Hitler's rise to power

Question 1

What was the Nazi party originally known as, and who led it?

Answer 1

The German Workers’ Party, led by Anton Drexler

Question 2

When did Hitler join the party?

Answer 2

1919

Question 3

In 1920 Hitler became what in the party?

Answer 3

In charge of propaganda and political ideas of the party

Question 4

What else happened to the party in 1920?

Answer 4

Hitler introduce the 25-point programme and it was renamed the National Socialist German Worker’s Party (or the Nazis for short)

Question 5

How did leadership of the party change?

Answer 5

In 1921 Hitler removed Drexler as leader

Question 6

Who did Hitler use as scapegoats for Germany’s problems?

Answer 6

The Allies, the Versailles treaty, the ‘November criminals’ (the politicians who signed the treaty), the Communists and the Jews

Question 7

When was the SA set up?

Answer 7

1921, (also known as the brown-shirts or storm troopers)

Question 8

What rebellion did Hitler lead, and when?

Answer 8

The Munich Putsch, on the 8th November 1923

Question 9

Who was Hitler joined by?

Answer 9

Ludendorff (an old war hero) and the Nazis

Question 10

How many Nazis were killed?

Answer 10

16

Question 11

What was Hitler’s sentence?

Answer 11

He was only given a 5 year sentence, though he should have got a life sentence, only 9 months of which he actually served

Question 12

Where was he sentenced to?

Answer 12

He served his 9 months in Landsberg Castle - in great comfort- where he wrote ‘Mein Kampf’

Question 13

How did Ludendorff fare in trials?

Answer 13

He got no sentece

Question 14

After being in prison, how did Hitler seek to gain power?

Answer 14

Through the democratic system, which he would then destroy once he gained power

Question 15

When did The Nazis enter their first Reichstag elections?

Answer 15

In 1924, they won 32 seats

Question 16

What were the results of the 1928 elections for the Nazi party?

Answer 16

They won only 12 seats (a quarter of the communist’s vote) and decided to look elsewhere (from the workers) for support

Question 17

What did Hitler do in 1925?

Answer 17

Enlarged the SA (around 55% of the SA were from the ranks of the unemployed - and many ex-servicemen) and set up the SS

Question 18

How big was the Nazi party by 1928?

Answer 18

100,000 people

Question 19

Who was in charge of Nazi propaganda?

Answer 19

Joseph Goebbels

Question 20

When did the German depression occur?

Answer 20

1929

Question 21

What were Hitler’s 3 key ideas?

Answer 21

Germany leads a strong leader
Stop the Treaty of Versailles
Let the unemployed join the army; to build armaments & public works like roads

Question 22

Who were the most vulnerable in the depression?

Answer 22

The unemployed, elderly and middle classes

Question 23

How many seats did the Nazis win in the 1930 elections?

Answer 23

107

Question 24

How many seats did the Nazis get in November 1932?

Answer 24

Almost 200- not a majority but the biggest single party

Question 25

How did the Nazis avoid criticism for policies?

Answer 25

They used generalised slogans and when specific policies were criticised they often dropped them

Question 26

How were the Nazis attractive in terms of discipline?

Answer 26

Their SS and SA gave an impression of security and order, at a time when there were constant clashes between the Communists and the police

Question 27

When did Hitler run for president, and what was the outcome?

Answer 27

1932, he got 13 million to Hindenburg’s 16 million, but his profile was raised greatly and Nazi support rocketed

Question 28

What was negative cohesion?

Answer 28

People who supported the party (voted for them) not because they shared their views but because they hated what the Nazis hated

Question 29

Where was negative cohesion most obvious?

Answer 29

In the middle class, who voted Nazi to try to stop communists coming to power

Question 30

What had happened to the average German income and unemployment since 1929?

Answer 30

The average German’s income had fallen by 40% and unemployment had nearly hit 6 million

Question 31

Who was chancellor after the July 1932 elections?

Answer 31

Franz Von Papen- an ally of Hindenburg -continued as Chancellor, depsite Hitler’s demands to become Chancellor

Question 32

Who became Chancellor in December 1932?

Answer 32

Kurt von Schleicher although Von Papen remained an advisor

Question 33

What happened within a month of von Schleicher’s appointment?

Answer 33

He was forced to resign as Chancellor; as the democratic system was no longer working- the Nazis blocked all policies

Question 34

What was the Von Papen deal?

Answer 34

In order to rescue the democratic system, they needed a chancellor with support in the Reichstag- Hitler.
With Von Papen as vice-chancellor and Hindenburg as president they thought they could control him

Question 35

When did Hitler become Chancellor?

Answer 35

30th January 1933

Question 36

How did Hitler try to win power?

Answer 36

By calling another election for March 1933 to try to get a Nazi majority

Question 37

What happened on the 28th February 1933?

Answer 37

The Reichstag Fire- the building burned down

Question 38

How did Hitler twist the event to his advantage?

Answer 38

Hitler blamed the fire on a Communist plot

Question 39

What did Hitler demand from Hindenburg to bring ‘justice’ to the communists who ‘created’ the fire?

Answer 39

Special powers- which he was granted- and used to arrest communists, break up meetings and frighten voters

Question 40

How many seats did the Nazis win in March 1933?

Answer 40

288 seats, and with support from the smaller socialist party they had a majority