Nazi Party

Quick Facts: Who was Nazi Party?

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Nazi Party

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A far-right German political party (1920–1945) central to the rise of Nazism.

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Origins & Early Life

The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (German: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), was a far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported the ideology of Nazism. Its precursor, the German Workers' Party (Deutsche Arbeiterpartei; DAP), existed from 1919 to 1920. The Nazi Party emerged from the extremist German nationalist ("Völkisch nationalist"), racist, and populist Freikorps paramilitary culture, which fought against communist uprisings in post–World War I Germany. The party was created to draw workers away from communism and into völkisch nationalism. Hitler stated while on trial for his role in the Beer Hall Putsch in February 1924 that "I have resolved to be the destroyer of Marxism", a statement which he later applied to those opposed to the Nazi Party in 1926, claiming "They tried to paralyze the one party that would have been able to give opposition to this Red pest." Initially, Nazi political strategy used socialist rhetoric to gain the support of the lower middle class whilst maintaining other views; that was later downplayed to gain the support of business leaders.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

By the 1930s, the antisemitic and anti-Marxist themes of the party became even further emphasized. The party had little popular support until the Great Depression, when worsening living standards and widespread unemployment drove Germans into political extremism. Central to Nazism were themes of racial segregation expressed in the idea of a "people's community" (Volksgemeinschaft). The party aimed to unite "racially desirable" Germans as national comrades while excluding those deemed to be either political dissidents, physically or intellectually inferior, or of a foreign race (Fremdvölkische). The Nazis sought to strengthen the Germanic people, the "Aryan master race", through racial purity and eugenics, broad social welfare programs, and a collective subordination of individual rights, which could be sacrificed for the good of the state on behalf of the people.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

To protect the supposed purity and strength of the Aryan race, the Nazis sought to disenfranchise, segregate, and eventually exterminate Jews, Slavs, Romani, the physically and mentally disabled, homosexuals, Jehovah's Witnesses, and political opponents. The persecution reached its climax when the party-controlled German state set in motion the Final Solution–an industrial system of genocide that carried out mass murders of around 6 million Jews and millions of other targeted victims in what has become known as the Holocaust. Adolf Hitler, the party's leader since 1921, was appointed Chancellor of Germany by President Paul von Hindenburg on 30 January 1933, and quickly seized power afterwards. Hitler established a totalitarian regime known as the Third Reich and became dictator with absolute power. Following the military defeat of Germany in World War II, the party was declared illegal.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1919: 1919 Milestone — Its precursor, the German Workers' Party (Deutsche Arbeiterpartei; DAP), existed from 1919 to 1920.
2. 1920: 1920 Milestone — The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (German: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), was a far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported the ideology of Nazism.
3. 1921: 1921 Milestone — Adolf Hitler, the party's leader since 1921, was appointed Chancellor of Germany by President Paul von Hindenburg on 30 January 1933, and quickly seized power afterwards.
4. 1924: 1924 Milestone — Hitler stated while on trial for his role in the Beer Hall Putsch in February 1924 that "I have resolved to be the destroyer of Marxism", a statement which he later applied to those opposed to the Nazi Party in 1926, claiming "They tried to paralyze the one party that would have been able to give opposition to this Red pest.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Nazi Party

True or False: “The Nazi Party's initial support base remained consistently strong throughout the Weimar Republic period.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The party initially had little popular support until the Great Depression, when worsening living standards and widespread unemployment drove Germans into political extremism.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Nazi Party