Weimar, Rise of Nazi Party 1919-33

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Setting up of NSDAP

Called DAP originally (German Worker’s Party)

Hitler joins Sep 1919

Feb 1920 Hitler & Drexler published Twenty-Five Point Programme: stated that the party was nationalist and demanded a union of all German people. Anti Semitic, states Jews shouldn’t be German citizens. A few socialist policies e.g. land taken from owners for common good. Anti-democracy stating there should be a strong central state power.

46 party meetings 1919-20, Hitler main speaker at 31.

Membership grew to 1000 by Jun 1920, 3000 by end of 1920

Set up permanent office in Munich

Hitler suggested renaming to NSDAP and adopoted swastika as logo

Bought newspaper ‘People’s Observer’ Dec 1920

Jul 1921 Hitler becomes leader of NSDAP

Aug 1921 SA formed, Rohm in charge

Jan 1922 Hitler convinces members to give up right to elect leader

Munich Putsch 1923 causes & events

Causes: Long term was Dolchstoss theory, resentment of Weimar Republic, sympathy of Bavarian government to some of NSDAP views, growth of NSDAP (50,000 members by 1923). Medium term causes was the influence of Mussolini’s march on Rome. Short term causes were hyperinflation, occupation of Ruhr, perceived weakness of Weimar government at dealing with those issues

Events: Hitler + 600 members of SA burst into meeting of Bavarian government officials in beer hall. Forced Bavarian officials to support an attempt to overthrow the Weimar government with Ludendorff taking over German Army. Rohm & SA took over local police and army barracks but not main ones. Ludendorff release the Bavarian officials and at 5am the Nazis gathered but the Bavarian leaders had mobilised an army to put down the rebellion. Hitler had 1000 SA and 2000 paid ‘volunteers’ but only 2000 rifles. Little/no support from local people, 14 of Hitler’s supporters and 4 policemen killed. Most leaders arrested, Hitler caught 11th Nov1

Munich Putsch 1923 consequences

Short term: Ludendorff found not guilty but retires, Hitler + 3 others sentenced to 5 years in prison for treason, NSDAP banned,

Long term: Hitler used trial for publicity, using different name the Nazis gain 32 seats in May 1924 Reichstag election. Hitler realises he needed democracy to gain support and power. He needed to reorganise the party to do this. Hitler wrote Mein Kampf in prison. Ban on NSDAP lifted 1925

Restructuring 1924-29

Mein Kampf emphasised Hitler’s racist views. Became best seller

The HQ for NSDAP was reorganised with departments

Hitler Youth created

Germany divided into 35 regions each with their own Gauleiter.

Money was raised by wealthy industrialists like Krupp and Bosch who feared communism.

SS: SA had 400,000 members by 1930 however sometimes hard to control and more loyal to Rohm than Hitler. SS was set up as a smaller group with personal loyalty to Hitler. Run by Himmler, 3000 members by 1930.

Bamberg Conference 1926: Split in Nazi party between northern socialists (Strasser/Goebbels) and southern nationalists (Hitler). Goebbels abandoned Strasser and joined Hitler which weakened their socialist principles in party

Limited support by 1929: Success of Stresemann’s domestic and foreign policies, popularity of Hindenburg meant right-wingers supported Weimar, May 1928 election - won 12 seats gaining 2.6% of votes

Impact of Wall Street Crash 1929

Crash in USA caused problems in Germany. German banks invested in the US stock market so people feared they would lose money, attempted to withdraw it, causing banks to collapse. American banks had to stop lending and demand back money borrowed by German agriculture and industry which caused these businesses and farms to shut down. Unemployment caused less money to be spent in Germany, meant sales fell further and more companies failed.

1929-32, 40% fall in industrial output.

Jan 1933, million workers unemployed

Employers cut wages to try and stay in business, 1932 real wages were 70% of 1928 levels.

Homelessness was common - tent/shanty towns sprung up

Berlin there was a 24% rise in arrests for theft

27% of unemployed people received no benefit whatsoever

People with savings saw the value crash since it was often tied to share prices

Factors behind Nazi electoral success

Ideas which appealed to Germans suffering from the depression: blaming it on the Jews, promising to ignore ToV, promising to provide strong, decisive government

Goebbels and propaganda: Mass rallies, posters, banners all over Germany, by early 1930’s Nazis owned 120 newspapers which were read by hundreds of thousands of people

Financial support of wealthy industrials who feared communism like Krupp and Bosch

Role of SA: Rohm reappointed as leader Jan 1931, within a year membership increased to 170,000 from 100,000. Fought against RFB (communist militia), intimidated political opponents and voters

Reasons for Germans voting for Nazis

Big businesses: Feared communism since they would lose their business and saw Nazis as the best guard against a communist takeover

Middle class: hurt by depression due to loss of work/savings, scared of communists as they often owned property and disliked the moral “decline” of Weimar German culture
Working class: Some liked traditional values and responded to promises to stimulate the economy but more supported communists

Farmers: 1928 Nazis dropped policy of confiscating all land, promised land confiscated from Jews, feared communists, in some rural areas Nazis gained 60% of the vote

Young people: Attracted by Hitler’s personality, young people most affected by unemployment

Women: Often didn’t support Nazis but were persuaded to do so out of “duty” to their families.

How Hitler became chancellor in 1933 part 1

Mar 1932 Presidential election: Hindenburg fails to gain majority at 49.6, Hitler gains 30% of the vote and lots of publicity.

Apr 1932 Presidential elections: Hindenburg gains 53% of the votes but Hitler’s share goes to 36%, communist drops to 11%, SA fought street battles against communists and Hitler again gained more publicity.

30th May 1932 Bruning resigns: He upset Nazi supporters by banning SA and SS, upset the more moderate right-wingers including Hindenburg by planning to buy up land from landowners to house the unemployed.

Von Schleicher suggested Hindenburg appoint von Paper as new chancellor as a figurehead for a group of wealthy industrialists, landowners and former army officers - known as the “Cabinet of Barons”. Argued that despite not having a majority they could use Article 48 provided they had support of the Nazis. Hitler agreed to this in exchange for the removal of the ban on the SA.

How Hitler became chancellor in 1933 part 2

30th May 1932 von Papen becomes Chancellor: Nazis have a role in government for the first time although von Schleicher thought they could be easily controlled.

Jul 1932 Reichstag elections: Violence between Nazis and communists, 100 killed + 7000 injured. Nazis win 230 seats with 38% of vote, become biggest party, Hitler demanded he was appointed Chancellor, Hindenburg refused (he hated Hitler).

Nov 1932 von Papen sacked: Von Papen hoped new elections would weaken the Nazis instead they remained the biggest party, Von Schleicher told Hindenburg to sack von Papen.

Dec 1932 von Schleicher becomes chancellor: Hindenburg appoints von Schleicher, however the Nazis refuse to support his government and make it unworkable. Schleicher asks Hindenburg to suspend constitution to let the government take control but he refuses. Rumours spread that Schleicher was planning a military coup to take over Germany, von Papen convinced Hindenburg that if he appointed Hitler as Chancellor with von Papen as deputy they could control Hitler together

30th Jan 1933 Hitler appointed Chancellor