The Hindenburg

6th, we remember the devastating tragedy from over half a century ago. It has been almost 80 years since the Nazi propaganda aircraft, the Hindenburg Zeppelin, burned and crashed taking several lives on its way down. This day, every year we remember the lives lost and the death of the largest and most magnificent aircraft ever constructed. The Hindenburg, a Nazi propaganda mission, was constructed from 1931-1936 in Germany. It completed hundreds of successful missions without failure. The…

Hitler benefited from a unique set of circumstances, which provided opportunities for him to advance his leadership and power aspirations. It took, however, an extraordinary politician to achieve the level of political success he experienced in being appointed chancellor of Germany with only minority support from the ballot box. Through clever positioning, dogged determination, intimidation and masterful salesmanship Hitler maneuvered continuously until he gained and sustained power. His…

not lose the war but right wing politicians and military leaders in the Weimar Republic were betraying their own government. Also known as stab-in-the-back-myth. “The Germans did lose the war- in fact, it was the military leaders Generals Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff in October 1918 who convinced the civilian government that it was necessary for peace” (BERGEN 27). While looking for an explanation for the surrender and defeat the stab-in-the-back…

decision made during WW1 by Hindenburg and Ludendorff was to start a defensive war in the West, the creation of the Hindenburg line in the winter of 1916-17. ‘Their wisest decision was to shorten German lines on the western front by withdrawing forces quietly and gradually to a prebuilt and elastic system of defence in depth’ the entente powers were caught off guard by the withdrawal to the Hindenburg line and the allied powers advanced over dangerous terrain. Hindenburg managed to remain a…

“ ‘A fearful and gloomy existence awaits us under the best of circumstances!’ ” (Boden). Written by Friedrich Meinecke after World War I, it echoed the sentiment of many Germans at the time. The German’s were right to be anxious as Britain and France went into the Versailles Conference with vengeance. On the other hand, Britain and France had a right to be angry since Germany was the source of their economic downfall and hardship during the war. The final Treaty in June 28th, 1919 had no German…

spread Nazi ideas. From 1930 to 1932 President Hindenburg and Chancellor Brüning governed Germany by making decrees. This was not a democratic form of government but it was not illegal. However it did mean that democracy started to die in these years. It also meant that friends of the President, such as army officers, had more influence over law making than the elected Reichstag. Despite the backing of President Hindenburg, Brüning was very unpopular. His policies not…

Papen upon Hindenburg, the Nazi propaganda, the ‘Red Scare’ and its associated flood of votes towards the Nazi party (as opposed to the communists), the sheer popularity of not only Hitler with the people, but also the ideologies of the Nazi party and finally, the popularity of his racist views. Another technique by which he would increase compliance and support was through intimidation via his private army (the Sturmabteilung or SA) or the Gestapo. The role of von Papen and Hindenburg in…

depression was the most important reason why Hitler was able to become Chancellor in 1933. It was the cause of all the other significant factors, such as the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic, Nazi policies, propaganda campaigns, and the scheming of Hindenburg and von Papen. The Great Depression was the most important factor that lead to Hitler becoming Chancellor in 1933. It caused major economic issues in Germany such as businesses going bankrupt, workers being laid off, massive increase in…

Nazis obtained also decreased in the Reichstag elections. Therefore the economic depression did not make Adolf Hitler Chancellor but other main factors including the oratory skills of Hitler, the propaganda campaign of Goebbels and the fact that Hindenburg and Von Papen thought that they could control Hitler once he was Chancellor. The smaller extreme parties also would not work together although combined they could have had more support than the Nazis. The Treaty of Versailles also contributed…

From 1919-1945 one man changed the world and brought Germany and the whole world into war. He planned his way to get the whole power of Germany. His slow and silent way to manipulate and influence his followers with his speeches against the government in Germany helped him to destroy the political system to form a dictatorship. With the dictatorship he created concentrations camps to kill Jews and foreigners- people who were insects in his eyes. One man brought the whole world in war. The way…