GERMANY, CHAP 3; rise of Hitler & the Nazis to Jan. 1933

What were the key views of the German Worker’s Party?

• democracy is weak - Germany needs a strong leader to rebuild it

• Jews were to blame for making Germany weak

• Communists & Socialists were the reason the Kaiser abdicated

• “stab in the back” myth - the socialist Weimar politicians betrayed Germany by signing the Treaty of Versailles

When did Hitler join the German Worker’s Party?

September 1919.

What changes did Hitler make to the German Worker’s Party in 1920?

He was put in charge of propaganda.

• Hitler & Drexler (leader) rewrote the aims of the party

• Party renamed the National Socialist German Worker’s Party (NSDAP) / the Nazi Party

What changes did Hitler make to the Nazi Party in 1921?

He becomes the Nazi Party leader.

• The Party’s aims are deliberately vague so they can appeal to a range of audiences;

• Nationalists that hated the Treaty of Versailles

• People that wanted somebody to blame for the defeat in WW1 + Germany’s other problems and were attracted by the Party’s antisemitism

• The middle class & businesses that liked Hitler’s anti-communist ideas

What did Hitler do in his role as leader? What were his strengths?

• Talented, convincing speaker

• Appealed to critics of the Weimar republic

• Had a strict, strong, military-like control of the Party

• Surrounded himself with loyal individuals. e.g Rohm (SA leader), Goering (second-in-command), Hess, etc

• Developed connections & friendships with powerful Germans

tldr; strong, appealing leader with powerful connections and support

When was the SA set up?

1921

Why was the SA / Stormtroopers created?

It was created as a paramilitary force (a group set up like a military, but not official). Their role was to disrupt the meetings of opposing political parties & crowd control at Nazi meetings. They paraded the streets to show force & present Hitler’s strength.

What was the SS?

Hitler’s personal bodyguard group of the most-trusted members from the SA

Why did the Munich Putsch Happen?

• Many Germans had a deep anger towards the Weimar Republic due to the stab in the back myth, having to pay reparations, losing Germany’s colonies, etc. Support for nationalist parties like the Nazis grew a lot in the state of Bavaria, where Munich is.

Hitler believed they were ready, because;

• Bavarian leaders disliked the Weimar Republic - they agreed with Nazi views and sometimes even purposefully ignored SA violence

• Hyperinflation in 1923 had people looking to extremist, far-right parties for solutions

• The Nazi party seemed ready - 20,000 supporters, the SA, and Hitler’s close connection to former army leader General Ludendorff. Hitler believed that Ludendorff could persuade the army to support the Nazis

Key figures in the Munich Putsch

• Otto von Lossow - head of the army in Bavaria. He fled during the Putsch to oppose Hitler

• Gustav von Kahr - Bavarian prime minister. He supported Hitler’s aims.

• Erich Ludendorff - former army leader. He sought Kahr’s support in the Pustch, and was arrested for leading the Putsch with Hitler

What happened in the Munich Putsch?

• Hitler + the SA storm a right-wing meeting. The SA use violence & intimidation against members of the Bavarian government

• Hitler forces Kahr (PM) and Lossow (Army L.) to support his plan to make Ludendorff Germany’s leader. They swear loyalty & leave the hall

• President Ebert declares a state of emergency - Lossow told to crush the uprising

• Lossow & Kahr announce their opposition

• Ludendroff still believed the soldiers would support him so he persuades Hitler to keep going

• Nazis + supporters march into Munich. Confrontation with police & soldiers results in 14 Nazis dead

When was the Munich Putsch?

November 8-9 1923

When was Hitler arrested for the Munich Putsch?

11th of November 1923

What were the results/success of the Munich Putsch?

SHORT-TERM FAILURE

• the Nazi Party was banned

• Nazi leaders imprisoned

LONG-TERM SUCCESS

• The trials gave Hitler publicity ; he had a stage to attack the Weimar government and leaders. Newspapers spread the story and he was seen as a nationalist standing up for German rights.

• Biased judges ; some powerful figures still wanted the Weimar government destroyed. Hitler was given a light sentence & Ludendorff was declared not guilty despite evidence against him

• Mein kampf ; prisontime allowed Hitler to write down his ideas

How was the Nazi party reorganized from 1924-28?

CHANGE IN APPROACH

• Violent revolution —> winning support legally

LEADERSHIP CHANGES

• Headquarters set up

• Leading Nazis appointed to every German district to increase support

• Conference in Bamberg solidifies Hitler as leader

PUBLICITY

• Nazi rallies

• Public Nazi meetings. Nazis were trained to be effective public speakers

• young people encouraged to join the SA. Hitler Youth set up

• Various organizations to appeal to different groups

• Goebbels pushed a very popular Anti-Jewish rhetoric

• focused on getting the support of suffering/struggling groups ; farmers. agriculture wasn’t doing well in the kate 1920s

What was the support for Nazis like from 1923-29 and why?

By 1929 the Nazi party had a large & well-organised membership, but they struggled to gain seats in the Reichstag. Because;

LOCARNO HONEYMOON/STRESSEMAN;

• ended inflation

• re-established Germany in the international community

• Hindenburg (president) + Stresseman (foreign minister) united moderate left and right parties so coalitions could work effectively.

^ The German people were happier with the government and had less reason to rely on extremist parties.

How did the Great Depression affect the people?

THE ECONOMY

• USA withdrew its loans. Financial crisis that lead to unemployment

YOUNG PEOPLE

• 50% were unemployed, even those with a good education

FACTORY WORKERS

• 40% unemployed

FARMERS

• They were already struggling & it got worse. Increased support for the Nazis

BUSINESSMEN

• Struggled - nobody had extra money to spend on goods

Everyone suffered as unemployment benefits were cut & many unemployed people couldn’t afford to eat

How did the Great Depression affect the Weimar republic?

DISUNITY

• The 2 main parties in the coalition government fell out. There were disagreements over the reduction of welfare benefits. Müller (SDP) resigned and Brüning (Centre Party) became Chancellor

LOSS OF DEMOCRACY

• Brüning did not have majority support in the Reichstag, so president Hindenburg was asked to use Article 48. From 1930 Germany was no longer a democracy and basically controlled by Hindenburg.

TURN TO EXTREMISM

• Brüning’s decisions were unpopular and increased suffering. Many Germans turned to extreme political parties for a solution, and the Nazis provided scapegoats - the Jews, Communists & Weimar politicians

Why was Hitler able to become Chancellor?

HITLER’S APPEAL

• Hitler presented as strong, convincing leader with broad messages —> appealed to a variety of groups, especially those desperate to see Germany strong again

• Powerful businesses were willing to support Hitler financially, as the Communists were promoting capitalism’s flaws and they wanted to stop support for communism.

THE ROLE OF THE SA - Key role in their growth

• Larger than the Communist’s private army

• Disrupted political opponents’ meetings

• Rallies made the Nazis look strong and used symbols to reinforce the idea that they could bring a better future for Germans

• Used violence + intimidation to threaten the opposition & sway voters

NAZI ELECTION PROPAGANDA

Large Gatherings;

• Parades + marches — politcal speeches AND entertainment (plays, sport, concerts)

Huge rallies —> showed the Nazi’s order & discipline

Advertisments;

• Newspapers — 8, all for different audiences

• Posters targeted a range of groups and had deliberately broad, simple messages

How did Hitler rise to Chancellor from 1932-33?

1932 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

• Nazis are the biggest Reichstag party

• Hitler gains 13 million votes and becomes a major political figure despite losing to Hindenburg

APRIL 1932

• Brüning (Chancellor) tries to ban the SS and SA due to considerable unrest - right-wing groups angered

• Army general Von Schleicher organised a coalition of army officers, industrialists and wealthy landowners to go against Brüning.

• Von Schleicher persuades Hindenburg to dismiss Brüning

VON PAPEN

• Von Papen is chosen as the coalition’s figurehead & Chancellor as he is easy to control.

• The coalition was weak and Hitler argued that he should be made chancellor. Hindenburg refuses - he hates Hitler and thinks he is unsuitable.

NOVEMBER 1932 ELECTIONS

• Von Papen calls another election. The Nazis remain the largest party, so von Papen resigns.

• Powerful businessmen write to Hindenburg asking for Hitler to be chancellor. Hindenburg refuses - von Schleicher becomes chancellor instead.

• von Schleicher asks for the powers to lead a military dictatorship - he claims von Papen and Hitler are conspiring against him. Hindenburg refuses.

• News of this request is leaked, damaging Schleicher’s reputation and support

JANUARY 1933

• von Papen decides to work with Hitler - he underestimates him and believes that if Hitler becomes chancellor, he could control him as vice-chancellor

• von Papen persuades Hindenbrug to make Hitler chancellor - Hindenburg reluctantly agrees.

Why was Hitler able to become Chancellor?

• The Nazis were already the largest party in Germany

• Rival politicians were distracted competing against each other

• Conservative elites, businessmen and army leaders supported Hitler

• Hitler was underestimated a lot

• Hindenburg saw no stable alternative for chancellor