Growth of Nazi Party

• Reasons for the growth of the Nazi Party


  • In four years, the Nazi Party went from being the eighth most popular party in Germany to the most popular
  • In 1928 they won only 800,000 votes
  • In July 1932, they won nearly 14 million votes
• The Depression


  By 1932, German unemployment percentage stood at 36%
• Appeal of Hitler

  • With his charismatic personality, he convinced people that he could be trusted to make Germany a great nation
  • His powerful speeches filled his audiences with hope
• Discontent with the Weimar government

  • They couldn't agree on how to help the unemployed and get Germany out of the Depression
  • Several different Chancellors were appointed by President Hindenburg but they made little impact
  • Many ordinary Germans felt that the democratic system was not working
• The Nazis promised to create jobs and build up agricultural life again within 5-6 years
• This was much better than anything else that was brought forward, and there was so much hopelessness, so Hans Kehrl thought it was a real chance to follow the Nazis and their advice
• Hans Kehrl was critical of the politicians of Weimar Germany for their petty differences of opinion, foreign politics, and social politics, instead of pulling together as a nation with a team spirit and solidarity
• Spartacists

  Communists who had tried to take over in the years after the First World War
• Fear of communism

  Alarmed middle-class and wealthy Germans who didn't want to lose their wealth and position in society
• Communists were anti-religion

  Worried churchgoers
• Hitler


  Said he would fight communism and gained support from the middle and upper classes
• Nazi Party structure, methods and tactics


  1. After the failure of the Munich Putsch in 1923, Hitler changed tactics to legally win power in elections

  2. Nazi Party offices were set up all over Germany to recruit more followers

  3. The SA (Stormtroopers) protected Hitler's meetings and tried to influence voters at elections

  4. Hitler took part in mass parades and rallies to display Nazi power

  5. The Hitler Youth Organisation was set up to encourage younger followers

  6. The Nazis used new media like radio and cinema news reports, bought newspapers and printed millions of leaflets and posters to reach a wide audience

  7. Joseph Goebbels was put in charge of propaganda from 1928 to spread the Nazi message
• Who voted for the Nazis

  • Farmers
  • Women
  • Middle classes
  • Wealthy classes
  • Youth
• Farmers


  • The Depression hit farmers hard and the Weimar government offered little help
  • The Nazis promised them higher prices for crops, a better quality of life and higher status in society
  • Nazi opposition to communists appealed to farmers-if the communists took over they would seize farmers' land
• Middle classes


  • Feared that law and order might break down during the Depression
  • Worried that a communist takeover could destroy their way of life
  • The Nazis promised to deal with problems decisively and the SA fought communists
• Women


  • The Nazis targeted women voters by saying that family life, good morals and self-discipline were important
  • Some women agreed with Hitler's view that Weimar culture had been a bad influence on the young
• Wealthy classes


  • The Nazis promised strong leadership to make Germany powerful again
  • Hitler promised to let owners run factories how they wanted, and his plans to build more weapons would be good for manufacturing
  • The communists wanted to take over many businesses, but the Nazis opposed them
• Youth


  • Hitler's promise to tear up the Treaty of Versailles and make the country strong again appealed to young people
  • They wanted to be a part of Germany's bright future and get jobs in the armed forces or building new homes, motorways and hospitals
• The economic Depression, which began in America in 1929, affected many countries all over the world
• Between 1928 and 1930, German unemployment rose from 2.5 to 4 million. By 1932 it was six million
• Millions felt the Weimar government was doing little to deal with the crisis
• Support for the more extreme political parties (like left-wing communists and right-wing Nazis) grew because they promised to solve Germany's problems