What was Hitler's appeal?

Answer 1

Hitler came to power at a time when Germany was in the grip of a huge depression. The country had been effectively crippled by the Treaty of versailles, at the end of WWI, and the Allies had effectively stripped it of power, by limiting its navy, army and air force. Hitler was a VERY good orator and united the German people behind National Socilaism (Nazism). Between 1933 and 1936 German unemployment dropped to near zero, its industrial output increased manifold, and its people enjoyed an increased standard of living. Hitler also promised Germany freedom fron the treaty of Versailles and he said that Germany could become a strong, indipendant country again, with his help. Many felt that his notorious outbursts of rage in his speeches somehow expressed their own frustrations.

Answer 2

By using the general feeling of the Germans to have been severly deceived and humilated by the winning alliance after WWI (which is correct, see below).`*

By promising to reverse the "Versailles treaty" from WWI , which in all parts of the German society was seen to have been an act of dishonesty, betrayal, treachery and a war crime (the German term was "Mörderfrieden" Murder peace)

By using paramilitary organizations which formed after WWI*

By distributing cheap "Volksempfänger" devices (Radios) to the population to have access to Propaganda.

By founding a "Propaganda Ministry" to develop psychological tools for manipulating the public opinion

By using feelings of revenge towards the allid forces, having maintainig the total land and sea blockade of the German territory until 1919, which caused starvation and epedemies among the population and produced more victims in 1919 as during all military activities from 1914 to 1918 (British commanders send official notes to British High Command that the number of dying children in the streets of Germany cannot be longer expected to be looked at by their soldiers).

Versailles

US President Wilson released 14 points for the war parties to reach armistice and peace:

...

2. Absolute freedom of navigation upon the seas, outside territorial waters, ....

3. The removal, so far as possible, of all economic barriers and the establishment of an equality of trade conditions among all the nations ......

4. Adequate guarantees given and taken that national armaments will be reduced to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety.

5. A free, open-minded and absolutely impartial adjustment of all colonial claims...

6. The evacuation of all Russian territory and such a settlement of all questions affecting Russia .....

7. Belgium restored, ...

8. All French territory should be freed and the invaded portions restored, and the wrong done to France by Prussia in 1871 in the matter of Alsace-Lorraine, which has unsettled the peace of the world for nearly fifty years, should be righted...

....

13. An independent Polish state should be erected which should include the territories inhabited by indisputably Polish populations, which should be assured a free and secure access to the sea, ...

The German civil population strongly pressed towards accepting those proposals

German public organmized general strikes during 1918. In November 1918 Germany announced to end all war activities accepting the 14 points proposed by US president Wilson. In absence of the German delegation the Versailles " treaty" (which is not a "treaty" as German officials were not invited) was negotiated among the winning nations. The German delegation was forced to sign without being allowed to comment.

The new "treaty"

In contrary to Wilsons points

-forced Germany to accept the unlimited guilt for having caused WWI alone*, which led to furious reactions among the German population

-enforced "reparation payments" to the allies in not specified amounts and for an unlimited time period (later it was fixed to keep payments until 2010 exceeding by far the any realistic amounts).

Germany's access to international markets was restricted all allies were free to trade their products on German territories.

--German "Colonies" were distributed among the winning nations, private property in colonies was seized

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*German WWI POWs were treated as "deserteurs" not receiving pensions and employment, as "Desertation" was a criminal offence and was kept in their civil criminal records. Those ex-csoldiers joined paramilitary organizations

Austria had declared war to Serbia, leading to the military mobilization of Russia and France. Being in alliance with Austria and under pressure of being forced into a war on 2 fronts the "Schliefen plan" was carried out which aimed to disarm the French troops within 6 weeks until the Russian troops were fully operational. Having crossed Belgium England declared war to Germany.

Answer 3

Germany was having financial troubles after WW I and Hitler found somebody to blame... the Jews, homosexuals, gypsies, etc .

Capitalism was in crisis plus magnets not used in preceding war and an unelected media helped enable Hitler to convince people Jews and not capitalism was the problem .Hitler could not have achieved power without help of capitalism.

Answer 4

He didn't, and with force of arms behind him he had no need to. The aristocratic Hindenburg personally despised Hitler and called him the most common little man that he had ever met. It is probable that few if any of Europe's upper class admired Hitler. Even if they supported him, it was not because they found him appealing.

Answer 5

He made them feel superior to others.