Nazi Rise to Power

Question 1

Describe the discontent against the Wiemar Republic

Answer 1

• the public blamed them for accepting the Treaty of Versailles
• the government were blamed for hyperinflation
• they were blamed for not being able to solve the Wall Street Crash
• the public didn’t like that there isn’t a main leader of Wiemar

Question 2

Explain the appeal of Hitler and the Nazis

Answer 2

• promises of the Nazis to restore German pride/give people jobs/destroy the Treaty of Versailles
• promised farmers would be given land
• used effective propaganda
• Hitler was a popular and effective public speaker who could connect with his audience
• the SA attracted people through their appearance (uniform) and they intimidated opposition
• the Nazis blamed minority groups for all of Germany’s problems

Question 3

Explain how the National Socialists came to power in 1933 - 1934

Answer 3

• in the July 1932 election, the Nazis won the most votes.
• ## Hitler was offered the Vice Chancellor position in a coalition with von Papen and von Schleicher but refused, as he did not want to be linked to a failing government without real power.

Question 4

Explain the impact of the Reichstag fire in 1933

Answer 4

• on Feb 27th 1933, the Reichstag political building was burnt down
• a Dutch Communist, Van der Lubbe was found in the building and the communists were blamed
• Hindeberg called Article 48 allowing the Nazis to get rid of opposition
• Nazis imprisoned communist leaders and banned them from Parliament
• media cencorred of Nazi opposition
• Nazis used propoganda to ‘spread dangers of the communists’
• the faire gave the Nazis a lot of popularity that people thought the Nazis did it themselves.
• votes went up in the March 1933 elections from 33% to 44%

Question 5

Explain how the Nazis consolidated power

Answer 5

• the Nazis took control of the German police system
• the Nazis won 288 seats in the Reichstag, enough to pass the Enabling Act
• the first concentration camps were established for political prisoners
• the Reichstag passed the Enabling Act after SA intimidation, granting Hitler dictator powers
• they reorganized local government and set up the Gestapo
• trade unions were abolished, and their leaders arrested, giving the Nazis control over workers
• Hitler madethe Concordat with the Pope, allowing the Nazi Party to ban the Catholic Zentrum Party
• all other political parties, were banned
• the SS and SA leadeship did ‘the night of long knives’ and killed important Nazi opposition
• Hitler became fuhrer after Hindenberg’s death