Rise of the Nazi Party 1929-1934

What was the period of 1924-29 known as in Germany?

The Golden Age of the Weimar Republic

What happened to extremist parties during the Golden Age?

Support lessened because the government and the country was doing well

Wall Street Crash 1929

stock market crash that started the Great Depression in America and affected the whole world

Why did the Wall Street Crash affect Germany?

America recalled its loan of 800 million marks and this left the country in economic crisis

Effects of Wall Street Crash on Germany

• Unemployment grew from 900k to 5mil in 2 years

-5 major banks collapsed

-people couldn't pay loans or mortgages

• Brunig's government stopped paying benefits

What the the effect of the wall street crash on the extremist parties?

Support grew due to the economic crisis and failing government as Stresemann had died earlier that year

How did Hitler reorganise the nazis?

• became absolute leader

• regional branches called gaus led by gauleiters

• set up Hitler Youth in 1926

how did nazis use propaganda to increase support?

They used Jews, communists and the government as scapegoats, blaming them for WW1 loss and versailles treaty

What was the SA?

nazi paramilitary used to intimidate voters and attack opposition

What did Right-wing politicians like von schleicher and von papen want

they tried to unite the nazis with the smaller nationalist party which would bring back the monarchy, stop communists and dilute the nazis

What happened in the April 1932 presidential election?

Hitler challenged Hindenburg and got 36%, but Hindenburg got 53%. Nazis became single largest party after social democrats fell out with centre party

Who became chancellor in May 1932 after Bruning resigned

Conservative Franz von Papen

Who was Kurt von Schleicher?

a leading general who supported Hindenburg, thought the army could deal with Hitler. Rivals with von Papen

What happened in the July 1932 election?

Nazis won 230 seats, the most,but although Hitler demanded to become Chancellor von Papen stayed

What happened in the november 1932 election?

after von papen called an election the nazis lost seats to the communists and nationalists

who became chancellor in december 1932 and what did he do?

Kurt von schleicher tried to split up the nazis after von papen resigned

how did hitler become chancellor on 30th January 1933?

Hindenburg was advised by von Papen to because he thought it would be easier to control nazis with article 48

Reichstag Fire, February 1933

Nazis 'caught' a communist with matches who 'confessed' to working alone and was executed, many more communists were arrested. Hindenburg used article 48 and the government read letters and tapped into phone calls. Hitler controlled the SA and police

March 1933 election

Hitler gets 2/3 majority which is enough to change the constitution after convincing hindenburg to call for an election, won majority in coalition with nationalists

The Enabling act march 1933

meant that for 4 years hitler could pass any laws by himself. other parties like communists were banned along with trade unions and strikes

Law Against the Formation of New Parties Act July 1933

Banned all other parties and creation of new ones, Nazis in one party state, answered to Fuhrer later

Dachau camp 1933

First concentration camp, originally for political opponents

Who was Ernst Rohm?

Head of the SA and homosexual, wanted more socialist Nazi party

Causes of the Night of the Long Knives

• Ernst Rohm, SA leader, had become a threat

• 3 million strong SA was loyal to Rohm

• Rohm wanted the nazis to become more socialist

• SA's violence had become embarrassing for hitler

• public scandal surrounding Rohm's homosexuality

• Himmler wanted the SS to become bigger than the SA, and - army generals worried that SA would take their place, Hitler wanted to win them over, so

• They told Hitler Rohm was planning to overthrow him

Events of the Night of the Long Knives, June-July 1934

• hitler arranged a meeting with rohm and 100 other SA leaders but on arrival they were arrested and shot

• many more opposition were killed

• von Papen complained about violence but was told to return home for safety

• SS surrounded von Papen's home and cut off telephone wires, capturing his staff

• goering justified the killings by saying SA were planning a revolution

Consequences of the Night of the Long Knives

• Rohm and the SA's threat removed

• other opposition dealt with

• people were glad hitler dealt with the SA

• army generals became loyal to Hitler

• the SA was severely weakened

• He had demonstrated his power

How did Hitler become Fuhrer Aug 1934?

Became President when Hindenburg died, combined it with Chancellor to become Fuhrer.

What was the SS?

Hitler's bodyguards, later made up the ordinary, military and secret political police.

Who was Heinrich Himmler?

Head of the SS and architect of the Holocaust

Who was Josef Goebbels?

Hitler's propaganda minister, great speaker like Hitler, twisted many stories into propaganda

What was the Gestapo?

Nazi secret political police led by Robert Heydrich, sent opposition to concentration camps

Gleichschaltung (coordination)

Nazification of Germany as totalitarian state