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[[Image:Naziflag.png|thumb|300px|The flag of Nazi Germany]]

[[Image:Naziflag.png|thumb|300px|The flag of Nazi Germany]]

Nazis is an [[acronym]] for the National Socialist German Workers’ party (German: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei).  

Nazis is an [[acronym]] for the National Socialist German Workers' Party (German: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei).  

Most historians agree that the defeat of Germany in the First World War, and anger over the [[Versailles Treaty]], specifically those provisions that restored territory to [[France]], [[Belguim]], [[Denmark]], and [[Poland]], disarmed German and required that it pay reparations for the First World War, helped lay the groundwork for the rise of Nazism. [[Adolf Hitler]]  exploited the myth of the “Stab in the Back,” the belief that the war had been lost because “disloyal” elements within Germany – Jews and Marxists – had undermined the war effort. As [[William Shirer]], put it in The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich,  

Most historians agree that the defeat of Germany in the First World War and anger over the [[Treaty of Versailles]], specifically those provisions that restored territory to [[France]], [[Belguim]], [[Denmark]], and [[Poland]], disarmed Germany, and required that it pay reparations for the First World War helped lay the groundwork for the rise of Nazism. [[Adolf Hitler]]  exploited the myth of the “Stab in the Back,” the belief that the war had been lost because “disloyal” elements within Germany – [[Jews]] and [[Marxism|Marxists]] – had undermined the war effort. As [[William Shirer]] put it in ''The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich'',  

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The origin of the Nazi Party itself was a small group called The German Workers Party, founded by a locksmith named Anton Drexler who, in 1918, had set up a “Committee of Independent Workmen” in reaction to the [[Marxism]]  of the free trade unions. A year later The German Workers Party was formed when this merged with another group, the Political Workers Circle. <ref>Shoah Resource Center, http://www1.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/Microsoft%20Word%20-%205946.pdf </ref> <ref>German Culture.com, http://www.germanculture.com.ua/library/weekly/aa012400b.htm</ref>

The origin of the Nazi Party itself was a small group called The German Workers' Party, founded by a locksmith named Anton Drexler who, in 1918, had set up a “Committee of Independent Workmen” in reaction to the [[Marxism]]  of the free trade unions. A year later The German Workers Party was formed when this merged with another group, the Political Workers' Circle. <ref>Shoah Resource Center, http://www1.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/Microsoft%20Word%20-%205946.pdf </ref> <ref>Germanculture.com, http://www.germanculture.com.ua/library/weekly/aa012400b.htm</ref>

It was Adolph Hitler, who joined the party and was put in charge of propaganda in 1920, who transformed this small group into what we now know as the Nazi Party. That same year the words “National Socialist” were added to the party name and it became “The National Socialist German Workers Party” (N.S.D.A.P.) Storm Troopers in the distinctive brown uniforms that would become their trademark were organized, first to kick out hecklers at Nazi meetings, then to break up the meetings of other parties. The hakenkreuz, or the [[Swastika]], was adopted as the party’s flag. By the following summer, Hitler himself had taken over as leader of the party.

It was Adolf Hitler, who joined the party and was put in charge of propaganda in 1920, who transformed this small group into what we now know as the Nazi Party. That same year the words “National Socialist” were added to the party name and it became “The National Socialist German Workers Party” (NSDAP).  The Storm Troopers (Sturmabteilung, [[SA]]) in their distinctive brown uniforms, were organized first to kick out hecklers at Nazi meetings, then to break up the meetings of other parties. The hakenkreuz (literally: ''crooked cross''), or the [[swastika]], was adopted in the party’s flag. By the following summer, Hitler himself had taken over as leader (de: Führer) of the party.

The Nazis were [[Anti-Semitism|anti-Semitic]] (hating Jews) and blamed the [[Jews]] for the problems in Germany.  

The Nazis were [[Anti-Semitism|anti-Semitic]] and blamed the Jews for the problems in Germany.  

They made laws against Jews ("Rassengesetze" = Race laws) and they required Jews to wear a [[Star of David]] on their clothing.  

They made laws against Jews ("Rassengesetze", ''race laws'') which required Jews to wear a [[Star of David]] on their clothing.  

The Jews were mistreated, persecuted and killed by the Nazis.   

The Jews were mistreated, persecuted, and killed by the Nazis.   

The Nazi state also persecuted [[Communism|Communists]] and other political opponents, [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] and foreign nationals.  Though many top Nazi's were openly gay <ref>Hans Peter Bleuel, ''Sex and Society in Nazi Germany'', (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, 1973).</ref><ref>[[Scott Lively]] [http://www.leaderu.com/jhs/lively.html ''The Homosexual Roots of the Nazi Party'']</ref>, [[homosexuals]] who were not party members came under increasing scrutiny and persecution in the later years of the regime.   

The Nazi state also persecuted leftists and other political opponents, [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[Freemasons]], and foreign nationals.  Though many top Nazis were openly gay <ref>Hans Peter Bleuel, ''Sex and Society in Nazi Germany'', (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, 1973).</ref><ref>[[Scott Lively]] [http://www.leaderu.com/jhs/lively.html ''The Homosexual Roots of the Nazi Party'']</ref>, [[homosexuals]] who were not party members came under increasing scrutiny and persecution in the later years of the régime.   

The Nazis exterminated about 11 million civilians by rounding them up, transporting them to concentration camps and then murdering them there. About 6 million of these were Jews (see [[Holocaust]]).  

The Nazis exterminated about 11 million civilians by rounding them up, transporting them to concentration camps and then murdering them there. About 6 million of these were Jews (see [[Holocaust]]).