Hitler's Rise to Power

Question 1

What initials are used to abbreviate the German Worker’s Party?

Answer 1

DAP

Question 2

When was the DAP set up?

Answer 2

February 1919

Question 3

When did Hitler join the DAP?

Answer 3

September 1919

Question 4

Who set up the DAP?

Answer 4

Anton Drexler

Question 5

What did Hitler suggest the DAP change its name to?

Answer 5

NSDAP - National Socialist German Worker’s Party

Question 6

When did Hitler become leader of the Nazi Party?

Answer 6

July 1921

Question 7

When was the 25 Point Programme Written?

Answer 7

1920

Question 8

Identify as many key points of the 25 Point Programme as you can. Aim for 10)

Answer 8

1) Increase pensions for the elderly
2) Nationalise industries
3) Get rid of Treaty of Versailles
4) Everybody should have a job
5) Build up armed forces
6) No Jew may be a citizen
7) Expand Germany across new territory
8) All citizens have equal rights and duties
9) Every hard-working German should have the chance of higher education
10) The state must protect mothers and infants. Children must not work.

Question 9

What was the SA?

Answer 9

The Sturmabteilung (stormtroopers). 
Paramilitary force of ex-soldiers.

Question 10

When was the SA established and who commanded them?

Answer 10

August 1921. Ernst Rohm.

Question 11

When was the Munich Putsch?

Answer 11

November 1923

Question 12

What were the reasons for the Munich Putsch?

Answer 12

1) Stab in the back
2) Reparations
3) Loss of colonies and land
4) Hatred of the Weimar government
5) Influenced by Mussolini’s March on Rome
6) Hyperinflation
7) Invasion of the Ruhr
8) Hitler believed he had support of the people

Question 13

Why did the Munich Putsch fail?

Answer 13

1) The people of Germany did not want violence
2) Ludendorff let the government leaders go, behind Hitler’s back, instead of holding them captive as in the plan
3) The police were waiting for the supporters of the Putsch & opened fire.

Question 14

What were the consequences of the Munich Putsch?

Answer 14

1) Hitler was imprisoned
2) The NSDAP was banned
3) Hitler used his trial to publicise his views
4) He wrote Mein Kampf in prison - it became a bestseller
5) Made Hitler rethink his tactics and focus on gaining power without violence

Question 15

How long did Hitler spend in prison?

Answer 15

9 months

Question 16

When was the ban on the NSDAP lifted?

Answer 16

1925

Question 17

When was the Bamberg Conference?

Answer 17

1926

Question 18

What happened at the Bamberg Conference?

Answer 18

Addressed splits between the socialist and nationalist wings of the NSDAP. Hitler secured his position as leader and his vision of Nazism was taken forward.

Question 19

Why did the Party still have relatively little support until 1929?

Answer 19

Stresemann’s successes made people supportive of the Weimar Republic.

Question 20

When was the Wall Street Crash?

Answer 20

October 1929

Question 21

What was the impact of the Wall Street Crash on Germany?

Answer 21

The US stopped lending money to Germany and demanded all loans be repaid. Taxes in Germany increased and businesses fell into debt. Many people lost their jobs. Poverty spiralled.

Question 22

How did the Wall Street Crash benefit Hitler and the Nazi Party?

Answer 22

Led to dissatisfaction with the Weimar government and encouraged people to turn to more extreme parties.

Question 23

Why was Hitler such an appealing leader of the Nazi Party?

Answer 23

1) Seen as a strong leader who would make decisions
2) His image appeared on most publicity material
3) Traveled around the country giving speeches and talking on the radio
4) Acceptance of modern technology (eg using aeroplanes to travel around Germany)

Question 24

Which other party’s support grew after the Wall Street Crash?

Answer 24

The Communists (KPD)

Question 25

How did Hitler use the increased support for the KPD to gain more support for the NSDAP?

Answer 25

Encouraged middle and upper classes to support the Nazi Party in order to prevent the KPD coming to power. They never really gained support from the working classes.

Question 26

What did Hitler promise in order to gain support?

Answer 26

1) Promised business people he could solve the economic crisis
2) Promised working-class people work and food
3) Promised middle-class people that he could protect them from the Communists and solve the economic crisis
4) Promised rural communities that he could protect them from the communists, who might try to seize their land
5) Encouraged young people to joining because it was an exciting movement to be part of
6) Said women were the best way to save the nation

Question 27

When did the NSDAP become the biggest party in the Reichstag?

Answer 27

March 1932

Question 28

What happened at the April 1932 election?

Answer 28

Hindenburg stood for re-election as president. No one party has 50% of the vote.

Question 29

What happened following the May 1932 election?

Answer 29

• Hindenburg re-elected as president
• Chancellor Bruning introduces unpopular policies
• Bruning resigns and is replaced by von Papen
• Hitler agreed to join a coalition government
• The coalition takes power

Question 30

What unpopular policies led Bruning to resign the chancellorship?

Answer 30

1) Buying up land from landowners & using the land to house the unemployed
2) Banning the SA

Question 31

What happened following the July 1932 elections?

Answer 31

Widespread fighting between communists & Nazis. Nazi vote share increases from 18% in 1930 to 38%. Hitler demands to be made chancellor but Hindenburg refuses.

Question 32

What happened following the November 1932 election?

Answer 32

Von Schleicher tells Hindenburg that there will be a civil war if von Papen stays chancellor. Von Papen goes.

Question 33

Who becomes chancellor in December 1932?

Answer 33

Von Schleicher

Question 34

What leads to von Schleicher losing power in January 1933?

Answer 34

He is unpopular, so suggests to Hindenburg that he leads a military dictatorship. Hindenburg refuses. Von Papen suggest Hindenburg appoints Hitler as chancellor to avoid von Schleicher’s dictatorship. Von Papen to be vice-chancellor to ‘keep an eye’ on Hitler. Hitler becomes chancellor.

Question 35

When does HItler become chancellor?

Answer 35

January 1933