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At the time of its foundation in early 1919, the Nazi Party was a group of several dozen dilettantes who at first glance appeared to stand little chance of changing history.  And yet, by 1923 it had grown to over 50K members - enough to convince Hitler that they could seize control of Bavaria.  This episode explores the secrets to the Nazi Party's success, showing how they built a politically effective, modern mass movement.  Topics covered include why Hitler was such a convincing speaker, the "socialist" element of early Nazism, the pivotal role of the Sturmabteilung (SA) and the development of Nazi rituals of violence, and the Beer Hall Putsch (Nov. 1923).  We'll also briefly introduce several key Nazi figures to the story, including Ernst Röhm, Julius Streicher, and Ernst "Putzi" Hanfstaengl.  Finally, the episode concludes by showing the failure of Weimar authorities to effectively deal with Hitler's treason.

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