10 - the appeal of Nazism and Communism

Question 1

The power of the Will

Answer 1

• Hitler and the Nazis presented as a force of change for Germany
• power, strength and determination to succeed personified by Hitler
• stormtroopers helped present success

Question 2

Struggle and War

Answer 2

• science justified wars between races
• war would reconstruct social order

Question 3

Volksegemeinschaft

Answer 3

• only Aryans could be citizens of the state, others were subjects
• no social classes, work for the good of the state
• social and cultural revolution

Question 4

National Socialism

Answer 4

• economically radical ideas, confiscation of war profits
• appealed to working classes

Question 5

Aggressive Nationalism

Answer 5

• reverse the humiliation of the treaty of Versailles
• establish ‘Greater German Reich’, Germans within borders
• secure Lebensraum and resources

Question 6

Anti-Semitism

Answer 6

• Jews responsible for ToV and decline of power
• Hitler regarded communism as a Jewish creed

Question 7

Fuhrerprinzip

Answer 7

• Hitler had supreme control over policy and strategy
• democracy had stabbed in the back, Nov criminals

Question 8

What were the key points of the appeal of the Nazis?

Answer 8

• Nazis were able to boraden their appeal
• main supporters from Mittelstand
• working classes drawn in

Question 9

What was Nazi ideology?

Answer 9

• NSDAP, long name, many political groups
• 25 point plan
• aggressive nationalism appeal to any WW1 veterans

Question 10

Why is it so difficult to know who voted for the Nazis?

Answer 10

• no opinion polls
• elections by secret ballot

Question 11

What was Hitler’s importance to Nazi success?

Answer 11

• by 1929 he was the undisputed leader
• possessed great charisma and oratorical skills
• hypnotic effect, preying on fears

Question 12

What was the role of anti-semitism in Nazi success?

Answer 12

• Jewish Capitalism started depression
• anti-semetic views became more publicly expressed
• ‘Juda Verrecke’ became a popular chant
• provided a scapegoat
• very little emphasis, Jan 1932, 16 meetings with none

Question 13

Who was Joseph Goebbels?

Answer 13

• Reich propaganda chief in 1928
• Minister of Propaganda and Enlightenment in 1933

Question 14

How did Nazism appeal to big businesses?

Answer 14

• provided money for transport, could travel the country
• scared of communism

Question 15

What was the appeal of communism?

Answer 15

• against SPD and Nazis
• wanted to overthrow Weimar
• establishment of a Workers state

Question 16

What limited the success to communism?

Answer 16

• high membership turnover, lost 50% of members after 6 months in 1932
• limited appeal outside industrial
• short of money, unemployed supported
• blinded by fighting KPD

Question 17

What were the strengths of communism?

Answer 17

• Thallman’s speech, emphasised class system
• ‘Bread and Freedom’ appealed to working classes
• 16.9% of votes by 1932

Question 18

Why did the Nazis succeed over the Communists?

Answer 18

• communist revoloution scared middle class votes
• business leaders turned to Nazis
• communists lacked money

Question 19

What were some Nazi propaganda messages?

Answer 19

• first bread! then reparations
• we want work and bread
• the puppet master