Becoming Chancellor In 1933

Question 1

Wall Street crash

Answer 1

• people were less supportive of the WR
• unemployment reached 6 million and the average income dropped by 40%
• the government received less money from tax and more money would be needed to be printed
• us recalled loans from German businesses - bankruptcy
• Germany were dependent on USA
• support in extreme groups - WR were blamed
• Germans were forced to live in poverty

Question 2

Fear of communism

Answer 2

• communists in the USSR had discriminated against middle class business owners
• German communist party was largest in Europe
• repeated at every opportunity that Jews, communists, the WR and TofV caused the problems of Germany
• communist support was rising
• many feared it would take over
• 1930-32 communist party support increased from workers who had close links with the Soviet Union

Question 3

Disillusionment with democracy

Answer 3

• democratic system would not solve Germany’s economic problems - it was weak and divided
• Reichstag only met 5 times in 1932
• chancellor bruning 1930
• Hindenburg used article 48
• politicians seemed unable to deal with problems caused by the depression
• laws were not passed
• SPD pulled out of the government
• people lost faith in the parties that ruled during the depression
• bruning cut government spending

Question 4

Political deal

Answer 4

• in January 1933 a new government was formed. 3/12 of cabinet were Nazi
• hitter demanded to be chancellor
• von papen (centre party) was appointed but did not have the support
• July 1932 won 37% of the vote (largest party)

Question 5

Promises

Answer 5

• wanted to return traditional values
• were vague - said just waht people wanted to hear
• designed to appeal to everyone - flexible in what they said and dropped policies
• promised to help farmers
• unemployed could join the army
• people were offered as culprits (scapegoats) - allies, Jews
• concentrated on issues the Germans were unhappy with
• attractive to the vulnerable in the depression
• get rid of TOFV
• rid unemployment

Question 6

Hitlers leadership:

Answer 6

• powerful speaker - Used film, radio, records
• fully appealed to people
• Germany needed a strong leader - confident the could deal with Germany’s problems
• appeared the man of the people - identified with the audience and filled them with hope
• people recognised it was ‘hitler’s destiny’
• ran for president in 1932, achieved 13 million votes to hindenburgs 19 million

Question 7

Organisation

Answer 7

• raised money for election campaigns and received donations from the rich businessmen
• marches and rallies
• SA were organised and had support of the police and army
• SA looked capable of bringing law and order
• SA and SS provided an impression of discipline
• party members worked hard in local regions to spread message

Question 8

Propaganda

Answer 8

• nazis set up soup kitchens and shelter for unemployed
• rallies were unlike mass brawls of communists - impressed people and showed discipline and order
• organised by goebbels
• used latest technology
• modern and effective
• posters and pamphlets could be found everywhere
• had slogans - simple to spread the message and could not be criticised as they did not make specific points

Question 9

How did hitler become chancellor

Answer 9

1. After Reichstag elections in July the nazis were the largest single party in the Reichstag (230 seats) but did not have a majority - had 37%
2. Hitler demanded post of chancellor from Hindenburg
3. Hindenburg was suspicious and refused. He allowed Von Papen, current chancellor to carry on. He used emergency powers to pass the measures that von Papen had hoped would solve unemployment problems
4. VP was soon in trouble - had no support so there was another election in November 1932. Hitler’s support dropped to 192 seats - 33%
5. Nazi’s began to run out of funds, and the election was a disaster - loss of more than 2m votes and 38 seats
6. Hindenburg refused again. Von Schleicher became chancellor
7. Within a month, VS was forced to resign. Weimar Republic was not working. Needed a chancellor who had support
8. on 30th January 1933, hitler became chancellor. With only 3 nazis in the cabinets they were confident they could limit hitler’s influence and resist his extremist demands. They were sure they could control Hitler