Hitler's Rise To Power

Question 1

What was Hitler’s educational background like?

Answer 1

He loved history, literature and the music of Germanic people. He dreamed of being an artist or architect but did badly in his exams and failed to gain a place at an art academy.

Question 2

What previous jobs had Hitler had?

Answer 2

He had been a sign writer, a house painter and a road sweeper in Vienna.

Question 3

What was Hitler’s military experience?

Answer 3

After WW1 broke out, he served in the 16th Bavarian infantry regiment in France and saw harsh times. Hitler was a good soldier and was awarded an iron cross for his bravery.

Question 4

What happened to Hitler post-WW1?

Answer 4

He joined the German Workers party (DAP) which later turned in the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) or Nazi party.

Question 5

What was Hitler’s 25 point programme?

Answer 5

It was the party programme by the DAP which involved scrapping the treaty of Versailles, expanding Germany’s borders and depriving Jews of German citizenship. They were willing to use force to achieve these things.

Question 6

Why was Hitler a good leader?

Answer 6

He was energetic and passionate as a speaker, he could attract large numbers, people where dissatisfied with the Weimar Republic which he opposed and he attracted supporters from the army?

Question 7

What made Hitler a good public speaker?

Answer 7

He used his hands a lot to point and clutch his fists, he was confident, he was patriotic, he changes his volume and he thoroughly rehearsed his speeches.

Question 8

What changes were made to the DAP in August 1920?

Answer 8

The party changed its name, adopted the swastika as its emblem and used the raised arm salute. They also bought their own newspaper for 180,000 marks.

Question 9

What happened to Hitler in mid 1921?

Answer 9

He became the party Fuhrer (leader) and gathered around him loyal party leaders like Ernst Rohm, Hermann Goering, Rudolf Hess and Julius Streicher.

Question 10

Who were Ernst Rohm, Hermann Goering, Rudolf Hess and Julius Streicher?

Answer 10

Ernst Rohm: an ex-soldier in charge of the SA
Hermann Goering: Head of the German Air force
Rudolf Hess: Hitler’s deputy
Julius Streicher: founder of the Nazi party paper

Question 11

What were the SA or storm troopers?

Answer 11

They were the party’s private army recruited from demobbed soldiers.

Question 12

What was the role of the SA?

Answer 12

They provided security at meetings and acted as body guards for Nazi leaders, along with breaking up meetings with opposition groups.

Question 13

How did the economy cause Munich Putsch?

Answer 13

Hyperinflation made the lives of many Germans miserable along with the French occupation of the Ruhr. This made NSDAP membership grow mainly from people around Munich.

Question 14

How did the success of Stresemann cause Munich Putsch?

Answer 14

Hitler realised that the new government would get on top of Germany’s economic issues so he had to act fast.

Question 15

How did the crackdown of extremists cause Munich Putsch?

Answer 15

Stresemann’s government was starting to crackdown on extremists as they had recently put down a left wing revolt in Saxony.

Question 16

What happened in Munich Putsch?

Answer 16

Hitler burst into Munich with 600 SA and said he was taking over the Bavarian government, claiming after Munich he would march against the government itself. The next morning he heard that Seisser and Lossow had changed their minds and opposed him meaning the SA only had 2,000 rifles, far fewer than the local police and army.

Question 17

What happened after this in Munich Putsch?

Answer 17

Hitler sent 300 supporters to key buildings around the town supported by the SA. Hitler and his key supporters and his shock troop then marched on to the town centre to declare him the president of Germany but police opened fire and a body guard jumped in front of Hitler to save him.

Question 18

What happened to Hitler and his supporters as a result of Munich Putsch?

Answer 18

14 of Hitler’s supporters were killed, Ludendorff was arrested, other rebels fled including Hitler but was later found and arrested.

Question 19

How would Hitler rule Germany in terms of traditional values?

Answer 19

He would want strong family values with male and female roles, Christian morality and old style German culture in art music and theatre.

Question 20

How would Hitler rule Germany in terms of racial purity?

Answer 20

They saw Aryans as superior (Germanic people of northern Europe), they saw other races as inferior especially Jews who they described as parasites that fed off the countries they lived in.

Question 21

How would Hitler rule Germany in terms of totalitarianism?

Answer 21

They would have no democracy, total control over all aspects of life and would require total loyalty to their leader.

Question 22

How would Hitler rule Germany in terms of nationalism?

Answer 22

They wanted expanded borders, a purified German race, the removal of TTOV and to revive the power of Germany.

Question 23

How would Hitler rule Germany in terms of socialism?

Answer 23

They would want to run the country in the national interest so agriculture and industry would flourish, Jews would not be able to control businesses and workers would be treated fairly.

Question 24

In what ways was Munich Putsch not a failure?

Answer 24

Only 14 supporters were killed, Hitler used his trial as publicity, Hitler used the time to write Mein Kampf (his autobiography) and was released after only nine months.

Question 25

In what ways was Munich Putsch a failure?

Answer 25

Hitler and Ludendorff were arrested, the NSDAP was banned and Hitler was found guilty of treason and sentenced to 5 years.

Question 26

When did Hitler re-launch the Nazi Party and what did he do?

Answer 26

It was re-launched on 27th February 1925. Hitler appointed two efficient organisers to run Nazi headquarters, the party was divided into regions and Hitler appointed a network of gauleiters answerable only to him.

Question 27

What did Hitler do to improve the party’s finances?

Answer 27

He befriended Germany’s most wealthy businessmen who shared his hatred of communism and hoped Hitler would limit the power of trade unions.

Question 28

What did Hitler do with the extra income?

Answer 28

He expanded the SA, with 400,000 members by 1930.

Question 29

What was the SS and why was it set up?

Answer 29

It was Hitler’s private army for his security, set up due to the SA’s loyalty being with Rohm when Hitler spent time in prison.

Question 30

What did Nazi propaganda use?

Answer 30

They used scapegoats to blame for Germany’s problems including the Jews, communists and leaders of the Weimar Republic. They prompted Hitler as head of the party.

Question 31

What did the Nazis use for propaganda?

Answer 31

They used radio, films, gramophone records and he had his speeches reported in daily newspapers.

Question 32

What were the economic effects of the wall street crash?

Answer 32

Banks were major investors of shares so they suffered huge losses, banks lost so much money that people feared that they would not be able to take their money out of their accounts causing them to rush to the banks which had no cash.

Question 33

What happened to industry as a result of the wall street crash?

Answer 33

German industry closed as industries were reliant on loans they did not have.

Question 34

What were the social and political effects of the wall street crash?

Answer 34

middle class people lost savings, businesses and homes, workers became unemployed, taxes had to be raised and unemployment benefit had to go down.

Question 35

Why were working class people attracted to the Nazi party?

Answer 35

Many wanted traditional German values and a strong Germany, the Nazis used posters to portray that workers support the Nazis.

Question 36

Why were middle class people attracted to the Nazi party?

Answer 36

The great depression hurt the middle classes so saw Hitler as a strong leader who could help the country recover. They were also afraid of the growing support of the communist party who opposed private ownership of land.

Question 37

Why were farmers attracted to the Nazi party?

Answer 37

The Nazis promised to protect farmer’s land from the communists as they would only take land away from Jews.

Question 38

Why were big businesses attracted to the Nazi party?

Answer 38

Nazi finances relied on big businesses as they protected them from communists.

Question 39

What happened in the July 1932 elections?

Answer 39

The NSDAP won 230 seats in the Reichstag, making them the largest party, but Hitler was refused to be made chancellor.

Question 40

What happened in the Reichstag fire?

Answer 40

The Reichstag building was set on fire. A Dutch communist was caught and blamed which the Nazis used as evidence that communists were plotting against the government. Hitler used this to persuade Hindenburg to pass a law enabling them to imprison communist leaders, stopping them campaigning for the upcoming election.

Question 41

What happened in the March 1933 election?

Answer 41

The Nazis won 288 seat which still wasn’t a majority so they joined with the nationalists. This allowed him to pass the enabling act.

Question 42

What was the Enabling Act?

Answer 42

An act that gave Hitler the right to make laws without the approval of the Reichstag. They managed to get a two thirds majority by imprisoning communists and intimidating other parties to allow this to happen.

Question 43

What did the Nazis do to opposition?

Answer 43

They removed all political opposition, took over all state governments and banned trade unions.

Question 44

What happened on the night of the long knives?

Answer 44

Members of the SA including Rohm were demanding that the Nazi party should carry out its socialist agenda taking the SA above the army. Hitler did not want to annoy businessmen so the SS murdered roughly 400 members of the SA including Rohm.

Question 45

What happened after Hindenburg died?

Answer 45

Hitler became Fuhrer and he declared himself jointly president, chancellor and head of the army. Members of the armed forces had to swear oath of alliance to him.