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Helped into Power

Episode 1 of 6

Documentary series examining how Hitler came to power. By January 1933, Germany had voted for a chancellor who was openly opposed to democracy.

How was it possible that the cultured nation at the heart of Europe ever allowed Hitler to come to power?

With the help of film archive discoveries from Russia and interviews with eye witnesses, many of whom are former members of the Nazi party and have never appeared on television before, this film reveals how the Nazi party was born and grew in support in the late 1920s, and shows just why in January 1933 Germany's President Hindenburg appointed a new popular chancellor who was openly committed to overthrowing Germany democracy - Adolf Hitler.

Hitler's personality was to dominate the Nazi party. But eyewitnesses have very different recollections of his effect upon them. To Nazi supporter Fridolin von Spaun 'the long gaze which he gave me convinced me completely that he was a man with honourable intentions.' But to German diplomat Herbert Richter, who saw Hitler in the 1920s, 'he wasn't quite normal. He was spooky.'

The Nazis wanted the world to believe that Hitler's rise to power was inevitable - this programme shatters that myth.

50 minutes

Last on

Thu 2 Feb 2017 23:00
麻豆社 Four

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Credit

Producer Laurence Rees

Broadcasts

  • Wed 10 Sep 1997 21:00
    麻豆社 Two except East, South East & Yorkshire
  • Sun 20 Sep 1998 21:00
    麻豆社 Two except East, South East & Yorkshire
  • Sat 22 Jul 2000 19:35
    麻豆社 Two except East, South East & Yorkshire
  • Mon 24 Jul 2000 10:00
    麻豆社 Knowledge
  • Mon 24 Jul 2000 13:05
    麻豆社 Knowledge
  • Mon 24 Jul 2000 16:00
    麻豆社 Knowledge
  • Mon 24 Jul 2000 19:00
    麻豆社 Knowledge
  • Mon 24 Jul 2000 22:00
    麻豆社 Knowledge
  • Tue 25 Jul 2000 01:00
    麻豆社 Knowledge
  • Sat 29 Jul 2000 11:00
    麻豆社 Knowledge
  • Sat 29 Jul 2000 15:00
    麻豆社 Knowledge
  • Sat 29 Jul 2000 19:00
    麻豆社 Knowledge
  • Sat 29 Jul 2000 23:00
    麻豆社 Knowledge
  • Mon 2 Apr 2001 20:00
    麻豆社 Knowledge
  • Tue 3 Apr 2001 00:20
    麻豆社 Knowledge
  • Sat 19 May 2001 09:00
    麻豆社 Knowledge
  • Sat 19 May 2001 12:00
    麻豆社 Knowledge
  • Sat 19 May 2001 15:00
    麻豆社 Knowledge
  • Mon 29 Jul 2002 22:30
    麻豆社 Four
  • Sat 30 Apr 2005 19:50
    麻豆社 Two Wales
  • Thu 4 Oct 2012 22:00
    麻豆社 Four
  • Thu 2 Feb 2017 23:00
    麻豆社 Four