Rise to power: 1919-1933

• Key Topics

  • The Nazis in the 1920s
  • Hitler becomes Chancellor, 1933
  • Hitler becomes Dictator, 1934
• Hitler and the early Nazi Party

  The roots of the Nazi party start in 1889, with the birth of Adolf Hitler but the political beginnings of the party start in 1919 with the set up of the German Workers Party, the DAP
• The DAP was one of the many new parties that set up in the political chaos after the First World War and it was the joining of Adolf Hitler that changed Germanys future forever
• DAP

  • The German Workers Party was set up by Anton Drexler in 1919 in Munich
  • At first there were only a small group of 50 members
• Hitler and the birth of the Nazi Party 1919-21

  1. Hitler is invited to join the party in 1919 after Drexler hears him debating at a DAP meeting (which he was spying on!)

  2. Hitler becomes Drexler's right-hand man and in 1920 together they announced the parties 25 Point Programme

  3. Hitler's personal appeal and ability as an energetic and passionate speaker along with hatred of the Weimar Republic meant membership grew to 3000 by 1920

  4. Hitler suggests the DAP change its name to the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP or Nazis for short)

  5. In July 1921, Hitler becomes leader of the Nazi Party
• 25 Point Plan

  • The creation of a strong central government
  • The union of all Germans in a Greater Germany
  • Get rid of the Treaty of Versailles
  • Increase pensions for the elderly
  • Nationalise industries (government control)
  • Everybody should have a job
  • Build up Germany's armed forces
  • Only German races may be members of the nation, no Jews and all other non Germans must leave
  • Expand Germany across new territory to feed the people and to settle surplus population (Lebensraum)
  • All citizens should have equal rights and duties
  • Every hard-working German to have the chance of higher education
  • State must protect mothers and infants, stop children working
• Nationalists


  Believed that all policies should should be organised to make the nation stronger
• Socialists

  Believed that the country's land, industry and wealth should belong to the workers
• The 25 Point Programme appealed to many Germans (workers, soldiers, women) especially at a time when the Weimar Republic was in serious trouble
• Organisation of the party

  • The NSDAP set up a permanent office in Munich
  • They also bought two newspapers the Wolkischer Beobachter ("Peoples observer") and Der Sturmer, this allowed the Nazis message to spread across Germany
  • Hitler carefully selected party leaders for their skills and to help the Nazi image, they included: Rudolf Hess (Hitler's deputy), Hermann Goering (WW1 hero), Julius Streicher (Publisher) and Ernst Rohm (a popular ex army officer)
  • Hitler also made powerful friends such as General Ludendorff, leader of the German Army during WW1
• Sturmabteiling (SA)


  • A paramilitary force who dressed in brownshirts
  • Many of them SA were ex-soldiers or Freikorps
  • The SA paraded in the streets as a show of force
  • By August 1922, they numbered about 800 and impressed people with a sense of power and organsation
  • The SA control the crowds at meetings often using violence
  • They were also sent to attack and beat opposition, like communists
  • The SA strengthened the NSDAP and made Hitler more powerful
• By the party conference of January 1922, Hitler's control of the NSDAP was complete
• Fuhrerprinzip

  Where Hitler at the Furher (leader) of the party had complete power and authority over everything
• Hitler's leadership ensured that Nazi membership grew from about 1,100 in June 1920 to about 55,000 in November 1923
• The Munich Putsch happened for a variety of different causes: longer-term causes from 1918, medium-term causes from 1921-1922, and short-term causes during 1923
• The Munich Putsch was a disaster for the Nazis in the short term, but a success in the long term
• On 27th Feb 1925, Hitler re-launched the Nazi party at Munich Beer Hall where the Munich Putsch failed. 4000 people came to hear him speak
• Reorganisation of the Nazi Party

  1. Hitler strengthened his position at the 1926 Bamburg Conference, beating Josef Goebbels and Gregor Strasser for leadership of the party

  2. Goebbels was made Gauleiter for Berlin as a reward

  3. Hitler squashed any splits between the nationalist and socialist parts of the party

  4. Ersnt Rohm was removed as leader of the SA as he was seen as a threat

  5. Hitler set up the SS (Schutzstaffel or protection squad) as his personal bodyguard
• Nazi Organisation

  • The Nazi party was based in Munich, with departments for finance, education and industry
  • They raised money from businessmen who supported the Nazis
  • Germany was split into 35 Gaue (regions) with a local leader, the Gauleiter
  • The Nazis also set up the German Women's Order and Hitler Youth to gain women and youth members
  • By 1929, the Nazi party had over 100,000 members
• Developing support for the Nazis

  1. Goebbels was put in charge of propaganda

  2. The Nazis targeted wealthy businessmen, farmers, women, soldiers and anyone who hated the Weimar Republic, the Treaty of Versailles and Jews

  3. They waged a propaganda campaign using posters, leaflets, radio and film, and organised rallies

  
• The Nazis struggled to get any support from the working classes (who were the majority), they only got 1% of their votes in Berlin and the Ruhr
• Mein Kampf

  Became the basis for Nazi party beliefs and policies from 1924, it included: Nationalism, Hitler's belief in the superiority of the German (Aryan) race, Socialism, Totalitarianism, and Traditional values
• the economy was strong, few people voted the Nazis
• Mein Kampf

  Became the basis for Nazi party beliefs and policies from 1924
• Contents of Mein Kampf

  • Nationalism - Reversing Treaty of Versailles, building up army, invading Russia, conquering lands
  • Belief in German (Aryan) race destined to rule the world, threatened by Jews
  • Socialism - Using Germany's wealth to benefit the working people
  • Totalitarianism - Removing democracy and replacing with one leader
  • Traditional values - Strong Christian family values with clear gender roles
• Explain why the Munich Putsch (1923) failed

  1. German Army

  2. Bavarian leaders
• Explain why Hitler carried out the Munich Putsch

  1. Ludendorff

  2. French occupation of the Ruhr
• The Depression

  • In October 1929, Wall Street in America crashed. As a result US banks lost billions of dollars, businesses and banks shut down causing a world wide depression which spread to Germany. Firstly the US stopped lending money to Germany and demanded all the loans be repaid. This caused serious problems within Germany
• Unemployment and Nazi Seats in the Reichstag

  • 1930: 3 million unemployed, 107 Nazi seats
  • July 1932: 5 million unemployed, 196 Nazi seats
  • Nov 1932: 6 million unemployed, 230 Nazi seats
  • 1933: 4.8 million unemployed, 288 Nazi seats
• The German Government

  The government refused to print more money, so Chancellor Bruning decided to raise taxes and cut unemployment benefits. They also struggled to agree on how to fix the economy, so nothing happened
• The depression also led to a rise of support for the communist party (KPD) from the working classes. They felt they were their best hope. By 1932 they had 100 members of parliament
• The Fear of Communism

  • Hitler and the Nazis hated communism (they thought it was linked to a Jewish conspiracy to destroy Germany) and they vowed to destroy communism. The Nazis used the SA to fight the communists in the streets and disrupt meetings. As communist support grew, this worried the middle and upper classes and German businessmen . They were frightened of a Communist revolution as they would suffer. So they began to support the Nazis giving them votes and money
• The Weaknesses of the Weimar Republic

  • Many people hated the Weimar Republic and they never forgave them for the loss of WW1, the 'stab in the back', the Treaty of Versailles and the Depression which they failed to fix. Between 1919-1933, there were 20 different coalition government who constantly fell out, this meant nothing got done so President Hindenburg had to keep using Article 48 to pass every law. This made the Weimar Republic look weak and useless. This helped increase votes for the Nazis as Hitler who promised a strong government like they previous had in the Weimar Republic
• German businesses

  • They were forced to pay back their loans and now received no investments from US banks. Industrial production dropped 40% by 1932 and wages dropped 15%. As a result businessmen lost money and had to fire workers and close their factories and companies causing bankruptcy
• The German people

  • It led to mass unemployment of workers , 3 million workers in 1930 then 6 million by 1932. The farmers, the middle classes and businessmen lost their savings, businesses and went bankrupt. With no work, raised taxes and benefits slashed the German people suffered terrible poverty
• The depression

  Caused more hatred towards the Weimar Republic who made problems worse. As a result the people began to vote for extreme parties like the communists and Nazis. The Nazis used the depression to get more votes as they promised to fix the economy. There is a direct link between the depression and Nazi votes, as unemployment rose so did Nazi votes. The depression was a gift to the Nazis, it helped them finally get into power
• May 1932

  In early 1932, the Nazi were far from being in power but thing began to change. Bruning resigns after losing support, so Hindenburg makes Franz von Papen chancellor
• July 1932

  The Nazis get their most votes, 240 seats (38%). However, Hindenburg refuses to make Hitler Chancellor as he despises him, calling him a 'jumped up corporal'
• Nov 1932


  Von Papen loses support and quits as Chancellor. The Nazis drop to 196 votes in the election, but are still the largest party
• Dec 1932

  Schleicher is persuaded to become Chancellor, but he has no power or support in the Reichstag. Von Papen persuades Hindenburg to sack Schliecher who wants to use the army to take power. They foolishly think they can make Hitler Chancellor whilst controlling him