After WW1 Germany had to pay its debts to the world they fought and had lost against. This in turn created the Great Depression in Germany, providing political opportunity for Hitler. The Nazi or National Socialist party was originally called the DAP(German Workers Party). This party was founded in 1919 by Anton Drexler. He was not a significant factor to the future of the National Socialist party. Hitler joined in September of 1919 becoming the 55th member of the party. His orders where to spy on the meetings for the army. Hitler soon was very intrigued by the parties ideas and decided to quit the army and join the DAP. He was very influential in the party and was a tremendous speaker for them. His influence was able to change the name of the party DAP to NSDAP or Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei ( National Socialist German Workers Party) in 1920. Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei would be known as Nazi. Hitler eventually makes Anton Drexler(1920-1921) leave the position of leader and takes his place in 1921. Even with Hitlers presence in the party it was still very small and was focused in the south part of Germany in the location of Bavaria. Hitlers speeches began to attract regular audiences. Earlier followers of the Nazi party included Ernst Rohm, the head of the Nazi paramilitary organization, the Sturmabteilung (SA), which protected meetings and attacked political opponents. Hitler announced on November 8, 1923, that a National Revolution had begun and declared a new formed government. This revolution known as the " Beer Hall Putsch" had failed. Three days after this failed attempt of a revolution Hitler was arrested for high treason. He served a 9 months in prison and during his time in prison wrote the first volume of Mein Kampf (My Struggle). This book laid out plans for Hitler to make his version of Germany and blamed Germany's ills on the Jews. When Hitler was released there was more political clash then Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor of Germany. The death of Hindenburg's on August 1934, ended with the cabinet abolishing the office of president and combining powers with those with the chancellor. Hitler then started appointed himself the leader then he started to build up the German military force. This became the Nazi Regime which included social reform measures. This also lead to the 25 point program which were rules and regulations Hitler had placed that were equal to law.
The Story of Hitler: History Channel
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