great depression

• The Great Depression

  The Nazis became popular for a number of reasons: the impact of the Great Depression, the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic, and the strength of the Nazi Party.
• The Wall Street Crash

  • In 1929, the Wall Street Crash happened in the USA. After this, banks lost billions of dollars. Eventually, this was felt by the whole world in the Great Depression.
  • The main reason the Great Depression affected Germany was because it caused unemployment.
• Unemployment

  • Firstly, US banks stopped loans to Germany.
  • Next, German industries lost finance and laid off (fired) workers.
  • By 1932, 40% of workers were unemployed.
  • The German government had no money so reduced unemployment benefits.
  • The combination of these factors meant that families suffered and lost faith in democracy.
• Failure of the Weimar Republic

  • It became clear that the government could not solve the problem of unemployment.
  • Chancellor Müller could not improve Germany’s economy and neither could his replacement, Chancellor Brüning.
• Hindenburg's response to unemployment

  • In response, President Hindenburg lost faith in democracy himself and used Article 48 to bypass (avoid and go around) the Reichstag.
  • This significantly weakened the Weimar Republic.
• Article 48

  Using Article 48 to bypass the Reichstag significantly weakened democracy in the Weimar Republic.

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• Growth of the Nazis

  The Nazis became popular for a number of reasons: the impact of the Great Depression, the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic, and the strength of the Nazi Party.
• Extremism

  • In the economic crisis, the German people turned to extremist parties to quickly solve unemployment.
  • The Communists gained increasing support from the working class.
  • The Nazis also gained support because they appealed to a wider group of the German population.
• Hitler and intimidation

  • The Nazi’s gained support because of Hitler’s personality.
  • Not only a strong leader, Hitler was a mesmerising public speaker who travelled the country to give speeches.
  • The Nazis also grew because of intimidation tactics (using subtle threats).
  • The SA and SS fought and eliminated political opponents but also protected the Nazis. This showed the strength of the Nazis.
• Propaganda

  • Propaganda (information designed to influence people) helped spread the Nazi message, emphasising three things.
  • Firstly, the Hitler Cult. Hitler was presented as Germany’s saviour.
  • Secondly, volksgemeinschaft (people’s community). The Nazis wanted to restore Germany back to traditional values and focus on an Aryan (Indo-European) community.
  • Thirdly, anti-Semitism (anti-Jews). They blamed the Jews for the Great Depression in Germany.
• Hitler's flexible message - for workers

  • Hitler was so successful because his message was flexible. He could tailor what he said to his audience.
  • For businessmen, the Nazis would solve the Great Depression.
  • For the workers, the Nazis would give employment and food.
  • For farmers, the Nazis would protect them from Communists who could seize land.
• Hitler's flexible message - for other social groups

  • For the middle class, the Nazis would stop Communism and return Germany to its traditional roots.
  • For the youth, the Nazis were an exciting movement.
  • For women, the Nazis would prioritise the family and home.
  • Between 1928-1932, votes for Nazis rocketed from 2.6% in 1928 to 18% in 1930, to 37% in July 1932.