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The '''Third Reich''' (German: ''Deutsches Reich'', "German Reich") was the dictatorship of [[Germany]] while under the control of the [[Nazi Party]] and its leader ("[[Führer]]"), [[Adolf Hitler]]. The state which lasted from 1933–1945, is commonly known as Nazi Germany. Quickly consolidating power after his appointment by President [[Paul von Hindenburg]], Hitler pulled the country out of the worldwide depression and transformed it once again into a major [[Europe]]an power; his lust for German territorial expansion at the expense of other countries, beliefs in an Aryan "master race", and a hatred of those considered "sub-human" (primarily the Jews) led to the outbreak of World War II in 1939, which left Germany and much of Europe in ruins and millions of people dead.   

The '''Third Reich''' (German: ''Deutsches Reich'', "German Reich") was the dictatorship of [[Germany]] while under the control of the [[Nazi Party]] and its leader ("[[Führer]]"), [[Adolf Hitler]]. The state that lasted from 1933–1945, is commonly known as Nazi Germany. Quickly consolidating power after his appointment as chancellor by President [[Paul von Hindenburg]], Hitler pulled the country out of the worldwide depression and transformed it once again into a major [[Europe]]an power; his lust for German territorial expansion at the expense of other countries, beliefs in an Aryan "master race", and a hatred of those considered "sub-human" (primarily the Jews) led to the outbreak of World War II in 1939, which left Germany and much of Europe in ruins and millions of people dead.   

In taking over Germany, Hitler believed that he was creating a third German empire, following the [[Holy Roman Empire]] (800–1806) – what he called the [[First Reich]] – and the [[Second Reich]] created by [[Otto von Bismarck]], which lasted 1871–1918.  

In taking over Germany, Hitler believed that he was creating a third German empire, following the [[Holy Roman Empire]] (800–1806) – what he called the [[First Reich]] – and the [[Second Reich]] created by [[Otto von Bismarck]], which lasted 1871–1918.  

==Beginnings==

==Beginnings==

Adolf Hitler was still attached to the German Army in Bavaria after [[World War I]], serving primarily as a gatherer of information on the various political parties which were created as a result of the country's loss in the war. After being assigned to document a small left-wing party in Munich known as the ''Deutsche Arbeiterpartei'' ("German Workers' Party" or DAP), he liked what he saw in it and became a member in September 1919; the following year, the party changed its name to the ''National-Sozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei'' ("National Socialist German Workers' Party" or NSDAP). In 1921 Hitler assumed leadership of the NSDAP.

Adolf Hitler was still attached to the German Army in Bavaria after [[World War I]], serving primarily as a gatherer of information on the various political parties which were created as a result of the country's loss in the war. After being assigned to document a small left-wing party in Munich known as the ''Deutsche Arbeiterpartei'' ("German Workers' Party" or DAP), he liked what he saw in it and became a member in September 1919; the following year, the party changed its name to the ''National-Sozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei'' ("National Socialist German Workers' Party" or NSDAP). In 1921 Hitler assumed leadership of the NSDAP.

[[File:Early-leaders-of-the-nazi-party-full.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Defendants during the Munich beer hall putsch trial, April 1924 (''l-r:'' Pernet, Weber, Frick, Kiebel, Ludendorff, Hitler, Bruckner, Röhm, Wagner.).]]

[[File:Early-leaders-of-the-nazi-party-full.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Defendants during the Munich beer hall putsch trial, April 1924 (''l-r:'' Pernet, Weber, Frick, Kiebel, Ludendorff, Hitler, Bruckner, Röhm, Wagner.).]]

As leader of the NSDAP, Hitler reorganized the party and encouraged the assimilation of other radical groups. Gangs of unemployed demobilized soldiers were gathered under the command of a former army officer, [[Ernst Röhm]], to form the [[Storm Troopers]] (''Sturmabteilung'' or SA), Hitler's private army. Under Hitler's leadership, the NSDAP denounced the Weimar Republic and the "November criminals" who had signed the [[Treaty of Versailles]]. The postwar economic slump won the party a following among unemployed ex-soldiers, the lower middle class, and small farmers; in 1923 membership totaled about 55,000. General Erich Ludendorff supported the former corporal in the [[Beer Hall Putsch]] of November 1923 in Munich, an attempt to overthrow the Bavarian government. The putsch failed, and Hitler received a light sentence of five years, of which he served less than one. Incarcerated in relative comfort, he wrote ''Mein Kampf'' (My Struggle), in which he set out his long-term political aims.

As leader of the NSDAP, Hitler reorganized the party and encouraged the assimilation of other radical groups. Gangs of unemployed demobilized soldiers were gathered under the command of a former army officer, [[Ernst Röhm]], to form the [[Storm Troopers]] (''Sturmabteilung'' or SA), Hitler's private army. Under Hitler's leadership, the NSDAP denounced the Weimar Republic and the "November criminals" who had signed the [[Treaty of Versailles]]. The postwar economic slump won the party a following among unemployed ex-soldiers, the lower middle class, and small farmers; in 1923 membership totaled about 55,000. General Erich Ludendorff supported the former corporal in the [[Beer Hall Putsch]] of November 1923 in Munich, an attempt to overthrow the Bavarian government. The putsch failed, and Hitler received a light sentence of five years, of which he served less than one. Incarcerated in relative comfort, he wrote ''Mein Kampf'' (My Struggle), in which he set out his long-term political aims.

Three elections – in September 1930, in July 1932, and in November 1932 – were held between the onset of the Depression and Hitler's appointment as chancellor in January 1933. The vote shares of the SPD and the Center Party fluctuated somewhat yet remained much as they had been in 1928, when the SPD held a large plurality of 153 seats in the Reichstag and the Center Party held sixty-one, third after the DNVP's seventy-three seats. The shares of the parties of the extreme left, the KPD and the NSDAP, respectively, increased dramatically in this period, KPD holdings almost doubling from fifty-four in 1928 to 100 in November 1932. The NSDAP's success was even greater. Beginning with twelve seats in 1928, the Nazis increased their delegation seats nearly tenfold, to 107 seats in 1930. They doubled their holdings to 230 in the summer of 1932. This made the NSDAP the largest party in the Reichstag, far surpassing the SPD with its 133 seats. The gains of the NSDAP came at the expense of parties on both the left- and right-wing.

Three elections – in September 1930, in July 1932, and in November 1932 – were held between the onset of the Depression and Hitler's appointment as chancellor in January 1933. The vote shares of the SPD and the Center Party fluctuated somewhat yet remained much as they had been in 1928, when the SPD held a large plurality of 153 seats in the Reichstag and the Center Party held sixty-one, third after the DNVP's seventy-three seats. The shares of the parties of the extreme left, the KPD and the NSDAP, respectively, increased dramatically in this period, KPD holdings almost doubling from fifty-four in 1928 to 100 in November 1932. The NSDAP's success was even greater. Beginning with twelve seats in 1928, the Nazis increased their delegation seats nearly tenfold, to 107 seats in 1930. They doubled their holdings to 230 in the summer of 1932. This made the NSDAP the largest party in the Reichstag, far surpassing the SPD with its 133 seats. The gains of the NSDAP came at the expense of parties on both the left- and right-wing.

Chancellor Brüning was unable to secure parliamentary majorities for his austerity policy, so he ruled by decree, a right given him by President [[Hindenburg]]. Head of the German army during World War I, Hindenburg had been elected president in 1925. Ruling without parliament was a major step in moving away from parliamentary democracy and had the approval of many. Many historians see this development as part of a strategic plan formulated at the time by elements of the establishment to abolish the republic and replace it with an authoritarian regime.

Chancellor Brüning was unable to secure parliamentary majorities for his austerity policy, so he ruled by decree, a right given him by President [[Hindenburg]]. Head of the German Army during World War I, Hindenburg had been elected president in 1925. Ruling without parliament was a major step in moving away from parliamentary democracy and had the approval of many. Many historians see this development as part of a strategic plan formulated at the time by elements of the establishment to abolish the republic and replace it with an authoritarian regime.

By late May 1932, Hindenburg had found Brüning insufficiently pliable and named a more conservative politician, Franz von Papen, as his successor. After the mid-1932 elections that made the NSDAP Germany's largest party, Papen sought to harness Hitler by offering him the post of vice chancellor in a new cabinet. Hitler refused this offer, demanding the chancellorship instead.

By late May 1932, Hindenburg had found Brüning insufficiently pliable and named a more conservative politician, Franz von Papen, as his successor. After the mid-1932 elections that made the NSDAP Germany's largest party, Papen sought to harness Hitler by offering him the post of vice chancellor in a new cabinet. Hitler refused this offer, demanding the chancellorship instead.

On February 27, 1933, the [[Reichstag]] in [[Berlin]] was destroyed in a fire that had plainly been deliberately set. Exactly who set the fire remains a question never fully resolved. Most contemporary observers both in and outside of Germany blamed and still blame the Nazis themselves, though Shirer admits in "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" that "The whole truth about the Reichstag Fire will probably never be known." <ref>The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, Book Two, "Triumph and Consolidation." William Shirer</ref>

On February 27, 1933, the [[Reichstag]] in [[Berlin]] was destroyed in a fire that had plainly been deliberately set. Exactly who set the fire remains a question never fully resolved. Most contemporary observers both in and outside of Germany blamed and still blame the Nazis themselves, though Shirer admits in "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" that "The whole truth about the Reichstag Fire will probably never be known." <ref>The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, Book Two, "Triumph and Consolidation." William Shirer</ref>

Hitler and his followers lost no time in blaming the arson on their far-Left rivals the Communists. "This is the beginning of the Communist revolution," declared Goering as he watched fire consume the building. Hitler himself told then [[Gestapo]] Chief Diels that "The German Volk will have no sympathy with lenience. Every communist official will be shot where he is found. The communist deputies must be hanged this night. Everything connected with the communists is be settled – no more indulgence will be shown the social democrats or the Reichsbanner." <ref>The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, Book Two, "Triumph and Consolidation." William Shirer</ref>  

Hitler and his followers lost no time in blaming the arson on their far-Left rivals, the Communists. "This is the beginning of the Communist revolution," declared Goering as he watched fire consume the building. Hitler himself told then [[Gestapo]] Chief Diels that "The German Volk will have no sympathy with lenience. Every communist official will be shot where he is found. The communist deputies must be hanged this night. Everything connected with the communists is be settled – no more indulgence will be shown the social democrats or the Reichsbanner." <ref>The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, Book Two, "Triumph and Consolidation." William Shirer</ref>  

A day later a "defensive measure against Communist acts of violence endangering the state" was passed:

A day later a "defensive measure against Communist acts of violence endangering the state" was passed: