8.2 Why was Hitler able to dominate Germany by 1934?

Question 1

Describe the aims of the Nazi Party [4 marker]

Answer 1

1. They wanted to rearm Germany and take back lost territory
2. They only wanted Aryan Germans to be citizens
3. They wanted to abolish Jewish people as German citizens
4. They wanted to destroy the Weimar Republic

Question 2

Describe events in Munich 8-9 November 1923 [4 marker]

Answer 2

1. Hitler hijacked a beer hall in Bavaria and announced that he was taking over the Bavarian government and then the rest of Germany
2. Kahr held at gunpoint and told he had to support - he agreed
3. Kahr went back on promise - set up counterattack
4. Hitler marched with 600 SA members on the city square and a gun fight began
5. 16 SA killed and Hitler arrested

Question 3

What happened to Hitler as a result of the Munich Putsch? [4 marker]

Answer 3

1. Hitler was arrested
2. He was put to trial which received lots of media attention
3. He received a very light sentence
4. Wrote Mein Kampf whilst in prison

Question 4

Why did the Nazi Party have little success before 1930? [6 marker]

Answer 4

1. Before 1930, the success of Stresemann’s policies meant there was little support for extremist parties, such as the Nazis. These years had been a time of economic and political recovery as well as the Golden Age for Weimar culture. After the horrors of post-war Germany, the German people were happy with the state of their government and had no reason to change their vote
2. Secondly, the Nazi Party grounded to a hault when Hitler was sent to prison in 1923 after the Munich Putsch and the Nazi party was banned. As a result, the party had to change their means of getting into power, choosing to take a more democratic path. As a result, it would take time for the Nazi Party to gain popularity and have success

Question 5

Why were some Germans attracted to the Nazi Party by the end of the 1920s? [6 marker]

Answer 5

1. Some Germans were attracted to the Nazi Party when they heard Hitler speak. He had the charisma to persuade and influence a room of people. Hitler had clear and simple aims and was very popular among the nationalists in his audiences. He also gave people scapegoats to blame for Germany’s problems: the Allies, the TOV, the ‘November Criminals’ and the Jews
2. Ex-servicemen were attracted to the SA and SS. After the massive blow to the German army due to the TOV terms, many WWI servicemen felt very lost after the war. As a result, positions in the SS and SA were very appealing to them and resulted in increased support for the Nazi Party

Question 6

Describe how Hitler increased Nazi support after his release from prison [4 marker]

Answer 6

1. He wrote Mein Kampf, which voiced his views and aims and became a bestseller
2. Created a sensitive system of propaganda - Nazi activists spoke at town halls etc
3. Increased anti-Jewish propaganda which appealed to the working class
4. Reorganised the party to use political means