Adolf Hitler's Influence On German Politics

Since the fall of the Third Reich in 1945, countless people have wondered how such a cruel government was allowed to take power. Hitler is certainly one of the most malicious rulers of all time, but he did not get to where he was without using all of Germany as his political soapbox. After the end of the Great War, Germany’s government was in ruins. Kaiser Wilhelm II had abdicated his position, and the nation was at a loss about what to do with their government. In the end, the Weimar Republic rose to power. Unfortunately, this government was weak, and in the years after the war, several extremist groups attempted to take over, including Hitler’s Nazi Party. Germany politics were extremely unstable, making it easy to manipulate people who were …show more content…
In just 18 months, Hitler went from a mere chancellor to an all powerful Fuhrer. He destroyed any democracy that may have existed in Germany at the time, replacing it with a strict military dictatorship that disapproved of everything from smoking to the use of cosmetics. He destroyed opposing political parties, including the German Communist Party. He made it so Germany only had one party to choose from: the Nazi Party. Knowing all the monstrous things he did while in power, it may be difficult to think of any positive aspects of his rule, but they do exist. Hitler’s atrocious regime left behind a legacy in German politics. It serves as a warning to everyone that such a terrible thing should never be allowed to happen again, and reminds us of the importance of democracy. The Third Reich is a constant reminder to all that we need to be on the lookout for evil in the political sphere. We need to question the intentions of our leaders and protect the rights of the oppressed. In a way, Hitler positively impacted politics by leaving behind a very negative legacy. He changed German politics forever, and left the country in a state of political unrest for many years afterwards. It took years for Germany to regain control of itself after the Allied occupation, and many more to rebuild the political infrastructure that Hitler destroyed. However, after decades of struggling, Germany has managed to repair its damaged reputation and …show more content…
People are paranoid that another may rise and recreate the horrors of the Third Reich. Unfortunately, this paranoia is not unwarranted, nor is it irrational to suggest that “Hitler” could rise again. Hitler took advantage of a very bad time in Germany. People were suffering economically, crippled by the Treaty of Versailles and the depression that followed the war. Nationalism was at an all time low - people had no fondness towards their weak and war torn nation. Hitler was able to exploit this crisis and turn it into his political platform, promising to restore Germany and make the country something Germans could be proud to be a part of. This is not unlike the promises of many politicians today, who feed on the cries of those upset with the current state of the nation and run a campaign based on it. Hitler also infamously used the Jewish population as a scapegoat, blaming them for all of Germany's problems, including the war. Anti-antisemitism had always been prevalent in Europe, and Hitler gained significant power and popularity by naming them as the root of all Germany’s problems. He used his political platform to publicly persecute the Jewish, and stirred up anti-Semitic ideas amongst the general public. It is easy to see why people are worried about the second coming of Hitler, as prejudice against many groups has not