Hitler's rise to power Flashcards
What was the Nazi party originally known as, and who led it?
The German Workers’ Party, led by Anton Drexler
When did Hitler join the party?
1919
In 1920 Hitler became what in the party?
In charge of propaganda and political ideas of the party
What else happened to the party in 1920?
Hitler introduce the 25-point programme and it was renamed the National Socialist German Worker’s Party (or the Nazis for short)
How did leadership of the party change?
In 1921 Hitler removed Drexler as leader
Who did Hitler use as scapegoats for Germany’s problems?
The Allies, the Versailles treaty, the ‘November criminals’ (the politicians who signed the treaty), the Communists and the Jews
When was the SA set up?
1921, (also known as the brown-shirts or storm troopers)
What rebellion did Hitler lead, and when?
The Munich Putsch, on the 8th November 1923
Who was Hitler joined by?
Ludendorff (an old war hero) and the Nazis
How many Nazis were killed?
16
What was Hitler’s sentence?
He was only given a 5 year sentence, though he should have got a life sentence, only 9 months of which he actually served
Where was he sentenced to?
He served his 9 months in Landsberg Castle - in great comfort- where he wrote ‘Mein Kampf’
How did Ludendorff fare in trials?
He got no sentece
After being in prison, how did Hitler seek to gain power?
Through the democratic system, which he would then destroy once he gained power
When did The Nazis enter their first Reichstag elections?
In 1924, they won 32 seats
What were the results of the 1928 elections for the Nazi party?
They won only 12 seats (a quarter of the communist’s vote) and decided to look elsewhere (from the workers) for support
What did Hitler do in 1925?
Enlarged the SA (around 55% of the SA were from the ranks of the unemployed - and many ex-servicemen) and set up the SS
How big was the Nazi party by 1928?
100,000 people
Who was in charge of Nazi propaganda?
Joseph Goebbels
When did the German depression occur?
1929
What were Hitler’s 3 key ideas?
Germany leads a strong leader
Stop the Treaty of Versailles
Let the unemployed join the army; to build armaments & public works like roads
Who were the most vulnerable in the depression?
The unemployed, elderly and middle classes
How many seats did the Nazis win in the 1930 elections?
107
How many seats did the Nazis get in November 1932?
Almost 200- not a majority but the biggest single party
How did the Nazis avoid criticism for policies?
They used generalised slogans and when specific policies were criticised they often dropped them
How were the Nazis attractive in terms of discipline?
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
When did Hitler run for president, and what was the outcome?
1932, he got 13 million to Hindenburg’s 16 million, but his profile was raised greatly and Nazi support rocketed
What was negative cohesion?
People who supported the party (voted for them) not because they shared their views but because they hated what the Nazis hated
Where was negative cohesion most obvious?
In the middle class, who voted Nazi to try to stop communists coming to power
What had happened to the average German income and unemployment since 1929?
The average German’s income had fallen by 40% and unemployment had nearly hit 6 million
Who was chancellor after the July 1932 elections?
Franz Von Papen- an ally of Hindenburg -continued as Chancellor, depsite Hitler’s demands to become Chancellor
Who became Chancellor in December 1932?
Kurt von Schleicher although Von Papen remained an advisor
What happened within a month of von Schleicher’s appointment?
He was forced to resign as Chancellor; as the democratic system was no longer working- the Nazis blocked all policies
What was the Von Papen deal?
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
When did Hitler become Chancellor?
30th January 1933
How did Hitler try to win power?
By calling another election for March 1933 to try to get a Nazi majority
What happened on the 28th February 1933?
The Reichstag Fire- the building burned down
How did Hitler twist the event to his advantage?
Hitler blamed the fire on a Communist plot
What did Hitler demand from Hindenburg to bring ‘justice’ to the communists who ‘created’ the fire?
Special powers- which he was granted- and used to arrest communists, break up meetings and frighten voters
How many seats did the Nazis win in March 1933?
288 seats, and with support from the smaller socialist party they had a majority
