Nazi Party

The Parteiadler, emblem of the Nazi Party

The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (German: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei , abbreviated NSDAP), was a far-right political party in Germany that was active between 1920 and 1945. The party emerged from the German nationalist, racist, and populist Freikorps paramilitary culture, which fought against the communist uprisings in post-World War I Germany. It was founded as the German Workers' Party (DAP) in 1919, and was renamed the NSDAP in 1920.

Origins and Early History

Adolf Hitler's DAP membership card

The Nazi Party originated from the German Workers' Party (DAP), which was founded in Munich in 1919 by Anton Drexler, a Munich locksmith, and Karl Harrer, a journalist. Adolf Hitler joined the party in 1919 and quickly rose to prominence due to his oratory skills and charismatic leadership. In 1920, the party was renamed the National Socialist German Workers' Party to attract a broader base of support.

Ideology

The Nazi Party's ideology was based on nationalism, racism, and anti-Semitism. It promoted the idea of a "Volksgemeinschaft" (people's community) that excluded Jews and other "undesirables". The party's platform, known as the "25-point Program", called for the unification of all Germans, the abrogation of the Treaty of Versailles, and the expansion of German territory.

Rise to Power

The Beer Hall Putsch in Munich, 1923

In 1923, the Nazi Party attempted to seize power in the Beer Hall Putsch, a failed coup in Munich. Hitler was arrested and sentenced to prison, where he wrote "Mein Kampf". The party was banned, but it re-emerged in 1925. During the late 1920s, the party gained support by exploiting economic woes and political instability.

Consolidation of Power

Hitler at the inauguration of the Brown House, the Nazi Party headquarters

The Nazi Party's breakthrough came in the 1930 elections, when it became the second-largest party in the Reichstag. By 1932, it was the largest party. In January 1933, Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany. The Reichstag Fire in February 1933 allowed the Nazis to push through the Reichstag Fire Decree, which suspended civil liberties and allowed for the arrest of political opponents.

Nazi Germany

Once in power, the Nazi Party established a totalitarian regime. The Enabling Act of 1933 gave Hitler dictatorial powers. The party controlled all aspects of life in Germany, including the economy, education, and the media. The Gestapo and SS enforced Nazi policies, and the Nuremberg Laws institutionalized racial discrimination.

World War II and the Holocaust

The Nazi regime pursued aggressive expansionist policies, leading to the outbreak of World War II in 1939. The party's racial ideology culminated in the Holocaust, the systematic genocide of six million Jews and millions of others deemed "undesirable".

Collapse and Legacy

Nazi Party election poster from 1930

The Nazi Party's rule ended with Germany's defeat in 1945. The party was banned, and its leaders were prosecuted in the Nuremberg Trials. The legacy of the Nazi Party is one of war, genocide, and destruction, leaving a lasting impact on Germany and the world.

Related pages

• Adolf Hitler
• World War II
• Holocaust
• Nuremberg Trials