3.10 The Appeal Of Nazism And Communism Flashcards
Who gained the most electoral support during the depression years?
-Nazis and KPD but Nazis we’re far more successful
Who was the Nazi’s core support before 1929?
The lower-middle class the Mittelstand
Which fractions of German society supported the Nazi party after he depression years?
-white-collar workers
-small shopkeepers
-independent craftsmen
(Main gains amongst middle class and farmers)
How did the Nazi’s capitalise on the discontent on farmers?
Exploiting the widespread discontent amongst farmers, promised higher prices and protection against imports
What is the evidence of the increased farmers support?
68% of the vote in one district on north-west Germany
Why did the Nazis attract support from the middle class?
Worried about the perceived threat of a communist revolution and were disillusioned with middle-class parties such as the DVP and the DNVP
I’m general terms where we’re the Nazis less successful?
The in catholic south and west
What percentage of votes did the Nazis get in the 1928,1930 and July 1932 elections?
1928: 2.6%
1930: 6.40
July 1932: 37.3%
What percentage of votes did the KPD get in the 1928,1930 and July 1932 elections?
1928: 10.6%
1930: 13.1%
July 1932: 14.3%
Was Hindenburg reluctant to stand for president in 1932?
Yes
What percentage of the ballot did Hindenburg get in the first round of the 1932 presidential election?
Just under 50% causing a second ballot to occur
What was the balloting for the second round of the presidential election?
Hindenburg: 53%
Hitler:37%(Hitler more popular in some rural areas)
Where was the KPD support confined to?
Large cities, especially popular in poorer parts of these large cities
-KPD main great gains at the expense of the SPD
In the 1930 election what % of Nazi voters were manual labour workers?
27%
How was Nazi policy put forward to the German people?
In their twenty-five point programme of 1920(still aims in 1933 although hitler didn’t agree with all the points)
When did Hitler express all his views and aims?
When he wrote Meiji fampf whilst in prison 1923
What were the key themes the Nazis believed in and was in the centre of their propaganda to persuade people to vote for them?( 7 asp)
-the power of the will
-struggle and war
-a racial community
-national socialism
-the füthrerpinzip
-aggressive nationalism
-anti semitism
Nazi ideology: how did the power of the will appeal to German voters?
-claimed that movement was a force for change and the qualities of power, strength and determination to succeed were qualities personified by Hitler
With the SA they presented an image of discipline and unity which appealed to many Germans(especially who keenly supported the military)
Nazi ideology: how did the struggle and war appeal to German voters?
-struggle violence and war at the heart of Nazi thinking
-Hitler claimed scientific justification that a struggle between races was the natural order of things (reconstruct society and create a new Reich(
-Nazi propaganda glorified military virtues of courage, loyalty and self sacrifice- increased votes from people who supported these values
Nazi ideology: how did the racial community appeal to German voters?
Peoples community (Volksgemeinschaft) key element in Nazi ideology
-only aryans could be citizens for the state and all others were denied citizenship and its benefits
-no social classes amongst aryans and all would work together for the good of the nation
-nazism aimed to create a new man and new women aware of the importance of the race
-aryans supported this
What is the aryan race?
Used by Nazis for those they considered pure and superior
Nazi ideology: how did the national socialism appeal to German voters?
-Nazis adopted the name nationalist socialist German workers party to attempt to gain working class support and also differentiate themselves from the socialism of the communist party
The points they laid out in the 25 point programme were economically radical and were Similar to that of the communists (confiscation of war profits and nationalisation of large monopoly company)
Hitler never fully committed to these aims-he was keen to seek support of wealthy businessmen to assure them they would not threaten their interests
Nazi ideology: how did the Führerprinzip(principle of leadership) appeal to German voters?
Hitler set out to destroy the Weimar Republic because it was a parliamentary democracy which alienated Germanys traditions of a strong authoritarian gov
-believed parliamentary democracy encouraged the growth of communism +November criminals stab in the back
-many Germans wanted a return to this form of gov
What does lebensraum mean?
Living space concept by which Hitler justified his plans to take over a territory to the east of Germany