Early Germany and the Rise of the Nazis (1890-1933)
Kaiser Wilhelm II ruled Germany until 1918, believing in military strength and wanting Germany to become a global power. His aggressive policies and the disaster of WWI left Germany defeated and humiliated. The Treaty of Versailles in 1919 blamed Germany entirely (Article 231), demanded massive reparations of £6.6 billion, and stripped away German territory and colonies.
The 1920s brought both recovery and crisis. Gustav Stresemann stabilised Germany through the Dawes Plan (borrowing American money), the Locarno Pact (respecting borders), and joining the League of Nations. However, the Wall Street Crash of 1929 devastated Germany's economy, leading to massive unemployment and desperation.
Political chaos erupted with events like the Kapp Putsch (1920) and Hitler's failed Munich Putsch (1923). The Nazi Party grew by exploiting fear of communism, promising jobs, and appealing to different groups - farmers wanted economic stability, families wanted traditional values, and many Germans wanted someone to blame for their suffering.
Key Point: The combination of economic disaster, political instability, and clever Nazi propaganda created the perfect storm for Hitler's rise to power.