2. Rise of N Party from 1923

Question 1

What left the door open for a third force?

Answer 1

Threat of increasing communist influence and the string of Weimer constitution governments that were unable to effectively rule Germany

Question 2

What motivated the extreme right wing group to emerge?

Answer 2

motivated by the ‘stab in the back’ mentality and benefited in growing membership from the economic hardship faced by the middle class as a result of the Great Depression – the Nationalist Socialist German Workers Party/Nazi - founded in Bavaria

Question 3

What was the Nationalist Socialist German Workers Party/Nazi?

Answer 3

The party was an ultra-nationalist political party with anti-Semitism, founded in Bavaria

Question 4

What was Hitler working as in 1919?

Answer 4

working as a ‘political indoctrination official’ spying on the Party

Question 5

How did Hitler become part of the Worker’s Party?

Answer 5

He was drawn to ideas of party and by 1921, became its leader, known as Fuhrer. Achieved this due to his ability as public speaker

Question 6

Quote to show impact of Hitler’s speech and ability as public speaker?

Answer 6

Joseph Goebbels:

“His eyes met my glance like a flame. This was a command. At that moment I was reborn… Now I know which road to take.”

Question 7

How many members did Nazi party have in 1923?

Answer 7

50 000 members

Question 8

Why did they organise large rallies?

Answer 8

to protest Weimer government, the threat of communism and the ‘diktat’(command/decree) of Versailles

Question 9

What did the Nazi Party believe in?

Answer 9

in an international conspiracy against Germany, which had been sold out by the ‘November Criminals’

Question 10

What paramilitary party was set up by Nazi?

Answer 10

called the Sturmabteilung (SA), or ‘Brown Shirts’

Question 11

what became the Nazi code?

Answer 11

Both the Swastika and the outstretched salute were adopted as part of Nazi code

Question 12

What was the platforms of the Nazi Party as it rose to power?

Answer 12

German nationalism, the volk, an Aryan master race, and idea of great and powerful fatherland

Question 13

What happened in November 1923?

Answer 13

the Munich Beer Hall Putsch; Hitler tried to take power. He was arrested and sentenced to nine months in Landsberg Prison. He wrote Mein Kampf there, outlining his ideology

Question 14

Munich Beer Hall Putsch Nov 1923: What happened and aim?

Answer 14

Attempted violent seizure of power in capital of Bavaria, Munich.

Aim: to lead a march on Berlin to overthrow the Republic.

Question 15

Munich Beer Hall Putsch Nov 1923: why did the Putsch fail?

Answer 15

when Army refused to side with Hitler and was arrested and changed with treason

Question 16

Munich Beer Hall Putsch Nov 1923: How long did Hitler spend in prison?

Answer 16

sentenced 5 years but only 9 months

Question 17

Munich Beer Hall Putsch Nov 1923: What did Hitler emerge from prison as?

Answer 17

Emerged from prison a hero of nationalists, to national prominence

Question 18

Munich Beer Hall Putsch Nov 1923: What did the experience teach Hitler?

Answer 18

next opportunity to overthrow Republic needed to be planned carefully so conservative politicians and army would cooperate or remain neutral. Needed to seek power by winning elections

Question 19

Munich Beer Hall Putsch Nov 1923: what did he write in prison?

Answer 19

Mein Kampf in prison

Question 20

what is the Mein Kampf?

Answer 20

based on form of Social Darwinism. E.g. Fuhrerprinzip: leadership principle, Volk community (classless), superiority of German Aryan race/culture (racial purity) and belief that rural life superior to urban industrialised life – working class support.

Question 21

what was it like when Hitler released from prison?

Answer 21

support for Nazis very low and party membership decreased. mid 1920s, faced significant ideological division. (economic and social stability of Weimer Republic so need to wait till instability)

Question 22

what changes brought into party due to lack of support?

Answer 22

Neverless, party reorganised where full control to Hitler introduced

Question 23

what was developed for nazi party?

Answer 23

Hitler Youth formed in 1926 and Nuremberg rallies and other aspects of successful propaganda apparatus developed

Question 24

Who supported the nazi party most by 1930s?

Answer 24

Protestant members of middle class, such as small farmers, providing bulk of votes (approx. 42%)

Question 25

What and when was young plan made?

Answer 25

June 1929 gov agreed to terms of Young Plan – reducing reparation payments but continued payment until 1988

Question 26

Who opposed the Young Plan?

Answer 26

Nationalists, especially Alfred Hugenburg forming united front with Hitler in anti-Young campaign (failed)

Question 27

what was brought due to the publicity from opposition of Young Plan to Hitler?

Answer 27

Although failed, connection with Hugenburg gave Hitler publicity/media performance, money and respectability by associated with reputable conservative leaders.

Question 28

Quote to show Hitler used campaign against Young Plan to break into national politics and showed skills as propagandist

Answer 28

Alan Bullock:

“Hitler had now become a familiar figure, thanks to a publicity campaign entirely paid for by Hugenburg’s rival party”

Question 29

evidence that onset of depression more important for nazi party?

Answer 29

AJP Taylor said that “the depression put the wind in Hitler’s sail”.

Question 30

What did nazi exploit from the depression?

Answer 30

By exploiting misery and fears of German ppl, made massive electoral breakthroughs in next 3 years

Question 31

statistics of change in vote due to depression?

Answer 31

13.7 million Germans voted for them in July 1932, and gained approx. 1/3 seats

Question 32

Why was it most appealing during the Depression?

Answer 32

with speeches referencing Germans sharing common racial/cultural heritage and commitment that Nazi would set out building a ‘national ethnic community’ (Volksgemeinschaft), where all racially pure ‘Aryans; would be accommodated equally, regardless of social background. – social equality/justice and end of threat of communist for middle class and workers.

Question 33

what did Nazi do to coordinate effort to project caring image during depression

Answer 33

groups door-to-door collecting food/clothes for poor, running soup kitchens

Question 34

Evidence of gained strength from Great Depression:

Answer 34

rise of SA – rocketed from 30 000 in 1929 to approx. 450 000 in 1932 from young men being thrown out of work – provided accommodation, food.

Question 35

What did the SA continue to do?

Answer 35

Violence (SA) continue use against opposition – gave more votes, appeal to middle class as attacking Communists E.g. Red Front Fighter’s League

Question 36

Evidence of how Germans saw Nazi violence as good thing:

Answer 36

o Albert Speer:

“the sight of discipline in a time of universal chaos, the impression of energy in an atmosphere of universal hopelessness, seem to have won her over”

– how his mother joined Nazi. The influence and ability to attract supporters through the propaganda of SA parade in the streets.