History DS2: Why was Hitler able to dominate Germany by 1934?

How did Hitler gain control of the Nazi party?

- September 1919, Hitler joins DAP with Drexler as leader

- Put in charge of propaganda due to his talent for public speaking

- 1920, Hitler wrote the 25 Point Programme setting out the Nazi's beliefs.

- April 1920, DAP renamed NSDAP.

- Anti-semitic views in his newspaper were popular giving Hitler support to replace Drexler.

What was the SA?

- Paramilitary organisation formed by Hitler in 1920

- Anti-communist ex-soldiers from Freikorps who beat up opposition

- Headed by Ernst Rohm

- Attacked Jews and involved in murders and events such as Kristallnacht

-500,000 members at start of 1933, up to 3 million in 1934

What happened at the the Munich Putsch?

- Hitler wanted to overthrow Weimar because of French occupation and hyperinflation

- 3000 Nazis Marched in Munich with Ludendorff hoping for a military coup

- On November 9th 1923 right wing Bavarian government leaders Von Kahr and von Lossow did not support Hitler and the police shot 14 Nazis and Hitler was arrested

- Failure because army remained loyal to Weimar and Hitler over-estimated support of German people

Assess the significance of the Munich Putsch to the Nazis

Significant

- Reveals power would be achieved through means of democracy rather than violence

- Enormous publicity from his trial; Hitler become a nationwide figure

- Hitler attempts to get 'catch-all vote': more propaganda, less anti-semitism, sets up Hitler Youth, etc.

- Nazis severely weakened in near future

Not significant

- Beliefs remained the same - e.g. anti-communism, anti-semitism, anti-ToV, etc.

- Support primarily from working-class unemployed or lower-midlle classes;

What did Nazis do during the Stresemann Era (1924-29)?

- Hitler spends 9 months in Landsberg prison writing Mein Kampf (6 million copies sold in Nazi Germany)

The book outlines his policies for German expansion, war, and elimination of non-Aryans

- Nazi gains members; from 3,000 to 100,000 by 1928

- 1925, Hitler persuaded authorities to lift ban on Nazi Party

- Organisation set up; Fuhrerprincip

- Hitler Youth in 1926

- Women's League, Teacher's League, etc,

- Put candidates for Reichstag elections; increased propaganda

- 1927 Nuremberg rally

Why did the Nazis struggle before 1929?

- Munich Putsch: Hitler imprisoned; party and newspaper banned; after ban in 1925 Hitler made a speech so critical of gov. he was banned from speeches for another 2 years

- Stresemann's economic and foreign policy were very successful; little support for extremists; little appeal for industrial workers

- Most workers voted Socialist or Communist

- Only 12 seats in 1928 (less than 3%)

- Only some support in Northern rural communities and conservatives who condemned Weimar culture and nationalists such as against Young Plan (6 million voters)

How did the Great Depression help the Nazis?

- Increasing disillusionment: economic failure (Exports fell by 55% from £630m in 1929 to £280m in 1932); mass unemployment (1.8m in 1929 and 5.6m in 1932); govt. unable to take strong and decisive action: Hitler presented himself as a strong leader who provided solutions.

- Nazi policies e.g. anti-semitism, 'November Criminals', 25 Point Programme, more attractive as people became desperate

- Nazis won 107 seats in 1930, 200 in 1932 making it the largest party

Assess the significance of the changes made by Hitler during the 1920s

Significant

- Munich Putsch failure led party to seek democratic route to power

- Mein Kampf; Munich Putsch trial; Hitler beliefs appealed to all classes of society

- Reorganised party; less SA violence, more propaganda; marches and parades

-1923 Party had 20,000 members

But

- Aims of Nazi Party remained the same: destory ToV, rearm Germany, racism, etc,

- Paramilitarism and violence still played a large role; creation of SS

Why did the Nazis do well in elections?

- Electoral tactics; strong leader; traditional values; scapegoats and negative cohesion against common enemies such as ToV, (Jews, Communists, Weimar politicians)

- contempt for Weimar democracy resonated with middle class and Protestants

- propaganda (posters, catchy slogans, pamphlets, impressive rallies) and new technology such as radio and planes

- Hitler; a powerful and dynamic orator; increased his profile by winning 13 million votes in the 1932 Presidential Election

- The threat of Communism; big industry afraid of state

control of business; farmers feared land collectivisation

- Appeal to the young a key support base

- SA and use of violence 86 people killed in July 1932

- Emphasis on nationalism - Volksgemeinschaft

- Well organised party apparatus and appealing policies

Why was Goebbels important?

- Organised 3 highly successful election campaigns, massive rallies, Hitler's airplane travels, etc.

- Controlled Nazi newspapers; 'The People's Observer'

- Used film, radio, records, posters, etc.

- Himself a persuasive orator

How did Hitler become Chancellor in 1933?

- March 1932: Challenged Hindenburg for presidency and won 13 million votes; Nazis most seats in Reichstag

- Backroom intrigue of the elite; botched governance only happening through emergency decrees

- January 1933: Hindenburg forced to appoint Hitler as Chancellor with Papen as Vice; believed they could control and resist Hitler

Assess the significance of the weakness of political leaders in 1932-33 as a reason for Hitler's appointment as Chancellor.

Significant

- Three Chancellors in 1932 (Brunning, von Papen and Schleicher) illustrate extent of instability

- Effectively no more democracy; no majority governments formed; rule through Article 48 emergency decrees

- Rivalry and machinations led to ineffective governance and severe Great Depression effects

Not significance

- Depression led to huge increase in Nazi support; 1932 largest party in Reichstag

- Hitler's leadership, campaigning, and propaganda hugely effective

- Strong image with the public; anti-communist, anti-Weimar, etc.

What happened in the Reichstag Fire?

- 27 February 1933

- Reichstag destroyed by communist; Hitler used it to intensify anti-Communist hysteria

- 4,000 Communists arrested and imprisoned

- Hindenburg passed emergency decree suspending all personal liberties and freedom of speech

- Symbolic; Weimar had burnt down

- Hitler banned 81 Communist deputies to obtain majority in Reichstag

What was the Enabling Act?

- March 1933

-Nazis prevented all 81 Communists and 26 of the 120 Social Democrats from taking their seats, detaining them in so-called protective detention in Nazi-controlled camps

-444 votes in favour and 94 votes against by the SPD

- For 4 years, Hitler could pass laws without consulting Reichstag; he had virtual dictatorial powers.

- Enabled Hitler to ignored constitution, remove parliamentary democracy, abolish rivals, etc.

What was the Nazi 'Revolution' 1933-34?

- April: with dictatorial powers, Hitler purged Jews and opponents from civil service, courts, education

- May: trade unions and Communist party banned

- July: law outlawed all other political parties; Germany was a one-party state

- January 1934: all state govt. taken over by central govt.

What happened in the Night of the Long Knives?

- 30 June, 1934

- Rohm's left wing views unpalatable particularly for Nazi's industrialist supporters

- Hitler and SS arrested Rohm and SA leaders; 200-400 killed

- Other rivals such as Strasser and Schleicher killed; tightened Hitler's control

- SA members absorbed into army; Army pledged full allegiance to Hitler

What happened after the death of Hindenburg?

- 2 August, 1934

- Hitler combined Chancellor and President, becoming Führer of Germany

- Army agreed to serve him; Hitler begins re-armament and conscription

Assess the significance of violence in Hitler's consolidation of power.

Significant

- SA and SS violence against other parties; intimidation; Emergency Decree

- Night of the Long Knives; violence used to dispose of Rohm and SA

Not Significant

- Enabling Act; gave Hitler dictatorial powers

- Support of the German people; 44% of vote and largest party in 1933; ideological appeal

- Support of the army; compliant churches (Concordat); support of industrialists

Assess the significance of the economic crisis in Hitler's consolidation of power.

Significant

- Disillusionment with Weimar coupled with fear of rising communism; swell of Nazi support

- Brüning cut expenditure and welfare benefits; more dissastifaction with govt.

Not Significant

- Weakness of coalition governments in contrast to the strength of the Nazis

- Backroom machinations; von Papen and von Schelicher rivalry; misjudging Hitler

- Enabling Act

Assess the significance of Rohm and the SA in the development of the Nazi party

Significant

- Political battles on the streets; fights against communists; terrorising Jews

- Appealing to working-class/unemployed; popularity from 70,000 in 1931 to 3,000,000 in 1934

Not Significant

- Banned after Beer Hall Putsch; Rohm fled to Bolivia in 1925; only recalled in 1931

- Other leaders more influential - e.g. Hitler, Goering, Goebbels

- Nazi adopted legal means over violent takeover; propaganda more important

Assess the significance of the Night of the Long Knives in Hitler's consolidation of power.

Significant

- Removed internal threat of Rohm and the SA; no opposition to Hitler whatsoever

- Gained support of German Generals who felt threatened and were against plans to merge with SA

- Demonstrated Hitler's ruthlessness

Not Significant

- Nazis already largest party since July 1932; propaganda and agreements (e.g. Concordant) secured support for Hitler

- Enabling Act gave Hitler dictatorial powers; e.g. he used it to deal with communist threat

1923 November

Munich Putsch, 3000 Nazi supporters march in Munich,

14 Nazis killed and Hitler arrested. Failure

1924 February

Hitler's Trial

Hitler a household name because he spoke eloquently in his own defense. Hitler was sentenced to five years in Landsberg prison. He served nine months.

Ludendorff acquitted

Hitler wrote Mein Kampf in prison

1919

Hitler joined German Workers' Party (DAP) - Created by Anton Drexel

1920

National Socialist German Workers' Party renamed and new party programme (25 Point Programme)

25 Point Programme

Created in 1920

Nationalism

• Abolition of the Treaty of Versailles

Racism

• Only "true" Germans to be allowed to live in Germany. German citizenship to be taken away from Jews.

Socialism

• Profits made by businesses during the war to be confiscated.

• Large industries and businesses to be nationalised

• Generous pensions for old people

Anti-Weimar

• Strong central government in Germany ruled by a dictator.

Volkgemeinschaft

People's community - vague concept to create a collective identity and the German "nation"

Appealed to traditional German nationalism and imperialism

Lebensraum

Hitler's expansionist theory based on a drive to acquire "living space" for the German people

1926

Hitler Youth Created

SS created

1927

First Nuremberg rally to demonstrate order, discipline and project image of strength under Nazi rule

1928

108,000 in 1928 from 27,000 in 1925

BUT

only 12 seats, 2.6% vote

1921

Hitler in charge of NSDAP - Fuhrer

3,300 members

SA created - paramilitary group under Ernst Rohm

Economic consequences of Great Depression

50,000 businesses went bankrupt

Exports fell by 55% from £630m in 1929 to £280m in 1932

Unemployment 1.8m in 1929 and 5.6m in 1932

Production down by 42%

Political consequences of Great Depression

Muller's SPD government fell in 1930 over disagreement on welfare spending with right coalition party DVP

Nazi Party membership up to 130,000 and increased support as part of right wing 'National Opposition'

Bruning as Chancellor 1930-1932

Centre party conservative ruled with Hindenburg and Article 48 - 5 laws passed by President in 1930 and 66 in 1932

By 1932 Reichstag sat in session only 13 days (compared to 94 in 1930)

Poor handling of Economic Depression - cut spending worsening depression

1930 election

107 Nazi seats (18%), KPD 77 seats (13%)

1.8m new voters and voter turnout up 6% to 82%

1932 July election

230 seats Nazis 37.4% (largest party) KPD 14.5%

Anti-Weimar parties 51.6%

1932 November election

196 seats Nazis 33.1% (largest party) KPD 16.9%

Nazis seemingly on decline - low morale, low on money and tired voters

1933 March election

Nazis 44% (largest party) KPD 12.3% Most communists had been imprisoned or at least prevented from campaigning by emergency powers, but the Nazis still didn't get an outright majority. However, they were able to make an alliance with other right wing parties to control the Reichstag.

vov Papen Chancellor 1932

Hindenburg appointed him on Schleicher's advice and cooperated with Hitler who forced them to call a new election

Non Reichstag Cabinet who dissolved the Prussian (SPD) state government - democracy undermined

Vote of no confidence and could not rule without Reichstag for fear of Civil War

Schemed to replace Schleicher and made a deal with Hitler in January 1933 under pressure from big business

1933 January

Hitler appointed chancellor, after a deal with von Papen and Hindenburg who thought they could control him.

Only 2 ministerial positions out of 12.

Hindenburg pressured by the business community

1933 February

Reichstag Fire, 4000 Communists arrested. Followed up with Emergency Decree suspended civil and political liberties such as free speech, freedom of assembly. Police can now arrest and jail without trial.

1933 March

Enabling Act - For the next four years he can pass laws without Reichstag. Passed with only SPD opposition 444 to 94 votes.

Ministry of Propaganda created with Goebbels in Charge

Dachau, first concentration camp opened

1933

Concordat with the Catholic Church - undermines the Centre Party

Law against the Formation of New Parties - Germany became a one party state

Trade Unions banned but May Day celebration of workers

1932 March Presidential election

Hitler got 13m votes versus Hindenburg's 19m

1933 November election

Nazis win 92% of the vote against no opposition

1934 June 30

Night of the Long Knives - Rohm and Schleicher executed along with 200 other SA officials

1934 August

Referendum on Hitler becoming Fuhrer merging the role of Chancellor and President

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