Nazi Rise to power and consolidation

Discontent against the Weimar Republic

Parliament was elected through a system of proportional representation. This resulted in the election of many small parties. It was difficult for one party to gain a majority so the country was run by a series of coalitions (governments led by different parties working together). The result was:

• unstable governments

• a lack of decisive action

• a public suspicious of deals between parties

• The German people had no tradition of parliamentary democracy – there was no general support for the new republic.

• Social democrats link d to the treaty of Versailles

• Article 48

Rise of the Nazi Party

• Economic problems/wall street crash

• The appeal of Hitler

• Propaganda

• Nazi policies

• Abolishment of the Treaty of Versailles

Economic problems/ Wall Street Crash

• many turned to extremist parties

• Trust lost in Weimar Republic

• Citizens were more likely to support radical solutions

Appeal of Hitler

• popular & charismatic (strength of personality)

• Appealed to the emotions and expectations of Germans

• Provided alternate solutions and beliefs

• Provided a scapegoat

• Never engaged in debates

• His autobiography (Mein Kampf)

Propaganda

• Joseph Goëbbles-head of propaganda

• Blamed: communists, Jewish people and Weimar politicians

• Repeat his rhetoric to develop a clear message

• Used his private plane for propaganda purposes

• Well branded and recognisable (moustache)

• Distinctive flag and uniform

• Alfred Hugenburg- Hugenberg's first tentative media support of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party came following the failed Beer Hall Putsch in 1923.

Nazi Policies

• achieve full employment (large construction projects)

• Appealed to middle class as they had a distain for communists

• Reinforced fear of communists

• Nationalism

• Aimed to restore greatness

Treaty of Versailles

• Openly hated the treaty

• Hitler consistently stated his intention to ignore the treaty

• Not paying reparations

• Rebuilding and remilitarising the Rhineland

• Give back lost land

Hitlers path to chancellorship

1. Weimar politicians thought that Hitler could be “tamed” and won over to be used to their advantage

2. Hi Tyler was made chancellor in Jan 1933 as both Von Papen and Von Schleïder had failed in building a government, the nazis we’re manipulating the Reichstag and the Nazis were the biggest poliparty in the Reïchstag

3. General Von Schleïder - Chancellor Von Papen

   -hate each other but tatillons thought he could be useful for their individual position

   President Hinderburg

- Disliked Hitler and did not trust him aimed to make him vice chancellor

Reichstag Fire

Result- Law

1. The law prevented the communists and social democrats from campaigning (SPD) in the elections

2. Newspapers become censored private letters and calls checked warrants for house searches

3. Newspapers belonging to opponents closed down

4. People can be detained without trial

5. Death penalty for acts of treason

Why was the Reichstag fire good for Hitler ?

1. A Dutch communist admits to the attack = This shows citizens that foreigners and communists are “dangerous”

2. The communist and the SDP are banned a week before the election =Less competition for the Nazis

3. The Reichstag Fire laws are passed e.g ban on left wing press and meetings, private letters and calls checked

Enabling Act

1. The period between 1924 and 1939 was the “Golden Age” of the Weimar Republic it has a negative impact on the Nazi party as the Hitler thrived in chaos as the provided stability and solution so the party dwindled

2. The Wall Street crash brought the Golden Age to an end as it caused major parts of the German that were dependent on the USA economy and the USA asked for their loans back

3. The three people that helped Hitler become chancellor Von Papen and President Hinderburg

4. A Dutch community was blamed for the Reichstag fire this led to Hitler creating laws that prevented communists and social democrats from campaigning in the elections, newspapers were censored proverbs communication was monitored, newspapers belonging to opposition were shut down, people were arrested without trial, death penalty for of treason

The Night of the Long Knives

The night of the long knives

Many members of the SA, including its leader Ernst Röhm, were demanding that the Nazi party carry out its socialist agenda and that the SA take over the army. Hitler could not afford to annoy businessmen or the army, so the SS (Hitler's personal bodyguards) murdered around 400 members of the SA, including Röhm, along with a number of Hitler's other opponents like the previous Chancellor, von Schleicher.

This destroyed all opposition to Hitler within the Nazi Party and gave power to the brutal SS. It also showed the rest of the world what a tyrant Hitler was. This removed any internal Nazi Party opposition to Hitler.