Hitler's Rise to Power

Golden age

1924 -1929 Germany stabilised

Adolf Hitler

• Born in Austria

• Wanted to be an artist but was rejected

• Lived as a drifter

• Joined the army in 1914; awarded Iron Cross for bravery

• Became involved in politics after WW1

• Joined the German Workers’ Party (DAP), later Nazi Party

• Became leader of the Nazi Party in 1921

• Skilled speaker and appointed first Chief of Propaganda

The Nazi Party

• Founded in 1919 as the German Workers’ Party (DAP)

• Anton Drexler was a founder

• Grew to 50 members by 1920

• Nationalist party – put German interests at the centre of government policy

• Anti-Semitic

Hitler early political career

• Joined Nazis in 1919

• Became second-in-command

• Party renamed the Nazi Party

• Became leader in July 1921

25 point programme

• Abolish Treaty of Versailles

• Unite German speakers

• Only Germans can be citizens

• Improve pensions

• Expand Germany

• Increased popularity with nationwide appeal

SA storm troopers

• Hitler’s party militia, made up of unemployed ex-soldiers

• Formed in August 1921 under the command of Ernst Röhm

• Wore uniforms - brownshirts nickname

• Used to disrupt opposition meetings and control crowds, often violently

Munich Putsch 1923

• Hitler and SA tried to force Kahr at a beer hall to support a Bavarian government takeover

• Planned to march to Berlin, but had only 3,000 supporters

• Ludendorff arrived late; SA met heavy gunfire

• Ministers escaped - go see their wives to alert Weimar government

• Hitler fled and was arrested for treason

• Putsch was poorly planned and failed

Reasons for the Putsch

• Attempt to overthrow the Weimar Republic

• Influenced by hyperinflation, French troops in the Ruhr, and Mussolini’s 1922 march on Rome

• Hitler aimed to force the democratic government to accept him as leader

• Exploited public anger over “stab-in-the-back” myth and reparations

Consequences of the Putsch

• Arrested for treason; Nazi Party banned

• Trial publicized his views; judge liked him and reporters published everything he said, resulting in a light 9-month sentence

• Wrote Mein Kampf – outlined political ideas, anti-Semitism, Aryan supremacy, and Lebensraum (the idea that Germany needed more living space for its people)

• Realized violence alone was insufficient; needed broader support

How does Hitler change tactics?

• Abandoned violent methods; unified under Hitler at Bamberg Conference

• Stresemann’s stable Germany reduced support for extremists

• Swastika flag created; party promoted Mein Kampf

• Local Gauleiters organized and advertised the party

• 25-point plan appealed to middle class

• SA reestablished for propaganda

• Hitler Youth attracted younger voters and professional groups

• Members trained in public speaking; Goebbels in charge of propaganda

• Received funding from big business

Why the NAZI party did not get into power by 1929

• Germany recovering under Stresemann; economy improving

• Nazi anti-Jewish policies unpopular

• Working class mostly supported Communist parties

Wall Street Crash 1929

• American stock market crashed, triggering an international economic crisis

• US companies lost billions and stopped lending money to Germany

Effects of Wall Street Crash

• Recovery depended on US loans under the Dawes Plan

• US suspended payments and demanded loan repayment

• German economy collapsed: factories and banks closed

• Mass unemployment: 1.6 million out of work

• Extreme parties gained support

• Trade collapsed, causing widespread suffering

• Government appeared weak

• Farmers struggled with debt

Bruining policies

• Increased cost of imported food to support agriculture → higher prices

• Salaries reduced, taxes increased, social services cut

• Everyday life worsened; Chancellor nicknamed the “Hunger Chancellor”

• Support for extreme parties grew

used article 48 Weimar didn’t feel like a democracy

How did the depression benefit Hitler?

• People unhappy with Weimar government

• High unemployment

• Nazis appealed by promising work and food

• Communist support grew, but slower than Nazis

Hitler’s appeal

How did Nazi party actions help Hitler become chancellor?

• Strong leader; image widely promoted

• Traveled nationwide giving speeches; used radio, loudspeakers, and films

• Used modern technology and propaganda (e.g., Goebbels)

• Employed intimidation tactics (SA)

• Promised to protect rural communities from communists

• Promised to solve Depression, end Treaty of Versailles, and rebuild the army

Political developments 1932-33

• 1932: Hindenburg re-elected; Hitler’s vote share rises

• Brüning resigns after SA ban & land plan → Von Papen becomes chancellor

• Von Schleicher plans Nazi-right wing coalition if SA ban lifted → Hitler agrees

• July 1932: Nazis 38% → demand chancellorship; Hindenburg refuses

• Von Schleicher warns of civil war; becomes chancellor, lacks support

• Von Papen convinces Hindenburg to make Hitler chancellor; he becomes vice-chancellor

Who were the 4 key people involved in the build up to Hitler becoming chancellor?

• Hindenburg – President; hesitant to appoint Hitler

• Brüning – Chancellor → resigned 1932

• Von Papen – Chancellor → vice-chancellor; pushed Hitler to power

• Von Schleicher – Chancellor → failed coalition, lacked support, paving way for Hitler.