi Political Progress:

• Mein Kampf: extreme nationalism,
  intense anti-Semitism & anti-communism
• Lebensraum: living space/social Darwinist theory
• Focus on legal rise to power via elections
  (1929) Strategy to win over middle classes
  Economic problems increased Nazi appeal

Establishing the Third Reich:

• (1933) Hindenburg pressured to appoint Hitler chancellor
• Reichstag fire: government emergency powers
  Enabling Act: Hitler became dictator
• Gleichschaltung: all institutions under Nazi control
• (1934) Night of the Long Knives (SA purge)
• Hindenburg's death: army support for Hitler's succession
  All public officials/soldiers swore oath of loyalty to Hitler

Nazi State (1933-39):

• Objective: Aryan racial state dominating Europe
• Nazi government: plagued with rivalry (manipulated by Hitler)
• Schutzstaffeln (SS): Hitler's personal bodyguard (run by Himmler)
  Controlled all regular/secret police forces
  Use of execution squads & concentration/death camps