NSDAP
FIRST PART 1919-1923
 

The NSADP "National Socialistische Deutsche Arbeiterspartei" set his first steps in 1919.

The name whas changed, because the Party whas first named, Germans Worker's Party (GWP), Deutsche Arbeiters Party (DAP).
The Party whas formed by the well known, Dietrich Eckart and two of his Party members Godfried Feder and Anton Drexler.

The German Army was worried that it was a left-wing revolutionary group and sent Adolf Hitler, one of its education officers, to spy on the organization.
Hitler discovered that the party's political ideas were similar to his own.
He approved of Drexler's German nationalism and anti-Semitism but was unimpressed with the way the party was organized.
Although there as a spy, Hitler could not restrain himself when a member made a point he disagreed with, and he stood up and made a passionate speech on the subject.
Eckart and his two companions where impressed with Hitler's abilities as an orator and invited him to join the party.
At first Hitler was reluctant, but urged on by his commanding officer, Captain Karl Mayr, he eventually agreed.
He was only the fifty-fourth person to join the German Worker's Party.
Hitler was immediately asked to join the executive committee and was later appointed the party's propaganda manager.

In the following weeks and months, Hitler brought several members of his group into the party of Eckart!
One of the most known persons whas Ernst Röhm.
It whas a great succes, because Röhm has acces to Army Political fund and whas able to transfer some money to the Germans Workers Party.
The same money whas used to organize meetings, where Hitler whas often the main speaker.
Hitler's reputation as an orator grew and it soon became clear that he was the main reason why people were joining the party.
This gave Hitler tremendous power within the organization as they knew they could not afford to lose him.

Adolf Hitler changed the name in April 1920 to the National Socialistische Deutsche Arbeiters Partei (NSDAP), National Socialist German Workers Party.
He says, that he was only in favour of equality for those who had "German blood". Jews and other "aliens" would lose their rights of citizenship, and immigration of non-Germans should be brought to an end.
In February 1920, the NSDAP published its first programme which became known as the "Twenty-Five Points". In the programme the party refused to accept the terms of the Versailles Treaty and called for the reunification of all German people.
To reinforce their ideas on nationalism, equal rights were only to be given to German citizens. "Foreigners" and "aliens" would be denied these rights.
On 24th February, 1920, the NSDAP held a mass rally where it announced its new programme.
The rally was attended by over 2,000 people, a great improvement on the 25 people who were at Hitler's first party meeting.
Adolf Hitler knew that the growth in the party was mainly due to his skills as an orator and in the autumn of 1921 he challenged Anton Drexler for the leadership of the party.
After brief resistance Drexler accepted the inevitable, and Hitler became the new leader of the organization.

At the end of 1921, Hitler formed his own private army called Sturm Abteilung (Storm Section).
The SA were instructed to disrupt the meetings of political opponents and to protect Hitler from revenge attacks.
Captain Ernst Roehm of the Bavarian Army played an important role in recruiting these men, and Hermann Goering, a former air-force pilot, became their leader.
Hitler's stormtroopers were often former members of the Freikorps and had considerable experience in using violence against their rivals.
Accompanied by bands of musicians and carrying swastika flags, they would parade through the streets of Munich.
At the end of the march Hitler would make one of his passionate speeches that encouraged his supporters to carry out acts of violence against Jews and his left-wing political opponents.
As this violence was often directed against Socialists and Communists, the local right-wing Bavarian government did not take action against the Nazi Party.
However, the national government in Berlin were concerned and passed a "Law for the Protection of the Republic". Hitler's response was to organize a rally attended by 40,000 people.
At the meeting Hitler called for the overthrow of the German government and even suggested that its leaders should be executed.
On 8th November, 1923, the Bavarian government held a meeting of about 3,000 officials.
While Gustav von Kahr, the leader of the Bavarian government was making a speech, Adolf Hitler and armed stormtroopers entering the building.
Hitler jumped onto a table, fired two shots in the air and told the audience that the Beer Hall Putsch was taking place and the National Revolution had began.
Leaving Hermann Goering and the SA to guard the 3,000 officials, Hitler took Gustav von Kahr, Otto von Lossow, the commander of the Bavarian Army and Hans von Lossow, the commandant of the Bavarian State Police into an adjoining room.
Hitler told the men that he was to be the new leader of Germany and offered them posts in his new government.
Soon afterwards Eric Ludendorff arrived.Ludendorff agreed to become head of the the German Army in Hitler's government.

Hitler pointed out his new government ministers, while Ernst Roehm, leading a group of stormtroopers, had seized the War Ministry and Rudolf Hess was arranging the arrest of Jews and left-wing political leaders in Bavaria.
Hitler now planned to march on Berlin and remove the national government, the putsch!

The next day Adolf Hitler, Eric Ludendorff, Hermann Goering and 3,000 armed supporters of the Nazi Party marched through Munich in an attempt to join up with Roehm's forces at the War Ministry.
At Odensplatz they found the road blocked by the Munich police. As they refused to stop, the police fired into the ground in front of the marchers.
The stormtroopers returned the fire and during the next few minutes 21 people were killed and another hundred were wounded, included Goering.
 

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