Reasons Nazis Achieved Power In 1933 Flashcards
When did WW1 end and who was defeated?
Ended 1918 and Germany defeated
We’re many Germans shocked by end of WW1?
Yes
What did WW1 mark for Germany?
A period of huge change, end of empire and start of new government (Weimar)
What started in 1918 shortly after WW1?
German revolution
When and why did the revolution end?
Ended 1919 after the Kaiser abdicated and a democratic German republic was set up (Weimar)
Did the new government have much support?
No- army reluctantly supported to prevent revolution and had to make deals with employers
What did weakness in Weimar link to?
German economic problems and treaty of Versailles
How did weakness in Weimar influence nazis gain of power?
Republic weak from start
Not supported
Group PR elections- extreme parties elected and unstable coalitions
How didn’t the weakness in Weimar influence nazis gain of power?
After problems at start Weimar successful between 1924-1929
Ended via global depression
What did many Germans believe after WW1 ended?
They hadn’t truly lost
Stabbed in back by government (who surrendered)
Nicknamed them ‘November Criminals’
What did many Germans resent?
Treaty of Versailles
Why did they resent treaty?
L - Land
A - Army
B - Blame
M - Money
What does resentment towards treaty link to?
Treaty cause of hyperinflation, economic problems and Weimar
How does resentment towards treaty influence nazis gain of power?
Major nazi promise - reverse treaty
Financial problems - Germans looked for new ideas parties or political systems
How didn’t resentment towards treaty influence Nazis power gain?
Not all economic problems caused by treaty - 1929 depression
Many party’s/Germans resent treaty - only Hitler exploit
What did Germany have to pay under the treaty of Versailles?
Reparations of £100 million per year till 1986, they could not afford this
What did these financial problems lead to?
Prices in Germany rose sharply
Led to hyperinflation
Caused massive unemployment and financial ruin
Did Germany suffer any other economic problems?
Yes, hyperinflation ended 1924-1929
1929 Wall Street crash, global depression, high unemployment
What does economic problems link to?
Link between hyperinflation and treaty of Versailles
How did economic difficulties influence Nazis power gain?
Economic problems = key reason for anger at Weimar, gives Weimar less support
Nazi support fell during prosperous years 1924-1929, nazi success = economy links
What were arguments against economic difficulties influence?
Problems can be traced back to the Treaty of Versailles
Treaty caused hyperinflation: without this Germans might not have panicked during depression meaning no nazi support
How was Germany economically divided by hyperinflation?
Some people were ruined and lost everything
Others faired quite well
What else also affected national unity?
Religious divides; Catholic v Protestant divide existed,
Main issue anti- Jewish attitudes
What does social and economic divisions link to?
Rise of hurler and Nazis based on anti Jewish attitudes
Arguments for influence of social economic division?
General lack of support for Weimar Republic always left it vulnerable to another political system
Anti-Jewish attitudes were a key part of later Nazi success
What are arguments against influence of social and economic divisions?
Economic issues were more to blame for German divisions; Nazi support fell during prosperous years 1924-1929
What was the German workers party (DAP) founded?
1919
After hitter became leader of DAP party what did it change its name to?
National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) or Nazis
What did the Nazis use to become effective election campaigners?
Information and fear
What did appeal of the Nazis after 1928 link to?
Most changes due to Hitler, making him a big influence
Arguments for influence of the appeal of the Nazis?
Numerous political groups in Germany could’ve exploited Weimar problems - only the Nazis did
Arguments against influence of the appeal of the Nazis?
Nazis still needed economic problems (1929 depression) to attract extra support
Hitler is a key factor
What was Hitlers key strength?
His speech making - he was very passionate and could win support from people who heard him
What did Hitler do which helped the party?
He was well organised, he introduced many changes and only recruited people who were affective workers
What did the role of Hitler link to?
Appeal of the Nazis after 1928 mainly due to Hitlers changes, he also clearly benefitted from German/global economic problems 1929
Arguments for influence of the role of Hitler?
Hitler was the heart of the Nazi party - he controlled all aspects of it
Even if he did not control or arrange all problems in Germany, he was the only leader skilful enough to benefit from them
Arguments against the influence of the role of Hitler
Events which helped Hitler were nothing to do with him
Most Germans were angry with treaty of Versailles
Economic problems especially were not his doing either
Were the Nazis the only party in Germany?
No there were many others but they did not succeed
What should the SPD ( Social Democratic Party) and the KPD ( German Communist Party) have done?
The should have agreed - especially about stopping the Nazis - but refused to work together due to events during the 1919 Spartacist revolt
What does weakness and mistakes of opponents link to?
Link between German economic problems in opponents actions
Arguments for influence of the weakness and mistakes in opponents
Hitlers opponents underestimated him and allowed personal divisions to lead to Nazi control
Arguments against influence of the weakness and mistakes in opponents?
Weimar may have survived if it was not the global depression starting in 1929
