In order to thoroughly understand German enthusiasm to the Nazi regime, we must first understand the 2 great events that preceded the Nazi power in Germany: World War I and the Great Depression.
Out of World War I came the Treaty of Versailles in which Germany lost 13% of its territory, 10% of its population. Economically, Germany was required to pay installments towards the reparations debt, 28 billion dollars total, to be paid over a period of 42 years. Militarily, Germany was not allowed an army larger than 100,000 men and was not allowed to produce most any of it's own military devices. The treaty put Germany in great debt. In the years to follow the Treaty, Germany's economy underwent several unpredictable waves, which ultimately resulted in a social loss of status, and a rise in crime, suicide and prostitution. The middle class, once known for its patriotism, now rose in revolt against a government who failed to protect their property and security.
However, Germany bounced back, and by mid 1920s, Germany, functioning under a constitution and an elected president, had begun to reenter the world market in automobile production.
Nevertheless, by 1930, due to the Depression, Germans found themselves once again unemployed and run by an incapable government which offered neither hope nor policy to its citizens.
When Germany was at it's weakest, and in dire need of a strong government capable of digging the country out of it's misery, the NSDAP, also known as the Nazi party, began to rise in popularity. Perhaps the core reason for the growth and ultimate popularity of the Nazis was the seducing tongue and manipulating mind of Adolf Hitler.
To gain status, Hitler promised the German nation a strengthened country, through the setting aside of the Peace Treaty and unification of all...
Ok, Paper. for "13th Grade" 90% maybe too High...
The content of this paper is pretty decent, and without the background as to why this essay was written (IE closed book Exam, or short Response Paper, etc) I hesitate to spout off a list of NEGs.
However, if it was not closed book (and some of the info leads me to believe it was not) then there must be citations to back your views---especially when using the generally taboo "I think" "I feel" intros.
The content was very informative and although presented in a bit of a choppy format, was pretty good. The one part that was definately out of place within this essay was the Napoleon bit. After presenting what appears to be a conclusion, the author takes an aside comparing Napoleon to Hitler (without citations) and then goes back to the Germany of 1939 to close out.
One more note on the Little Corsican thing: Comparing a rise in power between Hitler and Napoleon is fine....comparing a the Nazi Holocaust and point blank assualt on the civilian population to Napoleons quest for power is going a bit far. The Nazis set out to exterminate the "untermensch" (as Hitler called the unwanted Slavs and Jews), and Napoleon, although possessing a warped view of his role in the world, sought to free "oppressed" peoples of some of the lesser states in Europe. Napoleon was a product born of the Revolution, and was caught up in a whirlwind of violence and change even before he took power.
Hitler CAUSED a whirlwind of violence to SEIZE power.
--and that's all I got to say 'bout that.
AoE
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