KT2: Hitler’s Rise to Power

Who founded the Nazi Party? When?

What was it initially called?

• Anton Drexler

• Founded in 1919

• DAP - German Worker’s Party

How did Hitler join the DAP?

• Employed by army to spy on them

• Attended a meeting in September 1919

• He spoke in response to one of the members and caught Drexler’s attention

• Joined + became responsible for recruitment and propaganda

What was Hitler’s job before the Nazi Party?

Part of the army in WW1

Themes of Hitler’s speeches

• Dolschtoss

• Disgust with Treaty of Versailles

• Hatred of Weimar Government/November criminals

• Communism

• Blaming Jews for Germany’s problems

Who were the November Criminals?

Weimar government who signed the Treaty of Versailles

When did Hitler become leader of the Nazi Party?

1921

NSDAP (1920-23)

• DAP became NSDAP (national socialist german worker’s party)

• Increased membership + own newspaper

• Hitler became leader in 1921

• Swatstika adopted as emblem

• Raised arm salute

Define volkish

Pure German people

Other name for Brownshirts

SA

How Nazi Party membership increased between June 1920 and November 1923

• June 1920 - 1,100

• November 1923 - 55,000

Who were the Brownshirts/SA?

• Nazi’s private army

• Protection squads for political meetings

• Disrupted other groups political meetings

When was the Munich Putsch?

November 1923

Short-term causes of the Munich Putsch (in 1923)

• Hyperinflation

• Growth of Nazi Party especially in Bavaria

• Invasion of the Ruhr

• Hitler had support of private army (SA)

• Ludendorff supported Hitler + was very influential/popular

Who was Ludendorff?

Former chief in command of army

Long-term causes of the Munich Putsch (before 1923)

• Hitler’s hatred of Weimar Republic

• Many people didn’t trust/like the Weimar Government (blame for hyperinflation)

• Hitler wanted to remove Treaty of Versailles

• Mussolini political takeover in Italy 1922 with support of Black Shirts

Name the place that had many Nazi supporters during the start of the party/where the Nazi Party was based

Bavaria

Events of Munich Putsch

8th November 1923

• Hitler + 600 Nazis seized a large beer hall in Munich, where Kahr, Seisser and Lossow were attending a political meeting

• Hitler put them in room, held them at gunpoint + won promises of support for his planned takeover

9th November 1923

• Ludendorff allowed leaders to leave building to “see their wives”

• Seisser and Lossow changed their minds + organised troops and police to resist Hitler’s planned march through Munich

• Hitler continued with march

• Nazis were quickly defeated - 4 police officers + 16 Nazis killed

Name the leaders who were present at the Munich Putsch

• Kahr

• Seisser

• Lossow

Which two leaders changed their mind and called troops/police during Munich Putsch?

Lossow and Seisser

Results of Munich Putsch

• 11th November 1923

  • Hitler and Ludendorff arrested + Nazi Party banned

• February 1924

  • Hitler’s trial began and lasted around a month

  • Trial gave Hitler nationwide publicity + introduced him to the German public via the press

  • Sympathetic judges allowed him to make long speeches which were then reported in newspapers

  • Constantly attacked Weimar, Jews and ToV in his speeches

  • Hitler wrote Mein Kampf in prison

Why was Hitler’s time in prison beneficial?

• Allowed him time to reflect on Munich Putsch + what he needed to do better next time → decided to take power of Germany democratically + legally

• Wrote Mein Kampf

• Trial gave him nationwide publicity due to press + made him a famous figure

How many ‘points’ did the Nazi Party programme have?

25

How many years was Hitler supposed to serve in prison?

How long did he actually serve?

• Supposed to serve 5 years

• Only served 9 months

When was the Nazi Party relaunched?

Where?

How many people came to hear Hitler speak?

• 27th February 1925

• Burgerbrau Keller - location of failed Munich Putsch

  • returned every year

• 4000

What period of time was ‘The Lean Years’?

1924-1928

Nazi Party during ‘Lean Years’

• No. of members

• Success in general election 1928

• Incredibly well organised

• 100,000 members

• Hitler was extremely popular

General election 1928

• Only won 12 seats

• Polled approx 2.6% of national vote

• 9th biggest Reichstag party

Name the year in which the Nazi Party only won 12 seats + polled 2.6% of national vote

General election 1928

Reasons for Nazi’s failures in the 1928 general election

• ‘Golden Age’ - increased standard of living

• Increased freedom for women

• Economic stability

• International respect - e.g. League of Nations

• Positive relationship with USA

The Lean Years: Positives for Nazi Party

• Lifting of the ban of the Nazi Party

  • After being released from prison, Hitler persuaded President of Bavaria to lift the ban

• The Gauleiter System

  • Nazi Party split into party branches, each led by a Gauleiter

  • Hitler ensured only his closest associates were Gauleiters

• Bamberg Party Conference 1926

  • Possible rivals were won over

  • Hitler got rid of potential problems - e.g. Ernst Röhm was forced to resign from leader of SA to prevent it becoming a violent group

When was the Bamberg Party Conference?

1926

What was the Gauleiter System?

• Nazi party was split into party branches, each led by a Gauleiter

• Hitler ensured only his closest associates were Gauleiters

Example of a person Hitler fired to protect his position

Ernst Röhm - to prevent SA becoming too violent

The Lean Years: Negatives for Nazi Party

• Impact of Dawes and Young Plans

  • helped to solve hyperinflation

  • hyperinflation was a reason for people turning to Nazism as they didn’t trust Weimar

• Locarno Pact and League of Nations

  • returned Germany to being a great power

  • humiliation caused by ToV was a reason for people turning to Nazism as they didn’t trust Weimar

• Hindenburg elected President of Weimar

  • well-respected and famous in Germany

• 1928 general election results

  • Nazis only won 12 seats

  • polled 2.6% of national vote

When was the Great Depression?

1929-32

What happened in October 1929?

• Wall Street Crash

• Death of Streseman

Why did the depression have such a serious impact of Germany?

US withdrew their loans which Germany DEPENDED on

Economic impact of the depression on Germany

• Industrial production declined - fell by 40%

• Unemployment was over 6 million by 1932

• Homelessness - more people on streets → more violence

• Farmers badly hit

• Threat of benefit cuts

• 60% of university graduates couldn’t get a job

Why did the depression lead to people turning to Nazism?

• Fear of communist revolution

  → people turned to other political parties

  • especially upper/middle class as they didn’t want to lose their wealth and possessions

• Lack of trust in Weimar government

  • Article 48 used frequently - lack of democracy

  • Bruning didn’t handle the crisis well - couldn’t get Reichstag to pass laws so got Hindenburg to use Article 48

Political impact of the depression on Germany

• Lack of agreement

  • Bruning couldn’t get Reichstag to agree on policies

  • Bruning proposed higher taxes to pay for unemployment benefits but was rejected

• Use of Article 48

  • Bruning couldn’t get Reichstag to pass policies

  • Asked Hindenburg to use Article 48

  • “Death of democracy”

• Increased support for Nazi and Communist parties

  • upper/middle = Nazi

  • working = communist (felt that communism was the only party to support them)

  • 1930 election - Nazi = 107 seats, now 2nd biggest party

• Growing chaos and political violence

  • often SA causing violence to make other parties look bad

Results of election 1930

• Nazis won 107 seats

• Now 2nd biggest party in Reichstag

Political impact of the depression on Germany: communists

• KPD - largest communist party in Europe

• Usually polled more than 10% of vote in elections

• Nov 1932 elections - 100 deputies in Reichstag

How many seats did the communists have in 1932?

100

Why did the middle class support the Nazis?

Nazis promised to:

• protect them from Nazis

• restore law and order in streets

• increase wealth

Why did the upper class/military support the Nazis?

Nazis promised to:

• avenge the Treaty of Versailles

• provide a strong government

• restore Germany’s status

Why did the working class support the Nazis?

Nazis promised to:

• tackle unemployment benefits

• protect worker’s rights

Why did women support the Nazis?

Nazis emphasised:

• family life

• welfare for children

• moral values

Why did farmers/the poor support the Nazis?

Nazis promised to reverse the decline in prices for agricultural goods

Why did big businessmen support the Nazis?

How?

Nazis promised to:

• restrict the growth of trade unions which argued for worker’s rights

They gave money to the Nazis

Reasons for growth of Nazi support

• Presidential election of 1932

• Financial support

• Increasing electoral seats

• SA + communists

• Hitler

• Goebbels

Reasons for growth of Nazi support: 1932 presidential election

• Nazis were quick to use modern technology

  → Hitler was able to speak at as many as 5 cities in a day by using aeroplanes

• Goebbels ensured there were mass rallies - Nazi message spread + Hitler recognised as national public figure

• Message proclaimed in films, radio + records

• Hindenburg didn’t campaign

Reasons for growth of Nazi support: Goebbels

• In charge of propaganda

• Nazis had 120 newspapers

• Had his own newspaper called ‘The Attack’

• Method: keeping it simple + repetitive

• Ensured people were given positive images of Hitler and Nazis

When was Goebbels made head of propoganda?

1929

Reasons for growth of Nazi support: Hitler

• Charismatic personality

• Good people + communication skills

• Viewed as saviour of Germany

• Many Germans believed in Fuhrerprinzip - Hitler

Reasons for growth of Nazi support: SA

• Protected Hitler

• Leader: Ernst Röhm

• Interrupted other parties’ meetings

Reasons for growth of Nazi support: Communism

Upper/middle classes didn’t want to lose wealth + possessions

Reasons for growth of Nazi support: Increasing electoral seats

• 1928 = 12 seats

• 1930 = 107 seats

Reasons for growth of Nazi support: Financial support

• Hitler gained support of industrial leaders who hated communism + promised to restrict growth of trade unions

• Gave him money

• 600,000 copies of Nazi Economic Programme printed

• Hitler befriended DNVP

• Allowed Nazis to make articles so Hitler remained in people’s minds

Difference between SA and SS

• SA = Nazi private army

• SS = Hitler’s protection/bodyguards

How Hitler became chancellor: 1930

• Brüning elected but had little support in Reichstag (Hunger Chancellor)

How Hitler became chancellor: March + April 1932

• Hitler successful in presidential elections

• Hitler now leader of 2nd largest part in Reichstag

• Hitler well-known across Germany

How Hitler became chancellor: May 1932

• Brüning lost support of Hindeburg due to his failure to improve the economy

• Hindenburg opposed Brüning’s scheme to give away bankrupt farms in Prussia to the unemployed

How Hitler became chancellor: June 1932

• Papen appointed Chancellor

How Hitler became chancellor: July 1932

• Nazis won 230 seats in election + were now the largest party in the Reichstag

• Papen refused to relinquish his post as Chancellor

How Hitler became chancellor: August 1932

• Hitler demanded Chancellor position

• Hindenburg refused to contemplate Hitler for the role even if he had the largest party in the Reichstag

How Hitler became chancellor: September 1932

• Papen dissolves Reichstag

• New elections in November 1932

How Hitler became chancellor: November 1932

• Papen convinced Nazis were losing momentum

• Nazis number of seats decreased from 230 to 196

• However Nazis still had majority

• Papen unable to secure a majority

• Hitler continues to demand role of Chancellor

• Papen suggested abolishing the Weimar constitution but Schleicher convinced Hindenburg it would cause a civil war

• Papen lost Hindenburg’s confidence and resigned - succeeded by Schleicher

How Hitler became chancellor: January 1933

• Papen determined to regain power so met with Hitler

• They decided Hitler should lead a Nazi-Nationalist government with Papen as Vice-Chancellor

• Army, major landowners and industry leaders were convinced Papen and Hitler were saving Germany from Schleicher’s plans and a communist takeover

• Papen convinced Hindenburg that a coalition government with Hitler would save Germany and that he would be able to control Hitler

• Schleicher forced to resign as Chancellor

How Hitler became chancellor: 30th January 1933

• Hitler became Chancellor of Germany

  • had largest party + invited to position by Hindenburg

• Legally and democratically gained the role