In the aftermath of World War I, Germany faced immense hardship, both economically and socially. The Weimar Republic struggled with the humiliation of the Treaty of Versailles, hyperinflation, and political extremism, creating fertile ground for radical ideologies like Nazism. Adolf Hitler, who rose from humble beginnings to become a key figure in the German Workers’ Party, capitalized on public discontent, appealing to national pride and promising employment and stability. By the early 1930s, amidst the Great Depression, the Nazi Party transformed into a mass movement, leveraging propaganda to rally support. Upon becoming Chancellor in January 1933, Hitler acted swiftly to dismantle democratic institutions, using the Reichstag Fire as a pretext to suspend civil liberties and solidify his power through the Enabling Act. This led to the establishment of a totalitarian state, characterized by repression, state control over all aspects of life, and aggressive expansionist policies that ultimately contributed to the outbreak of World War II.