nazis rise to power

• The Treaty of Versailles K 1

  On June 28th 1919, Germany was forced to sign what is probably considered one of the harshest peace treaties in history -tov- in which the German government were allowed no say in - nicknamed the Dikat
• The Treaty of Versailles K 2

  The terms of the treaty consisted of land , army , money & blame - Germany lost 13% of its land to France and Poland , forced to pay £6.6 billion in reperations and had to reduce its army to 10,000 men and could have no tanks or airforce . This was humiliating for Germany
• The Treaty of Versailles Analysis

  This helped the Nazis because destroying the treaty became a central part of the Nazi party policy and propaganda and Hitler exploited the treaty to gain support and votes from German people
• The Treaty of Versailles Analysis+

  However, some Historians have pointed out that the Weimar government survived for more than a decade after the signing of the treaty and it was more of a blow to the government rather than the end of it
• Weaknesses of Weimar- Stab in the Back- K 1

  On 11th November 1918 , army generals and Weimar politicians signed an armistice which effectively meant Germany surrendered and lost the war
• Weaknesses of Weimar- Stab in the Back- K 2 


  Many in the army and the German public felt the army had been stabbed in the back as Germany surrendered despite never being beaten in the field
• Weaknesses of Weimar- Stab in the Back- Analysis

  This helped the Nazis because the stigma of being the November Criminals hung like a giant shadow over the weimar government and it would be difficult to gain the respect and trust of the German people
• Weaknesses of Weimar- Stab in the Back- Analysis+

  However, the myth was exactly that - a myth and in actual fact the German army was close to collapse in November 1918 had Germany not surrendered
• Economic Difficulties- TGD- K 1

  With the collapse of the New York Stock exchange - the wall street crash - in October 1929 , the USA immediately demanded the repayment of their loans to Germany causing the German economy which was reliant on these loans to collapse
• Economic Difficulties-TGD- K 2 


  Unemployment rose to 3 million by 1930 and by 1932 6 million Germans were unemployed . 30% of the German population had no enployment or income , homelessness and hunger rose
• Economic Difficulties- TGD- Analysis

  This helped the Nazis because Nazi propaganda went into overdrive during the depression and they promised jobs to every unemployed German , gaining them support and votes across Germany . The Nazi vote went up to 13.7 million in July 1932
• Economic Difficulties-TGD-Analysis+

  However, it is also important to remember that the Communist vote rose during times of misery too , and they were also able to exploit the depression to their advantage - not just the Nazis
• Appeal of the Nazis-Policies-K 1

  Hitler knew what the German people wanted to hear . He had the ability to identify their grievances and offer solutions
• Appeal of the Nazis-Policies-K 2

  The middle class was offered the restoration of prosperity, security and stability and the army was promised the destruction of the tov
• Appeal of the Nazis-Policies-Analysis

  On one hand, this helped the Nazis because they gained support and votes from every sector of German society - rich and poor , young and old , with their broadly appealing policies whereas other parties focused on one demographic , for example the Communists only received support from poorer Germans
• Appeal of the Nazis-Policies-Analysis+

  However , on the other hand , the Nazi party policies were clearly contradictory - i.e better wages for workers but also restricting the power of trade unions - many Germans were able to see through the Nazis unrealistic promises.
• Weaknesses and Mistakes of Opponents-K 1

  The Socialists and Communists could have joined together to defeat the Nazis as they were both left wing parties , however the Spartacists uprising in 1919 proved to be an issue as the SPD would never forgive the KPD for starting an uprising and the KPD wouldnt forgive the SPD for executing the Spartacists
• Weaknesses and mistakes of Opponents-K 2

  The other parties in the Reichstag cannot escape the responsibility for the success of Hitler
• Weaknesses and mistakes of Opponents-Analysis

  This helped the Nazis because no German parties were willing to work together to stand against the Nazis , making the Nazis rise to power virtually unchallenged in the 1930s
• Weaknesses and mistakes of Opponents- Analysis+

  In addition, Hindenburg appointed Hitler chancellor to 'keep an eye on him' and it was not until the Reichstag Fire , February 1933 that Hitler passed the Enabling Act which gave him the real authority to pass laws in Germany