World War II

1. What role did the Great Depression play in propelling Adolf Hitler to power?

The Great Depression was on the onset with the overwhelming effect on the middle class that helped Hitler in achieving success by winning the main strata in Germany. It was mainly the Nazi Party who won only in twelve seats, in the elections of 1928. Hitler took the advantage by helping the specified society who felt that the economic survival is endangered for them. In addition, craftsmen, artisans, peasants, small businessmen, traders, ex-officers, declass intellectuals, students, and the Nazis in 1929 began to win over the big industrialists, army circles and nationalist conservatives. Hitler received a marvelous massive exposure just as the effects of the world economic crisis hit Germany producing, fear and indignation, social dissolution, mass unemployment. With demagogic virtuosity, Hitler played on approach of revolt, national resentments, and the desire for strong leadership using all the most modern techniques of mass influence to present himself as Germany's savior and messianic redeemer. Hitler ranked high on the list of powerful military leaders not because of his enduring personal accomplishment but as the thrust for world change (Berben, 83).

Inflation in the 1920s followed by the worldwide depression that emerged during the 1930s allowed Hitler to gain tremendous support. Germany had undergone great economic hardships after the Great War and combined with the worldwide depression, its economy utterly devastated. During these difficult economic conditions, and mass unemployment, people began to turn to Hitler for a solution for their problems. The era of post-World War II brought a complete transformation to the political landscape of Europe. The people left unaided, and the only way they could found for their revival was through a despotic ruler who could use force to impose nationalism and use absolute power to uplift the economy. Hence the conditions of the continent became favorable for dictatorship. Leaders, dictators emerged to reflect and represent the people and share their agony. Their vision and dreams appealed the masses and gave them hope of future. It was this attraction that led to deepen the roots of dictatorship in Europe after the World War.

German economy in the World War II was under immense pressure. At the end of the war, millions of Germans dislodged and, therefore, declared refugees. The alliance of powers that was controlling Germany found it as an opportunity to start a new society that ...