DS2: Why was Hitler able to dominate Germany by 1934? Flashcards
Hitler’s role in the Nazi Party 1919-20
- Sent originally as a spy in July 1919 into the DAP (German Workers Party), he approved of Anton Drexler and joined the party in September 1919
- Drexler realised his public speaking abilities, and put him in charge of propaganda
- In 1920, Hitler wrote a large part of the DAP’s 25 point programme, and designed the party banner (Swastika)
- In April 1920, the Party was renamed the NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers Party) and began to publish a newspaper, where Hitler could spout his anti-semitic views, which gained him support
- In mid-1921, he replaced Drexler as the leader, and relocated the party to Munich
25 point programme
- Anschluss
-Abolish Versailles - More colonies for Germany
- Removal of Jews as citizens
- Foreigners to be expelled
- No further immigration
- All citizens have equal rights
- First duty of a citizen is to work
- Stop the dole
- Nationalise industries
- Large companies share profits
- Pensions improved
- Local business more priority
- Strong Restriction with unrestricted authority
Some of these are more Communist views, but Hitler would change and remove policies whenever he was challenged on them, so there was little many could actually do to criticise the party in the Reichstag
What was the SA?
Paramilitary group formed by Hitler in 1921. Mainly made up of the Freikorps, they disrupted meetings of opposition, especially communists, and frequently beat them up in the street. They had specific uniforms and gained support by spreading fear, seeming more powerful than opponents.
- Headed by Ernst Rohm
- SA developed young Nazis from 14-18, would become the Hitler Youth
Munich Putsch background
- Hitler wanted to destroy Weimar, while it was distracted by the French in the Ruhr he thought it was his chance to seize power
- Accompanied by General Ludendorff, he thought he could turn the German Army to his side
- Thought he’d have support of the right-wing Govt of Bavaria
- Hitler was inspired by Mussolini’s march on Rome and overthrow of Italy’s Govt
Munich Putsch
8/9th November 1923
- Hitler interrupts a meeting of the Bavarian state Govt , SA men surround the hall and Hitler announces he’s the new leader. Kahr, Bavarian leader is persuaded at gunpoint to accept Hitler, but escapes and flees
- 9th November, Hitler stages a march of 3000 throughout Munich, with General Ludendorff. Armed police arrive to confront Hitler, and 16 are killed
-Hitler is arrested and charged with prison, to serve 5 years. Hitler gained publicity at the trial, and he became a national figure, rather than just a Bavarian one.
Effects of the Munich Putsch
- Showed that even in his strongest area of Bavaria, support for the Nazis was weak, dissuaded Hitler from any other attempts to seize power
- Hitler gained huge publicity from the trial, and it made him a national figure.
- Hitler was able t write Mein Kampf, setting out Nazi ideas in prison
Nazi Party 1924-29
- Increase of membership, up to 100k by 1928
- Local network of gaus, or local Nazi parties
- Hitler Youth set up
- Set up the SS, similar to the SA, but loyal to Hitler, not the party
- Increased propaganda, under Joseph Goebbels, they spread posters, leaflets, films, radios and hosted rallies
- 1926: rally held in Weimar, marking the start of militaristic rallies and parades throughout the country
- 1927: Hitler set up new branches in each region of Gau of Germany.
Main ideas from Mein Kampf
Nationalism
Foreign Policy of expansionism, remilitarisation and lebensraum for Germany (and Anschluss with Austria)
Racism and German racial purity
War was essential to the development of the Aryans
Destroy Communism
Total loyalty to the Fuhrer
Who were the Nazis main supporters?
- Some peasant farmers, who wanted a return to the traditionalist values of Germany
- Some lower-middle-class shopkeepers and small businessman, badly hit by hyperinflation
- Some conservatives who liked the condemnation of Weimar culture
- Very few workers, who mostly supported Communists or Socialists
Why did Nazis struggle for support pre 1930?
- Post Munich Putsch, the party was banned
- Stresemann was liked and his policies were highly successful, in 1928 the Nazis only got 12 Reichstag seats
- Nazis had the support of neither the police or the Army
How did the Depression help the Nazis?
- Depression crippled Germany again, and caused huge infighting within the Reichstag, Hitler called for a strong leader, like him, in their place
- Nazis promised huge reemployment in the army, industry and public works
- Hitler provided someone to blame for the Depression: Weimar, the Allies and the Jews
- In 1930, the Nazis won 107 seats, and in 1932 nearly 200
Voting Figures
- May 1924 (Post Beer Hall) 32 seats
- Dec 1924, 14
- May 1928 (Just before Depression) 12 seats
- Sept 1930 107 seats
- July 1932 230 seats
Why did the Nazis do well in the elections
- Vague, catchy slogans made it hard to criticise them
- Talk of uniting behind one leader appealed to Germans
- Posters, pamphlets and impressive rallies showcasing SA and SS order and skill
- Hitler was a powerful orator, ran for President in 1932, but lost to Hindenburg, still increased his platform
- Many were disillusioned with Democracy, Reichstag appeared to just squabble, not solve issues
- Threat of Communism, many were scared by Bolshevism in the USSR and liked Hitler’s hatred of Communists
- Return to old Weimar culture
How did Hitler become Chancellor in 1933
- Presidential campaign increased his platform
- Nazis had more seats than any other party in the Reichstag (NOT a majority)
- Hindenburg still wouldn’t appoint him Chancellor, instead choosing his friend Von Papen, who wasn’t with a party and had 0 support
- Hindenburg then tried to appoint von Schleicher, with similar results, both could only govern by means of Article 48. This further fuelled Nazi propaganda of squabbling and disillusionment with democracy
- Hindenburg was forced to appoint Hitler Chancellor in January 1933, believing that they could control Hitler.
How did Hitler transform from Chancellor to Fuhrer by 1934?
- Feb. 1933: Reichstag Fire
- March 1933: Enabling Act
- June 1934: Night of the Long Knives
- Aug. 1934: Death of Hindenburg
