4. The Weimar Republic: The rise of the Nazis KNOWLEDGE CARDS

Question 1

What proportion (%) of votes did the NSDAP receive in the 1928 election?

Answer 1

2.8%

Question 2

What proportion (%) of votes did the NSDAP achieve in the July 1932 election?

Answer 2

37.4%

Question 3

What form of communication did the NSDAP use to increase popular support, and who did this target?

Answer 3

Propaganda - targeted at all populations (e.g. women; workers; those affected by the depression)

Question 4

Identify three groups the NSDAP criticised in their propaganda campaign.

Answer 4

1. The Weimar government
2. Jewish people
3. Communists

Question 5

How was the Weimar government criticised in Nazi propaganda?

Answer 5

1. Accused of not effectively dealing with the depression.

2. Condemned for signing the Treaty of Versailles.

Question 6

When was Hitler appointed Chancellor of Germany?

Answer 6

January 30, 1933

Question 7

Which President agreed to appoint Hitler to be Chancellor?

Answer 7

President Hindenburg

Question 8

What former Chancellor encouraged the President to appoint Hitler as Chancellor?

Answer 8

Von Papen

Question 9

Why did former Chancellor Von Papen encourage President Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as chancellor?

Answer 9

1. Von Papen schemed against Chancellor Von Schleicher (appointed Nov. 1932). He wanted an authoritarian and nationalist government in power, and thought Hitler’s appointment would legitimise this (he had been unable to do so when chancellor).
2. Von Papen was appointed vice-chancellor, and members of the Nazi Party were a minority in government. He thought he and Hindenburg would be able to control Hitler’s power.
3. From 1930, every government had been forced to rule by decree almost continuously because they lacked popular support - the Nazis did not.

Question 10

What right-wing political party did Hitler and the Nazis ally themselves with before 1932?

Answer 10

THE DNVP (German National People’s Party) under the leadership of Alfred Hugenburg.

Question 11

What left-wing party experienced an increase in support during the years of the depression (1929-32)?

Answer 11

The KPD (German Communist Party).
They achieved 16.9% of votes in the November 1932 election.

Question 12

What left-wing party experienced an increase in support during the years of the depression (1929-32)?

Answer 12

The KPD (German Communist Party).
They achieved 16.9% of votes in the November 1932 election.

Question 13

Why did the economic elite support Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor and put pressure on Hindenburg to do so?

Answer 13

Members of the economic elite, such as banker Hjalmar Schacht and industrialist I.G. Farben, feared a communist takeover and wanted to bring about greater political stability to the country.

Question 14

On top of propaganda, what other methods did the Nazis use to increase their support in elections between 1929 and 1932?

Answer 14

The NSDAP’s gains in elections was boosted by theri private army, the SA (“stormtroopers”). They attacked the meetings of other political parties and political opponents to the Nazis.

Question 15

Before being appointed Chancellor, what post did Hitler run for in April 1932 elections?

Answer 15

He ran for president in the presidential elections. However, Hindenburg won by 19.4 million votes to Hitler’s 13.4 million.

Question 16

Why did popular support for Hitler and the NSDAP increase significantly between 1929 and 1932?

Answer 16

The Great Depression had created an environment which Hitler and the NSDAP could exploit.