Germany Depth Study- The rise of the Nazis - How did Hitler become Chancellor in 1933

Question 1

When and where was Hitler born?

Answer 1

Austria in 1889

Question 2

What did Hitler do in 1914?

Answer 2

He joined the German army and fought as a soldier in the First World War.

Question 3

Which political party did Hitler join in 1919?

Answer 3

The German Workers Party

Question 4

What did Hitler’s political party change its name to in 1920?

Answer 4

National Socialist German Worker’s Party (NSDAP)

Question 5

How many points did the NSDAP have in their programme?

Answer 5

25 (the 25 point programme)

Question 6

Name 3 Nazi ideas from the 1920s

Answer 6

Strong central government, conquer lebensraum (living space for Germans), remove Jews from all positions of leadership in Germany, destroy communism, rearm Germany, abolish the Treaty of Versailles, destroy the Weimar Republic, all non-German immigration must be stopped, increase old-age pensions

Question 7

Who designed the swastika?

Answer 7

Adolf Hitler

Question 8

How else are the SA known?

Answer 8

Sturm-Abteilung, stormtroopers or brownshirts because of their uniforms

Question 9

Why were the SA important to Hitler

Answer 9

They were set up in 1921 to protect Nazi speakers at meetings, stop opponents of the Nazi Party and to deliver propaganda leaflets to people’s homes

Question 10

Who joined the SA?

Answer 10

It was made up of some Freikorps and the unemployed because the SA provided food and a uniform.

Question 11

When did Hitler become the leader of the Nazi Party?

Answer 11

1922

Question 12

Who were the other key members of the Nazi Party in the 1920s?

Answer 12

Josef Goebbels (propaganda), Hermann Goering (initially in charge of the SA, set up the Gestapo and helped to develop the economy), Rudolf Hess (administration), Henrich Himmler (leader of the SS and key figure in the Holocaust), Ernst Rohm (ran the SA from 1921)

Question 13

Which army leader did Hitler manage to get on his side before the Munich Putsch?

Answer 13

General Ludendorff.

Question 14

Why did the Munich Putsch take place in 1923?

Answer 14

Hitler believed the army could be persuaded to join with the Nazis with Ludendorff’s help. The Bavarian government was right-wing (like the Nazis) and Hitler believed they would support the Nazis. Following Stresemann’s actions in the Ruhr, Hitler thought the time was now right for a putsch, he also had more members of the Nazi party than ever.

Question 15

Who was the head of the Bavarian state government in 1923?

Answer 15

Gustav Kahr

Question 16

How many Nazis marched with Hitler 1923?

Answer 16

3000

Question 17

Why did the Munich Putsch fail?

Answer 17

The support pledged by Gustav Kahr did not come and the police were ready for Hitler and the Nazis.

Question 18

In what ways was the Munich Putsch a success?

Answer 18

Showed Hitler that he couldn’t take charge by force, he had a public trial in 1924 and this gave him a platform to spread his ideas and persuade high profile people of his opinions, he also wrote Mein Kampf in prison.

Question 19

What was Mein Kampf?

Answer 19

A book written by Hitler in 1925 that outlined his ideas for Germany.

Question 20

Where did Hitler go to prison?

Answer 20

Landsberg Castle for 9 months.

Question 21

How did the Nazis change tactics in the 1920s?

Answer 21

They ran many public meetings, pushed the anti-Jewish message to win the working classes, they changed their message to reach certain people (middle-classes and farmers), they got their money from the local meetings and donations, they used a great deal of propaganda aimed at issues people think are important.

Question 22

What happened to the number of votes received by the Nazi party during the 1920s?

Answer 22

They decreased.

Question 23

Why did the Nazis fail to get into power by 1928?

Answer 23

The Nazis lacked the support of the working class, 1924-1929 was a time of peace and prosperity, the Nazi ideas were too extreme

Question 24

What other events helped Hitler to become chancellor in 1933?

Answer 24

The Wall Street Crash in 1929, fear of communism, weak opposition, the political deal.

Question 25

Why was the Great Depression a problem for Germany?

Answer 25

Following the Wall Street Crash in 1929, America recalled loans from Germany which led many German firms to go bankrupt, increased unemployment and many Germans were forced to live in poverty.

Question 26

How did the depression help the extreme political parties?

Answer 26

Many people were angry and wanted to blame somebody, so they started to support more extreme political parties.

Question 27

Who feared the spread of communism in Germany?

Answer 27

German business men and farmers feared communism

Question 28

How did Goebbels help the Hitler to become chancellor?

Answer 28

He spread a great deal of propaganda showing Hitler as the saviour of Germany. He used the latest technology-loudspeakers, slide shows and films. They also used powerful propaganda posters.

Question 29

How did Hitler’s own actions help him to become chancellor?

Answer 29

Hitler’s leadership skills-He was a strong leader and made people believe he could solve Germany’s problems.
Nazi promises-They promised what people wanted to hear. They made promises for everyone.
Nazi organisation-The Nazis were well organised and this impressed the voters. They could campaign more effectively than the other parties.
Nazi propaganda-a lot of propaganda was produced to persuade people to vote for the Nazis.

Question 30

What happened to Nazi party membership during the 1920s?

Answer 30

It increased

Question 31

How did farmers suffer as a result of the Great Depression?

Answer 31

Many farmers slipped into further debt.

Question 32

How were businessmen affected by the Great Depression?

Answer 32

Many saw their businesses close, some who managed to keep their businesses saw their income fall. Many businessmen had to pay higher taxes to cover the increasing poor people.

Question 33

How were young people affected by the Great Depression?

Answer 33

by 1933 over half of all Germans were unemployed. 60% of new university graduates could not get a job.

Question 34

How were factory workers affected by the Great Depression?

Answer 34

40% of all factory workers were unemployed by the 1932. The government cut unemployment benefit, so many lived in extreme poverty.

Question 35

What did President Hindenburg do as a result of the Great Depression?

Answer 35

He used Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution which gave him emergency powers.

Question 36

How did the Great Depression help the Nazis?

Answer 36

The depression meant many people were suffering. Hitler exploited this and offered people the answers. He changed his policies to attract as many people as possible, used a great deal of propaganda which showed him as the saviour of Germany and gained the support of the industrialists.

Question 37

How did the opposition to the Nazis help them get into power?

Answer 37

The Nazis’ opposition was weak. They were not organised whereas the Nazis worked together. They organised food and help for people who were suffering and if they joined the SA they got a uniform, the seemed like a good option.

Question 38

Who was the biggest party in the Reichstag by 1932?

Answer 38

The Nazis

Question 39

Did President Hindenburg want Hitler to be the Chancellor?

Answer 39

No, he did not like Hitler

Question 40

What proportion of the vote did the Nazis get in the July 1932 elections?

Answer 40

37.3% (250 seats)

Question 41

Who did Hindenburg appoint as Chancellor in 1932?

Answer 41

Franz Von Papen.

Question 42

Did Von Papen have the support of the Reichstag?

Answer 42

No, there were a number of Nazis, so he struggled to gain support.

Question 43

What did Hindenburg ask to happen in November 1932?

Answer 43

He called another election.

Question 44

What proportion of the vote did the Nazis get in the November 1932 election?

Answer 44

33.1% (a loss of 34 seats)

Question 45

Which politician stopped supporting Von Papen and started to think he should be the Chancellor?

Answer 45

General Von Schleicher

Question 46

Who did Hindenburg appoint Chancellor in Dec 1932?

Answer 46

General Von Schleicher

Question 47

How did Von Papen feel in December 1932?

Answer 47

He was annoyed that Von Schleicher was given the job of Chancellor

Question 48

Who did Von Papen make a deal with in January 1933?

Answer 48

Von Papen could see that Von Schleicher was struggling in the Reichstag. He makes a private deal with Hitler. He agrees Hitler will be Chancellor and Von Papen will be in the Cabinet.

Question 49

When did Von Schleicher resign from being Chancellor?

Answer 49

28th January 1933-he couldn’t control the Reichstag

Question 50

How did Von Papen persuade Hindenburg to make Hitler the Chancellor?

Answer 50

He persuaded him by saying that they will be able to control Hitler if he is Chancellor. The want to put non-Nazis in the Cabinet so that extreme policies could be resisted. Hitler is then appointed Chancellor.