Rise to power

Created by

Amelie Viney

Cards (29)

Origins of the Nazi party and Hitler:
> The Nazis began as the German Workers’ party led by Anton Drexler
> Hitler joined in 1919-> Drexler saw Hitler’s talent and put him in charge of propaganda and the political ideas of the Party
> In 1920: the party announced its Twenty-five point programme and renamed themselves the Nazis
> In 1921: Hitler removed Drexler as leader and then set up the SA due to opponents trying to disrupt them
What were the points of the Twenty-five point programme?
> abolition of the Treaty of Versailles
> union of Germany and Austria
> only ‘true’ Germans to be allowed to live in Germany
> large industries and businesses to be nationalised
> generous old age pension
> a strong central government
Who were the November criminals?
The Socialist politicians who signed the Treaty of Versailles
The Munich Putsch: 
> In November 1923: Weimar Republic preoccupied with economic crisis, Hitler decided it was time to take over the government
> 8th Nov: Hitler hijacked a local government meeting and announced he was taking over Bavaria
> Nazi Stormtroopers took over official buildings, but Weimar forces hit back
> Police rounded up stormtroopers, killed 16 nazis, Hitler escaped from chaos in a car
The aftermath of the Munich Putsch: 
> In the short term it was a disaster for Hitler: arrested and charged with treason
> But it gained him publicity
> Hitler so impressed the judges that he only got 5 years of prison, of which he only served 9 months in the comfort of Landsberg castle
> Ludendorff was freed altogether
> Because of his links with Ludendorff, Hitler gained the attention of important figues in the army
What did Hitler do once out of prison?
> Hitler realised Nazis old not take power by force: he needed to work within the democratic system
> Their candidates stood in the Reichstag elections for the first time in May 1924 and won 32 seats
-> Encouraged by this, Hitler created a network of local nazi parties which in turn set up the Hitler Youth, the Nazi Students’ league and similar organisations
How and why did Hitler change his strategy?
> By 1927: Nazis were still trying to appeal to the German workers, but most supported socialists or communists
> In 1928: Nazis only gained 12 seats: 1/4 of communists
How did Hitler change his strategy: Farmers 
> Nazis gained more support from farmers who made up 35% of the entire German populations
> Farmers were not sharing in Weimar Germany’s prosperity so Hitler promised to help agriculture if they came into power and highlighted the importance of farmers in their plans for Germany
How did Hitler change his strategy: the SA 
> In 1925: Hitler enlarged the SA
> About 55% of the SA came from the unemployed
> He also set up the SS who were fanatically loyal to Hitler personally
> Membership of the party rose to over 100,000 by 1928
How did Hitler change his strategy: Propaganda  
> Hitler appointed Joseph Goebbels to take charge of Nazi propaganda
> He and Hitler believed the best way to appeal to the masses was by appealing to their feelings rather than by rational argument
> Goebbels produced posters, films, radio broadcasts and organised rallies
What affect did Hitler’s strategy change have? 
No electorate breakthrough
The nazis were the smallest party: 3% of vote
The Depression and the Rise of the Nazis:
In 1929: US stock market crashed, sent US into economic depression
American bankers and business men lost a lot of money so to pay off their debts they asked German banks to repay loans
-> led to economic collapse in Germany
Government tried to act by proportional representation made decisive agreements difficult
How did Hitler exploit the Great Depression? 
> Depression highlighted the Weimar Republic’s indecisiveness so Hitler advertised a strong leader
> Unemployment gave him an issue to solve: proposed the unemployed join the army, and be used for public works like road building
> The Nazi’s Twenty-five points appealed to those most vulnerable to the depression: the unemployed, elderly and middle classes
-> Hitler offered them culprits to blame for Germany’s struggles
Why did the Nazis succeed in elections? (key factors) 
1: Nazi campaigning
2: Negative cohesion
3: Disillusionment with democracy
4: The communist threat
5: Weak opposition
Why did the Nazis succeed in elections? Nazi campaigning: 
> Using films, radio and records he brought his message to millions, raising his profile
> Appeared as a man of the people with modern and dynamic ideas
> Used generalised slogans: ‘uniting the people’
> Backed up their campaigns with practical actions
Why did the Nazis succeed in elections? Negative Cohesion: 
People supported the Nazis because they shared Nazi fears more than they shared Nazi views
-> e.g fear of communists
Why did the Nazis succeed in elections? Disillusionment with democracy: 
> Weimar Politicians were unable to tackle problems of the depression
> Chancellor Bruning called elections in 1930; disastrous because it gave the Nazis a chance to exploit the discontent in Germany
Why did the Nazis succeed in elections? The communist threat: 
> Communist support rose during the depression: The Nazis turned this to their advantage, ‘fear of communism’ was another shared fear
> There were frequent battles between communists and police, in contrast SA and SS were orderly and disciplined: many Germans valued this
> Business leaders also feared the communists so put money into Nazi campaign funds
Why did the Nazis succeed in elections: Weak opposition: 
> The Social Democratic Party made the mistake of thinking people would not fall for Nazi campaigns and promises
> They also failed to work with other parties, particularly the communists
-> Ebert’s violence towards the communists in
1919-20 left bitterness that made this difficult
When and Why was Hitler appointed Chancellor? 
Post Kurt Von Schleicher’s resignation, Hindenburg was running the country using his emergency powers
-> Hindenburg needed a chancellor with support from the Reichstag
On 30th Jan 1933: Hitler was made chancellor, Hindenburg was convinced he could limit Hitler’s influence with only a few nazis in the cabinet and Von Papen as vice chancellor
How did Hitler become Chancellor?
July 1932: Nazis largest single party but did not have majority. Hindenburg uses emergency powers to allow Von Papen to try to solve unemployment: no support. Called another election
November elections: Nazis lost 2 million votes, 38 seats, running out of funds
December: Von Schleicher made chancellor, forced to resign a month later
-> Hindenburg running country using emergency powers: needed chancellor who had Reichstag support to save democratic system
January 1933: Hitler offered post of chancellor
Why was Hindenburg reluctant to give Hitler post of Chancellor?
He was suspicious of Hitler
Hitler had extremist demands
Who was Hindenburg?  
President of Weimar Republic
How did Hitler consolidate his position as Chancellor?
The Reichstag fire:  
> Hitler called an election in March 1933 to try to get overall Nazi majority in the Reichstag
> On 27th Feb: Reichstag building burnt down
-> Hitler blamed the communists (he now had control over the media) and declared it was the beginning of communist uprising
> He demanded emergency powers to deal with the situation and was given them by Hindenburg
> The Nazis used these powers to arrest communists and frighten voters
How did Hitler consolidate his position as Chancellor?
The Enabling act: 
> In the March 1933 election, with the collaboration of the smaller nationalist party, Nazis won majority
> Using the SA and SS, Hitler intimidated Reichstag into passing the Enabling act, only the SPD voted against
> Following the election, communists had been banned
>The enabling act made Hitler a virtual dictator, for the next 4 years he could pass any law he wanted
How did Hitler consolidate his position as Chancellor?
The Night of the long knives: 
> Within a year, any potential opponents had either left Germany or been taken to concentration camps
> Leading army officers were not impressed by Hitler and were suspicious of SA and its leader, Rohm
> Hitler also feared Rohm’s control of 4 million SA men
> He had to choose between the Army and the SA
-> On 29-30 June: squads of SS men broke into the homes of Rohm and other SA leading figures and arrested them. Rohm, Von Schleicher and 400 others were executed
How did Hitler consolidate his position as Chancellor?
The army oath: 
> Soon after the Night of Long Knives, Hindenburg died and Hitler took over as Fuhrer of Germany
> On 2nd August 1934: the entire army sore an oath of personal loyalty to Hitler
> The army agreed to stay out of politics, in return, Hitler spent vast sums on rearmament and brought back conscription as part of his plan to make Germany a great military power again
When was Hitler released from prison?
December 1924
He served only 9 months
Why did the Nazis have little success before 1930?
> Disastrous Putsch of 1923
> Nazi aims were irrelevant to most Germans
> Most industrial workers supported left-wing parties
> Successes of the Weimar Republic