Nazis Flashcards
What are different interpretations of the march?
+Nazi: trying to overthrow cowardly gov, make G strong again. Betrayed by Kahr and police. 16 Nazis died as martyrs. Shows Hitler’s leadership.
-Nazi: Insignificant Nazis failed to get support from army/gov, easily collapsed. Army stood firm and defeated them.
What happened in the Munich Beer Hall Putsch trial, and how did Hitler turn this into a victory?
Hitler put on trial for treason, stncd to 9mnths. BUT, judge very lenient, even said he sympathised. Hitler used trial for publicity, gave him national platform, impressed audience with speeches. While in prison, took time to write Mein Kampf. He also realised that he would have to take legal route to powers not coup
Why did Hitler try the Munich Beer Hall Putsch, and what happened?
-Hitler though gov too LW, an he among many others didn’t like that PR called off. Also, thought he had support of army(∵ supported by Ludendorff) and RW Bavarian gov.
-Nazi #s grew 6000-55000 in 1923 and SA grew quickly and wanted revolution
-Kahn, Lossow and Seisser were going to launch RW uprisig aginst WG. H going to help but they pstpnd rev ∴ H thought MP would force them to rebel
-8 Nov 1923
• Hitler interrupted the Beer Hall meeting, and forced Kahr, Lossow and Seisser at gunpoint to agree to support him. The SA took over the Army HQ. Jews were beaten up, and the offices of the anti-Nazi Munich Post newspaper trashed. Kahr, released by Hitler, called in the police and army reinforcements.
-Gov got rid of LW state govs-> got support of RW army-> they helped stop RW radicals.
9 Nov 1923: The Nazis marched on Munich. Stopped by police and army (assembly by Kahr), 16 Nazis killed. Ludendorff was arrested. Hitler hid, then fled (he was arrested 2 days later).
What were the Nazi ideas in the 1920s?
- remove Jews from positions of leadership
- rearm Germany(against ToV), for defence and Lebensraum
- strong central gov.
- conquer lebensraum
- abolish ToV
- nationalise important industries(good for rearming)
- destroy Marxism + Weimar Republic
- educate gifted children at state’s expense-> indoctrination
- increase pensions(old people likely to vote, Nazis want their votes)
What was the role of Hitler?
Leader of party(1922->)V. Good speaker, used many tactics in speeches e.g. turning up late, starting softly, then building up.
Believed in ‘stab in the back myth’(Dolchstosslegende), anti-Semitic.
Designed the swastika.
What was the role of Ernst Röhm?
Founding member of German Workers’ party, 1919.
Set up and ran SA, 1921.
Tough, brutal and efficient.
What was the role of Josef Goebbels?
At first opposed Hitler, then changed mind.
Editor of Nazi newspaper.
Smart + good speaker.
Minister of propaganda. Very anti Semitic
What was the role of Heinrich Himmler?
Joined 1923, first regional party chief, then became leader of SS.
Frail, timid and clumsy, but hard-working and precise.
What was the role of Rudolph Hess?
Hitler’s private secretary, later responsible for lots of admin.
Soft, sensitive + humourless.
Not ambitious, worshipped Hitler.
What was the role of Herman Goering?
Joined Nazis 1922, put in charge of SA.
Loud, intelligent, charming, but vain + greedy.
Commanded Luftwaffe from 1935
Set up gestapo but gave it to himmler
Why did the Nazis not do very well up until the Depression?
- After Munich Putsch, Hitler decided he’d be elected to power, not via rebellion. But, banned from speaking until 1928.
- working classes not interested, no clear message
- Only 12 deputies, by 1928, not big in RS
- Streseman era economic successes, e.g. Dawes Plan, meant that not many were willing to support extremist method.
How did Nazi tactics change?(8 points)
- chose legal route to power, not coup
- Hitler seen as strong leader, and improve his speeches
- Flexibility- changed policies depending on what voters liked e..g originally appealed to working class, but had by SDs so moved to middle class and farmers
- Made promises to all types of voters, get their support
- Used new radio spread message, Hitler flew around G to give rallies
- Won support and financial backing of industrialists
- Used lots of propaganda e.g. Hatred of Bolsheviks
- Good organisation of Party, motivated, and trained in public speaking
How did Hitler come to power?(long term)
LIMP PAPER
Long term bitterness Ineffective constitution Money Propaganda Programme Attacks on other parties Personal qualities Economic depression Recruited by Hindenburg
How was Hitler’s rise to power helped by long term bitterness?
Hitler’s expansionism, and viciousness to others appealed to people’s long term anger over end of WWI and ToV.
E.g. Hitler’s anti-Semitic policies would have appealed to Dolchstosslegende
How was Hitler’s rise to power helped by ineffective constitution?
Prop rep meant it was easy for small parties to get a hold. Many coalitions ∴ not strong-> some people even wanted return to dictatorship. Opposition argued amongst themselves, and underestimated Nazis, ∴ didn’t change to suit the times and voters.
How was Hitler’s rise to power helped by money?
By winning the support of the industrialists, e.g Hjalmar Schacht, IG Faben, Schroeder Bank, Henry Ford, Hitler had enough money for propaganda and election campaigns.
How was Hitler’s rise to power helped by propaganda?
Persuaded Germans to hate other groups, e.g. Communists, or Jews, and that Hitler was their only hope.
How was Hitler’s rise to power helped by economic depression?
Wall Street crash 1929- America pulled in loans to Germany, banks collapsed. Unemployment grew, people starved.
Weimar gov had no idea what to do. Started unpopular solutions, e.g. Tax increases, cutting wages.
People turned to extremist solutions, as Weimar gov solutions not working. Hitler offered extreme solutions + someone to blame. Seats 1928 12 ➯ 1932 230
How was Hitler’s rise to power helped by programme?
Hitler promised everybody something, so they’d all vote for him. E.g. Solve unemployment, provide higher prices for farmers, protect shopkeepers against competition.
He also adapted unpopular policies.
How was Hitler’s rise to power helped by attacks on other parties?
Storm troopers attacked Jews and communists ∴ Many opponents just kept quiet to avoid being killed.
How was Hitler’s rise to power helped by Hitler’s personal qualities?
Incredible speaker, had lots of self-belief, which persuaded people to believe in him. Seen as strong leader- many of the propaganda posters featured his name rather than ‘Nazi’, shows people are mostly voting for HIM.
How was Hitler’s rise to power helped by recruitment by Hindenburg?
July 1932: Nazis now largest party, but not enough to be Chancellor. HB made Von Papen chancellor, VP has no RSTG support. Tries to create cltn w Nazis, Hitler refuses. HB wants another election.
Nov 1932: Nazis in trouble, no money, votes declining seats 230➯196
Jan 1933: HB and VP make Hitler chancellor, thinking they can control him. He now has all powers of state at his disposal.
How did the Reichstag fire help the Nazis?
27th Feb 1933. Reichstag parliament building burnt down by Dutch communist(Van der Lubbe). This taken advantage of by Nazis. Classed as ‘emergency’, article 48 put in place. Nazis could effectively do what they wanted, as they influenced HB. Police could search houses, death penalty in place for many things, communists locked up, and the party banned ∵ of the fire. Also allowed H to say that the country under com threat during his elections
What was the enabling act?
It meant that laws did not need Rstg support, so Hitler effectively dictator. Although Nazis biggest party, didn’t have 2/3 majority to pass it- in march elections only got 44% of vote. To do so, they banned the communists(∵ of fire), and intimidated the SDs enough to let it happen. Passed 23rd March 1933.
