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When 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.

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From 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).

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For 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.

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In 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 show

For 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.