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Changes in the Nazi Party; Structure, Early phases - Coggle Diagram
Changes in the Nazi Party; Structure
Chain of Command
Hitler had decided to reorganize the Nazi Party in a way that would attract more followers and supporters.
He believed that if he wanted to assume control and power, then his Party needed to be organized in a professional manner.
He needed his party to take part in decision making through democratic methods.
Hitler was the leader of the party; then came the SS (paramilitary organization)
Then came the Leadership Corps, and beneath them were the SA (storm detachment. Hitler's original paramilitary group.)
Beneath all these groups were the actual party supporters and members. This included politicians, advisors, ambassadors, etc.
The last tier was reserved for the Hitler Youth. Girls and boys under the age of 18 took part in several activities that would encourage them to serve Germany.
25 points
1920, the NSDAP published its first program which became known as the “Twenty-Five Points.”
The 3 main points were
all German-speaking people should be united in one country.
the Treaty of Versailles should be abolished.
there should be special laws for foreigners.
The National Socialist Program originated at a DAP congress in Vienna, then was taken to Munich, by the civil engineer Rudolf Jung, who having explicitly supported Hitler had been expelled from Czechoslovakia because of his political agitation.
According to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, the 25-point program "remained the party's official statement of goals, though in later years many points were ignored."
The Austrian monarchist Erik proposed that the 25-point Program was pro-labour as it proposed the right to employment, and called for the institution of profit sharing, confiscation of war profits, prosecution of usurers and profiteers, nationalization of trusts,
However, historian William Brustein claimed that the program points and party founder Anton Drexler’s statements indicate that the Nazi Party (NSDAP) originated as a working-class political party.
Hitler's Journey to becoming head of the party:
In 1919, Hitler joined the German's Workers party led by Anton Drexler
1920, He became the party's speaker and was in charge of propaganda. In the same year, the German Worker's Party changed their name to the Nazis.
After the Munich Coup, Hitler was sentenced to jail and the Nazi party was banned.
Coming out of prison, Hitler rebuilt and reorganised the Nazi party because he realised that he would not be able to come to power with a revolution.
He reorganised it to strengthen his leadership and authority
But the period up to 1929, the Nazi party was gaining members but still remained struggling with the Reichstag seats
-Following Hitler's release from prison in December 1924, he decided to reform the Nazi party and seek power through more legal means.
-The ban on the Nazi party was lifted and it was relaunched by Hitler in February 1925.
-It took Hitler over a year to re-establish his authority as Fuhrer, because of strong opposition from regional units of the NSPAD. One of them being Gregor Strasser who sought greater emphasis on the Socialist parts of the 25 point programme, such as the nationalisation of main industries.
-It was not until February 1926 when Hitler was able to win the majority in the Bamberg conference and hence able to assert his authority over Strasser.
-It was this victory that persuaded Josef Goebbels to desert the Nazi militants and come over to his side
Changing the Party Name
Originally, the Nazi Party was called the "German's Workers Party"
The goal of the party was to improve the lives and jobs of workers across Germany
When Hitler joined the party in 1919, he insisted on changing the name
The name was changed to "National Socialist German Workers Party"
He did this to increase the party's appeal
Socialism was a popular political philosophy following the First World War
Hitler himself was opposed to socialist policies (racial or sexual equality)
He knew that by changing the name, people would be attracted to supporting the Party
Early phases