8B - Why Was Hitler Able to Dominate Germany by 1934

Hitler and the Nazis:

They began as the German Workers Party, led by Anton Drexler. Hitler joined the party and was put in charge of propaganda soon after Drexler recognized his talent as a speaker.

Hitler eventually removed Drexler as leader.

Hitler started to stir nationalist passions and blamed The Allies, Treaty of Versailles, The November Criminals, The Communists and he Jews for Germany’s problems.

His meetings were very successful and often got disrupted for which he formed the SA(Brownshirts) to protect his meetings and disrupt that of others.

The Twenty - Five Point Program

The abolition of the Treaty of Versailles

Union of Germany and Austria

Only ‘true‘ Germans to be allowed in Germany, Jews especially to be excluded.

Large industries and businesses to be nationalised.

Generous old age pensions

A strong central government

The Munich Putsch - 1923

Hitler believed the moment had come for him to topple the Weimar Government as they were preoccupied with economic crisis.

Hitler Hijacked a government building and announced that he was taking over the government of Bavaria, he was joined by the old war hero Ludendorf.

However the police rounded up the SA and in a brief exchange of shots many were killed and the rebellion broke up in chaos.

Hitler escaped in a car leaving the others to fight.

In short term:

The Putsch was a disaster and the Nazis had gotten humiliated and the leader including Hitler were arrested and charged with treason.

In long term:

During his trials, Hitler had gotten enourmous publicity which he skillfully exploited to promote his nationalist and anti-communist ideologies, ultimately increasing the visibility of the Nazi Party among the German populace.

Hitler impressed the judges to the point where his accomplices were freed alltogether.

Hitler only served 9 months in prison which he spent in great comfort in Landsberg Castle.

This made it clear that he had support in high positions within the legal system.

The Nazis in the Wilderness 1924 - 29

Hitler used his time in prison to write a book, Mein Kampf in which he presented his ideas for Germany’s future.

In prison he decided that the Nazis should work within the democratic system to achieve power and then destroy that system.

As soon as Hitler was released he started building support through Youth programmes and propaganda efforts that appealed to the disillusioned German populace, particularly the economically distressed middle and working classes.

His views were: National Socialism, Racism, Armed Force, Living space, The Fuhrer.

A change of strategy

The Nazis found they got most of their support from peasant farmers and small buisness people in country towns. The Nazis highlighted their importance in their rise to power and promised to help agriculture once they were in power. They praised famers as racially pure Germans.

Hitler enlarged the SA and set up the SS who were similar to the SA but were loyal to Hitler personally.

Hitler appointed Joeseph Goebbels to be in charge of spreading propaganda and was doing this very efficiently through the use of posters leaflets radio control and organisations of rallies such as the Nuremberg Rallies annually.

Despite all of this there was no major breakthrough for the Nazis.

The Depression and The Rise of The Nazis

Germany was badly affected by the stock crash and Americans demanded the loans to be payed back to them which resulted in economic collapse in Germany.

The Weimar Government struggled to act efficiently.

The Twenty - Five point program was very attractive to the people most affected by the depression: middle classes and the elderly. Hitler kept blaming the Jews, November Criminals, The Versailles Treaty and the Allies for all their problems.

The Nazis were now the single biggest party but did not have overall majority.

Why did the Nazis succeed in elections?

Factor 1 - Nazi Campaigning

Hitler ran for president. Even though he failed the campaign raised his profile hugely.

He appeared to be someone that understood the problems of German people.

Their rallies impressed people with their size.

The Nazis blamed the same people every opputunity they got: the Treaty of Versailles, communists, and Jewish people, and the November Criminals.

Factor 2 - Negative Cohesion

People supported the Nazis as they shared Nazi fears.

Factor 3 - Disillusionment with Democracy

Perhaps the biggest negative was a dissatisfaction with democracy. Politicians were not able to tackle Germany’s problems efficiently.

Factor 4 - The Communist Threat

Business leaders feared the communists because of their plan to induce state control of businesses. They felt the Nazis would combat this and began to fund the Nazis.

Farmers also feared the communists and the Nazis promised to help them.

Factor 5 - Decadence

The Nazis promised to restore old - fashioned values to Germany.

Factor 6 - Weak Opposition

The SDP made a mistake thinking that Germans would not fall for these vague promises and accusations.

The result?

Nazi support skyrocketed.

How did Hitler become Chancellor?

July 1932 - The Nazis were the single biggest party. Hitler demanded the post of chancellor but was denied by Hindenburg.

November 1932 - The Nazis’ share of vote fell. Hitler is said to have threatened suicide.

December 1932 - By this time it was clear that the Weimar form of governance was not working. Hindenburg was more or less running the country with his emergency powers which was not democratic.

January 1933 - Hitler was given the post of chancellor as they thought they could restrict him but they were very wrong.

Hitler Consolidates his Power

The Reichtag Fire:

The Reichtag Building was mysteriously burnt down. Hitler used this to blame Communists and announced this was the beginning of a communist uprising. Hitler demanded emergency powers and used them to arrest communists.

The Enabling Act:

Hitler had overall majority and intimidated the Reichtag into passing the Enabling act which let him pass laws without consulting anyone.

He banned communism and made himself a virtual dictator. There was nothing Hindenburg or anyone could do.

The Night of the Long Knives:

The leading officers in the army were not impressed by him and were particularly suspicious of the SA.

The SS men broke into the homes of Rohm and other leading figuirs in the SA and arrested them.

Hindenburg thanked Hitler and the SA was made much more inferior to the SS.

The Army Oath:

Hindenburg passed away and Hitler passed a law that combined the presidents power with the Chancellors’ and made himself head of state. Hitler brought back conscription and rearmament to the army that had swore loyalty to the Reichkanzler.