assignment Flashcards
Background facts
In 1919, Anton Drexler founded the German Workers’ Party, who later changed their name to the National Socialist German Workers’ Party - the Nazi party.
In 1920, the Nazi party released a 25-point plan for Germany, and Adolf Hitler took over as the leader of the Nazis in 1921.
versailles ku
The Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919, ending the First World War whilst including the War Guilt Clause which gave Germany sole responsibility for starting the First World War.
In addition, the Treaty included a demand for reparations of 132 Billion Marks, which would take until 1986 to pay off and a loss of 13% of Germany’s land.
versailles for and against
This was the main reason as it fostered anger and resentment amongst the German people which the Nazi party could later exploit, and did in the 25 point plan and Hitler’s 1925 Mein Kampf.
However, this was not the main reason as Nazi popularity saw a drastic increase after the Wall Street Crash in 1929, ten years after the Treaty of Versailles, which suggests that German people felt as if the economic crisis was more of an incentive to turn to the Nazi Party.
versailles eval
Overall, the Treaty of Versailles was the main reason the Nazis came into power as the party capitalised on the anger of the German people through conspiracy that those who signed the Treaty betrayed Germany: one example of these conspiracies used and spread by the Nazis was the Dolchstosslegende (stab-in-the-back legend) that those who signed the Treaty were leftists, criminals and betrayed the true interests of Germany - with Hitler declaring during the failed Beer Hall Putsch “The government of the November criminals and the Reich President are declared to be removed.”
economic ku
After the Ruhr was invaded, the German government agreed to page the wages of workers who were striking in protest - this led to hyperinflation in November 1923: German people’s savings were wiped and one dollar was equal to 4420 million marks.
After years of borrowing from the US government under the Dawes plan, the 1929 Wall Street Crash was devastating for Germany and tanked their economy as the US economy crashed and demanded they repay loans to the US.
economic for and against
This was a reason the Nazis gained power as the economic crises worsened, many Germans found that a new way of government may work and also found the Nazi economic promises appealing. However, this was not a reason because the causes of the hyperinflation and Depression were due to the fallout of the Treaty of Versailles - Germany’s inability to pay the reparations caused the invasion of the Ruhr and borrowing from the US.
economic eval
Overall, the economic problems of Germany were a reason why the Nazis gained power, but it is clear that the Treaty of Versailles was the main reason, as Gustav Stresemann chose to repay the debts owed due to the Treaty, it was his actions that led to Germany borrowing from the US in the 1924 Dawes Plan.
weaknesses of the republic ku
After the abdication of the Kaiser in 1918, the Weimar Republic was formed which saw major democratic reforms such as the ability of all people over 20 to vote and the President was chosen by the people.
Elections were held using a system of proportional representation, where if your party received 20% of the vote, you received 20% of the seats in Parliament - allowing many small parties into power and all Governments were coalitions.
weaknesses of weimar for and against
This was a reason the Nazis gained power because proportional representation allowed the Nazis easy entry into the parliament and influence over decision making in Germany, eventually leading to Hitler’s rise to power.
However, this was not a reason because Weimar’s agreement to Versailles undermined voter confidence and fostered a deep distrust of the Reichstag (parliament) within voters that led them to Nazism
weimar eval
Overall, the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic were somewhat of a reason the Nazi Party rose to power, the Treaty allowed the Kaiser to be put on trial but the Netherlands refused to extradite him and also limited Germany’s army to 100,000 troops which provided a shaky foundation for the new Republic that made it easy to destroy.
propaganda ku
After the failed Beer Hall Putsch, Hitler used his short time in prison from 1924 to write Mein Kampf, the book outlining anti-semetic Nazi ideology and eventually becoming a best-seller.
In 1923, Der Sturmer was founded by Julius Streicher, and combined with other propaganda efforts such as cinema, radio and marches, helped push Nazism into German public life.
propaganda for and against
This was a reason for Nazi rise to power because the organisation and regularity of the Nazi party helped them to stand out and present themselves as strong leaders for the German people.
This was not a reason for the Nazi rise to power because without Versailles and its causation of various economic crises the Nazi would not have been able to capitalise on so much.
propaganda
overall
Overall, propaganda was the least significant reason for the Nazi rise to power as the Editor’s Law (preventing those that weren’t Aryan to work in journalism) only came into effect in 1933 but Hitler still regularly referenced Versailles late into the ascension rise to power, for example in 1929’s Munich speech and 1933 Enabling Act.
reasons in conc
The reason that the Treaty of Versailles was the main reason that the Nazi party rose to power is because of the anger that became a clear part of German society, including reference to the Treaty as a diktat and those who signed it as November Criminals that the Nazis then exploited in speeches, written press and publications. In addition, the Treaty was the root cause for both of Germany’s major 1920s economic crises which had a real impact on the German people of all classes, uniting many in their struggle and radicalisation into Nazi support
