CIE IGCSE History - Hitler's Rise to Power

describe Hitler’s life in Austria

• had a hard childhood - both parents died in his adolescence; didn’t do well at school

• he was very poor when he moved to Vienna - inspired by antisemitic policies of Vienna’s mayor (evidenced in Mein Kampf)

how did Hitler’s experiences of WW1 affect his political views and beliefs?

• treated well in army - good soldier, good orator, given medals for bravery - given job of countering propaganda

• was in a military hospital when armistice was signed - upset him and made him bitter

• blamed defeat on communists, social democrats and Jews - stab in the back myth

• furthered his hate of Jews and Communists

what was Hitler’s job in the army after WW1?

• to lead classes for army members on political education

• to check up on various extremist groups and counter their propaganda

which group was Hitler sent to a meeting of in September 1919?

German Worker’s Party - extreme nationalist - 6 members

how did Hitler’s meeting with the German Worker’s party impact him?

agreed with most of the ideas of the party and joined it not long after

describe Hitler’s journey through the German Worker’s party

• originally helped with propaganda

• eventually became the leader in 1921 - he had incredible charisma and a commanding presence

what happened to the German Worker’s party in 1920?

it was renamed the Nationalist Socialist German Worker’s Party - NSDAP

what sub-section of the Nazi party was set up in 1921?

SA → sturmabteilung (Stormtroppers)

what was the SA?

• Nazi’s own private army

• supposedly for protection

• started a lot of violence themselves

what were the main features of Nazi ideology in the 1920’s?

• Anti-Semitism - hatred of Jews

• Anti-communism, anti-Marxism - they wanted to destroy communism - were scared from Bolshevik revolution

•  wanted to destroy Weimar republic and create a strong government (eventually dictatorship)

•  Extreme ultra-nationalism

who were the other leading Nazis?

• Josef Goebbels

• Herman Goering

• Heinrich Himmler

• Ernst Rohm

who was Josef Goebbels?

• couldn’t fight in WW1; very intelligent; well educated; great public speaker

• joined party in 1922

• to begin he opposed Hitler’s leadership and then changed his mind and became a supporter of Hitler

• minister for Propaganda and Public Enlightenment from 1933

• editor of Nazi newspaper ‘Volkische Freiheit’ (People’s freedom)

who was Herman Goering?

• middle class background

• fought in the Luftwaffe in WW1 - won highest medal for bravery under fire

• joined Nazi party in 1922

• controlled the SA from 1923

• was appointed Minister of the Interior for Prussia from 1933

who was Heinrich Himmler?

• fought briefly in WW1, architecture student

• joined party in 1923

• was regional party chief for various regions

• joined the SS in 1925

• led the SS from 1929-45 (Reich Fuhrer-SS)

• principal enforcer of Nazi racial policy

• from 1943 he was chief of the criminal police and Minister of the interior

• controlled the Waffen-SS

who was Ernst Rohm?

• captain in German Army during WW1 despite being working class

• joined Freikorps after the war and helped to crush the Spartacist uprising

• founder member of the German Worker’s party

• ran SA after Goering

when did the Munich Putsch take place?

November 1923

why did Hitler lead the Munich Putsch?

• very angry that the policy of passive resistance had been called off

• thought it was another example of betrayal to France

which groups did Hitler believe that the Nazis would have support from at the Munich putsch?

• the Army because they were right wing - stab in the back theory

• the right-wing, anti-Weimar Bavarian state government

which Army leader did Hitler form a relationship with?

Ludendorff

what did Hitler believe Ludendorff would be able to do?

persuade the army to support the Putsch

who was the Bavarian prime minister?

Kahr

what happened on the 8th November 1923?

• Hitler marched into a government meeting in the Munich beer hall and forced Kahr and two senior officials to agree to his idea of a Putsch

• he then let them go → they informed Berlin of this and mobilised the army and police

what happened on 9th November 1923?

• Hitler felt encouraged by his supposed support from the Bavarian officials

• he marched into Munich with Ludendorff and 3000 Nazis

• they were met by the police and the army

• this developed into a shootout

• Hitler fled but was arrested 2 days later

what were the casualties of the Munich putsch?

• 16 Nazis killed

• 3 police officers killed

when did Hitler’s trial take place?

February 1924

why did Hitler’s trial benefit him?

• he made many long speeches

• it gave him a platform to spread his ideologies

• gave him a reputation as the undisputed leader of the extreme right-wing nationalists in Germany

• Newspapers around the world reported on him, giving him more ‘air’ time

what was the outcome of Hitler’s trial?

• treated leniently - knew he would be as same judge treated him leniently 2 years prior

• sentenced to 5 years in prison for treason

• Ludendorff got no sentence, other Nazi leaders got very short sentences

• only served 9 months of his sentence and was treated very laxly

what did Hitler do whilst in prison?

wrote Mein Kampf - outlined his beliefs and plans

when was the Nazi party refounded?

early 1925

what major change did the Nazis make after 1924?

changed electoral strategy

how did the Nazis change electoral strategy?

• changed from a paramilitary, violent strategy to a electoral (quasi-legal - stormtroopers did illegal acts still)

• because they realised that they would not be able to take power by force

what conference did the Nazis hold in 1926?

the Bamburg Conference

what plan was solidified at the Bamburg conference?

25-point-plan

what points did the 25-point-plan include?

• Abolish treaty of versailles

• No money to be given to the unemployed

• Jews not allowed to be citizens

• Every citizen entitled to a Jew

• Public industry to be controlled by the government

• farmers to be given small plots of land

  etc.

what was the membership of the Nazi party in 1928?

100,000

what was the period between 1924 and 1929 called for the Nazi party?

Wilderness years

how did the Nazi party change their membership strategy in the wilderness years?

• to a ‘volkspartei’ - people’s party

• encouraged everyone to vote for them, rather than just specific groups - like middle class

what regional system did the Nazis develop?

Gaue & Gauleiter system (1925)

what was the Gaue and Gaueleiter system?

• Germany was divided into regions called ‘Gaue’

• every region had a ‘Gaueleiter’ who coordinated regional Nazi party events

• 3rd highest rank in the Nazi party

give an example of Gauleiter and their Gaue

Goebbels & Berlin

what greeting did the Nazi part introduce?

• ‘Heil Hitler’ greeting and salute

• all members expected to use when greeting one another

• helped to perpetuate Hitler Myth

what belief surrounding Hitler developed?

‘Hitler Myth’

what was the Hitler Myth?

• personality cult that celebrated Hitler

• believed he was the true leader and saviour of Germany

• helped his rise to power - separated Hitler and the Nazi Party

what principle emerged about the leadership of the Nazi party?

Fuhrerprinzip

what was the Fuhrerprinzip?

• leadership principle

• organisation of entire party around Hitler

what event caused the great depression?

Wall Street Crash - 1929

when was the great depression?

circa 1929-32

what was the general impact of the Great Depression in Germany?

• many businesses shut and those that managed to stay open saw their income fall

• government raised taxes to pay for benefits

how many Germans were unemployed between the ages of 16-30 in 1933?

over half

what percentage of factory workers were unemployed by 1932?

40%

what percentage of unemployed people did not get benefits?

15%

how did the great depression benefit the Nazi party?

• German citizens became dissatisfied with the Weimar government

• turned to other organisations - polarisation of politics

• like Nazi party to support them instead - messages of strong leaders, dealing with unemployment appealed to them

how did the seats held by the Nazi party in the Reichstag change from 1928-33?

• 1928: 12 seats

• 1930: 107 seats

• July 1932: 230 seats

• November 1932: 196 seats

• March 1933: 288 seats

• November 1933: 661 seats (ALL)

how did the percentage of votes for the Nazi party change from 1928-33?

• 1928: 2.6%

• 1930: 118.3%

• July 1932: 37.3%

• November 1932: 33%

• March 1933: 43%

• November 1933: 92%(only options were Nazi or no)

what changes did Himmler make to the Nazi party 1929?

• in 1929 he took it over and increased it’s size dramatically

• 300→ 35,000 by 1933

what effect did the increase of the SS have?

• threatened political opponents

• scared the general public into supporting the Nazis

how did the Nazis use propaganda during the Great depression?

• appealed to general public; built on thinking patterns of working class

• propaganda glorified Hitler and made him appear to be a strong, powerful, stable leader that Germany needed to become powerful again - ‘Hitler Myth’

• capitalised on economic and political instability in Weimar

which revolutionary propaganda campaign did the Nazis use during the Great Depression?

• ‘Fly over Germany Campaign’ - used new innovation of air travel

• physically seen by more people than every before

how did the Nazi party use gauleiters during the Great depression?

• they organised lots of meetings

• partook in lots of public speaking

• in order to try to convince people to vote for the Nazi party

who was Hindenburg?

• president of Germany from 1925-34

• Right wing - ex-military - famous WW1 general

what beliefs did Hindenburg have?

• nationalist

• conservative

• traditional

what did Hindenburg offer Hitler in 1932 and how did he respond?

• Chancellorship of Germany after Papen failed

• Hitler did not take it up as he was not to be given the power of Article 48

who was Papen?

• chancellor of Germany in 1932: June → December

• member of the Catholic Centre Party

• nationalist; conservative; traditional

• cabinet made of elite Barons - no elected MRs

• believed in authoritarian rule

what did Papen do as Chancellor?

• in November 1932 he called a Reichstag election in order to reduce left wing/KPD seats and reduce instability

• failed → SPD and Nazi party lost votes; KPD gained votes → no-one had a majority

• ultimately had to resign

what were Hindenburg and Papen members of?

conservative elite

who was Schleicher?

• army general (not a politician)

• Chancellor from December 1932 → January 1933

• wanted to make army centre of power

what did Schleicher do as chancellor?

• struggled to rule due to lack of majority in Reichstag - lasted only one month as Hindenburg refused to grant him permission to rule by decree

• worried about power of Nazis so he tried to contain them by including them in Government

give a brief summary of Chancellors before Papen

• Muller

• Bruning - nicknamed ‘Hunger Chancellor’ due to failures in reversing depression

what deal did Papen make with Hitler in 1933?

that if Hitler was made chancellor Papen would be vice-chancellor

what did Papen and Hitler plan in 1933?

plan to oust Schleicher in order to make Hitler chancellor and Papen vice chancellor

what did Schleicher do when he found out about Papen and Hitler’s plan?

• goes to Hindenburg with a plan for a state of emergency

• Hindenburg rejects this; Schleicher has to resign

what happens after Schleicher resigns from power?

Hindenburg appoints Hitler to power

why did Hindenburg and Papen want Hitler in power?

• they thought that they could control him - he would be a puppet

• he was right-wing, ultra-nationalist, extremist, anti-communist → thought he would be a ‘strongman’ (?)

what was Hindenburg’s opinion of Hitler?

• didn’t like him

• thought he was weak/working class

• nickname ‘little corporal’