Growth of Hitler and Nazi Party

• Right-wing - A political ideology that supports traditional values, capitalism, and a strong government with powerful leaders
• Night of the Long Knives - the assassination of Hitler's rivals in the Nazi party, including Röhm and SA leaders
• SA - Nazi's private army
• SS - Hitler's personal elite bodyguard
• State of Emergency - a crisis so great that the normal rules of governing are suspended and the rulers are given extra powers to deal with it
• Enabling Act 1933 - changed the Weimar constitution, giving Hitler the right to make laws for four years without the Reichstag
• Hitler's origins:

  • Born in Austria 1889
  • Wanted to become an artist but failed and became homeless
  • Received Iron Cross for fighting in WW1
  • Blamed 'November Criminals' for WW1 defeat
  • At end of war, he joined the German Worker's Party (DAP)
• The DAP:

  • Set up by Drexler in 1919 in Munich
  • Nationalist and Socialist
  • Against TofV, Weimar, Jews
  • Hitler joined in 1919
  • 1920 - renamed National Socialist German Worker's Party (NSDAP/Nazis)
  • Hitler helped it grow e.g 25 point programme
• 25 point programme:

  • List of the Nazi's plans and aims
  • Everyone should have a job
  • Build up Germany's army
  • Expand German land (lebensraum)
  • 'Racial purity' in Germany
• Organisation of early Nazi party:

  • Permanent office in Munich
  • Hitler chose a swastika symbol
  • They bought two newspapers
  • Carefully selected high-level Nazis e.g Röhm, Hess
• Hitler's personal appeal and public speaking skills helped the Nazi party grow to 3000 by 1920
• Role of SA in early Nazi party:

  • Set up in 1921
  • Led by Ernst Röhm
  • Also known as Brownshirts because of their brown uniforms
  • Intimidated opponents and controlled crowds using violence
• Jan 1922 - Hitler persuades members to give up the right to elect their leader. This made him the Fuhrer who had full control
• The Nazi party grew from 1,100 in 1920 to 55,000 in 1923
• Munich Putsch causes:

  • Hitler knew people were angry at Weimar due to hyperinflation and the Ruhr
  • He thought the German people would support him
  • He had to act before Stresemann improved things because then people would turn away from extreme parties
• Munich Putsch events:

  • 1923
  • Hitler took 600 SA invaded a meeting of the Bavarian government and forced them at gunpoint to agree to a Nazi takeover
  • When Hitler left, the Bavarians changed their mind and called the local police and army
  • The Nazi's tried to take over the city, but the police beat them, killed 16 Nazis, and arrested Hitler
• Munich Putsch consequences:

  • The Nazi's failed
  • Hitker was given 5 years in prison, but only served 9 months
  • He used his trial for publicity and wrote 'Mein Kampf' in prison
  • The Nazi party was banned, but this was lifted in 1925
  • Hitler realised he had to take power through democracy instead of violence
• The 'lean years' of the Nazis:

  • The Munich Putsch was a short-term disaster
  • However, Hitler used his time in prison to plan for the future of the Nazi party
  • The years after he was released were known as the 'lean years' because membership grew but they didn't gain votes
  • In 1925, Hitler re-launched the Nazi party
• Re-organisation of the Nazi party:

  • Organisation improved after 1923
  • Hitler gained money for the party
  • He grew the SA and started the SS
  • 1929 - 100,000 members
• Bamberg conference 1926:

  • Hitler beat Goebbels and others who challenged his position as the leader
  • Röhm was removed as the SA leader because he was seen as a threat
• Lean years - 1924-29
• Growing support:

  • Goebbels put in charge of propaganda
  • Nazis targeted many different groups by emphasising different parts of their policies
  • Used posters, leaflets, radio, film, and rallies
• Growing support:

  • Goebbels put in charge of propaganda
  • Nazis targeted many different groups by emphasising different parts of their policies
  • Used posters, leaflets, radio, film, and rallies
• Low success in the lean years:

  • Nazis remained weak in the Reichstag
  • 1928 - 12 seats, 3% of vote
  • This was because Stresemann and Hindenburg (made president in 1925) were popular
• How Hitler became Chancellor in 1933:

  1. The Great Depression
  2. Weimar's weaknesses
  3. Appeal of the Nazis
• 1.The Great Depression:

  • 1929 - Wall Street crash
  • US took back their loans which caused problems in Germany
  • 6 million unemployed by 1932
  • Increased hatred for Weimar and support for extremist groups
  • 1930 - 107 seats
• 2.Weimar's weaknesses:

  • There was continued hatred for Weimar since WW1
  • Between 1919-33 there were 20 different coalitions and Hindenburg had to keep using Article 48
  • This made Weimar look weaker and the Nazis look stronger in comparison
• 3.Appeal of Nazi party:

  • Nazis were very organised and had branches to appeal to different groups
  • SA made them seem reliable and disciplined
  • Hitler was shown as a strong, decisive leader and a good public speaker
  • 1932 - Hitler gets 30% of presidential election votes
• Hitler becomes chancellor 1933:

  • May 1932 - Bruntingthorpe retires after losing support. Von Papen made chancellor
  • July 1932 - Nazis get 38% of vote but Hindenburg refuses to make him chancellor
  • Nov 1932 - Von Papen loses support and resigns
  • Dec 1932 - Von Schleicher becomes chancellor. Von Papen persuades Hindenburg to replace him with Hitler, because they think they can control him
  • Jan 1933 - Hitler is made chancellor of Germany