Hitler's rise to power in Nazi Germany wasn't just about... Show more
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History
History :Nazi Germany
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11 Dec 2025
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The Rise and Fall of Nazi Germany
L
lola
@lola.123
1 / 3
Hitler's Rise to Power and Control
Think you know how dictators take over? Hitler's path to absolute power shows how democracy can be destroyed from within. In 1933, he became chancellor when people blamed the Weimar Republic for Germany's economic troubles and WWI debt.
The Reichstag Fire in February 1933 became Hitler's golden opportunity. Blaming the Communist Party, he used this event to arrest 4,000 communists and ban their press and meetings. The Reichstag Fire Decree destroyed freedom of expression whilst massively increasing government power.
By March 1933, the Enabling Act allowed Hitler to pass laws without the Reichstag - essentially making him a legal dictator. Gleichschaltung (coordination) forced all aspects of German life to fall in line with Nazi ideology.
Key Point: Hitler didn't seize power illegally - he used existing laws and manufactured crises to become a dictator through supposedly legal means.
The Nazis systematically eliminated opposition through terror. The SA and SS arrested trade union leaders, replacing unions with the Nazi-controlled DAF. When Social Democrats complained about corruption, Hitler used emergency powers to arrest 3,000 officers. Opposition simply vanished.
Eliminating Rivals and Controlling Society
Even Hitler's own supporters weren't safe from his paranoia. The Night of the Long Knives in July 1934 saw Hitler arrest SA leader Röhm and murder over 200 SA members and political enemies. He justified this by claiming to be Germany's "supreme judge."
When President Hindenburg died in August 1934, Hitler declared himself Führer - combining the roles of chancellor and president. The Gestapo controlled the police and justice system, creating a climate of fear where neighbours reported on neighbours.
Nazi propaganda dominated every aspect of German culture. Der Stürmer newspaper spread anti-Semitic cartoons, whilst American music was discouraged and "degenerate" films were banned. The 1936 Berlin Olympics became a massive propaganda showcase with 30,000 swastika flags.
Remember: The Nazis didn't just control politics - they controlled what people read, watched, listened to, and even thought.
Despite the terror, opposition groups did resist. Left-wing Social Democrats secretly produced anti-Nazi posters, with 250 members in large groups before most were tracked down by the Gestapo. Communists proved more effective, producing The Red Flag newspaper with 10,000 copies per month and showing that Nazi control could be disrupted.
Life Under Nazi Rule and Final Persecution
The Nazis tried to reshape German society completely, starting with the family. Marriage loans encouraged couples to have children, whilst the 1936 "Lebensborn" programme paired women with SS officers. However, more women actually ended up working (2.7 million to 3.3 million) despite Nazi ideology.
Hitler Youth became compulsory in 1936, training young boys for military service. Napola military schools, run by the SA and SS, aimed to create future leaders. Children learned Nazi beliefs in school, where Jews were portrayed as villains and Aryan and non-Aryan children were forbidden from playing together.
Some Germans found creative ways to resist. Swing Kids defied cultural restrictions by wearing banned clothing and singing forbidden songs. Religious groups like the Confessional Church provided alternative leadership to the Nazi-controlled Reich Church, with over 300 pastors ending up in concentration camps.
Shocking Fact: Even attempts to assassinate Hitler failed - Georg Elser's 1939 bomb went off just 3 minutes too late, and the 1944 Stauffenberg plot left Hitler alive.
The anti-Semitic laws of 1933 marked the beginning of systematic persecution that would escalate to ghettos in 1939 and death camps by 1941-44. This persecution was part of Hitler's broader goal of Lebensraum - creating living space for Germans through conquest and genocide.
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Stefan S
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This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The Rise and Fall of Nazi Germany
L
lola
@lola.123
Hitler's rise to power in Nazi Germany wasn't just about one man taking control - it was a systematic destruction of democracy through legal means, terror, and propaganda. From 1933 onwards, the Nazis transformed German society completely, facing various forms... Show more
Hitler's Rise to Power and Control
Think you know how dictators take over? Hitler's path to absolute power shows how democracy can be destroyed from within. In 1933, he became chancellor when people blamed the Weimar Republic for Germany's economic troubles and WWI debt.
The Reichstag Fire in February 1933 became Hitler's golden opportunity. Blaming the Communist Party, he used this event to arrest 4,000 communists and ban their press and meetings. The Reichstag Fire Decree destroyed freedom of expression whilst massively increasing government power.
By March 1933, the Enabling Act allowed Hitler to pass laws without the Reichstag - essentially making him a legal dictator. Gleichschaltung (coordination) forced all aspects of German life to fall in line with Nazi ideology.
Key Point: Hitler didn't seize power illegally - he used existing laws and manufactured crises to become a dictator through supposedly legal means.
The Nazis systematically eliminated opposition through terror. The SA and SS arrested trade union leaders, replacing unions with the Nazi-controlled DAF. When Social Democrats complained about corruption, Hitler used emergency powers to arrest 3,000 officers. Opposition simply vanished.
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Eliminating Rivals and Controlling Society
Even Hitler's own supporters weren't safe from his paranoia. The Night of the Long Knives in July 1934 saw Hitler arrest SA leader Röhm and murder over 200 SA members and political enemies. He justified this by claiming to be Germany's "supreme judge."
When President Hindenburg died in August 1934, Hitler declared himself Führer - combining the roles of chancellor and president. The Gestapo controlled the police and justice system, creating a climate of fear where neighbours reported on neighbours.
Nazi propaganda dominated every aspect of German culture. Der Stürmer newspaper spread anti-Semitic cartoons, whilst American music was discouraged and "degenerate" films were banned. The 1936 Berlin Olympics became a massive propaganda showcase with 30,000 swastika flags.
Remember: The Nazis didn't just control politics - they controlled what people read, watched, listened to, and even thought.
Despite the terror, opposition groups did resist. Left-wing Social Democrats secretly produced anti-Nazi posters, with 250 members in large groups before most were tracked down by the Gestapo. Communists proved more effective, producing The Red Flag newspaper with 10,000 copies per month and showing that Nazi control could be disrupted.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Life Under Nazi Rule and Final Persecution
The Nazis tried to reshape German society completely, starting with the family. Marriage loans encouraged couples to have children, whilst the 1936 "Lebensborn" programme paired women with SS officers. However, more women actually ended up working (2.7 million to 3.3 million) despite Nazi ideology.
Hitler Youth became compulsory in 1936, training young boys for military service. Napola military schools, run by the SA and SS, aimed to create future leaders. Children learned Nazi beliefs in school, where Jews were portrayed as villains and Aryan and non-Aryan children were forbidden from playing together.
Some Germans found creative ways to resist. Swing Kids defied cultural restrictions by wearing banned clothing and singing forbidden songs. Religious groups like the Confessional Church provided alternative leadership to the Nazi-controlled Reich Church, with over 300 pastors ending up in concentration camps.
Shocking Fact: Even attempts to assassinate Hitler failed - Georg Elser's 1939 bomb went off just 3 minutes too late, and the 1944 Stauffenberg plot left Hitler alive.
The anti-Semitic laws of 1933 marked the beginning of systematic persecution that would escalate to ghettos in 1939 and death camps by 1941-44. This persecution was part of Hitler's broader goal of Lebensraum - creating living space for Germans through conquest and genocide.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
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Most popular content: Resistance in National Socialism
Most popular content in History
Most popular content
English - inspector calls quotes and analysis
Quotes from every main character
English Literature10
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user