Hitler's Rise to Power Flashcards
What were the political circumstances that led to Hitler’s Rise to Power
Constitution
- Hard to gain a majority. Governments ended up as coalitions 🡪 challenging for the Reichstag to pass laws 🡪 governments became fragmented, weak and often short-lived.
- Article 48 was a double-edged sword. It could be used to preserve and protect democracy, but a president with a different attitude towards democracy could misuse and exploit Article 48. This could be a threat to the constitution.
Opposition
* Due to the fear of a left-wing (especially communist) takeover, some politicians on both the left and right viewed Hitler as a more palatable option. Influential conservative figures like Franz von Papen thought they could “control” Hitler if he was brought into a coalition. They believed he could help secure their conservative agenda without becoming a serious threat.
What were the economical circumstances that led to Hitler’s rise to power?
Hyperinflation
* France and Belgium invaded the Ruhr in retaliation, seized mines/ factories/ railways to take what was owed by Germany as reparation since it failed to service its loan (1923)
* Workers decided to adopt a policy of non-cooperation and went on strikes.. Govt printed more money, pay striking workers and pay off debt
* Value of $ decreased, prices spiralled out of control, hyperinflation e.g. 1 egg: 0.08 marks in 1913, 80 billion marks in Nov 1923 → Poor hard-hit, but wealthier and middle-class Germans most bitter (savings and pensions
wiped out virtually overnight)
Great Depression
* Failure of Democracy: Weak coalition government (WR) was indecisive to carry out appropriate measure to curb the economic crisis WR collapse. Only way out was for the President, Paul von Hindenburg, to use his powers to invoke Article 48 to appoint a new Chancellor, Heinrich Bruning. Apart from cutting government spending on welfare, Bruning also cut the wages of civil servants and most other government employees. The measures were so harsh that Bruning could not get enough support in the Reichstag to pass them into law. He had to ask Hindenburg to use his emergency powers (exploit) again. As a result, a decline in support and lost of faith for moderate parties and rise in support for alternative extreme parties that were more decisive in taking actions.
* Economic Crisis: Factories closed down, WR made cuts to social services ,Small businesses and shops went bankrupt
,Withdrawal of investments by American companies
- By 1932, unemployment was at 6 million or 40 percent of the workforce.
- Makeshift shelters and slums began to appear in most cities
What were Hitler’s skills that led him to power.
Oratorical Skills
* Prepared, practised speeches and a Master at gauging audience mood
* Incredible energy, 3-4 speeches a day, spoke with force and aloquence
* Hitler also utilized emerging media, like radio and film, to broaden his reach and cement his image. His speeches were widely broadcast, and his carefully staged appearances and propaganda films, directed by Leni Riefenstahl, helped create an image of invincibility and unity around him.
* He always addressed people’s concerns ➔ knew what to say to get attention and support for instance used ‘November criminals’, the threats communists and the deceiving Jews as scapegoats for all Germany’s ills
