9. The Electoral Breakthrough Of Nazis

Question 1

How important was the role of Hitler in securing power for the Nazis by January 1933? (3)

Answer 1

• He used his speech-making skills to tap into the disillusionment of so many with Germany’s new democracy.
• His speeches took place in large stadiums, guaranteed to hold big crowds
• His Image and ideas were spread all over Germany
• Presented himself as a man of the people/ strong leader / radical Nazi politician

Question 2

Describe the electoral breakthrough of Nazis in the Presidential and Reichstag elections and who enabled it (6)

Answer 2

• The crisis that the Nazis needed to increase their vote significantly came in the form of the Depression, and their propaganda was beginning to take effect
• In 1928 the Nazis had 12 seats in the Reichstag and in the election of September 1930 they won 107 seats. This was their first major electoral breakthrough.
• Von Hindenburg was elected President in 1932 but Hitler gained further encouragement when he was second to Hindenburg in those presidential elections, winning 11 million votes to Hindenburgs 18 million.
• The man who can take most credit for the Nazi election success was Goebbels, the Reich leader for propaganda. He organised a vigorous Nazi election campaign between 1930 and 1932, taking full advantage of the crisis the Weimar Republic was in.
• Modern technology was exploited fully. Hitler’s pioneering use of aeroplane travel helped him move across the whole country very quickly. He could address several meetings a day. Goebbels found an appealing slogan to describe this aspect of the campaign - Hitler over Germany
• Hitler was also a vital part of the Nazi campaign - he used his speech-making skills to tap into the disillusionment of so many with Germany’s new democracy and made his speeches spectacular and dramatic in order to catch the imagination of large crowds

Question 3

Describe who the Nazis appealed to during the Depression (6)

Answer 3

• Some workers were won over because of the Depression. Of those workers who voted Nazi in the early 1930s, 55% were unemployed
• the middle-class support for the Nazis were also of high levels. A key motivator was anti-communism. For middle-class Germans, the Depression had been one crisis too many after the hyperinflation - and the Nazis seemed the only real answer to the Communist threat
• the Nazis were increasingly successful in the early 1930s at attracting female votes. Some women were reassured by the Nazis’ commitment to family values
• In 1931, 61% of Nazi Party membership came from those aged between 18 and 30. Young people tended to be attracted to the Nazi Party because of the apparent dynamism, spectacle and colour of the movement
• Poorer farmers were a growing source of support for the Nazis after the Depression. 18,000 lost their farms and the Nazis’ rural programme, which included the ‘Blood and Soil’ campaign, exploited farmer discontent, promising fair prices and a restriction on imported foreign goods
• industrialists supported Nazis because they feared communism and were relieved to see Hitler’s efforts to tone down the socialist elements of Nazism. Industrialists made the Nazis look more respectable and provided much-needed funds for election campaigns

Question 4

What was the result in July 1932

Answer 4

The Nazis had 230 seats in the Reichstag, this made them the largest party there

Question 5

What happened in November 1932?

Answer 5

When fresh elections were held in November, the Nazis actually lost support. They won only 196 seats

Question 6

What was the role of von Papen in Hitler becoming Chancellor ? (9)

Answer 6

• Schleicher had recommended the new chancellor von Papen to Hindenburg and he was chancellor between June and November 1932
• He had good connections with high society and his political views mirrored those of the Nationalists
• He was politically ambitious but his understanding and experience of politics was limited
• This lack of ability appealed to Schleicher who saw the opportunity to influence events more directly though him
• in order to strengthen the government, Papen and Schleicher wanted to secure political support from the Nazis - though Hitler only agreed not to oppose the new government if it included the dissolution of the Reichstag, calling for fresh elections and ending the ban on the SA. Therefore in June 1932 he ended Brüning’s ban on the SA, helping the Nazis to secure control of the streets in Berlin.
• Von Papen then conceded and held an election when Nazi support was at its peak. The election campaign was brutal and such bloodshed provided Schleicher and Papen with the excuse to abolish the most powerful regional state government in Germany, Prussia. It had been a collation of the SPD and ZP and was a focus of right wing resentment since 1919
• However, this act gave Hitler electoral success instead, and the Nazis won 230 seats
• After the July elections von Papen tried to make Hitler a junior partner in the government, hoping to tap into his popularity. Hitler refused, demanding the job of chancellor.
• However, once Hitler realised that Schleicher and Strasser’s deal could have cost him power, he saw that he needed von Papen’s help to gain power
• At the start of 1933 Hindenburg, who had resisted up to this point, had to accept Hitler as the only alternative to political chaos. He made the decision on the advice of von Papen and some influential bankers and industrialists.

Question 7

What was the role of Von Schleicher in Hitler becoming Chancellor ? (4)

Answer 7

• In November 1932, after von Papen had crucially lost the support of the army, von Schleicher informed Hindenburg of this and he replaced von Papen.
• Like von Papen and Brüning before him, Schleicher relied on Article 48 to rule by decree. Germans were now growing increasingly used to dictatorship however he was only able to stay in power for 57 days
• Schleicher was open to working with the Nazis but incensed Hitler by offering Gregor Strasser the post of vice-chancellor in December 1932 in an attempt to bring the Nazis into government, although Hitler blocked the move.
• This political intrigue made Hitler realise that he needed von Papen’s help to gain power

Question 8

What was the role of Hindenburg and political intrigue in Hitler becoming Chancellor? (10)

Answer 8

• Hindenburg was Prussian aristocracy and responsible for removing Brüning as Chancellor and appointing von Papen, who filled the government with non-politicians and relied on Article 48
• Schleicher convinces Hindenburg to choose von Papen but eventually wanted to remove von Papen. Schleicher informed Hindenburg that if von Papen wasn’t removed, there would be a coup
• Meanwhile Hindenburg always strongly disliked Hitler, even referring to him as the ‘little corporal’
• he was unwillingly to appoint him as Chancellor despite his popularity
• However Hindenburg also feared the growth of communism, possibly more than he disliked Hitler. Hitler was toning down the socialist aspects of Nazism to the relief of industrialists and they were certain that Hitler would take a stand against communism
• Von Papen, now ex-chancellor, and Hitler were talking to Schaft, Oskar von Hindenburg and other political intriguers to remove Schleicher
• Therefore von Hindenburg, who’s decision was influenced by von Papen, some influential bankers and industrialists, saw Hitler as the only alternative to political chaos
• Hitler would become chancellor and von Papen would be vice-chancellor. This was von Papen’s only real chance of power now, and he managed to convince Hindenburg that Hitler could be controlled
• Therefore Hitler became chancellor on 30th January 1933
• Hindenburg’s role was to be manipulated to hire or fire whoever was manipulating him wanted him to. This was the case with Hitler and von Papen and with Schleicher