Third Reich

German Reich Deutsches Reich
1933–1945
Anthem: Das Lied der Deutschen
Status	Nazi regime
Capital	Berlin
Common languages	German
Government	Totalitarian dictatorship
Führer
• 1934–1945	Adolf Hitler
Historical era	Interwar period / World War II
• Appointment of Hitler as Chancellor	January 30, 1933
• Surrender of Germany	May 8, 1945
Currency	Reichsmark
ISO 3166 code	[[ISO 3166-2:DE |DE ]]
Preceded by Succeeded by Weimar Republic Allied-occupied Germany

The Third Reich refers to the period in German history from 1933 to 1945, officially known as the German Reich. This era was marked by the totalitarian dictatorship under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, which pursued aggressive expansionist policies and the implementation of the Holocaust.

History

The Third Reich began with Hitler's rise to power on January 30, 1933, when he was appointed Chancellor of Germany. The Weimar Republic's democratic structures were dismantled, establishing a one-party state. The Enabling Act of 1933 allowed Hitler to enact laws without the involvement of the Reichstag, laying the foundation for absolute rule.

In 1934, following the death of President Paul von Hindenburg, Hitler merged the offices of Chancellor and President, taking the title Führer und Reichskanzler (Leader and Chancellor of the Reich). This move solidified his control and marked the start of a regime characterized by aggressive militarization, antisemitism, and expansionism.

The Third Reich aggressively expanded its territory, starting with the remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936, the annexation of Austria (Anschluss) in 1938, and the subsequent invasion of Czechoslovakia and Poland, which triggered World War II in 1939.

Domestic Policies

Domestically, the regime promoted the ideology of Nazism, which included extreme nationalism, racism, and antisemitism. The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 institutionalized racial discrimination against Jews, who were stripped of their citizenship and rights. This culminated in the Holocaust, where six million Jews were systematically murdered in concentration camps across Europe.

The regime also implemented the T4 Program, which targeted the euthanasia of the physically and mentally disabled. The Nazi government controlled culture, media, and education, promoting propaganda to sustain its control and manipulate public perception.

End of the Third Reich

The Third Reich collapsed in 1945 at the end of World War II. The relentless advance of Allied forces from both the west and the east led to the fall of Berlin and the unconditional surrender of German forces on May 8, 1945. The aftermath saw the division of Germany into occupied zones controlled by the Allied powers and the eventual establishment of East and West Germany.

Legacy

The legacy of the Third Reich is deeply ingrained in global memory due to its unprecedented scale of war crimes and genocide. The Nuremberg Trials were conducted to bring Nazi war criminals to justice. Today, the period is extensively studied in fields of history, political science, and psychology to understand the dynamics of totalitarian regimes and prevent the recurrence of such atrocities.