Weimar and Nazi Germany: The Rise of Hitler and the NSDAP (1919–1933)

Comprehensive practice flashcards detailing Hitler's early life, the DAP, the 25 Point Programme, the Munich Putsch, the Lean Years reorganization, the impact of the Wall Street Crash, and the factors driving Nazi electoral growth up to 1933.

Where and when was Adolf Hitler born?

Hitler was born in Branau am Inn, Austria, in $1889$.

What major setbacks did Hitler experience in 1907 and between 1908 and 1913?

In $1907$, his mother died (leaving him "prostrate with grief") and his application to the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna was rejected; from $1908$ to $1913$, he lived rough in Vienna selling hand-painted postcards.

What were Hitler's military service and experiences during World War I?

He joined the Bavarian Army in $1914$, was awarded the 1st Class Iron Cross in $1918$, and was blinded by a gas attack, learning of the German surrender while in hospital at Pasewalk.

How did the early German Workers' Party (DAP) define nationalism and socialism?

Nationalism meant Germany should be strong, independent, and populated only by pure Germans; socialism meant the country's land, industry, and wealth should belong to the workers.

Who founded the DAP, and what were its initial characteristics in 1919?

The DAP was set up by Anton Drexler in $1919$ with initially $50$ members. It was predominantly right-wing with both nationalist and socialist ideas, opposed the November Criminals, Dolchstoss, and Jewish people, and emphasized the volkish idea of a pure German people.

How did Hitler first become involved with the DAP in Munich?

While working as an army informant spying on socialist parties, Hitler attended a DAP meeting, gave an impassioned speech in response to a member, and so impressed Anton Drexler that Drexler invited him to join.

What political manifesto was announced by Hitler and Drexler in February 1920?

The 25 Point Programme, which served as the party's political manifesto expressing its core aims and beliefs.

What were the primary nationalist demands outlined in the 25 Point Programme?

A strong central government, the union of all Germans in a Greater Germany, revocation of the Treaty of Versailles, expansion of the armed forces, citizenship restricted exclusively to pure Germans (excluding Jews), and land expansion (lebensraum).

What were the primary socialist demands included in the 25 Point Programme?

Increasing pensions for the elderly, nationalizing all industries under government control, equal rights and duties for citizens, higher education access for hard-working Germans, and state protection for mothers and infants, including ending child labor.

When did Hitler assume leadership of the party, and what name and symbols did he establish?

In July $1921$, Hitler took over as leader of the renamed NSDAP, adopting the swastika (Hakenkreuz) as the party emblem and the raised-arm salute.

What techniques did Hitler use to develop his effectiveness as an orator?

He structured speeches to build tension around key messages, practiced physical gestures and voice dynamics, and commissioned publicity photos and paintings (such as 'In the beginning there was the word').

What newspaper did the Nazi Party purchase and begin publishing in 1921?

The Völkischer Beobachter (Volkischer Beobachter).

What was the Führerprinzip?

The leadership principle stipulating that the Führer held absolute power and authority within the party and was answerable to no one.

What was the SA, when was it formed, and who originally led it?

The SA (Sturmabteilung), commonly known as the Brownshirts, was a paramilitary protection squad established in $1921$ under the leadership of Ernst Röhm to protect Nazi meetings, parade in public, and disrupt SPD and KPD events.

Who were the three Bavarian leaders confronted by Hitler during the Munich Putsch?

Gustav von Kahr (head of the Bavarian government), Otto von Lossow (army chief), and Hans Seisser (police chief).

What short-term factors and external inspirations led Hitler to launch the Munich Putsch in November 1923?

Anger over the French occupation of the Ruhr and the calling off of passive resistance, inspiration from Mussolini's $1922$ March on Rome, and the active support of General Ludendorff.

What occurred on 8 November 1923 at the Bürgerbräukeller?

Hitler and $600$ Nazis stormed the Bürgerbräukeller, held Kahr, Seisser, and Lossow at gunpoint to secure their support for a national takeover, after which General Ludendorff allowed the three leaders to leave.

What was the outcome of the Nazi march through Munich on 9 November 1923?

Armed with approximately $2{,}000$ rifles, the marchers were met by state police; a gunfight broke out leaving $16$ Nazis and $4$ police officers dead, causing the putsch to fail and the party to be banned.

What key consequences arose from Hitler's trial and imprisonment following the Munich Putsch?

Hitler used the trial as a national propaganda platform, spent $9$ months in prison writing Mein Kampf, and realized he needed complete control of the party and a legal, democratic path to power.

Why is the period from 1924 to 1928 referred to as the Nazi 'Lean Years'?

The NSDAP achieved very limited electoral success due to the relative political and economic stability of the Weimar Republic, while the party had to be rebuilt following internal splits under Alfred Rosenberg's temporary leadership.

How did Hitler restructure the party's regional organization following his release from prison?

He divided Germany into $35$ administrative regions called Gaue, each led by an appointed Gauleiter loyal to Hitler to implement the Führerprinzip.

What was the significance of the 1926 Bamberg Conference?

Hitler reasserted his undisputed authority over internal party factions and won over potential leadership rivals by naming Gregor Strasser head of propaganda and appointing Josef Goebbels as Berlin Gauleiter.

Why was the SA reorganized and who was chosen to lead it after Ernst Röhm was removed?

Hitler removed Ernst Röhm due to the SA's unruly, thuggish behavior and replaced him with von Salomon to enforce discipline, while establishing the SS as his elite personal bodyguard.

How was Point 17 of the 25 Point Programme amended to appeal to rural voters?

The clause calling for the seizure of land for communal purposes was modified so that land would only be confiscated if it was owned by a Jew.

How did the NSDAP perform in the 1928 Reichstag elections despite increasing its membership to over 100,000?

The party won only $12$ seats ($2.6\%$ of the vote), down from $32$ seats in $1924$, making it only the 7th largest party in parliament.

What event triggered the Wall Street Crash on 29 October 1929 in America?

Panic selling caused $13\text{ million}$ shares to be dumped on the market, resulting in investors losing $\$4\text{ billion}$ in a single week.

How did the Wall Street Crash affect German banking and industrial output by 1932?

American Dawes Plan loans were abruptly recalled, sparking bank runs and bankruptcies; by $1932$, German industrial production had fallen by $40\%$.

What were the unemployment and wage statistics in Germany between September 1929 and January 1933?

Unemployment rose from $1.3\text{ million}$ to $6.1\text{ million}$, while average wages declined by approximately $70\%$.

Why was Chancellor Heinrich Brüning called the 'Hunger Chancellor' and how did he govern?

Brüning introduced austerity policies cutting spending and benefits while raising taxes; lacking a Reichstag majority, he bypassed parliament using presidential decrees under Article 48 ($44$ times in $1931$ and $66$ times in $1932$).

How did the Wall Street Crash influence the electoral success of the KPD by July 1932?

Seen as the party protecting working-class jobs, the KPD's vote share rose to $15\%$, giving them $89$ seats in the Reichstag.

What was Josef Goebbels' rule for effective Nazi propaganda?

Goebbels stated that "propaganda must confine itself to very few points and repeat them endlessly."

Which major German industrialists financially supported the NSDAP during the Great Depression and why?

Industrialists including Benz, Krupp, and Bosch funded the party because they were terrified of communism and wanted to curb the power of trade unions.

How did the Nazis appeal to the German youth and what percentage joined between 1926 and 1933?

Hitler promoted a '1000 year Reich' through the Hitler Youth (founded in $1926$), leading to $43\%$ of new members during this era being between ages $14$ and $19$.

What campaign method showed Hitler's personal appeal during the 1932 elections?

Hitler flew by airplane across Germany to campaign in person, visiting $20$ cities in seven days.

What occurred after Ernst Röhm was reappointed to lead the SA in January 1931?

SA membership grew from $100{,}000$ to $170{,}000$ within a year, and the SA engaged in frequent, deadly street battles with the communist Red Front Fighters (RFB).

What percentage of the vote did Hitler win in the March 1932 Presidential Election?

Hitler secured $30\%$ of the vote, finishing second behind Paul von Hindenburg.

How dramatically did the NSDAP's Reichstag seats and total membership increase between 1928 and 1933?

Reichstag seats increased from $12$ in $1928$ to $230$ in July $1932$, while overall membership grew from $129{,}000$ in $1931$ to $849{,}000$ by $1933$.