What were the economic factors that played a significant role in Hitler’s rise to power?
Withdrawal of US loans due to crash of Wall street which led to extreme unemployment rates in Germany
The Treaty of Versailles = War reparations
Lost territory = loss of industry
Hyperinflation (helped by the Dawes Plan)
What were the political conditions that played a significant role in Hitler’s rise to power?
Weak democracy = instability
Treaty of Versailles
The constitution → Article 48
What were the main ideas of the Nazi ideology?
Aryanism
Antisemitism
Lebensraum = (living space → led to invasion of Poland)
Propaganda and indoctrination
Racial laws and discrimination
What persuasion and coercion methods did the Nazi party use?
Empty promises = Promises of a stronger Germany
Propaganda → speeches/posters/videos
What were the Nazi parties uses of force?
Concentration camps
military violence
SA (para-military branch of Nazi Party) and SS (“political soldiers”)
How did the Nazis take advantage of the situation in Germany?
Promised to keep out communism
uphold law and order
Return to traditional middle-class values
Who was Brüning, and what role did he play in Hitler’s rise to power?
Relied on president’s emergency decree (article 48)
Unable to control street violence
Banned SA
Lack of agrarian reforms angered landowners
Who was Von Papen, and what role did he play in Hitler’s rise to power?
Tried to gain Nazi support by lifting ban on SA
Relied on presidential decrees and ended democratic government in Prussia
Who was Von Shcleicher, and what role did he play in Hitler’s rise to power?
Persuaded Hindenburg to dismiss Von Papen
Reluctant to become chanceller
Tried to ally with Strasser (socialist)
What role did Hindenburg play in Hitler’s rise to power?
Appointed Hitler chancellor
Reichstag fire → Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to use article 48
The Enabling Act: Basically end the Weimar Republic and allows Hitler to make any law for four years without approval of Reichstag
What was article 48?
Gave German president power to declare a state of emergency and rule by decree and enabled Hitler to seize power after the Reichstag fire