Hitler's rise to power - 2

Question 1

when did Hitler join the DAP

Answer 1

Hitler was attracted by the party’s ideas, and, on 19 September 1919, he joined the DAP.

Question 2

5 parts in which Hitler took to takeover the DAP and change it to the Nazi Party

Answer 2

Party policy, Hitler’s personal appeal, Party organisation, Party leadership, The Sturmabteilung (SA) or ‘brownshirts’

Question 3

what was the 25 point programme

Answer 3

In February, Hitler and Drexler wrote the 25-point programme, a document explaining the policies of the DAP.

Question 4

Policies of the 25 point programme

Answer 4

The Weimar politicians who deposed the Kaiser, made peace and accepted the TOV.

Democracy, they believed it was weak, and the Weimar constitution

The Jews, whom they blamed for undermining the German economy

Question 5

How did Hitler gain support in public speeches

Answer 5

Hitler rehearsed his speeches carefully. He started them slow and quiet, building up the tension towards an impassioned, almost frenzied, rant. Although these speeches were chaotic, they were persuasive and therefore attracted support.

His gestures were a key part of his appeal. At first, he would look directly at his audience, then wave his hands vigorously in the air.

He had publicity photos and paintings produced showing him as an orator.

Question 6

As the DAP’s leader of propaganda, what changes did he make to organise the party?

Answer 6

In January 1920, the DAP set up a permanent office in Munich. Hitler chose Rudolf Schüssler, a friend from the army as the party’s first full-time administrator. The party’s meetings were now more advertised and well organised. Party membership and funds began to increase.

Hitler changed the party’s name to NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers’ Party) or Nazi’s for short. Hitler named the party this because it appealed to many different people such as nationalists, socialists and workers. This is all included in the name to clarify the party’s policies.

After this, the party adopted their logo, the swastika and its straight-armed party salute. The party was now easy to distinguish from other small nationalist parties.

Question 7

How did Hitler become leader of the NSDAP and who did he put in charge?

Answer 7

July 1921, Hitler forced a leadership contest, Hitler won against Drexler. Other important members:

Rudolf Hess – a wealthy academic, who became Hitler’s deputy

Hermann Goering – young, handsome and wealthy WW1 fighter pilot

Julius Streicher – a publisher who founded another Nazi newspaper ‘The Stormer’

Ernst Röhm - a scar-faced, bull-necked ex-army officer who was popular amongst ex-soldiers.

Question 8

What was the SA?

Answer 8

the SA was formed in August 1921. It was a paramilitary force (a private group run like a military force). They were recruited from the unemployed. They were often ex-soldiers, demobilised from the army or students. They dressed in brown uniforms and were known as the brownshirts.

Question 9

What was the purpose of the SA?

Answer 9

Hitler expected the SA to be obedient to him instead of their leader, Ernst Rohm.

At NSDAP meetings, the SA was used to control crowds, subduing any opposition to Hitler with violence usually. They were also sent to disrupt opposition meetings. Therefore, the SA strengthened the NSDAP.

Question 10

What was the reason for the Munich Putsch?

Answer 10

November 1923, an armed revolt in attempt to overthrow the government.

Question 11

Long term causes for the Munich Putsch

Answer 11

From 1918 to 1923, a long list of grievances – such as the ‘stab in the back’, reparations and the loss of Germany’s colonies – had been building up. Many Germans hated the Weimar Republic which created support for nationalist parties such as the NSDAP.

In south Germany, in Bavaria, the NSDAP had been growing in its Munich base from 1919-1923. The Bavarian state government leaders were no fans of the Weimar government, like Gustav von Kahr. They turned a blind eye to the violence that the SA, they shared some views with the NSDAP. By 1923, the party had 50,000 members.

Question 12

Medium term causes for the Munich Putsch

Answer 12

1921-22, Hitler and the NSDAP were heavily influenced by a right-wing party in Italy, fascists led by Mussolini. They modelled their salute and use of flags on the Fascists. In 1922, Mussolini led his paramilitary forces in a ‘march on Rome’ forcing the democratic government of Italy to accept him as their new leader.

Question 13

Short term causes for the Munich Putsch

Answer 13

During 1923, hyperinflation in Germany reached its peak. People’s savings became useless. Buying everyday goods became impossible. In 1923, French troops raided the Ruhr where there were many German industrial businesses. When German workers resisted, they were arrested, imprisoned and even deported. And so, the German people were bitterly aggrieved by these events. The Weimar seemed weak and untrustworthy. It was a perfect time to expose those grievances.

Question 14

What happened after the three Bavarian leaders (who were forced to agree) decided to put down the uprising because the army was still loyal to the government?

Answer 14

He had the support of almost 1,000 SA’s and had 2,000 ‘volunteer’ supporters (the SA robbed 2 local banks, owned by Jews, and paid these supporters with stolen money). Together, Hitler, Ludendorff, Goering, Röhm, Streicher and their followers all marched on the town centre to declare Hitler president of Germany. He assumed local people would be supporters.

Question 15

Consequences of the Munich Putsch

Answer 15

Hitler and three others were sentenced to 5 years in prison for treason, The NSDAP was banned.

Question 16

The putsch was a defeat and a humiliation for Hitler. He was released after 9 months. This leniency was not common. What were the long term (positive) causes of the Munich Putsch?

Answer 16

Hitler realised he needed a new strategy, he needed to build a party with nationwide support and use democracy, which he hated, to win power.

The ban on the NSDAP was lifted in February 1925. Even before then, using a different name, the Nazis won 32 seats in the Reichstag in the May 1924 election.

Hitler used his trial to get national publicity for his views.

Hitler used his time in prison to write Mein Kampf (my struggle), which contained his political ideas and became the inspiration of the Nazi Party.

Question 17

The views of the Mein Kampf (3)

Answer 17

Hitler believed that the German race (Aryan race) was destined to rule the world

However, he said that there was a Jewish conspiracy to undermine Aryan rule.

He said Jews planned to weaken the Aryan race by intermarriage and by taking over German industry and the moderate political groups such as the Social Democrat Party.

Question 18

The relaunch of the NSDAP

Answer 18

Hitler was released from prison on 20 December 1924
The ban on the NSDAP was lifted on 16 February 1925.

Hitler was able to relaunch the NSDAP at a meeting in Munich on 27 February 1925.

The lenient treatment of Hitler and the Nazis were typical of the way the law courts treated right-wing attacks on the Weimar Republic

Question 19

Disadvantages of the SA

Answer 19

Many stormtroopers were violent thugs and difficult to control.

While Hitler remained in prison, the SA had become loyal to Ernst Röhm, their commander.

Question 20

How did Hitler gain control of the SA in 1925

Answer 20

He, firstly, replaced Röhm as leader of the SA. Röhm was forced to work abroad until he returned to the Nazi Party in 1930.

He then set up a new party security group. They were called the Schutzstaffel (“Protection Squad”), or SS. It acted as Hitler’s personal bodyguards and could be trusted; they were specifically selected members.

Question 21

In early 1926, there was a split in the party caused by local leaders. Nationalism/socialism

Answer 21

Some party activists like Strasser and Goebbels were located in northern, urban and industrial areas. They influenced the socialist part of National Socialism. They stressed attacks on businessmen and benefits for workers.

Other party leaders, like Hitler, were situated in more rural areas of Germany like Bavaria, the heartland of the Nazi Party. They stressed the nationalist side of National Socialism. They also stressed a strong German state and action against the Jews.

Question 22

The impact of the Bamburg Conference on the Nazi Party

Answer 22

Hitler’s control of the party was now clear. Goebbels was promoted to Gauleiter of Berlin as a reward. Strasser pledged his loyalty to Hitler but was never trusted. Strasser was murdered during the clearing of Nazi leaders in 1934.

The ‘socialist’ principles of the party were weakened which gave Hitler more freedom to adopt any policies he liked.

Question 23

Limits to the Nazi’s support, the lean years, 1923-29

Answer 23

Stresemann’s new currency along with the Dawes and Young plan, Germany’ economic got back to its feet. Inflation eased, employment increased, the public were better off. This cut support for extremist groups like the NSDAP. The moderate SPD won 30% of the general election vote in May 1928.

Under Stresemann, the Locarno Pact, membership of the League of Nations and the Kellog-Briand Pact all gave Germany more status in the world. It cut support for the nationalist parties like the NSDAP.

In 1925, Hindenburg becomes president of the republic. As an ex-field marshal of the German Army, he was a war hero. This increased support for the Weimar republic and cut support for parties who wanted to get rid of it, like the NSDAP.

As a result of this, German working classes in the big cities gave no support. In the 1928 general elections, the Nazi’s won only 1% of the votes in Berlin and in the Ruhr industrial district. The message was clear, while the economy kept going strong the Nazi’s were almost nothing.

Question 24

moderate parties did well between 1924 and 1928, what did the Nazis win after the general election in May 1928?

Answer 24

Won only 12 seats

Were only the 7th biggest Reichstag party

Polled only 810,000 votes – only 2.6% of the total vote.

Question 25

Why confidence in the WR began to disappear in a few months:

Answer 25

When Stresemann died of a heart attack on 3 October 1929 confidence began to wear away. The loss of his talent was a severe blow to the Weimar Republic.

Later in October 1929, things got worse. There was a world economic crisis, known as the Great Depression. In Germany, it caused economic collapse, widespread unemployment and a political crisis.

Question 26

The banking crisis in Germany caused by the wall street crash

Answer 26

People rushed to collect their money from banks, causing some German banks to run out of cash

so, to pay out the money demanded by their account holders, German and American banks urgently needed cash, demanding money from businesses.

Question 27

Unemployment caused by the wall street crash

Answer 27

When the banks demanded their money back from German industries and farms, they had to scale back production or close. They made workers unemployed either way.

The economic crisis was worldwide. German companies that sold their goods abroad found that their sales fell. They had to make even more workers unemployed.

German workers who were unemployed became poorer. They couldn’t afford to buy as much. This meant that sales fell even further, and companies had to make even more workers unemployed. It was a downward spiral for German industry.

Question 28

By January 1933, 6 million workers were unemployed. Impact of unemployment on the people:

Answer 28

Unemployed – as the number of people out of work grew, the government became unable to pay unemployment benefits. Unemployment benefits were cut, and taxes raised, causing even bigger problems for the unemployed.

Savers – Some people had their savings invested in shares. When share prices crashed in 1929, the value of their savings crashed too. This meant, if they became unemployed, they had no savings to fall back on.

Workers – Workers’ taxes went up too, with people desperate for work, employers cut wages. Real wages in 1932 were 70 % of 1928 levels.

Homeless – People that couldn’t afford rent became homeless. Shanty towns of makeshift houses began to appear, and the unemployed wandered the streets looking for work or food. Boredom turned to violence, fights broke out in streets after a while between police and roaming bands of young men. There was a 24% increase in arrests for theft in Berlin. The German people were desperate.

Question 29

Critics from political parties about the failure to deal with unemployment

Answer 29

Right-wing parties, the middle classes and the wealthy opposed higher taxes. Left-wing parties and the working class opposed reduced benefits.

The leader of the moderate Social Democrat Party, Hermann Muller, refused to support Bruning’s policies

There had only been five presidential decrees in 1930. As the crisis deepened, Bruning’s government had to rely on 44 decrees in 1931 and 66 in 1932.

Question 30

Why did the support for the KPD grow by 1932?

Answer 30

Growing unemployment – which reached 5 million in 1932

Falling wages – real wages in 1932 were about 15% lower than in 1928.

Question 31

Why did support for the Nazis grow quicker than for the communists?

Answer 31

German middle and upper classes were afraid of a communist government. They feared that they would suffer under Communist rule as they would have their land and companies confiscated by the state. This made them more likely to vote for the NSDAP.

Question 32

Why did people support the Nazis?

Answer 32

Many people were fed up with the Weimar Republic, they thought they were weak, and it was bullied by other nations and that it had failed to solve economic problems. They saw Hitler’s party as an alternative:

To restore law and order

To force other countries to scrap the TOV and treat Germany fairly.

Question 33

How did Hitler spread his views and how did he gain support?

Answer 33

He featured prominently in Nazi posters and spoke in as many parts of the country as possible. He also took advantage of new approaches to electoral campaigning. For example, he used aeroplanes in a whirlwind campaign for the 1930 and 1932 elections. The Nazis had support from wealthy businessmen, therefore providing them with vital funding for the costs of running an election campaign, such as posters, radio broadcasts and planes.

Question 34

How did the SA help to get Germans to support the Nazis?

Answer 34

The uniformed SA made the Nazis seem organised, disciplined and reliable. During economic and social turmoil, the Nazis looked strong enough to control unrest and stand up to foreign powers because of the SA.

The SA were also used the disrupt opposition parties. The Nazis had a stronger private army than the communists. By 1930, the SA had 400,000 stormtroopers. In contrast, the KPD’s Red Front Fighters had only about 130,000. The elections of 1930 and 1932 were violent. The opposition’s posters were torn down by armed and uniformed SA’s, intimidating their candidates. They broke into their offices and disrupted their rallies. In 1932, in one clash with communists near Hamburg, 18 people were killed

Question 35

How did Nazis appeal to: Big businesses

Answer 35

The leaders of big businesses were one group targeted by the Nazi Party. Wealthy people usually supported the National Party. But this party, along with other moderate parties, had been powerless to solve Germany’s economic problems between 1929-1933. Hitler persuaded wealthy businessmen that his party was their best hope of protection from the rise of the communists.

As a result, Nazi finances benefitted. Wealthy businessmen, like Benz and Krupps, poured money into the NSDAP. Nazi propaganda benefitted too. Alfred Hugenberg, the National Party leader, was a newspaper tycoon. He allowed Goebbels to use his newspapers for Nazi propaganda against the communists.

Question 36

How did Nazis appeal to: Working class support

Answer 36

The NSDAP also tried to seem like the party of the German working classes, their name was an obvious sign of this. They also had policies that appealed to workers such as promising workers ‘work and bread’ on their posters to create a stronger Germany. But more workers preferred the communists. Although many working-class people voted for the Nazis, they never dominated the working-class vote.

Question 37

How did Nazis appeal to: Middle class support

Answer 37

It contained professional people like teachers and lawyers, business people and small farmers. They often owned land or businesses and had savings. Between 1929 and 1932, they deserted the more moderate parties, and many switched their support to the Nazis. There were several reasons for this:

The Great depression had hurt the middle classes. Many had lost their companies, their savings or their pensions. They saw Hitler as a strong leader who could help them from this.

After 1929, they were also afraid of the Communist Party gaining power. The communists wanted to abolish private ownership of businesses and land. The middle classes saw the Nazis as a way of protection from the communists.

Many middle-class people believed that there had been a moral decline under the Weimar Republic, with more drinking and sexual openness. They saw the Nazis as a return to traditional German values.

Question 38

How did Nazis appeal to: Farmers

Answer 38

Hitler also aimed to target support from farmers. The Nazi policy of confiscating all private land (in the Twenty-Five Points of 1920) was changed in 1928. The new policy said that private land would only be confiscated if it was owned by Jews. This reassured farmers. They hoped that Hiter would protect them from the Communist Party, which would have confiscated their land.

This meant that farmers were a strong section of support for the Nazi Party. The Nazis gained 60% of the votes in some rural area in the 1930 Reichstag elections.

Question 39

How did Nazis appeal to: Young people

Answer 39

The Nazis were exciting for young Germans, its rallies were colourful and full of atmosphere. Hitler attracted many younger people to become members because he promised them more than traditional parties and his speeches were stirring.

Question 40

How did Nazis appeal to: Women

Answer 40

At first, many women didn’t support the Nazis. The Nazi Party argued that women should play a traditional role in society as wives and mothers. The propaganda made special appeals to women. It claimed that voting for the NSDAP was best for their country and best for their families, this made them attracted to joining.

Question 41

How did Nazis appeal to: Unity - something for everyone

Answer 41

In one sense, the Nazis targeted support from specific sections of society. However, in another sense, the Nazi appeal was not to groups, but to the whole nation. Some historians say this was new for German politics and helped the NSDAP to grow.

Question 42

Within a year, though, Hitler had managed to become Chancellor. The change of governments, 1932-33:

Answer 42

(Bruning) March 1932 – Presidential Elections, Hitler wins 11m votes

(Bruning) April 1932 – Presidential Elections, Hitler wins 13m votes

(Von Papen) May 1932 – Von Papen becomes chancellor

(Von Papen) July 1932 – Reichstag election, Nazis win 230 seats

(Schleicher) December 1932 – Schleicher becomes chancellor

(Hitler) January 1933 – Hitler becomes chancellor

Question 43

April 1932, what two steps did Chancellor Heinrich Bruning do that lost him majority support in the Reichstag?

Answer 43

He banned the SA and SS. There were genuine fears of civil war breaking out on the streets and he wanted to calm unrest and control the Nazis

He then announced a plan to buy up land from the large landowners and use it to house the unemployed.

Question 44

What did right wing groups think of Bruning’s decisions to do this in April 1932?

Answer 44

The ban on the SA and SS angered Hitler. Other political parties feared that their paramilitary groups would also be banned.

The landowning classes were furious about the plan to buy up their land.

Hindenburg, who was a land-owning conservative, was furious.

Bruning resigned on 30 May 1932.

Question 45

Von Schleicher had been recommending a new chancellor to Hindenburg, what did he have and how did this change the government?

Answer 45

He had been organising a coalition of right-wing supporters, consisting of landowners, industrialists and army officers.

They didn’t have the majority in the Reichstag – the Social Democrats were the majority.

Schleicher persuaded Hindenburg that if the Nazis, who were popular, would support his coalition, it could govern without the Reichstag by using presidential decrees. This was completely against the spirit of the Weimar Republic.

It was so undemocratic that the new government was known as ‘the Cabinet of Barons’.

Question 46

When did the Nazis become part of the German government?

Answer 46

By being part of Schleicher’s coalition, Nazi’s joined on 30 May 1932

Question 47

How many people were killed in the elections for the new Reichstag in July 1932?

Answer 47

The elections caused violence in the streets in June and July, mainly between private armies of the Nazis and the Communist Party. About 100 people were killed and over 7,000 injured. In one clash, near Hamburg, 19 people were killed.

Question 48

How many seats did the NSDAP win in the Reichstag elections?

Answer 48

the NSDAP had won 230 seats in the Reichstag. This was a good result for the party.

The Nazi share of the vote had increased from 18% in 1930 to 38% in 1932. The Nazis were the largest group in the Reichstag.

Hitler demanded Hindenburg to sack von Papen and make him chancellor instead.

Question 49

November 1932, von Papen is sacked

Answer 49

Hindenburg hated Hitler and was reluctant to appoint him as chancellor.

Schleicher told Hindenburg that if he were to keep Papen, the country would descend into civil war and the German army would be unable to keep control.

Question 50

When does von Schleicher become chancellor?

Answer 50

2nd December 1932.

Question 51

How did Hitler become chancellor on 30 January 1933?

Answer 51

Schleicher had no real support, Nazis were against him, he couldn’t govern as there was no majority in the Reichstag.

Hindenburg and Papen thought they had control of Hitler, eventually Hindenburg gave in and announced Hitler as chancellor on 30 January 1933.

Question 52

How did Hindenburg strengthen Hitler’s chances of becoming chancellor?

Answer 52

he never fully supported the idea of a republic. He was a monarchist who preferred the style of government under the Kaiser before 1918. He was therefore quite open to governing by decree, using Article 48, which weakened the Reichstag.

Question 53

How did von Schleicher and von Papen strengthen Hitler’s chances of becoming chancellor?

Answer 53

hey were right-wing conservatives wanted to move away from government by the parties elected to the Reichstag and towards a ‘stronger’ government controlled by wealthy industrialists and landowners. By plotting to replace Bruning with the ‘Cabinet of Barons’ and advising Hindenburg that he could use the German Army instead of the Reichstag to keep his chancellors in power, they undermined the Weimar Republic.

Question 54

How did Hindenburg, von Schleicher and von Papen strengthen Hitler’s chances of becoming chancellor?

Answer 54

they all underestimated Hitler. They all believed they could control Hitler and the Nazi Party when bringing them into power. They were wrong.