The Rise of Hitler and the Nazis

Hitler's Entry & the Party's Foundation (1919-1920)​

• ​German Workers' Party (DAP):​​ Founded in ​January 1919​ by Anton Drexler. Initially tiny, with only 6 members.

• ​Hitler's Role:​​ A WWI veteran, he was hired by the army to spy on political groups. He attended DAP meetings, and in ​September 1919, he came to realise that he agreed with its core views, and joined.

• ​Core Ideology:​​ The party believed in:

  1. A strong leader to replace weak democracy.

  2. Blaming Jews for Germany's weakness.

  3. Blaming Communists/Socialists for the Kaiser's fall.

  4. Denouncing the Weimar politicians as traitors for signing the Treaty of Versailles.

Hitler's Takeover & Rebranding (1920-1921)​

• ​Propaganda Chief (Feb 1920):​​ Hitler was put in charge of propaganda, playing a key role in increasing membership.

• ​The 25-Point Programme (1920):​​ Hitler and Drexler wrote the party's aims, including:

  • Creation of a "greater Germany."

  • Revocation of the Treaty of Versailles.

  • Land for expansion.

  • Restriction of citizenship to "German blood."

• ​Rebranding:​​ The party was renamed the ​National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP/Nazi Party)​​ in ​August 1920.

• ​Leadership:​​ By ​1921, Hitler ousted Drexler to become the undisputed leader. He kept aims deliberately vague to attract a broad coalition (nationalists, anti-Semites, the middle class, businesses).

Growth in Membership & Organization

• Membership Data:​​ Grew from 6 members to ​around 1,100 members by the end of 1920.

• ​Hitler's Personal Impact:​​ A talented public speaker who appealed to critics of the Weimar Republic. He controlled the party like a military leader, introducing the ​swastika emblem​ and the ​Nazi salute.

• ​Acquisition of Media:​​ The party purchased the newspaper ​​Völkischer Beobachter (The People's Observer)​​ in ​1920​ to spread its anti-Semitic and nationalist propaganda. (e.g. In 10 March 1920, the main headline was “Clean Out the Jews Once and For All”)

Creation of the Paramilitary Wing (SA)

• Formation:​​ The ​Sturmabteilung (SA or Stormtroopers)​​ was formed in ​1921, led by Ernst Röhm.

• ​Composition & Role:​​ Comprised of ex-soldiers and Freikorps members. They were created as a paramilitary force; their role was to disrupt opponents' meetings, protect Nazi meetings, and engage in street violence, primarily against Communists.

• ​Appearance:​​ Wore ​brown shirts​ as a uniform and paraded publicly to demonstrate Nazi strength.

• ​Inner Circle:​​ The most trusted SA members formed Hitler's personal bodyguard, the Stosstrupp (Shock Troop).

Causes of the Munich Putsch (November 1923)​

• General Anger:​​ Deep public resentment towards the Weimar Republic due to the "stab-in-the-back" myth, reparations, and loss of colonies fueled support for nationalist parties like the NSDAP.

• ​Bavarian Support:​​ Leaders of the Bavarian state government (e.g., ​Gustav von Kahr) were hostile to Berlin and sympathetic to the Nazis, ignoring SA violence.

• ​Economic Crisis & French Invasion:​​ Hyperinflation peaked in 1923. The ​French occupation of the Ruhr​ in January 1923 made the Weimar government appear weak and powerless.

• ​Fascist Inspiration:​​ Hitler was inspired by ​Mussolini's successful "March on Rome"​​ in 1922 and aimed to copy his tactics.

• ​Nazi Preparedness:​​ Hitler believed the party was ready, with ​20,000 supporters​ and its own private army (the SA). He also counted on support from former General ​Erich Ludendorff​ to win over the national army.

Key Events of the Putsch (8-11 November 1923)​

• ​8 November:​​ Hitler and ​600 SA​ men stormed a right-wing meeting in a Munich beer hall where Gustav von ​Kahr​ and Otto von ​Lossow​ (Head of Army in Bavaria) were speaking. He forced them at gunpoint to support a march on Berlin to install Ludendorff as leader.

• ​9 November:​​ After Kahr and Lossow were freed, they withdrew support. President Ebert declared a state of emergency. Undeterred, Hitler and Ludendorff led ​approx. 2,000 Nazis​ on a march into Munich. They were confronted by armed police and soldiers; ​14 Nazis were killed​ in the exchange of fire. Hitler fled but was arrested two days later.

Results & Consequences of the Putsch

• Hitler was arrested on 11 Nov. and awaited his trail.

• The Trial (Feb 1924):​​ Hitler used the trial as a propaganda platform, denouncing the Weimar government as traitors. He was found guilty of treason but given the ​minimum 5-year sentence. He served only ​9 months​ in comfortable conditions at Landsberg Castle. Ludendorff was acquitted.

• ​Short-Term Failure:​​ The putsch itself failed. The ​Nazi Party was banned.

• ​Long-Term Successes:​​

  1. ​National Platform:​​ The trial made Hitler a national figure and a hero to nationalists.

  2. ​Strategic Lesson:​​ Hitler concluded that violent revolution (putsch) would not work; power must be seized ​legally​ through the democratic system.

  3. ​​Mein Kampf​: Written in prison (Hitler dictated his ideas and Hess wrote them down) and published in 1925, it outlined Nazi ideology: Aryan supremacy, anti-Semitism, Lebensraum, and overturning the Treaty of Versailles.

Reorganization of the Nazi Party (1924-28)​

• New Strategy:​​ After the ban was lifted in ​Feb 1925, Hitler relaunched the party with a focus on winning power legally through elections and propaganda (​"hold our noses and enter the Reichstag"​).

• ​Structural Changes:​​

  • Created a national HQ in Munich and divided Germany into ​34 districts​ (Gaue) for organized campaigning.

  • Reaffirmed the ​25-Point Programme​ and his leadership at the ​1926 Bamberg Conference.

  • Held the first ​Nazi Party Rally in Weimar (1926)​.

• ​Expanded Organizations:​​

  • Expanded the ​SA​ and founded the ​Hitler Youth.

  • Established the ​SS​ as his elite bodyguard.

  • Created the ​Nazi Women's League.

• ​Propaganda Focus:​​ Under ​Joseph Goebbels, intensified anti-Semitic propaganda and public speaking training. Targeted specific groups like ​farmers.

Limited Electoral Success (1924-29)​

• Despite reorganization and growth to ​over 100,000 members by 1929, the Nazis had minimal electoral success during the ​​"Stresemann Era"​​ of stability.

• ​Reichstag Election Results:​​

  • ​May 1924 (as National Socialist Freedom Movement): 32 seats​

  • ​1928: Only 12 seats​

• ​Reasons for Limited Support:​​ Gustav Stresemann's policies ended hyperinflation (Dawes/Young Plans), improved foreign relations (Locarno Pact, League of Nations entry in ​1926), and President Hindenburg's popularity stabilized the Republic. Most Germans were content, viewing the Nazis as a fringe, extremist joke. Their support was confined to some rural areas (up to ​18%​​ in farming districts), while they won only ​~1%​​ in Berlin and the Ruhr.

Economic & Social Impact of the Great Depression

• Trigger & Immediate Effect:​​ The ​1929 Wall Street Crash​ led the USA to recall its loans to Germany. This caused a German financial crisis, forcing many businesses to close.

• ​Unemployment Data:​​ Unemployment rose rapidly. A graph shows it grew from ​~1 million in 1928 to ~6 million in 1933.

• ​Government Response:​​ The government raised taxes and cut unemployment benefits to save money, worsening public hardship.

• ​Impact on Specific Groups:​​

  • ​Young People:​​ By 1933, over ​50% of 16-30 year-olds​ were unemployed, Even people with a good level of education (e.g. university degree) could not find work.

  • ​Factory Workers:​​ ​40% (4 out of 10)​​ were jobless, with reduced benefits and high food prices that they could not afford.

  • ​Farmers:​​ Already struggling since the mid-1920s as food price was falling. Many of them were in debt.

  • ​Businessmen:​​ Surviving businesses struggled due to plummeting consumer spending.

Political Impact & Erosion of Democracy

• Coalition Collapse:​​ The Great Depression caused a split between the ​SDP​ and ​Centre Party​ in the coalition government. Henrich Brüning (Centre party leader) suggested making further cuts to welfare benefits, but Hermann Müller (SDP leader)​​ refused to accept this. Müller resigned and Brüning became chancellor in ​1930.

• ​Erosion of Democracy:​​ The new Chancellor, ​Heinrich Brüning lacked a Reichstag majority, so he asked President Hindenburg to use Article 48. this meant that from 1930, Germany was not run in a democracy, it is effectively controlled by Hindenburg.

• ​Rise of Extremist Parties:​​ Brüning’s unpopular policies (tax rises, benefit cuts) drove voters to extremist parties promising solutions.

  • ​1930 Election Result:​​ Nazis won ​107 seats, Communists won ​77 seats.

Nazi Methods to Exploit the Crisis

• The Appeal of Hitler:​​ Portrayed as a ​strong, superhuman leader​ and "Germany's last hope." Used broad promises like "Make Germany strong" and "Smash the chains of Versailles." This appealed to the nationalists.

• ​Financial Backing:​​ ​Powerful business interests​ provided funds to support Hitler, aiming to stop the rising Communist threat to the capitalism system.

• ​The Role of the SA:​​ The Nazi paramilitary wing was crucial.

  • Had ​400,000 members in 1930, demonstrating Nazi strength at rallies.

  • Used ​violence and intimidation​ to disrupt opponents' meetings and threaten voters. In the elections of 1930 and 1932, some people were killed and voters were intimidated as they cast their votes at polling stations.

Skilful Propaganda of the Nazis

• ​Skilful Propaganda:​​ Directed by ​Joseph Goebbels, methods were modern and adaptable.

  • ​Hitler's "Flight over Germany" (Deutschlandflug) :​​ Used aircraft to speak in ​20 cities in 6 days, he was flowing all over Germany.

  • Giving people scapegoats for Germany’s problems: they claimed that the problems were caused by Jews, Communists and Weimar politicians.

  • ​Targeted Messaging:​​ Nazis owned 8 different newspapers, each aimed to sell its messages to a particular group. Posters and messages were designed to target different groups (e.g., farmers). The messages were deliberately clear and simple. Policies were dropped if they lost support (e.g., nationalizing industry).

  • ​Parades & marches: these were organised by mobile Nazi units, they include both political speeches and entertainment such as plays, concerts and sport

July 1932 Reichstag Elections

• July 1932 Reichstag Elections:

  • Nazis became the largest party in the Reichstag, securing 230 seats with 37.4% of the vote.

  • Hitler ran for German president in April 1932, polling 13 million votes but losing to incumbent President Hindenburg; this defeat nonetheless elevated Hitler to a major national political figure.

Brüning’s Dismissal & Von Papen’s Rise

• In July 1932, Chancellor Brüning attempted to use a presidential decree (Weimar Constitution Article 48) to ban the SA and SS amid political unrest.

• Army General Kurt von Schleicher organized a right-wing coalition (army officers, rich landowners, industrialists) and convinced Hindenburg to dismiss Brüning as chancellor.

• Von Schleicher selected wealthy politician Franz von Papen as the new chancellor (a figurehead for von Schleicher’s control), but drastically underestimated Hitler’s ability to manipulate political circumstances to his advantage.

November 1932 Elections & Von Papen’s Resignation

• Von Papen called another election; Nazi support weakened slightly (lost seats) but they remained the largest party in the Reichstag with 190 seats.

• Von Papen resigned after the election, and Hitler argued he should be chancellor (due to Nazi plurality in the Reichstag), but Hindenburg rejected (Hindenburg disliked Hitler and viewed him as overly ambitious and "low class").

Von Schleicher’s Chancellorship (December 1932)

• Hindenburg appointed von Schleicher as chancellor, replacing von Papen.

• Von Schleicher asked Hindenburg to suspend the constitution and make him head of a military dictatorship, claiming Hitler and von Papen were plotting a conspiracy against him.

• This request was leaked to the public, causing von Schleicher to lose support in the Reichstag.

Hitler’s Appointment as Chancellor (January 30, 1933)

• Powerful German business leaders wrote to Hindenburg urging Hitler’s appointment as chancellor; Hindenburg initially refused.

• Von Papen, determined to regain power, believed he could control Hitler from behind the scenes and persuaded Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as chancellor with von Papen as vice chancellor.

• Hindenburg reluctantly agreed, and Hitler became Chancellor of Germany on 30 January 1933.