Issue 2: Nazi Rise to Power

Question 1

Discontent against the Weimar Republic (1more)

Answer 1

1. Left wing challenge from the Spartacists in 1919, who tried to overthrow the German government and bring in a communist revolution.
2. Right wing challenge from the Kapp Putsch in 1920, when Wolfgang Kapp and the Freikorps tried to overthrow the Weimar government.
3. Assassination of two leading Weimar politicians in 1921 and 1922-Matthias Erzberger (Finance Minister) and Walter Rathenau (Foreign Minister).
4. Right wing challenge from the Beer Hall Putsch in 1923, when Adolf Hitler’s Nazis tried to seize power in Munich.
5. Election of the right-wing Field Marshal Hindenburg as President in 1925, in preference over a Weimar politician.

Question 2

Reasons why many Germans were discontented with the Weimar Republic

Answer 2

1. The Weimar Republic was founded after the Kaiser had been forced to abdicate in 1918, this made many Germans discontented as they wanted traditional authoritarian
   government.
2. Hindenburg and Ludendorff claimed that the new Republic had “stabbed Germany in the back” by making peace with the Allies in November 1918, this made many Germans discontented as they blamed the new government for losing the war.
3. The Weimar government reluctantly agreed to sign the Treaty of Versailles, this made many Germans discontented as they thought the Treaty was unfair and blamed the Weimar government for signing it.
4. Left and Right opposition such as the Spartacists and the Nazis stirred up opposition to the Weimar Republic by recruiting supporters and attempting to seize power. This made many Germans discontented as they heard speeches and read leaflets criticising the Weimar Republic.
5. Germany suffered economic problems during 1919-1933, including hyperinflation in 1923. This made many Germans discontented as many lost their savings and they blamed the
   Weimar Republic for economic incompetence.
6. During 1924-1926 the Weimar Republic’s Foreign Minister, Gustav Stresemann, tried to earn better relations with other European countries by fulfilling the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. This made many Germans discontented as they still hated the Treaty and wanted their government to stick up against the Allies more than they did.

Question 3

Appeal of hitler and the Nazis

Answer 3

1. Hitler was the undisputed leader and figurehead of the Nazi party, which was based on the
   ‘Fuhrerprinzip’ (leadership principle).
2. Hitler and the Nazis spoke out against the Weimar Republic and the Treaty of Versailles.
3. Hitler and the Nazis targeted different groups in society and told them what they wanted to hear, e.g. promised work and bread for the unemployed.
4. Hitler and the Nazis promised to rid Germany of communism.
5. The Nazis had local branches across Germany and used these to recruit and train new
   members.
6. The Nazis used sophisticated propaganda to promote Hitler and Nazi ideas.

Question 4

Reasons why the nazis became popular

Answer 4

1. Hitler’s ‘Fuhrerprinzip’ appealed to former supporters of the Kaiser, who wanted a single
   authoritarian leader.
2. Many Germans agreed with the Nazis that the Treaty of Versailles was unfair and the Weimar Republic was to blame for signing the treaty, and so supported the Nazis.
3. Nazi promises helped them to attract votes from most social groups in the 1932 elections and so became the largest party in the Reichstag.
4. The Nazis received financial support from wealthy businessmen who were worried about losing their wealth if the communists came to power.
5. The Nazis had a large active membership who were able to campaign and win support in all parts of Germany.
6. Nazi propaganda won them support from people who had not considered voting for the Nazis before.

Question 5

The coming to power of the national socialists in 1933-34

Answer 5

1. Von Papen and other conservatives worked out a plan to remove Chancellor von Schleicher and install Hitler as Chancellor, with von Papen as Vice-Chancellor.
2. Hindenburg agreed to appoint Hitler Chancellor in January 1933, leading a coalition government of conservatives and Nazis.
3. Hindenburg agreed to declare a state of emergency in Germany after the Reichstag burned down in February 1933.
   The Nazis won 44% of the vote in the March 1933 election, giving them and the right wing DNVP a majority in the Reichstag.
4. The Nazis passed the Enabling Law in March 1933 which gave Hitler the powers of a dictator.
5. All opposition parties and trade unions were banned in Germany during 1933.
6. When Hindenburg died in August 1934, Hitler took over as President and then merged this office with Chancellor to become ‘Fuhrer’ of Germany.

Question 6

Reasons why national socialists won undisputed control over Germany in 1933-34

Answer 6

1. Reasons why the National Socialists won undisputed control over Germany in 1933-34. Hindenburg was persuaded by von Papen to put Hitler into a position where he could control the government.
2. Hitler was appointed Chancellor and so was now able to steer government policy.
3. The Nazis used the Reichstag Fire Decree state of emergency to arrest communist and socialist opposition, helping them to win the March 1933 election as their opponents were
   unable to campaign.
4. The Nazis victory in the March 1933 election made it easier to pass the Enabling Law through the Reichstag.
5. The Enabling Law allowed Hitler to rule by decree without having to vote new laws through the Reichstag.
6. The banning of opposition political parties and trade unions made it almost impossible for anyone who opposed Hitler to organise resistance.
7. Hitler’s assumption of the Presidency made him head of state and the German Army swore an oath of loyalty to him.

Question 7

The reichstag fire 1933

Answer 7

1. The Reichstag (German Parliament building) was set on fire on the night of 27th February
   1933.
2. A young Dutch Communist, van der Lubbe, was arrested and charged with starting the fire.
3. Goering ordered the Prussian police to go out that night and arrest 4000 Communist leaders.
4. Hitler then persuaded President Hindenburg to pass an emergency decree suspending all personal freedoms.
5. The police now had the power to detain people without trial and thousands of opponents were sent to concentration camps.
6. The police also seized control of the state radio station.

Question 8

Reasons why the 1933 reichstag fire helped the nazis to take control of Germany

Answer 8

1. It gave the Nazis an excuse to declare a state of emergency and use this to repress opposition.
2. It gave the Nazis an excuse to blame the Communists and repress them in Germany.
3. It meant that the Communists were unable to campaign effectively for the general election the following week.
4. This helped the Nazis because it gave them the power needed to stop all opposition parties from campaigning against them.
5. The state of emergency meant the Nazis could use the police to intimidate German people into supporting them as they took control of Germany.
6. The Nazis took control of the state radio station and used this for propaganda purposes when taking control of Germany.