Germany: Development of Dictatorship (Chapter 3)

Question 1

What role did Hitler have in the German Worker’s Party in 1920-1922 and what changes did he make?

The DAP was a small extremist group that gained popularity after the war due to people’s mistrust of the government that aligned with Hitlers views

Answer 1

• Hitler was initially made the head of propaganda, but in 1921 he was made the leader
• He rewrote the aims of the party so it would appeal to more people, such as: Nationalists who were against democracy and the Treaty of Versailles, anti-semetists looking for a scapegoat, and anti-communists such as the middleclass and business owners
• The name of the party was changed to the Nazi party, and the swastika and salute were introduced
• The SA was created to help promote its views and show strength, with Ernst Rohm as its leader though they were loyal to Hitler. The SS was created to be Hitlers bodyguard out of the elite SA
• He attracted many more members due to his talented speaking and started a Nazi newspaper

Question 2

What were the causes of the Munich Putsch (1923)?

Answer 2

• Due to increased hatred towards the Weimar Government, parties like the Nazis had grown
• Bavaria (a state of Germany that Munich is in) had anti-Weimar sentiment from its leader (von Kahr) and people
• Due to the invasion of the Ruhr and the Kapp Putsch, it was clear that the Weimar Government had no military power, especially since they were in economic crisis
• Therefore, Hitler believed his new SA force, with the support of General Ludendorff, was strong enough to complete a violent takeover of Germany

Question 3

What were the events of the Munich Putsch (1923)?

Answer 3

• Hitler and the SA stormed a beer hall where a right wing meeting was taking place
• Lossow (the head of the German army in Bavaria) and Kahr (the Bavarian Prime Minister) were in the beer hall and were violently forced to support the putsch
• They swore loyalty, and escaped the Beer Hall, however instantly announced their opposition
• Hitler still did not give up, and marched 2000 Nazis into Munich, where they were confronted by the police and army and were dominated, with Hitler being arrested

Question 4

What were the effects of the Munich Putsch (1923)?

Answer 4

• Hitler’s trial gave him the opportunity to spread his views and attack the Weimar Government, growing his popularity as a nationalist defending German rights
• His sentence was very small, showing there was still supporting for the Nazi party and opposition to the Weimar Government. His imprisonment also gave him time to write ‘Mein Kampf’
• In the end, the Nazi party was banned, but this ban was lifted in 1925 and it made very little difference to the party
• Hitler realised an armed takeover would be difficult, therefore meaning he should try and legally take power

Question 5

What did Hitler do, as leader, to reorganise the Nazi party between 1925-1929 after the ban was lifted?

Answer 5

• He appointed a Nazi leader to each district of Germany to increase support locally
• The Hitler youth and Nazi Women’s league, and other target organisations (such as farmers leagues) were set up to help spread its popularity to different groups
• Goebbels was appointed as head of propaganda
• The party became much more public, with rallies and conferences being held and an HQ being set up

Question 6

Why did the Nazis not have many seats in the Reichstag between 1925-1929?

Answer 6

• Despite their membership of over 100,000 by 1929 (thanks to Hitlers reorganisation of the party), they did not have many seats in the Reichstag
• This was mostly due to Stresemann’s efforts to improve the economy and foreign relations, which meant the people had more support for the coalitions of moderate parties from the left and right and voted accordingly
• For example, in 1928 they had only 12 seats

Question 7

What were the impacts of the Wall Street Crash (1929) and subsequent Great Depression on the German economy?

Answer 7

• The USA recalled their loans, but Germany could not afford to repay them leading, to an economic crisis
• The downturn in government spending ability meant many German businesses closed which led to mass unemployment among all people, especially the youth and factory workers
• Farmers were struggling due to the price of their goods falling, and businesses owners struggled as they had less money to spend on these goods
• Unemployment benefits were cut, leading to people not being able to afford food

Question 8

What were the political impacts of the Great Depression on Germany?

Answer 8

• The SDP and centre party (moderate parties) fell out due to disagreements over welfare benefits
• This caused no parties to have a majority in the Reichstag, so the current chancellor, Bruning, asked president Hindenburg to activate article 48
• This led to much anger as Germany was not being run as a democracy anymore, and Bruning with his powers introduced many unpopular laws including tax rises and further cuts to unemployment benefits, greatly increasing German suffering
• As a result of all of the unemployment, poverty and cut to welfare caused by the Great Depression and Brunings unpopular policies, the moderate parties lost support and people turned to extremist groups for an answer such as the Communists or Nazis, who gained many members and seats throughout the 1930s

• Article 48 meant laws could be passed without Reichstag approval
• Stresemann had recently died, making Bruning chancellor

Question 9

Following the Great Depression, how did Hitler’s personality help the Nazis win more popularity and seats?

Answer 9

• Hitler was presented as the strong leader Germany needed, with almost superhuman strength
• He was a very convincing and powerful speaker, and made speeches with simple points which would appeal to many different groups

Question 10

Which other extremist party’s rise following the Great Depression lent the Nazis more support and why?

Answer 10

• The communists, who gained support following the Great Depression too - they said that the financial crisis was proof captalism didn’t work and therefore big businesses needed to be shut down
• This brought many big businesses owners and middle class people in support of the Nazis as they felt they could stop the rise of communism

Question 11

Following the Great Depression, how did propaganda help the Nazis win more popularity and seats?

Answer 11

• Goebbels led huge propganda campaigns, appealing to many people and adapting their messages constantly, though sticking with their primary ideology
• Parades, speeches, newspapers, rallies and posters were designed, specifically targeting many different groups in obvious or subtle ways

Question 12

Following the Great Depression, how did the SA help the Nazis win more popularity and seats?

Answer 12

• The now 400000-strong SA made the Nazis appear strong and able to effectively run Germany as a great power
• The SA disrupted and intimidated political opponents meetings and voters at voting stations, inducing terror

Question 13

What events happened in the month of the 1932 presidential elections?

Answer 13

• At this point, the Nazis were the biggest party in the Reichstag, causing Hitler to try for presidency
• Although he was beaten by Hindenburg, it still showed he was a strong political candidate
• In the same month, Bruning, the current chancellor, tried to use a presidential decree to ban the SA due to political unrest, but an army general called von Schleicher was angered by this, and, determined to take control, persuaded Hindenburg with a coalition of army officers and businessmen to sack Bruning as chancellor, and it worked
• He then proceeded to form a new coalition

Question 14

What were the events of von Sleichers coalition and how did it lead to Hitler being appointed as chancellor?

Answer 14

• After having had Bruning sacked, von Sleicher started a coalition with a politician named von Papen as chancellor and Hitler having an inferior role
• Hitler argued he should be made chancellor as the coalition was weak, but Hindenburg refused as he knew Hitler risked turning Germany into a dictatorship
• Von Papen eventually resigned due to the strength of the Nazi party and their victory in a recent Reichstag election
• Hindenburg chose von Sleicher to be the new Chancellor, but after von Sleicher requested Hindenburg to turn Germany into a military dictatorship, this request was leaked to the Reichstag and Hindenburg sacked him
• After requests from von Papen and powerful businessmen to make Hitler chancellor, Hindenburg reluctantly agreed to appoint him with von Papen as vice-chancellor (who thought he could control Hitler from behind the scenes)

Hindenburg had very little choice - the Nazis were the largest party in the Reichstag and any coalition without Hitler at its head would be unstable