Why did Hitler become Chancellor in 1933?

The Depression

• After the allies called in their loans, Germany needed money fast.

• The Americans refused to help so the German economy began to crash.

• The government struggled to find a solution and working class families began to starve.

• Hitler seized this opportunity as he could come up with ideas but didn’t have to prove they worked but his popularity within the working class.

The Fear of Communism

• After the failed Spartacist Uprising many non communists were scared that there way of life would disappear under communist leadership.

• The increased support from Soviet Russia meant that the movement was spreading throughout Germany.

• Hitler used this fear to manipulate voters saying that only he would be able to remove this threat and publicly voiced his distance for communists at his rallies and in his book Mein Kampf.

Political Manoeuvring

• After the failings of Bruning during the Depression, President Hindenburg decided to appoint a new Chancellor.

• He chose his friend Papen the leader of the Catholic Central Party.

• But Papen’s party held little sway within the current Reichstag, to rectify this he held an election in an attempt to gain support.

• But this only empowered Hitler’s Nazi Party as they reached 230 seats and Hitler demanded to be named Chancellor.

• Hindenburg refused and Papen continued to be Chancellor ruling through presidential decree.

• With the Reichstag in deadlock Hindenburg replaced Papen with General Schleider

• This angered Papen and he made a deal promising him Chancellor if Papen was made Vice Chancellor.

• Pappen convinced Hindenburg that they could use Hitler as a puppet, so he was made Chancellor

The Weakness of the Weimar Government

• With the Depression causing Germany’s economic ruin many turned to the government for aid but the Chancellor could no longer rely on the Americans for aid as they had also been badly affected.

• The government had also failed to quash multiple uprisings without the help of outsiders, even having to change locations during the Kapp Putsch

With all the recent hardship many Germans turned to the more radical parties on both end of the political spectrum. The government failed to crack down on these controversial parties, leaving a weak, deadlocked government with two large opposition groups.

Hitler’s Leadership Skills/Nazi Tactics

• Hitler’s speech skills were used as a main Nazi recruitment tactic, even flying him across the country in expensive, experimental planes to give speeches across the country.

• Hitler used these speeches to target minorities, the Weimar government and the Allies.

• Using racial prejudices, past failings and propaganda, the Nazis were able to manipulate the German people and create divisions within society.

• He then taught other top Nazi officials how to deliver speeches and positioned them around the country as local Nazi officials

• When Hitler took control of the Nazi Party he created the 25 Point Programme and brought with him Rohm and the SA, his own private paramilitary and a simple of strength and order within the Nazi Party (in contrast to the failing Weimar Government)