Mistakes and Weaknesses of the Nazis' Opponents

Question 1

Mistakes and Weaknesses of the Nazis’ Opponents
KPD/ SPD - Spartasist Revolt

Answer 1

• Since the Spartasist Revolt of 1919 when the SPD authorised the army to end the revolt, the KPD and SPD were divided.

✓

Question 2

Mistakes and Weaknesses of the Nazis’ Opponents
KPD/ SPD - Votes

Answer 2

• The KPD never gained more than 20% of the vote, however they consistently refused to work with the SPD despite this.

✓

Question 3

Mistakes and Weaknesses of the Nazis’ Opponents
Heinrich Bruning - Article 48

Answer 3

• Chancellor Bruning could not get the Reichstag to pass his laws and so began using Article 48 to his advantage, encouraging others to do so aswell.

✓

x passed unnecessary laws which harmed the German population.

Question 4

Mistakes and Weaknesses of the Nazis’ Opponents
Heinrich Bruning - Early Elections

Answer 4

• Bruning also called early elections for September 1930, expecting to gain support from the German public.

✓

x However instead, Brunkng saw a major boost for Nazi support in the early election.

Question 5

Mistakes and Weaknesses of the Nazis’ Opponents
Paul von Hindenburg - Article 48

Answer 5

• Hindenburg regularly used Article 48, using its permission 60 times in 1932 alone.

✓ this excessive use of Article 48 was deemed unnecessary and caused resentment from the public

x

Question 6

Mistakes and Weaknesses of the Nazis’ Opponents
Paul von Hindenburg - Hitler Chancellor

Answer 6

• Despite not wanting to appoint Hitler as Chancellor, Hindenburg eventually did so, believing he could control Hitler and hoped we would end the Reichstag investigation into the President’s misuse of government funds.

✓ Many believed that Hindenburg was senile and unstable to have control of Germany by the time Hitler came to power.

Question 7

Mistakes and Weaknesses of the Nazis’ Opponents
Historians - Heinrich Bruning

Answer 7

Conan Fischer: The success of the Nazis was due to the eleites miscalculating the influence and impact of Hitler.

Question 8

Mistakes and Weaknesses of the Nazis’ Opponents
Historians - Paul von Hindenburg

Answer 8

Ian Kershaw: “In bringing Hitler to power, chance events and Conservative miscalculation played a larger role than any actions of the Nazi leader himself.”