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  The Great War ended in 1918 and the following year the new Weimar Republic, fearing anarchy, hastily drew up a constitution and began the business of forming a new government.  Wrought with economic and social problems, anti-Democratic ideals soon took hold as the Communists and Fascists battled and soon gained seats in the Reichstag. In 1933, Franz Von Papen convinced President Hindenburg to appoint Hitler to the position of Chancellor believing that he could be controlled. On March 21, 1933, at a largely ceremonial event, Hitler was appointed. He quickly began consolidated his power, ending the Weimar Era and beginning the era of the Third Reich.

   Hitler created jobs and re-instilled a nationalistic pride that was lost after the humiliations that came from the defeat in WWI and the resulting German struggles. However, much of the horrible, psychotic business of the Nazis was hidden from the world in the beginning, or at least much of the world ignored it. I have read American magazine articles from the period praising Hitler for his work and for elevating Germany. Apparently, many media types were just as clueless back then as they are today.

    Psychotic political philosophies aside, the Nazi regime were masters of propaganda and used it in there attempts to legitimize their claim as the next German empire. They combined fantastic banknote designs with historically popular German figures when at all possible. This era remains among the most popular for coin and militaria collectors, as well as, history buffs. Looks like everyone still wants a piece of the bad guys. I hope you have time to check out a few fine examples of World War II history.