Hitler's rise to power

Question 1

What happened in the Munich Putsch?

Answer 1

• in November 1923 Hitler and the Nazi seized control of the Bavarian Government, the plan was to capture Munich then Berlin with the people supporting him
• on 8 November at a political meeting in the beer hall, Hitler forced Kahr, the head of the Bavarian Government, to join him
• on 9 November, Bavarian police opened fire and shot 16 Nazis. Ludendorf and Hitler were arrested and charged with high treason

Question 2

What were the effects of the Munich Putsch?

Answer 2

• Many Nazis, including Hitler, received light sentences
• Hitler spent nine months in the luxury of Landsberg Fortress
• He wrote Mein Kampf (my struggle) whilst in prison
• He changed his views on how to gain power, by democracy not force

Question 3

How did the depression help Hitler - Economic chaos?

Answer 3

• unemployment was a major issue and by January 1932 it was at 6m. Hitler promised to solve this
• German farmers were in crisis, they could not sell produce and banks were repossessing their land. Hitler again made promises

Question 4

How did the depression help Hitler - Fear of Communism?

Answer 4

• The rise in KPD caused many who feared communism as read about what had happened in the USSR, the support for Nazi was due to negative cohesion in anti-communism

Question 5

How did the depression help Hitler - Disillusionment with democracy?

Answer 5

• by 1932, Germans had lost faith with democratic parties as they were unable to agree on a solution and Hindenburg was running using emergency powers. Through excellent campaigning and speaking skills he promised strong leadership

Question 6

How did the depression help Hitler - Propaganda and Campaigns?

Answer 6

• Very effective methods e.g. using slogans instead of long policies, posters were everywhere, traveled by plane to do live speeches etc.
• The Nazi seemed ordered compared to violent communists
• They dropped policies that were criticised
• Organised soup kitchens and shelters for unemployed
• Used traditional values
• Had an amazing speaker in Hitler

Question 7

How the Nazis took power - The presidential election 1932

Answer 7

• Hitler ran for president against ageing Hindenburg
• In his speeches he blamed the ‘November Criminals (those who signed the treaty) and Jews for the problems he was facing
• Hitler only lost on a second vote with 13 million votes to Hindenburg’s 19 million

Question 8

How the Nazis took power - The Reichstag election, July 1932

Answer 8

• Violent campaign with Nazi and Communist street battles often with nearly 100 killed.
• The Nazis became the largest party and Hitler demanded to be chancellor but Hindenburg was suspicious so appointed Von Papen who had no Reichstag party base.
• The Nazis had 230 seats with the Social Democrats only 133

Question 9

How the Nazis took power - New Reichstag elections, November 1932

Answer 9

• Von Papen had little support in the Reichstag so he called another election
• The Nazis lost seats to 196 seats and Communists and Nationalists gained 11

Question 10

How the Nazis took power - Chancellor January, 1933

Answer 10

• Hindenburg and Von Papen decided to make Hitler Chancellor
• They believed they could control him
• on 30 January 1933, Hitler became chancellor and Papen vice

Question 11

How the Nazis took power - Reichstag Fire, 1933

Answer 11

• during the election campaign on 27 February 1933, the Reichstag was set on fire
• A communist, van der Lubbe, was arrested for crime, allowing the Nazis to exploit the fire
• Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to pass an emergency law restriction personal liberty allowing thousands of communists to be arrested

Question 12

How the Nazis took power - Election Results, March 1933

Answer 12

• To get an overall majority the Nazis (288 seats) joined with the nationalists (52 seats)

Question 13

How the Nazis took power - Enabling Act, March 1933

Answer 13

• Hitler needed an overall majority to pass the enabling act
• 81 communists were expelled, Nazi storm troopers intimidated
• passed 441 votes to 91
• Hitler was given the power to rule for four years without consulting the Reichstag, in July 1933 Hitler outlawed all parties using the enabling act, meaning Germany was a one party state

Question 14

How the Nazis took power - Night of the long knives, June 1934

Answer 14

• The German army saw the SA as a rival and would not support Hitler unless it was disbanded
• Some SA members wanted Hitler to follow a socialist programme of reform, Hitler opposed this
• Ernst Rohm (leader of SA) was a threat to Hitler’s dominance
• On 30 June 1934 around 400 of Hitler’s SA rivals (including Rohm) were murdered
• A month later, Hindenburg died, Hitler became combined chancellor and president and also commander-in-chief of the armed forces, soldiers swore a personal allegiance to Hitler and became known as ‘der Fuhrer’

Question 15

Summary why the Nazis took power

Answer 15

Nazi Strengths:
- Hitler's speaking skills
- Propaganda campaigns
- Violent treatment of opponents
- Criticism of the Weimar government
- Nazi policies
- Support for big businesses
Opponents Weaknesses:
- Failure to deal with the depression
- Failure to cooperate
- Attitudes to democratic parties
Other Factors:
- Weakness of the Weimar Republic
- Scheming of Hindenburg and Von Papen
- The depression
- The Treaty of Versailles
- Memories of 1923
- Negative cohesion

Question 16

The Start of the Nazis

Answer 16

• Hitler joined in 1919, within months becoming the head of propaganda and political ideas
• in 1920 Twenty five point programme created and name changed to National Socialist German worker’s party or Nazi
• the 25 point programme included: the abolition of the treaty of versailles, union of Germany and Austria, industries nationalised, strong government, true germans no jews
• Appealed to those who wanted scapegoats for Germanies problems