Rise of the Nazis Season 1 Episode 2 The First Six Months in Power

In episode 2 of Rise of the Nazis season 1, titled "The First Six Months in Power," the focus turns to the early days of Hitler and the Nazi Party's reign over Germany.

The episode begins with Hitler taking office as Chancellor in January 1933, following a political deal struck with President Hindenburg. From there, the Nazi Party quickly consolidated its power, utilizing tactics of propaganda, intimidation, and violence to maintain control.

One of the first major events covered in the episode is the Reichstag fire of February 1933, which the Nazi Party used as an opportunity to seize more power by blaming the fire on Communist agitators and passing the Reichstag Fire Decree, granting them sweeping emergency powers.

The episode also touches on the "Night of the Long Knives," a violent purge of Hitler's political opponents within the Nazi Party in June 1934. This event solidified Hitler's personal power and removed any remaining obstacles to complete Nazi control.

Throughout the episode, the influence of key figures such as Joseph Goebbels, Heinrich Himmler, and Hermann Göring is highlighted, as they used their positions within the Nazi Party to further their own agendas and cement their power.

The social and cultural impact of the Nazi Party's early rule is also examined, including the persecution of Jews and other minority groups, the burning of books deemed "un-German," and the establishment of the Nazi state youth group, the Hitler Youth.

Despite the tightening grip of the Nazi Party, there were still those who resisted. The episode highlights the efforts of individuals such as Pastor Martin Niemöller, who spoke out against Nazi policies and was eventually sent to a concentration camp for his opposition.

Overall, "The First Six Months in Power" offers a detailed look at the early stages of Hitler and the Nazi Party's rise to authoritarian control in Germany. The episode showcases the tactics and strategies they used to consolidate power, as well as the devastating impact their rule had on German society and those who dared to resist.