threat of the nazi party up to 1923

where was germany’s centre for anti-republic parties? why?

• bavaria → munich

• bavaria had an extreme right wing government

• previously suffered damage from april 1919 red bavaria with the suppression from the army and freikorps → looked like saviours, saw republic and it’s government as weak

how did adolf hitler become involved with the german worker’s party? (DAP)?

• right wing government + army sent him to investigate DAP as a political agent

• hitler attended DAP meeting in fake beard disguise → discovered he agreed with political views and became a member

what was hitler’s initial role in the DAP?

• in charge of propaganda

• acted as a brilliant public speaker (helped him climb the ranks) and increased support for party

what were the key ideas of the DAP?

• ultra-nationalist

• belief in superiority of germans → superior aryan race

• anti-semitic

• pro army → militaristic

• anti-weimar republic → appeals to those suffering from economic crisis

• trying to create a new form of socialism → supporting right of ordinary workers but not from left wing perspective

what happened to the DAP in february 1920? why?

• the german workers’ party (DAP) renamed to national socialist german workers’ party (NSDAP) or nazi party

• attempt to distinguish themselves from left wing socialism in an attempt to appeal to a broader range of germans

• attempting to become a populist party with broad appeal to attract as many votes as possible from wide range of backgrounds

when did adolf hitler become leader of the nsdap?

july 1921

what did hitler do now that he was the leader of the nsdap?

• established the SA/storm troopers (the nazi private army)

who were the SA?

• the nazi private army largely formed from former freikorps members

• instructed to disrupt left wing meetings

• protected hitler and other high ranking nazis

when did the nazis release their manifesto? what was it called?

• february 1920

• 25 point programme

what terms of the 25 point programme would appeal to the working class? why?

7)demanding the state takes responsibility to provide a livelihood for its citizen → appeals to poorest in society/unemployed

11/14) abolition of incomes unearned by work (inherited) / demand in profit sharing in large industrial enterprises

what terms of the 25 point programme would appeal to the middle class? why?

16) demanding creation and maintenance of a healthy middle class → department stores should be divided amongst smaller traders → shows mittlestand they’re a priority to the nazis when previously ignored and suffered, boosts incomes

25) demanded creation of a strong central state power for the reich, unconditional authority of the central parliament over the entire reich → recalls previous ‘success’ under kaiser’s authority, presents and alternative to weak chancellors

what terms of the 25 point programme would appeal to the junkers, industrialists and elites? why?

2/3) demanded over throwing of TOV & land and territory feeds german people and settle surplus population

• drives demand for their businesses, creates idea of victory

25) demand the creation of strong central power for the reich with unconditional authority of central parliament over the entire reich → pro-authoritarian, wanted to return to kaiser’s pre-war society where thy were successful, wanted status quo to be returned to help profits

why did the nazis want the nation to be ‘fit and healthy’ (in their opinion)?

• manipulated sentiments using points 4, 23, 24 of the 25 point programme

• believed in volksgemeinschaft (people’s community)

• wanted an aryan society → racially pure

• believed in herronvolk → superior race

• wanted removal of all jews and other ethnic groups from their country, believed it would weaken them

what was hitler’s goal with the 25 point programme?

• utilised populist policies to gain widespread network of voters, as many as possible

• used variety of different policies to attract as many as possible

• had very little intention of implementing many of them → too expensive and wouldn’t want to upset the wealthiest in society who would likely be funding the party