History Module 5-7: Rise of Hitler and the Nazis

Question 1

Why did the Night of the Long Knives take place?

Answer 1

1. The Night of the Long Knives was orchestrated by Hitler to consolidate his power by eliminating potential threats within his own party, the Nazi Party. Leaders of the SA (Sturmabteilung), including Ernst Röhm, were perceived as a threat to Hitler’s authority and ambitions due to their increasing power and demands for a “second revolution” to implement socialist aspects into the Nazi agenda.
2. Hitler also aimed to gain the loyalty and support of the German military, the Reichswehr, which viewed the SA’s growing power with suspicion and was uneasy about Röhm’s aspirations to merge the SA with the army. By purging the SA leadership, Hitler appeased the military leadership, securing their support for his regime.

Question 2

Why was the Nazi Party able to attract increasing support in the early 1930s?

Answer 2

1. The economic crisis triggered by the Great Depression played a significant role in boosting support for the Nazi Party. High unemployment, hyperinflation, and economic instability left many Germans disillusioned with the Weimar Republic’s ability to solve their problems. The Nazis promised economic revival, employment, and the restoration of national pride, appealing to those hit hardest by the economic downturn.
2. The Nazi Party’s use of effective propaganda and Hitler’s charismatic leadership also attracted widespread support. They skillfully used media, rallies, and Hitler’s speeches to spread their message of unity and national rejuvenation, exploiting nationalist, anti-Semitic, and anti-communist sentiments to rally support against perceived enemies of the German people.

Question 3

Why did the economy of the Weimar Republic collapse so quickly after 1929?

Answer 3

1. The global impact of the Great Depression after the 1929 Wall Street Crash severely affected the Weimar Republic, which was heavily reliant on foreign loans, particularly from the United States. When these loans were called in, Germany was unable to meet the repayments, leading to a rapid deterioration of its economy, marked by bank failures, business closures, and skyrocketing unemployment.
2. The economic structure of the Weimar Republic was already fragile due to the burdens of World War I reparations imposed by the Treaty of Versailles. The additional strain of the global economic downturn overwhelmed the country’s financial system, leading to hyperinflation and further destabilizing the economy and society, which the government was ill-equipped to manage effectively.

Question 4

Why did the Nazi Party have little success before 1930?

Answer 4

1. Before 1930, the economic situation in Germany was relatively stable under the Weimar Republic, especially during the mid-1920s, which saw a period of economic recovery and relative prosperity known as the “Golden Twenties.” This stability reduced the appeal of extremist parties like the Nazis, who thrived on economic and political instability to gain support.
2. The Nazi Party’s radical ideologies and aggressive tactics were initially off-putting to many Germans, who preferred more moderate or traditional parties. The extreme nationalist, racist, and anti-Semitic views promoted by the Nazis limited their appeal to a broader electorate until the economic and political crises post-1929 made their messages more resonant with the disaffected German population.

Question 5

Why were mass rallies important to the Nazis?

Answer 5

1. Mass rallies were crucial for the Nazis as they provided a platform to spread their ideology and propaganda directly to large numbers of people. Through these rallies, Hitler and the Nazi Party could communicate their messages of national revival, unity, and strength, captivating audiences with powerful speeches and elaborate ceremonies that fostered a sense of belonging and commitment among supporters.
2. These events also served as demonstrations of the Nazi Party’s popularity and power, both to the German public and to potential political adversaries. The spectacle and scale of Nazi rallies, often meticulously choreographed and reported on extensively in the media, were used to intimidate opponents and consolidate the party’s control by showing the overwhelming support and orchestrated unity behind Hitler’s leadership.

Question 6

Why did the Nazis organise a boycott of Jewish businesses in April 1933?

Answer 6

1. The Nazis organized a boycott of Jewish businesses in April 1933 as part of their broader strategy to isolate, discriminate against, and ultimately eliminate Jewish influence from German economic and social life. By targeting Jewish businesses, they aimed to economically disenfranchise the Jewish community, reinforcing anti-Semitic stereotypes and justifying further discriminatory policies.
2. The boycott also served as a means to rally the non-Jewish German population around the Nazi regime’s nationalist and anti-Semitic ideology. It was a clear action that aligned with the Nazi party’s propaganda, aiming to unite Germans by identifying a common enemy in the Jewish population, thus solidifying internal support for the regime’s policies.

Question 7

Why did the Nazis fail to win much support between 1924 and 1929?

Answer 7

1. During the period from 1924 to 1929, known as the “Golden Years” of the Weimar Republic, Germany experienced relative economic stability and recovery, partly due to the Dawes Plan which eased the reparations burden and brought foreign investments. This period of prosperity reduced the appeal of extremist parties like the Nazis, who thrived on economic hardship and political instability to gain support.
2. The Nazi Party’s radical and often violent tactics, along with their extreme nationalist and anti-Semitic ideologies, were off-putting to the mainstream German electorate, who, during this period of stability, preferred more moderate and traditional political parties. The Nazi’s message did not resonate as strongly with the public when there was a sense of progress and recovery under the Weimar government.

Question 8

Why were the 1936 Olympic Games important to Hitler?

Answer 8

1. The 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin offered Hitler and the Nazi regime an unparalleled opportunity to showcase the supposed superiority of the Aryan race and promote Nazi ideologies on a global stage. By demonstrating the physical prowess of German athletes, the Nazis aimed to substantiate their racial theories to an international audience.
2. Hosting the Olympics allowed the Nazi regime to project an image of a peaceful, prosperous, and powerful Germany to the world, counteracting the negative perception resulting from their aggressive domestic policies and militarization efforts. The well-organized event, with its grandiose ceremonies and state-of-the-art facilities, was used as propaganda to gain international legitimacy and soften the image of the Nazi regime.