Hitler notes: rise to power

1918 Germany was faced with defeat in WW1 and suffered as a result.
In this suffering, Hitler and Nazis could begin their slow rise to power which would materialise into the totalitarian state of Nazi germany 15 years later in 1933

Para 1:

Weimar Rep. faced many problems after WW1, first being the loss of German territory eg. Alsace or Loraine.
Second: admission to a war guilt clause which created a collective feeling of shame amongst German citizens (this led to a dislike of the government).
Third: payment of reparations of 6.6 billion to the French gov.
This destroyed the already weakened German economy leading to high unemployment and increased inflation.
1922, Germany struggled to pay their reparations which resulted in the invasion of the Ruhr Industrial Region by French and Belgian troops in January 1923.
SEized raw materials and goods leading to civil disobedience, deaths of 130 workers and collapse of value of mark.
One dollar could buy 4 trillion marks.
Ruined the German middle class whose pensions and savings were now rendered useless, many were put out of work and those in employment faced wage cuts.
In these conditions people began to look towards extremism aka. The Nazis.

Para 2:

In midst of economic and social decline a new government took decisive action to rescue the tanking economy.
Created the Rentenmark and negotiated with the US to cut reparations and offer loans under the Dawes plan.
By 1929, Germany was the leading industrial country with just 8% unemployment
Led to a decrease in support for the Nazis who won just 12 seats in parliament that year.
The government led by Gustavia Streseman had money to fund housing and public works projects
However, new found prosperity was built on the backs of American credit so when the New York Stock exchange crashes, the German economy came plummeting down with it.
American banks called in foreign loans which sent Germany into an economic depression.
January 1932; 6 million were unemployed, poverty and hunger were familiar as well as shanty towns and soup kitchens.
Here, Hitler and the Nazis could rise to power as the Weimar Republic fell to the ground winning 230 seats in parliament by July 1932 .
“I lost all I possessed so, in early 1930, I joined the Nazi party”.

Para 3:

Reputation of Weimar Republic was damaged beyond repair.
Could not deal with the economic problems of post war Europe and were associated with a failure to keep law and order.
“Stabbed in the back” and “November criminals” were used to undermine the government for signing the Treaty of Versailles.
Influence from the Junker class who had strong links to Prussian Aristocracy and favoured a more authoritarian gov.
Mistakes by chancellor Heinrich Brüning heightened the unpopularity of the gov.
First: reducing wages, pensions and unemployment benefit earning him the nickname Hunger Chancellor.
Second: using President HIndenberg’s power to rule by decree excessively exposing weakness in democracy.
This was problematic as he could now pass measures that would otherwise be unpopular with the German public.
Third: calling a general election in June 1930 where he did not gain majority vote but instead witnessed increasing support for extremism.
This was a sign that the Nazi rise to power was imminent.

Para 4:

Hitler now had opportunity to establish a totalitarian state and in 1923 staged an uprising called Munich Putsch.
It failed and he changed tactics intending to “use democracy to destroy democracy”. (Aka. Outvote the current government).
He began reorganising the Nazi party, beginning with branches at a local level working up to regional, provincial and national.
Established the SA brownshirts or stormtroopers led by Ernest Röhm who were a paramilitary wing of the Nazi party.
Established SS blackshirts led by Heinrich Himmler who acted as bodyguards.
Set up the Women’s League and Hitler Youth.
Place catered to everyone.
He now manipulated his policies to make them attractive to everyone
Nationalists: made cutting attacks on the Treaty of Versailles, promised a Grossdeutschland.
Middle class: anti communist views as they feared a communist gov. would hamper their wealth.
Lower class: led them to believe the economy would prosper under his control putting them in employment.
Businessmen (BMW Krupp’s family who later supplied the German arms industry): said he would support their financial growth if elected.
Nazis now likeable to everybody.

Para 5:

Made effective use of propaganda to amplify his message.
Concise slogans: “Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer”.
Uniforms, salutes or rallies portrayed ideas of power and unity.
Even people you would least expect became entranced by views such as his later chief architect Alber Speer described Hitler as “the sight of discipline in a time of chaos, the impression of energy in an atmosphere of universal hopelessness”.
1932 the Nazis were the largest in the Reichstag.
Former chancellor, Von Papen, believed Hitler was in a weak position and convinced President Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as chancellor in January 1933.
Only 2 other Nazis in the cabinet; Herman Goëring and William Frick, which made Hitler seem disadvantaged.
He accepted the position only if he was allowed to call a general election which proved to be the fatal mistake.

Para 6:

March 1933 Hitler decided to call his election
Became a huge propaganda campaign led by Joseph Goebbels
SA were enlisted in the police so Hitler could make use of legalised terror on opposition.
2 weeks before the election, Dutch communist Van Dre Lubbe set fire to the Reichstag.
Hitler used this as an opportunity to further cement his communist ideals and ended up winning 288 seats in the election.
He now was able to pass 2 important laws.
Reichstag Fire Decree; banned the communist party from government and any other opposition party.
Enabling Act; ended the power of parliament and allowed Hitler to rule by decree.