Indoctrination and Discrimination (1933-1939)

Between 1933 and 1939, Nazi Germany, under Adolf Hitler's leadership, transformed into a totalitarian state. After coming to power in 1933, the Nazis quickly eliminated political opposition, suppressed civil liberties, and established a one-party dictatorship. The 1933 Book Burnings and the 1936 Olympics illustrate the influence of Nazi propaganda Policies of state-sponsored indoctrination and discrimination, through education and youth organizations and the enactment of the Nuremberg Laws in 1935, stripped Jews of their rights and laid the foundation for widespread antisemitic persecution. During this period, the regime also promoted aggressive nationalism, rearmed the military in violation of the Treaty of Versailles, and expanded its territory with actions like the annexation of Austria in 1938 and the occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939. The November pogroms or Kristallnacht in 1938 marks the turning point and sets the stage for the Holocaust. This section includes readings with questions, activities, and case studies.