Development of the Nazi party

• • German workers party - formed by Anton Drexler in Munich in January 1919. March 1918 had formed the committee of independent workers to fight against marxism (communism) for a just peace in Germany.
  • This didn't succeed, so he made a new party such as the 'German workers' party' with harder as its first chairman.
• • September 1919 - Adolf Hitler, employed as an educational officer in the Army section, then sent to research this new political group in Munich and to discover their political persuasion.
  • Hitler succeeded in making such an impression on the members they extended him an official invitation to join the party as 'member 555'.
• • Ernst Rohm - was already a member of the organisation. Succeeded in attracting a substantial number of veterans and freikorps volunteers and as an army official in Bavaria, he ensured the support and protection of the authorities for hitler and the organisation.
  • Closest adviser to Hitler helping him to improve his German and introducing him to his wide circle of wealthy friends and men who would later be Hitlers colleagues, men such as Rudolf Hess and Alfred Rosenberg.
• • Hitler developed to become party's main theorist and its propaganda official.
  • February 1920 - he was committee leader and with the help of Gottfried Feeder he introduced the 25 POINT PLAN - a range of national socialist corporate and racist principles.
  • Name was extended to NSDAP or NAZIS.
• Ideology

  • Main aim was to merger nationalistic right wing ideas and anti-semitism with some anti-capitalist and socialist measures. E.G
  • Changing the treaty of versailles , uniting Germany linguistically, Banning Jews from having civic rights, strict control of the press and strong totalitarian state under a dictator.
  • NSDAP differed from other parties in their belief In socialist policies.
  • Socialist elements were supported by the party's radical element but for Hitler they were there merely to attract the workers.
• • New army was formed for the party in 1921 - SA under the leadership of Ernst Rohm - - - Purpose of this new army was to defend nazi meetings, stop rivals' meetings, prevent Nazi party opponents from spreading their message, distribute propaganda leaflets to peoples' homes.
• • More than half the members came from the unemployed and many veterans had fought in the First World War. Jews were banned from NSDAP.
  • Violence gave publicity to Hitler.
  • October 1922 - Julius Streicher, famous anti-semitist from Nuremberg, announced his allegiance to Hitler. Became one of the party's most popular speakers.