The Factors that Contributed to the Rise of Hitler

Adolf Hitler was appointed Reich Chancellor on the 30th of January 1933. Hitler was an unlikely candidate for becoming chancellor of Germany. Hitler was born on the 20th of April 1889 in Braunau am Inn Austria to a customs official Alois Hitler and Klara Polzl who was also his fathers 2nd cousin. He was rejected twice by the Academy of fine arts Vienna due to his unfitness for painting. After the second refusal from the Academy of Arts, Hitler gradually ran out of money. By 1909, he sought refuge in a homeless shelter, and by the beginning of 1910 had settled permanently into a house for poor working men (en.wikipedia.org). It is difficult to understand how such a un-successful indeed an apparent failure could become chancellor and Fuhrer of Germany. The purpose of this essay will be to examine the factors that gave rise to Hitler, and will only make reference up until Hitler was made Chancellor of Germany.. Firstly the essay will examine Adolf Hitler and his oratory skills. Secondly the outward influences such as the economic situation at the time will be examined.Thirdly the essay will examine the financiers of Hitler and his party as a factor in his rise to power. Fourthly an examination of Hitler’s connections with the elites of Germany and how they helped him to power. Finally a conclusion will be made to bring together all the main points.

Moving on to examine the oratory skills of Hitler. Although Hitler in his earlier life had not excelled at his chosen occupation which was painting he did however excel in the field of political activity. Indeed it has been suggested by Kershaw that “ it was as a propagandist, an agitator and unusually talented demagogue that Hitler first won attention” (Kershaw, I, 1991, pg 40).  It would have been impossible for Hitler to begin to ascend up the hierarchial structure of the Nazi party without having such skills, which would have in turn lead to him never rising to power in Germany. However it was Hitler’s skill as an orator that helped him to become recognised within the party and become an influential member. Indeed his speaking skills enabled him to make his mark quickly as “ within only a few months, he became the star speaker of the infant National Socialist German Workers” (Kershaw, I, 1991, pg 40). Furthermore it was his skill as an orator that he was first recognised by the party chairman at the time Drexler. Hitler was not a party member when Drexler recognised his rhetorical ability when at a German Workers Party meeting, Hitlter had took to the floor after a previous speaker had suggested that Bavaria should secede from the German state. Hitler violently attacked this speaker and this impressed Drexler, only a few weeks later Hitler joined the party. (Smelser, R, Zitelmann, R, 1993, pg 115). The fact that Hitler was an able public speaker gave him an adavantage over those who were not as able. Being a gifted public speaker enabled Hitler to become well known more quickly than if he did not have this ability as it put him in the spotlight.