The Reich is ... The Third Reich: a story (briefly)

The Third Reich is the informal name of Germany in the chronological segment from the spring of 1933 to May 1945. Despite such a short life, he played a significant role in the history of the last century, leaving behind a multitude of unsolved mysteries. Let's try to describe briefly the most significant stages of the state's fate in that period. Naturally, we should start from the moment when Hitler came to power, to recall what ideas he conquered the hearts of many Germans and poisoned their minds. But war is not the only thing that this politician distinguished himself. Under his wing, he collected many outstanding scientists and gave them the opportunity to work and reinvent. This decision allowed Germany to acquire the most extraordinary technical devices, thanks to which the country quickly recovered from the terrible destruction.

origin of name

The phrase Drittes reich in German means "Third Empire". It is interesting that this definition is translated into Russian in different ways. The term "Reich" can be interpreted as "state" and "empire", but it is closest to such a concept as "power". But even in German, it can acquire a mystical meaning. According to him, the Reich is a "kingdom". The author of this concept was the German figure Arthur Möller van den Broek.

The First and Second Reichs

The Third Reich ... This term is familiar to almost every person. But few people can explain why the state was called that way. Why the third? The fact is that van den Broek understood by this word an indivisible power, which was conceived as a haven for the entire German people. In his view, the First Reich is the Roman Empire of the German nation.

Her fate began in 962 and was interrupted in 1806 as a result of the defeat that Napoleon inflicted on her. The second Reich called the German Empire, established in 1871, at a time when William I. ruled . Her story ended after the 1918 revolution. This is the so-called Kaiser Germany. And the Third Reich, in the opinion of van den Broek, would have acted as the successor to the weakened Weimar Republic and was to become an ideal holistic state. This idea was already taken from him by Adolf Hitler. Thus, the history of Germany, briefly speaking, just fit into the successive Reichs.

Short story

By the late 20's - early 30's. The global economy was under the power of a global crisis that weakened Germany as well. With this, the beginning of the fate of the Third Reich was connected in 1934. The political situation in the state has become extremely aggravated. At the same time, the importance of the National Socialist Workers Party increased. In the July elections in 1932, she gained 37% of the vote. But, although it surpassed the other parties, it was still not enough to form a government.

In the next election the result was even smaller (32%). All this year President Hindenburg urged Hitler to become a member of the government, offered him the place of vice-chancellor. However, he agreed only on the post of the Reich Chancellor. Only the next winter, Hindenburg succumbed to these conditions. And on January 30 Adolf Hitler took the post of Reich Chancellor.

Already in February, the Communist Party was banned, and in relation to its leaders, severe persecution began, to which almost half of its members were subjected.

Immediately disbanded the Reichstag, and in the elections held in March, the victory was won by the VATAP. The newly created government already at the first meeting, on March 23, approved Hitler's extraordinary power rights.

In July, all existing parties were banned except for the Nazi party. Also, the trade unions were dissolved, and the German labor front was formed instead of them. 1938 marked the beginning of the arrests and extermination of Jews.

Hitler's popularity grew steadily. A notable role in this was played by propaganda: the Kaiser Germany and the Weimar weak Republic were condemned, and also remembered the defeat in the First World War. Also, the growth of the Führer's popularity was explained by the end of the Great Depression and marked economic development. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that it was during this period that the country took a leading position in the production of metals such as aluminum and steel.

In 1938 Austria joined the Reich, and Czechoslovakia followed in 1939. The following year, the leaders of the USSR and Germany signed the Non-Aggression Pact.

The Second World War and the Third Reich

In September 1939 the soldiers of the Reich entered Poland. France and Britain in response to this declared war on Germany. Over the next three years, the Reich defeated part of the European countries. In June 1941, Germany attacked the USSR, occupying some of its lands.

The conquered areas established a regime of intimidation. This provoked the appearance of partisan detachments.

In July 1944, an attempt was made to turn the coup (crashed) and a failed assassination attempt on Hitler's life. The state organized partisan underground detachments.

May 7, 1945 concluded an act of unconditional surrender of Germany. May 9 was the day of the end of hostilities. And on May 23, the government of the Third Reich was arrested.

State and territorial organization of the Third Reich

The head of the empire was the chancellor. The executive power was concentrated in the hands of the government. The legislative body was the imperial Sejm, which was elected by the people. Within Germany, only the National Socialist Workers' Party was allowed to operate.

The Third Reich was divided into fourteen lands and two cities.

The countries that entered the state as a result of expansion, and those in which mainly ethnic Germans lived, were included in it as imperial districts. They were called "Reichsgau". Thus, Austria was divided into seven such entities.

The Reich Commissariats were organized on the remaining occupied lands. In total, five such formations were created, four more were planned to be formed.

Symbols of the Third Reich

Perhaps the most famous and familiar symbol characterizing the Third Reich is a red flag with a swastika, which is still banned in many countries. By the way, it was depicted almost on all state attributes. It is interesting that the Reich's weapon, primarily the cold one, was created taking into account the characteristics of uniforms and national symbols. Another attribute was the iron cross with expanding ends. The emblem was the image of a black eagle, in claws which had an oak wreath with a swastika.

"Song of the Germans"

The anthem of the Third Reich is the "Song of the Germans" created nearly a century before Hitler's reign. The author of the text was Hoffmann von Fallersleben. The musical accompaniment was written by Joseph Haydn. The anthem of the Third Reich is now the main composition of the united Germany. It is interesting that the "Song of the Germans" in our days does not cause such strong negative associations, for example, as a swastika. However, this does not apply to the military marches of the Third Reich.

In any case, parts of them. For example, the composition written by Horst Wessel was a march of assault detachments and a hymn of the ruling party. Nowadays it is prohibited by the criminal legislation of Germany and Austria.