L3 History NCEA — Causes of Hitler appointed chancellor 1933

Introduction

Neutral sentence—Adolf Hitler’s appointment to Chancellor in January 1933 was caused due to a culmination of both important short-term and long-term causes.

Context sentence—This event meant the end of attempts for democracy within Germany, returning the country back to its state of autocracy like it had been prior the first World War.

Argument sentence—Due to extreme conditions, set primarily by the economic depression, the German people gravitated towards political extremes in a desperate search for a means to solve their problems set by the crisis. This eventually lead to Hitler’s appointment to Chancellor, where he utilised the constitution to legally act as a dictator over Germany.

Power sentence—The causes of the event involve the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic and Constitution, as well as the Economic Depression, the nature of these causes being social, economic, and political. In this essay it will be argued that Hitler’s appointment to chancellor was a direct result of these conditions.

Event paragraph

• Von papen, Former Chancellor persuaded President Hindenburg in Jan 1933 to appoint Hitler as chancellor

  • believed that Hitler could be used to bring stability to Germany

  • could also save Germany from potential communist takeover where Communist groups were rising in popularity

• Hitler also leader of largest political party, with Nazi group gaining 33% of votes. However Nazi Party remained unable to rule as a majority in the Reichstag

• Through appointing Hitler to chancellor, von Papen also hoped to regain power for himself

  • von Papen in Jan 1933 met with Hitler, agreeing that while Hitler could be chancellor, von Papen could be vice-chancellor

  • However, von Papen told Hindenburg he would be able to control Hitler as there would only be two other Nazi’s in government

• This decision, however, would have greatly far-reaching consequences, and would later leave one of the most significant impacts in history.

(Political, Underlying) Long term cause

The Weaknesses of the Weimar Republic and Constitution

The Weaknesses of the Weimar Republic and Constitution statement + elaborate

Statement—An important, long-term political cause for Hitler’s appointment to chancellor January 1933 was the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic.

Elaborate—There were several weaknesses to the Weimar constitution which would namely delay the government’s ability to enact decisions and allow a president to legally act as a dictator.

The Weaknesses of the Weimar Republic and Constitution examples

• The Weimar Republic was formed in a political crisis

  • After German defeat in WWI, Kaiser Wilhelm II forced to abdicate, leading a new government to become established to fill power vacuum

  • Numerous changes made to government in attempts to gain favour and better peace terms with the allies by democratising the empire—signed Armistice in November 1918.

  • As Germany was lost the war, new government was also forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919–terms that formally punished Germany for WWI

    • Territories taken = 13% land + 6M German people lost, 10% industry + 15% agriculture taken

    • Demilitarisation = Army reduced 10,000 men

    • Reparations: Germany to pay Britain, France and USA £6.6 Billion in reparations (compensation) in annual instalments. = economic crisis

    • Blame for WWI = anger

  • As Germany believed they were winning the war due to propaganda, people shocked to learn that not only had they lost, but were also made to take responsibility + blame

    • Would lead the German people to believe new government had ‘stabbed them in the back’ when armistice was signed 11 Nov 1917, establishing grounds of resentment to new government

• Also ruled during the time of the economic crisis 1929

  • Weimar government also ruled during economic crisis in 1929–being in rule at this time while showing to be ineffective in providing solutions to the German people meant that the would gravitate to other political groups that would truly offer prosperity in time of economic instability

• Structural weaknesses of the Weimar political system as established in the constitution

  • Key structural issue included proportional representation—the percentage of votes amounted to the percentage of chairs they could hold in parliament

    • meant that no singular party won majority vote + parties had to share power in coalition governments

    • Would weaken government as parties within coalitions unable to agree on decisions, meaning the coalition would collapse

    • Would especially weaken government during economic crisis as no decisions could be made + enacted in a time where action was greatly needed

  • Another weakness included Article 48, allowing president to act as a dictator in ‘a time of emergency’

    • President able to rule by decree without consulting Reichstag, the German parliament

    • Meant that President could pass laws without Reichstag’s approval, could also appoint chancellor of his choice

    • Clause easily abusable as what constituted as ‘time of emergency’ very vague, excessively used after 1930

  • Overall, weaknesses would crate good faith within German people, but held inherent flaws that would significantly weaken the effectiveness of the new government.

• Lack of commitment to democratic politics in German society

  • Prior to establishment of Weimar republic, German poeple had no experience with democracy—ruled only by autocracy.

  • Germany took pride in these traditions, valuing its symbol of strength of the nation.

    • Because of this, Germans lacked commitment to democratic politics as their views did not align with beliefs of democracy, preferring to be ruled singular leader rather than having the freedom to choose their own.

The Weaknesses of the Weimar Republic and Constitution analysis

• How do each of the elements describes above make the Weimar Republic vulnerable to the rise of an authoritarian leader?

  • Due to weaknesses, republic more influenced to fall, leading Hitler to be better able to consolidate power and become chancellor.

  • Proportional representation during time of the economic crisis would assist in proving ineffectiveness of Weimar Republic, leading to German people seeking a new government to solve their problems

  • Article 48 lead Hindenburg able to appoint Hitler as chancellor, with persuasion of von Papen, while also allowing Hitler to act as dictator when abusing clause—acting as legal dictator over Germany

• How significant is this cause? Why?

  • weaknesses in Republic + constitution would lead to downfall of the Weimar government, leading Hitler to become appointed chancellor.

(Social, political) Immediate cause

The Appeal of the Nazi Party

The Appeal of the Nazi Party statement + elaborate

Statement—An important, social/political short-term cause for Hitler’s appointment to chancellor was the appeal of the Nazi Party

Elaborate—make a statement that identifies generalised reasons why the Nazi Party were appealing to many German people

The Appeal of the Nazi Party examples

• What leadership characteristics did Hitler have that made him appealing?

• What techniques did the Nazi Party use to promote their ideas and gain support prior to 1933?

• What ideas were the Nazi Party promoting that were appealing?

The Appeal of the Nazi Party analysis

• How did the increase in support for the Nazi Party lead to Hitler being appointed as Chancellor in 1933?

• How significant is this cause? Why?

(Economic) Short-term cause

The Economic Depression

The Economic Depression statement + elaborate

Statement—The economic depression was the most important short-term factor that caused the fall of the Weimar Republic and the appointment of Hitler as Chancellor.

Elaborate—During the economic depression, the German people desperate sought solutions for the dire conditions under which they lived—mass unemployment, widespread hunger, and overall feelings of hopelessness and despair.

The Economic Depression examples

• How was Weimar Germany made vulnerable to economic crisis in the early 1920s?

  • Weimar republic made vulnerable to economic depression in early 1920s as placed in position to be seen as ineffective in time of greta crisis, leading German people to lose faith in government

• What happened during the economic depression which exacerbated the situation in Germany?

  • American Stock Market crashed in 1929 while US banks recalled their loans, namely including loans it had given to Germany— because of this, Germany hit by economic depression

  • During time of crisis, several areas suffered across finance, agriculture + industry

  • Less demand for goods, leading factors + farms to become bankrupt

  • Over 6M people unemployed by 1932–by 1929-34, production halved, half of Germans ages 16-30 unemployed in 1933

• How did the Weimar Government respond?

  • Concerns of 1929 hyperinflation repeating itself lead to inaction within the Reichstag.

  • Brunning’s government introduced unpopular policies, such as raising taxes, cutting wages, and reducing unemployment benefits.

  • Weimar government slow to respond to the crisis as coalition governments could not agree on solutions in solving the depression, and often collapsed

  • Between 1930-32, 3 election held which created more instability

  • Chancellors lacked support of Reichstag, then had to rely on Present Hindenburg using Article 48 to have power to enact action

  • In response to crisis, Chancellor Bruning cut unemployment benefits in attempts to save money

    • Was a greatly unpopular decision + led Bruning to become known as the hunger chancellor—causing widespread hunger to the people

• What pressures did this put on people’s lives?

  • Meant that German people would continue to live in poor conditions set by crisis—suffering from lack of unemployment + income, barely able to afford food + resources needed to survive

• How did this impact people’s views of the government?

  • Overall lead people to lose faith in Weimar Republic, leading government to become less popular

  • Would then lead several German people to turn to extremist parties, such as Communists + Nazi’s who offered solutions to economic problems facing Germany

• How did this impact people’s views of the Nazi Party?

  • German people in turn would seek differing political parties that promised prosperity + stability, then leading to changed view of Nazi Party.

  • Prior depression in 1928, Nazi’s only had a small percentage of votes—2.6%. However, after economic depression in 1930, votes for Nazi Party dramatically increased to 18.3%. These votes would continues to increase, amounting to 33% in 1932.

The Economic Depression analysis

• How the impacts of the economic depression described above lead to Hitler being appointed Chancellor 1933?

  • Depression would motivate German elite to amend constitution towards more authoritarian system, thereby harnessing Hitler’s popularity to achieve this objective

    • Nazi Party would do soup kitchens, held rallies

  • Depression would lead to ideas of Nazi party to shine, w/German elite in support of Hitler’s rise to popularity, preheated with chance that Germany may return to being ruled by autocracy.

  • Because of crisis, Hitler’s ideals + methods of propaganda more effective in controlling masses

  • Propaganda spore at emotional rather than rainfall messages, w/messages more appealing during crisis—more appealing as people desperate for solutions

  • Fear of communism also act as negative cohesion

• How is cause more significant? Why?

  • Significance argued between historians—some say crisis not a factor, while others state economic to be key, important factor, noting that “economic crisis not occurred, government would have persisted to survive.”

  • Significant cause as set conditions for Nazi party to become appealing to German people, while causing Weimar to lose popularity—later leading to downfall

  • Overall, economic depression caused German people to gravitate towards political extremes, namely towards Nazi Party due to desperations in seeking solutions, both leading to fall of Republic + appointment as Chancellor

Prioritisation paragraph

• Most important short-term cause of Hitler’s appointment to chancellor was economic depression

• Depression greatly pressured countless lives during its time, was integral factor that ultimately German people to lose faith in government

• Because of crisis that Hitler’s messages resonated deeply to German people who were desperate for stability in time of despair

• Long term cause of Weimar weaknesses remain to be important, as if government was strong + effective, would likely be able to survive though depression

• However it was due to depression these weaknesses were shown to the people

• Significance greatly argued between historians—while AJP Taylor historian contemporary during WWI, states economic crisis not to be factor to Hitler’s appointment to Chancellor, other historians such as Kershaw + Wasserstein, rather states crisis as very significant factor, noting that had economic crisis not occurred, Weimar may have persisted to survive

• Therefore most important than Weimar weaknesses as government is said to have been able to survive, even with weaknesses, and later able to become strong and proper had crisis not occcured

• Therefore, crisis most important short term cause as set conditions for Nazi party to become appealing to German people, while causing Weimar to lose popularity, later leading to downfall

Conclusion

• Restate argument: Appointment of Hitler as Chancellor in 30 January 1933 marks a pivotal event in history, with its most important cause being the economic depression.

• How this was shown: Was the economic that revealed weaknesses of Weimar government + constitution, leading Weimar republic to loss popularity, thus leading to the government’s downfall

• Thoughtful insight: However, throughout history the circumstances of Hitler’s rise to power have been highly controversial—ongoing debates whether Hitler’s rise inevitable or rather the cause of prevailing social, economic and political conditions.

• Power end: Overall, Hitler’s appointment to Chancellor would end attempts for democracy in Germany, allow Hitler to act legally as autocratic leader over Germany, later giving rise to WWII in later years, an event that would spark most significant impacts in history.

• Overall, Hitler’s appointment to Chancellor was significant as it allowed Hitler to legally act as a dictator over Germany, effectively ending German democracy and giving rise to WWII, an event that would later spark one of the greatest impacts in history.