How did Hitler become Chancellor

• What was the Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression?

  New York Stock Exchange had a fall in share prices which meant that US loaners demanded immediate repayment off Germany as they US loans to recover from hyperinflation. HYPERINFLATION IS NOT THE SAME AS THE WALL STREET CRASH OR GREAT DEPRESSION. As the market fell, people took money out, causing it to get worse. Germany was deeply affected
• Impacts of the Wall Street Crash and Great Depression:

  • USA was the largest market for German goods -> 61% decline in exports, which resulted in a 58% decline in the industry
  • Farmers were harshly impacted, many had to give up their jobs
  • France blocked emergency loans to Germany, which resulted in the situation getting worse
  • Bankrupt companies, banks collapsed e.g. Austrian Bank Kredit Astalt
  • Unemployment increased-> true number estimates to be 8 million, registered number was 6 million by January 1933
• Great Depression and Young People:

  Young People were greatly affected by the Great Depression as many of them lost work. 39% of males aged 14-25 unemployed, 25.2% of females aged 14-25 unemployed. Convictions of juvenile crime did not increase

  Accusations of 14–25-year-olds did though – particularly theft, violent disorder during political demonstrations. Both the KPD and NSDAP offered paramilitary places to the youth, which gave food and uniform. However, it wasn't as popular or stable
• Women and the Great Depression:

  doppelverdieners were women who worked and were married as they were double earners. They saw them as taking a mans job as female employment increased as employers didn't have to pay high wages to women. DNVP campaigned for women to be removed from the workforce, which was somewhat successful as female civil servants were dismissed.
• Government Policies for the Youth:

  Set up day centres – youth go to learn skills for employment

  Compulsory labour schemes – working for government

  Voluntary residential schemes – unpaid agricultural work

  They weren't successful as they didn't tackle to key issue of the problem
• The Fall of the Great Coalition:

  The Great Coalition had 5 parties ranging from the SPD to the DNVP. Rise in poverty caused by the Great Depression caused an increase in those using the welfare state, which could only handle 800 000 people. Caused a split between the left and right. Government was deadlocked on the issue, causing Muller to resign.
• Presidential Government:

  • Didn't involve Hindenburg personally taking the reins of the government
  • Hindenburg was senile -> commenting on how many Russians they'd captured at a rally
  • Strongly influenced by Oskar (his son), Schleicher (who encouraged Hindenburg to get his way), Otto Meissener (state secutary)
• Brunings Chancellorship 1930-1932:

  • Bruning was the ZP leader and was Schleicher's nominee for Chancellor as he was Authoritarian leaning
  • Bruning wanted to boost Germany's competitiveness, meaning he cut costs of homes and had tight public spending
  • Wages cut as taxes increased -> reduced activity in German economy
  • Nicknamed the Hunger Chancellor
  • Public deterioration as KPD and Nazi violence increased
  • Bruning also antagonised Prussian aristocracy, and he failed to persuade extension to Hindenburgs 2nd term -> Nazis refused to help
• Von Papen JUNE-DECEMBER 1932:

  • Right-Wing, Catholic Aristocrat
  • Before 1932, he was politically unknown
  • Schleicher's Nominee
  • Thought Nazis could be tamed
  • Hitler refused to serve under Papen as he wanted an Enabling Bill
  • Tried to "woo" the Nazis
  • Became close to Hindenburg
  • Papen was voted out by Reichstag vote of no confidence
• How did Papen try to "woo" Nazis:

  • Right wing ministers -> Cabinet of Barons
  • Allowed SA
  • Papen seized power in Prussia
  • July elections -> strengthen Nazi electoral support
• Schleicher's Chancellorship DECEMBER 1932- JANUARY 1933:

  • He was in a precarious position as Hindenburg liked Papen and didn't have full confidence
  • Papen made a political alliance with Hitler
  • Schleicher tried to make an alliance with the Nazi Gregor Stressor
  • This alliance failed
  • Tried to make a military government -> this failed too
  • Reichstag and Hindenburg turned against him
  • Resigned 28th January 1933
• Backstairs Intrigue:

  • Hitler held the largest party in the Reichstag, and the elite needed him
  • Papen wanted revenge on Schleicher as he believed he was a catalyst in his removal as chancellor, as Hindenburg liked him
  • Hitler and Papen began secret talks
  • Hindenburg didn't like Hitler, as he saw him as a brutish lower class man
  • Papen convinced Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as Chancellor as Papen would be Vice Chancellor
  • The Cabinet would be made up of aristocrats -> known as the Cabinet of Barons
  • Papen said -> He'll be squeaking
• 2 other Nazis made up the Cabinet of Barons:

  1. Wilhelm Frick -> Reich Minister of the Interior
  2. Hermann Goring -> Minister without Portfolio and Prussion Minister of Interior
• Hitler's Appeal:

  • His political skill
  • Support from the Industrialists
  • Promises to voters
  • Organisation
  • Other Parties
  • Propaganda
• Hitler's Political Skill:

  • Good energy
  • Charismatic
  • Political nerve-> took chancellorship on his own terms
  • Resisted attempts to be tamed
  • Slef Belief
• Support for Industrialists:

  • Financed campaigns
  • Frightened of Communism
  • Financial backing
  • Left conservative parties
• Promised voters with flexible approach to policies
• Organisation at the Bamburg Conference
• Other Parties were weak and disorganised. The left were arguing consistently, and the KPD weren't as popular. Underestimated the NSDAP
• Propaganda:

  • Josef Goebbels was put in charge of propaganda in 1930
  • Adapted new techniques
  • Plane flew Hitler over Germany in 1932 so that Hitler could speak at 3-4 rallies
  • Parades
  • Posters
  • Promised to Make Germany Great Again
  • Used fear and desperation of the German people to perpetuate their desires
  • SA disturbed communist rallies
  • Number of votes did slightly decline
• Chancellorship of Hitler:

  His position was seen as weak. Papen tried to control him and Hindenburg could easily get rid of him
• Hitler became chancellor on the 30th January 1933