Nazi rise to power Flashcards
What was the Nazi party like before Hitler?
Founded in 1919 by Anton drexler
German workers party (DAP)
How did Hitler join the Nazi party?
He was employed to observe them by government to make sure no political unrest
Found he agreed with what they said + practiced public speaking that impressed Drexler
What was Hitler’s first job in the Nazi party?
Head of propaganda and recruitment
The 25 point programme
Shortly after Hitler joined him and drexler wrote up the 25 point programme:
-segregation of Jews + foreigners
-abolition of TOV
-unite Germans and make space for aryan race
How did early Nazi party try to appeal to others?
Changing name to say socialist
Public newspaper
Swastika for their logo + salute
Own private army (SA)
Fuhrer title created idea he was saviour of germany
What was the Nazis public newspaper called?
The Volkisher Beobachter (‘People’s Observer’)
Fuhrerprinzip
Hitler’s idea of him being fuhr and the saviour of Germany in spite of the depression
The cult like qualities the Nazi party + supporters adopted
Introduction of the SA
1921
The protection squad to intimidate political opponents by going up to meetings and attacking them + guarding key members
The Munich Putsch
When Hitler believed he and the Nazi party could overthrow the government in 1923 like Mussolini
So attempted Bavarian gov takeover at a meeting in a beer hall
Result of the Munich putsch
Original plan failed as Bavarian government don’t support him
Continues anyway but overpowered by the police force
Gets arrested + Nazi party banned
What happened during Hitler’s arrest and trial?
Used the trial as a way to spread his political ideas
Treated leniently: prison (a nicer version)
What did Hitler do In prison?
Write the book Mein Kampf
What were Hitler’s ideas in mein kampf?
Abolition of TOV
Segregation and elimination of Jews
Volksgemeinschaft
Lebensbraum
Volksgemeinschaft
Hitler’s idea of ‘People’s community’
where only the Aryan race would dominate yet their interests were tied strictly to the state not as individuals
Lebensraum
Hitler’s idea that they must create a unified German state with all Germans
And thus they needed more space to do so
Consequences of the Munich Putsch
Nazi party banned
Newspaper (people’s observer) banned
Hitler in prison
After the Nazi party were set up once again, what did hitler do?
He realised he’d have to take power democratically
Bamburg conference = appointed new leaders
Set up the youth and student quarters
Set up the SS
How did the wall street crash help Hitler?
Created a policial environment where people are more inclined to support his ideas
Wall Street crash impact on germany
USA called loans
Decrease in international trading
German government loses money
German industries lose funding
Less production
Laid off workers
What caused the depression in Germany?
USA calls in loans
German industry loses funding = less production = lays off workers
People spend less = demand falls
Industry loses more money = cycle continues
Effect of the unemployment and poverty
Many citizens lost faith in Weimar
Many now looked to extreme parties ie communist, Nazis
Weimar increased spending on benefits
How did Hitler use the Great Depression to his advantage?
Targeted his propaganda at the lower classes, the hardest hit by depression
Many looked for ways out, that Hitler offered like a cult leader as Fuhr
What happened on September 1930 election?
Brüning won with central party being the biggest
But he didn’t have a majority so Hindenburg used article 48
but a breakthrough for nazis
What happens 1932 election?
Nazi party biggest party so in theory Hitler would become chancellor
But Hindenburg doesn’t want that
Von papen- Von Schleicher drama
Von papen original chancellor
Gets replaced by Von Schleicher as Hindenburg doesn’t want to make Hitler chancellor
Papen tells Hindenburg to make a coalition gov to be able to control Hitler which is what happens
When does Hitler become chancellor?
January 1933
Who were most inclined to support Nazis?
Wealthy business
Middle class
Nationalists
Rural areas
Maybe workers
Why were wealthy businessmen inclined to support Nazis?
Scared by increase in communists who wanted to change political landscape
So supported their polar opposite
Why were the middle class inclined to support Nazis?
Saw how democracy failed Germany after depression
Wanted a stronger saviour of Germany - Fuher cult
Why were nationalists inclined to support Hitler?
Hitler shared same views of vigorous loyalty to Germany
Agreed with policy of Lebensraum and that TOV had ruined Germany
Why were workers inclined to support Hitler?
Many unemployed following the depression
So desperate for a saviour of Germany - more vulnerable to cult like mentality of Fuhrer cult
Themes in Nazi propaganda
Fuhrer cult = Hitler was the saviour of germany and had a cult like mentality
Volksgemeinschaft = appealed to nationalists
Scapegoating and dehumanising Jews = indoctrinate racist beliefs
