Weimar Germany and the Rise of the Nazi Party (1919–1933)

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party from 1919 to January 1933, including party origins, the Munich Putsch, the Lean Years, the Wall Street Crash, the POWA framework, and the political deal.

What initial task was Corporal Adolf Hitler given by the German Army in $1919$, and what political party did he encounter as a result?

He was assigned to monitor local political activists in the Munich area, leading him to investigate and attend meetings of the German Worker's Party (DAP).

Who founded the German Worker's Party (DAP), and on what dates did Hitler first attend a meeting and officially join?

The DAP was founded in Munich in February $1919$ by Anton Drexler. Hitler attended his first meeting of $23$ people on $12\text{ September } 1919$ and officially joined the party on $19\text{ September } 1919$.

What major changes did the DAP make in $1920$ regarding its name, branding, and media?

The party was renamed the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP) to appeal to nationalists, socialists, and workers; adopted the swastika emblem and straight-arm salute; made Hitler chief propagandist; and purchased the newspaper Völkischer Beobachter (People's Observer) in December $1920$, printing $17{,}000\text{ copies}$ by $1921$.

What core policies were established in the Twenty-Five-Point Programme drawn up by Anton Drexler and Adolf Hitler in $1920$?

It demanded the union of all Germans into a Greater Germany, the scrapping of the Treaty of Versailles, land and colonies, the creation of a people's army, a strong central government, and the exclusion of Jews from citizenship ('no Jew may be a member of the nation').

How did Hitler take full control of the NSDAP in July $1921$, and what paramilitary wing was formed that same year?

Hitler forced a leadership contest and defeated Anton Drexler to become head of the NSDAP. In $1921$, he formed the Sturmabteilung (SA, or 'Brownshirts') as a private army to protect Nazi meetings and disrupt political opponents.

What key causes prompted Hitler to attempt the Munich Putsch in November $1923$?

The hyperinflation crisis (bread cost $200{,}000\text{ billion marks}$), widespread anger over the French occupation of the Ruhr and the cessation of passive resistance, Nazi membership reaching $55{,}000$, and Hitler's desire to emulate Benito Mussolini's successful $1922$ March on Rome.

What events occurred during the Munich Putsch on $8\text{--}9\text{ November } 1923$?

On $8\text{ November }$, Hitler and $600$ SA men stormed a Munich beer hall, forcing Bavarian leaders Gustav von Kahr and Otto von Lossow at gunpoint to back a national march. On $9\text{ November }$, a march of $1{,}000$ SA and $2{,}000$ supporters was fired upon by Bavarian police, killing $16$ Nazis and leading to Hitler's arrest two days later.

What were the immediate legal and political outcomes of the Munich Putsch for Hitler and the Nazi Party?

Hitler was tried for high treason and received a lenient $5\text{-year}$ sentence, serving only $9\text{ months}$ at Landsberg Prison; the NSDAP was banned; and Hitler was prohibited from speaking in public until $1927$.

What major strategic shift did Hitler formulate in prison following the failure of the Munich Putsch?

He realized the party could not seize power through an armed putsch and decided to pursue power legally through the democratic system ('hold our noses and enter the Reichstag') by winning elections.

What economic cycle does this flow diagram illustrate, and how did it affect Weimar Germany?

The Dawes Plan ($1924$), in which the USA made loans to Germany, allowing Germany to recover economically and pay reparations to Britain and France, who then repaid their war debts to the USA.

Why did the Nazi Party experience the 'Lean Years' between $1924$ and $1929$?

Economic recovery and social stability under Gustav Stresemann weakened extremist appeal: real wages increased by $10\%$ in $1928$, homelessness dropped by over $60\%$, and the Nazis won only $12\text{ seats}$ in the May $1928$ Reichstag election.

How did Hitler reorganize the Nazi Party during the Lean Years to establish a nationwide apparatus?

He divided Germany into regions headed by appointed Gauleiters, funded the party through meeting admission fees and wealthy industrialists, and established the SS (Schutzstaffel) in $1925$ under Heinrich Himmler ($3{,}000\text{ members}$ by $1930$) as a dependable personal bodyguard.

What was the purpose and outcome of the Bamberg Conference in $1926$?

Hitler reasserted total authority over the NSDAP by establishing the Führerprinzip (Leader Principle) and eliminated socialist elements of the Twenty-Five-Point Programme, aligning the party platform strictly with Mein Kampf.

When did the Wall Street Crash occur, and why did it trigger a catastrophe for the Weimar Republic?

On $24\text{ October } 1929$. It devastated Germany because the German economy was fundamentally dependent on short-term American loans from the Dawes Plan, which were abruptly recalled.

What were the unemployment figures in Germany by $1932$ as a consequence of the Great Depression?

Unemployment exceeded $6\text{ million}$ ($4\text{ out of every } 10$ Germans), and $40\%$ of all factory workers were sacked and left without work.

How did the Great Depression impact German youth and the middle classes?

Over half of all Germans aged $16\text{ to } 30$ were unemployed in $1933$, and $60\%$ of new university graduates could not find jobs; middle-class citizens lost businesses, savings, and investments as banks collapsed.

Why did Chancellor Heinrich Brüning earn the nickname the 'Hunger Chancellor'?

He implemented severe austerity measures during the Depression by cutting unemployment benefits by $60\%$, reducing civil servant wages, and raising taxes on income, beer, and sugar.

Which party issued this $1932$ election poster stating 'Schluss mit diesem System', and how did their growth benefit the Nazis?

The German Communist Party (KPD); their growth to $15\%$ of the vote ($89\text{ seats}$ in July $1932$) terrified businessmen and farmers who feared losing private property and land, pushing them to support the Nazis as the lesser of two evils.

What electoral message was conveyed by this $1932$ Nazi poster titled 'Unsere letzte Hoffnung: Hitler'?

It depicted impoverished, desperate Germans during the Great Depression and presented Adolf Hitler as their 'last hope' and savior who would deliver them from unemployment and starvation.

What do the components of the two 'POWA' revision frameworks represent regarding Hitler's rise to power?

Hitler's Actions: Propaganda, Organisation, What he said (promises), Action man. Other Factors: Political deal, Opposition weak, Wall Street Crash, Afraid of communism.

How did Nazi representation in the Reichstag change across the elections of May $1928$, September $1930$, and July $1932$?

Nazi seats rose dramatically from $12\text{ seats}$ in May $1928$ to $107\text{ seats}$ in September $1930$, and reached $230\text{ seats}$ in July $1932$, making the NSDAP the largest party in the Reichstag.

What political arrangement does this cartoon illustrate regarding Hitler's appointment as Chancellor in January $1933$?

It illustrates the 'political deal' orchestrated by Franz von Papen and President Paul von Hindenburg, who believed they could control Hitler like a puppet within a conservative coalition ('make Hitler squeak').

What political maneuvers between Franz von Papen, Kurt von Schleicher, and Paul von Hindenburg led to Hitler becoming Chancellor?

After Brüning fell in $1932$, Papen was appointed Chancellor but resigned due to a lack of Reichstag support; General Schleicher replaced him but failed to form a governing majority; Papen then struck a deal with Hitler to install him as Chancellor with Papen as Vice-Chancellor, convincing Hindenburg that the coalition would bring stability.

What is the primary difference in viewpoint between Interpretation 1 (B. Walsh) and Interpretation 2 (T. Hewitt et al.) regarding Nazi growth between $1929$ and $1932$?

Interpretation 1 argues that Hitler's personal appeal, oratorical talent, and modern campaigning were primarily responsible for the growth in Nazi support, whereas Interpretation 2 contends that the devastating impact of the Great Depression and the Weimar government's failure to address it drove the German public to the Nazis.