5. The origins of the Nazi Party 1919-1923

Question 1

what was Hitler doing after ww1

Answer 1

upon his discharge from hospital at the end of ww1 Hitler remained in the army investigating extreme political groups

Question 2

What was one particular group Hitler visited called? what happened when he visited it?

Answer 2

he was ordered to infiltrate the DAP (German Worker’s Party) led by Anton Drexler. After attending a meeting of the party, Hitler joined himself

Question 3

Why was his influence over the party immediate?

Answer 3

through the launch of the 25 point programme in 1920 , this programme was left-wing in it’s aims and sought to appeal to wealthy industrialists and financiers and laid out nazi ideas such as lebensraum, anti-semitism and strong government

Question 4

what was the DAP soon renamed to?

Answer 4

the Nationalist Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP or Nazi Party), with the Swastika adopted as the party’s symbol this made the party appear strong and ready to take action against the Weimar government

Question 5

what happened in December 1920?

Answer 5

the party purchased it’s own newspaper called the Volkischer Beobachter to spread it’s ideas

Question 6

What happened in July 1921?

Answer 6

Hitler replaces Drexler as leader

Question 7

what happened in November 1921?

Answer 7

The S.A. was set up (the military wing)

Question 8

What were many of the SA

Answer 8

former free corps, better known as the brownshirts because of their uniform

Question 9

By 1922 how many members did the SA and Nazis have in 1923?

Answer 9

the SA had 15,000 members and the nazi party around 55,000 by 1923

Question 10

what did Hitler do to build party strength?

Answer 10

welcomed donations from Germany’s leading industrialist Fritz Thyssen

Question 11

where were the Nazis based?

Answer 11

they were only based in one area of Germany, Bavaria but aimed to gain more widespread recognition

Question 12

where did Hitler enter in Munich in November 1923

Answer 12

Alongside General Ludendorff and some members of the SA he entered a beer hall in Munich where the Bavarian government leaders were holding a meeting

Question 13

who did he ask a question and what was it?

Answer 13

he asked von Kahr and von Lossow to support him on a march from Munich to Berlin to take power in a putsch in November 1923 they agreed as they were afraid of what the Nazi’s might do

Question 14

how did Hilter react to the armistice of November 1918?

Answer 14

When the armistice was signed Hitler was in hospital. He was broken- hearted when he learned that Germany’s leaders had signed the armistice possibly because Hitler was homeless and the army gave him a job and income

Question 15

How did hitler get involved with the German workers party?

Answer 15

Hitler remained in the army investigating extremist political groupings. One group he was ordered to infiltrate was the German workers party (DAP) led by Anton Drexler, after attending a meeting Hitler joined himself.

Question 16

Identify the main points of the 25 point programme

Answer 16

• we demand the Union of all Germans to form a greater Germany
• we demand… [the] abolition of the treaty of Versailles
• we demand land and territory [colonies] for the nourishment of our people and for surplus population - liebensram - living space
• only members of the nation may be citizens of the state. None of those of German blood, whatever their creed, may be members of the nation. No Jew therefore, may be a member of the nation.

Question 17

For what reasons did hitler attempt a putsch in November 1923?

Answer 17

Hitler was outraged at the economical and political mess that Germany was in by late 1923, he has been particularly angered by Stresemann’s decision to call of passive resistance. He saw this as another example of the cowardice that has led to the signing of the armistice in November 1918

Question 18

Outline the events of November 8th 1923?

Answer 18

On November 8th 1923, hitler discovered that the heads of the Bavarian government, police and army, Gustav von Kahr, Hans von seisser and Otto von Kossow were addressing a public meeting in the bürger bräukeller in Munich. Hitler interrupted the meeting and forced the leaders to announce their support of General Erich von Ludendorff. Hitler believed Ludendorff’s backing would secure the backing of the Bavarian army and the Munich police.

Question 19

Why did the Munich putsch fail?

Answer 19

Once free von kahr, von seisser and von Lossow organised the army to stop the intended Putsch, they all believed the rising had no chance of succeeding. On the morning of 9th November 1923 armed police fired on a crowd of more than 2000 nazis who were marching towards the city centre. 16 nazis died in the barrage with the rising in disarray Hitler fled. He and Ludendorff were later arrested on the charge of having committed high treason.

Question 20

How did hitler make use of his trial?

Answer 20

Using it to concern the Weimar government and state to spread his ideas. The massive media coverage of his 24 day trial provided Hitler with more publicity than he could ever have dreamt of, the trial judges were sympathetic to Hitler’s views and at the end of the trial he was sentenced to just five years imprisonment, the minimum possible punishment, Ludendorff was acquitted and freed.