Hitler’s rise to power was based on a combination of factors. The Treaty of Versailles was a major factor because it left Germany feeling humiliated and resentful. The Great Depression also played a role because it made people angry at their government for not protecting them from economic hardship.
The most important factor, however, was Hitler’s ability to tap into the German people’s sense of national pride. Hitler was an excellent public speaker and was able to rally large crowds through his speeches. In addition, he used propaganda techniques such as posters and newspaper articles to get his message across in a more personable way.
The Treaty of Versailles limited Germany’s military strength and required them to pay reparations for damage caused by World War I. Many Germans saw this as unjust because they felt they had been unfairly blamed for starting the war, even though many historians believe Germany started World War I by attacking neutral Belgium first.
In addition, many Germans were upset by economic conditions in the 1920s which led to high unemployment rates (25 percent) and poverty among many citizens (about 6 million). These conditions created an atmosphere ripe for discontent with government officials who failed to do anything about them.
