Germany , the depression and the rise of the Nazis, 1929 - 1934

why had the nazis become a major political party by the middle of 1932?

• nazi propaganda was modern and effective and goebbels managed to gain all classes attention

• Hitler was a charismatic and appealing leader

• there was a widespread fear of communist revolution so the nazis shared this message and used it to their advantage

• The nazis organised soup kitchens and shelters for the unemployed. They had suppourt from upper classes so this might gain votes fom working class

• The SA (storm troopers) and SS (security service) gave an impression of order and discipline

• The weimar gov were unable to cope with germanys problems

• The nazis had reorgainsed their party so that they had branches across the whole of germany so more seats in the reichstag

• unemployment rose to 6 million

• Many germans felt uncomfortable with the decadence of weimar and the actions of hindenburg. Which meant that germany had lost hope in the weimar and looked for a more stable leader (Hitler)

what was the impact of the great depression on germany?

• Economic Collapse & Unemployment: The Weimar economy was heavily reliant on US loans via the Dawes Plan. When these were recalled, German industry collapsed. By January 1933, one in three German workers were unemployed, totalling 6.1 million people.

• Political Instability: The ruling coalition failed to agree on solutions, leading to the collapse of Chancellor Müller’s government in 1930. Subsequent chancellors, like Brüning, were forced to rely on President Hindenburg's emergency powers

• Rise of Extremism: Desperate Germans lost faith in moderate parties and turned to extremes. The Communist Party (KPD) gained support, while the Nazi Party (NSDAP) saw massive electoral gains, becoming the largest party in the Reichstag by July 1932.

• Rise of the Nazi Party: The Nazis used the crisis to offer simple solutions, blaming the Weimar Republic, the Treaty of Versailles, and Jewish people for Germany's suffering. They used the SA (Stormtroopers) to fight Communists, presenting themselves as the party of order.

• Hitler Appointed Chancellor: Conservative politicians, including Papen and Hindenburg, believed they could control Hitler, and after electoral successes (and violent instability), they appointed him Chancellor on 30 January 1933, allowing him to dismantle the Weimar Republic.

what was the role of Hitler in the rise of the Nazis?

Adolf Hitler was the central figure in the rise of the Nazi Party, transforming it from a marginal group into a major political force through charismatic leadership, intense propaganda, and strategic violence. As leader (Führer), he unified the party under a radical ideology of antisemitism, ultranationalism, and anti-communism, while exploiting economic crises to gain popular support

what was the role of the SA in the rise of the Nazis?

The SA ("Brownshirts") were critical to the Nazi rise to power by providing violent paramilitary force, intimidating political opponents (especially communists), and securing Nazi rallies. As Hitler's "bullyboys," they established street dominance, created an aura of lawlessness, and fostered an image of the Nazis as the only force capable of bringing order, paving the way for Hitler's dictatorship

By what stages did the weimar democracy collapse?

• Hitler might have been excpected to be chancellor after the reichstag election in july 1932 because he was the leader of the largest party in the reichstag at the time but he didnt become chancellor because Hindenburg refused becasue he was suspicious of Hitler

• Von Papen continuing as chancellor was a bad sign for weimar because he had virtually no suppourt in the reichstag and this was bad for thier democracy because Hitler was more popular

was weimar democracy still in tact by the end of 1932?

No, even though Hindenburg chose whatever chancellor he wanted but didnt break any rules. Freedom of speech was still allowed. Hitler did have the majority of votes so it should be democratic to allow Hitler to become chancellor

what was the role of Hindenburg in 1933?

served as the President of the Weimar Republic and played the decisive role in legalising Adolf Hitler's rise to power. Despite his personal dislike for Hitler, Hindenburg’s actions in 1933 effectively ended German democracy and established the Nazi dictatorship

what was the role of von papen in 1932?

served as the chancellor of germany from june until december when it was taken over by schleicher because Papen’s government had lost all parliamentary support. In 1933, he became vice-chancellor.

why was Hitler appointed chancellor in Jan 1933

The nazis had lost seats in the nov 1932 election so it looked as though their popularity had peaked…

but the nazis were still the largest party in the reichstag…

and so von hindenburg was tired of ruling by decree and wanted a chancellor who could govern effectivley…

so von papen was annoyed at having lost the chancellor ship to von schleicher and wanted the post back…

and conservative politicians and businessmen were frightened by the prospect of a communist revolution…

so franz von papen persuaded von hindenburg that Hitler could be controlled…

This lead to Hitler being appointed as chancellor because von papen and von hindenburg thought they could benefit from his popularity

what were Hitlers strengths and weaknesses on 31st jan 1933?

strengths:

• He could talk to the german people as an established, respectable leader

• he could call fresh elections

weaknesses:

• he didnt control the army

• he didnt control the police and legal system

• he couldnt act without the permission of the reichstag

• he couldnt act without permission of the president

• he faced organised political opposition

• he didnt dominate the gov and couldnt act as he wished

the only thing that changed after becoming chancellor was being able to call fresh elections and be able to broadcast his speeches on radio

The reichstag fire

• 27th Feb 1933

• Th Reichstag building burnt down

• A young dutch communist called Marinus van der Lubbe, was arrested at the scene was was said to have confessed to starting the fire (allegedly)

• Hitler demanded special emergency powers to deal with the situation and was given them by President Hindenburg. The nazis used these powers to arrest communists, break up meeting and frighten voters

what was the significance of the reichstag fire?

As a result of the reichstag fire, on the morning of the 28th Feb 1933, HIndenburg gave Hitler special powers under the emergency decree for the protection of the people and the state. It gave him the power to suspend civil liberties and draft ‘special police’ (SA) and communist and socialist (opposition) leaders were arrested

The election of 5th March, 1933

In november 1932, the Nazis had 196 seats.

By march 1933, they had 288 seats

After the march election, they gained suppourt from the nationalist party so Hitler now had the majority

what was the significance of the enabling act 23/24th march 1933

It gave Hitler to powers to make laws without consulting the reichstag. Only the SPD voted against him. He didnt even have to consult Hindenburg. Basically gave him dictational powers.

why would conservatives like Hindenburg allow Hitler so much power?

They saw him as a way of saving germany from communism

why does the passage of the enabling act matter in the nazi seizure of power?

it gave Hitler the powers to be a dictator

How did the Nazis eliminate political opposition by the summer of 1933?

6th march - effectivley the KPD was banned (communists)

2nd may - the democratic trade unions were closed down and replaced by the DAF (german labour front), a nazi organisation

19th june - the SPD (‘labour’) was banned because of foreign influence

8th july - the nazis and catholic church (in rome) made an agreement whereby the catholic church said it would stay out of politics

14th july - the nazis were the only political party left and passed a law saying that the nazis were the only legal party

was the weimar democracy still intact by the end of 1933

• Hitler had the monopoly of power

• there was no point speaking against Hitler becasue there was no democracy

• no free election

Hitlers strengths and weaknesses by the middle of july 1933?

Strengths:

• he controlled the police and legal system

• He could act without the permission of the reichsatg

• He could act without the permission of the president

• He could talk to germans as an established, respectable leader

• He faced no organised political opposition

• He could call fresh elections

• He dominated the gov and could act as he wished

Weaknesses:

• he didn’t control the army

Ernest Rohm and the SA

why were they a threat to hitlers consolidation of power - there were 4 million SA members so size, very loyal to Rohm

how serious of a threat were they - they had the potential to over throw hitler and replace with rohm

Conservatives and the leadership team of the armed forces

why were they a threat to hitlers consolidation of power - They could over throw hitler and the very conservative army officials were suspicious of him

how serious of a threat were they - they were only 100,000 because of Versailles but they had power, money and were organised so very serious.

night of the long kinves

• 29-30th june 1934

• The SS (with army suppourt) killed Rohm, former chancellor von schleider (who was a fierce critic of Hitler) and around 200 others. Some SA leaders as well and any others who Hitler wanted out the way

• Hitlers reason for the deaths was to keep the SA under control so that he could show the ary that he was on their side

why does the night of long knives itself matter in the nazi seizure of power?

Hitler was getting rid of potential rivals for control of the party, but it didnt give him more power over germany, it just protected what he had.

what was the impact of the night of long knives?

• the german conservatives thought the disreputable SA were finally under control and their socialist ideas were abandoned

• Hindenburg wasnt really aware of what had happened but it was announced that he congratulated Hitler on his actions

• Ordinary germans believed that a potenital threat to Hitler had gone and Hitler had saved them from a communist revolution (reichstag fire)

• The SA were reduced in number an the SS gained pre-eminence.

• The SA were reduced to a ceremonial role eg parading at public events

• It now came under control of Heinrich Himmler, leader of SS, who was directly loyal to Hitler

what do the consequences of the night of long knives matter to the Nazi seizure of power

it helped Hitler gain the role of supreme leader, Fuhrer of germany

How did Hitler secure total power?

1st august - the cabinet prepared and agreed to the ‘law on the head of state of the german reich’ whereby hitler would take the new title the ‘fuhrer and the reich chancellor’ effectivley replacing hindenburg

2nd august - hindenburg died

2nd august - the law made on the 1st came into action

2nd august - armed forces swore a new oath of personal loyalty to Hitler replacing their previous oath to uphold and protect the constitution of the german reich

19th august - the german people endorsed hitlers new position with 89.9% voting in favour