History Off the Page

Nazis 1928-1930: Electoral War [1_39]

Send us a textIn the Reichstag elections of May 1928, the Nazi Party took home just 2.6% of the vote. Two years later they would explode onto the German political scene, taking 18.3% of the vote and becoming the second largest party in Germany. This episode uncovers the secrets to the Nazis electoral success, showcasing how new techniques and strategies helped distinguish them from their political rivals on both the left and the right. Topics covered include Joseph Goebbels and the use of violence; Heinrich Himmler and the development of saturation campaigns; the Nazi's use of new technologies like the radio and airplane for electioneering and more. Support the showFor more information on History Off the Page, check out our website www.historyoffthepage.com! Or you can support the show via Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/historyoffthepage?fan_landing=true.

Nazis in the Wilderness: Rebuilding the Party (1925-1928) [1_38]

Send us a textWhen Adolf Hitler left prison in Dec. 1924, his Nazi Party lay in ruins.  Officially banned by the Bavarian government, he was also prohibited from public speech in many German states.  And yet, eight years later he would become Chancellor of Germany, head of the country's largest political party.  How did this happen?This episode begins to answer that question by looking at the rebuilding of the Nazi Party between 1925 and 1928.  In addition to discussing some of the key bureaucratic changes that prepared the party for exponential growth after 1928, it also explains how Hitler conquered potential party rivals such as Joseph Goebbels and Gregory Strasser.  In the end, it argues that this establishment of a dictatorship over the party played a key role in paving the way for Hitler's future domination of Germany.Support the showFor more information on History Off the Page, check out our website www.historyoffthepage.com! Or you can support the show via Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/historyoffthepage?fan_landing=true.

Nazism and the Occult [Partial Patreon Preview]

Send us a textFrom Indiana Jones, to Captain America to Hellboy, the theme of Nazis and the Occult has long fascinated Hollywood.  But is there any truth behind these fictional representations? This partial Patreon preview explores the bizarre world of late 19th/early 20th century occultism, elucidating its tangential links to the birth and development of the Nazi Party.  As we'll see, Hitler was not "nuts" about the occult. But some prominent Nazis such as Rudolf Hess and Heinrich Himmler were at least occult "curious," and the occultist Thule Society did play a key role in the early development of the Nazi Party.  To hear the full story, which includes discussions of Mme. Blavatsky and Theosophy, Guido von List, Lanz von Liebenfels, Rudolf von Sebettendorff and the Thule Society, check out our Patreon site where you can get access to this and other episodes for as little as $2/month (patreon.com/historyoffthepage). Support the showFor more information on History Off the Page, check out our website www.historyoffthepage.com! Or you can support the show via Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/historyoffthepage?fan_landing=true.

The Weimar Republic: a Failure of Democracy? [1_37]

Send us a textIn Nov 1918, Germans set out on a radical experiment: the building of a new, fully democratic state known as the Weimar Republic.  Unfortunately, of course, it didn't last.  But the question remains why?  And what should this tell us about the strength of our own democracies?This episode explores the foundation of the Weimar Republic, discussing some of its early successes and failures.  It highlights some of the initial problems encountered in the construction of Weimar democracy, including the split between the SPD and KPD, and the failure to win the loyalties of Germans who were not predisposed to favor democracy.  Topics covered include the transfer of power in Nov 1918, the early formation of the Republic, the Spartacist Rebellion, Hyperinflation and the Occupation of the Ruhr, Friedrich Ebert and Gustav Stresemann, and much more.Support the showFor more information on History Off the Page, check out our website www.historyoffthepage.com! Or you can support the show via Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/historyoffthepage?fan_landing=true.

Rise of the Nazi Party (1919-1923) [1_36]

Send us a textAt the time of its foundation in early 1919, the Nazi Party was a group of several dozen dilettantes who at first glance appeared to stand little chance of changing history.  And yet, by 1923 it had grown to over 50K members - enough to convince Hitler that they could seize control of Bavaria.  This episode explores the secrets to the Nazi Party's success, showing how they built a politically effective, modern mass movement.  Topics covered include why Hitler was such a convincing speaker, the "socialist" element of early Nazism, the pivotal role of the Sturmabteilung (SA) and the development of Nazi rituals of violence, and the Beer Hall Putsch (Nov. 1923).  We'll also briefly introduce several key Nazi figures to the story, including Ernst Röhm, Julius Streicher, and Ernst "Putzi" Hanfstaengl.  Finally, the episode concludes by showing the failure of Weimar authorities to effectively deal with Hitler's treason.Support the showFor more information on History Off the Page, check out our website www.historyoffthepage.com! Or you can support the show via Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/historyoffthepage?fan_landing=true.