Hitler's Rise to power 1919-33

• Paul von Hindenburg


  Hero of the First World War and President of the Weimar Republic
• Heinrich Brüning

  The Chancellor
• General Franz von Papen


  The politician and friend of Hindenburg
• Kurt von Schleicher


  The army general
• Election with Hindenburg being re-elected as President. Hitler increases his share of the vote.


  May 1932
• Brüning's plan to buy up land from landowners and use it to house the unemployed

  Opposed by Hindenburg. Brüning resigns.
• Brüning is replaced by von Papen


  He is put forward by von Schleicher.
• Von Schleicher had been planning a coalition between right-wing supporters and the Nazis


  Hitler agrees to the coalition if the ban on the SA is removed.
• Further election.

  November 1932
• Von Schleicher warns Hindenburg that if von Papen stays as Chancellor there will be civil war


  Von Papen goes.
• Von Schleicher does not have the support of the public or the Nazis


  He persuades Hindenburg that he could be the head of a military dictatorship. Hindenburg refuses.
• Von Papen persuades Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as Chancellor


  To avoid von Schleicher's military dictatorship. He also suggests that he should become Vice-Chancellor so that he can keep a check on Hitler.
• Hitler becomes Chancellor.


  January 1933
• Hindenburg stands for re-election as President. No one party has 50% of the vote. Chancellor Brüning bans the SA.


  April 1932
• Further elections take place - there is widespread fighting between the communists and the Nazis. The Nazi share of the vote increases from 18% in 1930 to 38%. Hitler demands that he be made Chancellor - Hindenburg refuses.


  July 1932
• Von Schleicher becomes Chancellor.


  December 1932
• In this period, the Nazis reorganised to benefit from the Weimar Republic's weaknesses and economic problems. Hitler's appeal as a leader also benefited them.
• The Wall Street Crash, USA, October 1929 - US companies lost billions of dollars in value overnight. Many banks and businesses were ruined, and worldwide depression resulted.
• US stopped lending money to Germany and demanded all loans be repaid.
• German businesses had to pay back loans.
• German government couldn't borrow money from the US, refused to print more money, increased taxes, made cuts in unemployment benefit, government workers had wages cut and some lost their jobs.
• German people - Businesses reduced staff or closed, millions of workers and farm labourers lost their jobs, young people were badly affected by job losses, with no work, and benefits slashed, families suffered terrible poverty.
• Hitler's appeal

  • He was a strong leader
  • His image appeared on most publicity material
  • He travelled around the country giving speeches and talking on the radio
  • The party adopted modern technology, e.g. used aeroplanes
  • The intimidation tactics of the ever-growing SA (stormtroopers) helped to increase support for the Nazis
• How the depression benefited Hitler - Economic problems, Unemployment, Dissatisfaction with weak Weimar government, Increased membership of extreme left and right wing parties, Support for the Communist Party grew during this period but the Nazi Party grew faster.
• Hitler's propaganda


  Hitler aimed to have something for everyone. E.g. solve economic crisis for workers, prevent communism for the middle-class.

  He also wanted to restore traditional values and rural communities whose land may be taken by communists.
• Hitler attempted to overthrow the Weimar government in November 1923. This was known as the Munich Putsch.
• Reasons for the Munich Putsch

  • Resentment at WR (hyperinflation, Treaty of Versailles e.t.c.)
  • Hitler was Influenced by Mussolini's fascist party in Italy
  • Hitler thought that he had support.
• Consequences of the Munich Putsch

  Short Term - not good for Hitler. He was in prison, the NSDAP was banned and the Putsch failed.

  
  

  Long Term- more positive for Hitler. Hitler used his trial to publicise his views, wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle) which became a bestseller, he rethought the tactics of the NSDAP. Released from prison after nine months. NSDAP ban was lifted by 1925.
• Bamberg Conference - Hitler organised this conference to address splits between the socialist and nationalist wings of the Nazi movement. Hitler's power as leader was secured and his vision of Nazism taken forward.


  1926
• Adolf Hitler was born in Austria in 1889. He moved to Munich in 1913 and became obsessed with all things German. He fought in the First World War and his experience confirmed his views that Germany had a special destiny. He was shocked by Germany's defeat and the outcome of the Treaty of Versailles.
• Hitler's early political career

  1. 1919 - Hitler joined the DAP

  2. 1920 - Hitler was second in command of the DAP

  3. 1921 - Hitler took over control of the Nazi Party from Drexder

  4. 1920 - In August the DAP changed its name to the National Socialist German Workers' Party.
• The 25-point programme


  • Increase pensions for the elderly
  • Nationalise Industries
  • Get rid of the Treaty of Versailles
  • Everybody should have a job
  • Build up Germany's armed forces
  • Only German races may be members of the nation. No Jew may be a citizen
  • Expand Germany across new territory to feed the people and to settle surplus population (known as 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; make laws for compulsory sports
• The Sturmabteilung (SA)


  A paramilitary force, made up of unemployed ex-soldiers, formed in August 1921 by Hitler and put under the command of Ernst Röhm. They wore brown uniforms and were nicknamed 'Brownshirts'. They were used to disrupt opposition meetings and to control crowds and any opposition to Hitler - often violently.
• The events of the Putsch

  1. 8 November 1923 - Hitler with 600 SA entered a beer hall in Munich where the Bavarian government were meeting. At gunpoint, Hitler forced government leaders to support him. Röhm took over local police and army headquarters. Ludendorff, behind Hitler's back, let the government leaders go.
• The events of the Putsch

  2. 9 November 1923 - Hitler gathered with 1000 SA and 2000 volunteer supporters and marched on Munich town centre to declare himself President of Germany. The group was met by state police. Someone opened fire and there was chaos. Ludendorff, Röhm and Streicher were arrested.

  3. 11 November 1923 - Hitler was found hiding at a friend's house and was arrested.