Rise of Hitler Flashcards
Origins of Nazi Party
- Germany Worker’s party formed by Anton Drexler in Janurary 1919
- Only 6 members
- Party believed: Democracy was weak, Jews were to blame, Communist and Socialists brought about the Kaiser’s fault
- Socialist Weimar politicians had betrayed Germany
Changes to the German Worker’s Party
- Hitler put in charge of propaganda - Feburary 1920
- Hitler and Dreler re-wrote the party aims as its “25 point programme”
- Party was renamed NSDAP
- Hitler was a talented orator
- Hitler became leader of the party - 1921
25 Point Programme
- Aims were vague to appeal to many
- Nationalists were keen on destruction of treaty
- People who wanted to blame for Germany’s problem were attracted by anti-semitism
- Middle classes and big businesses liked Hitler’s anti communist ideas
- Points included: End of peace treaties, only german blood may be memebrs of the nation, land and territory to feed peopel and settle extra population, union of all Germans in a greater Germany
Hitler’s Role 1920-1922
- Attracted amny members
- Membership to 1100
- Started selling Nazi newspaper
- Hitler decided it was time for a military wing - the SA
Origins of the SA
- Nazis got a lot of support from ex-soldiers
- SA set up under Ernst Rohm
- Known as the Brownshirts
- Role was to disrupt opposition meetings and crowd control
Munich Putsch 1923 - Causes
- People still hated Weimar
- Baveria is rural and many are conservative that support Hitler
- Ruhr invasion had many Germans frustrated at Weimar
- Got soldiers to support Hitler
- Bavarian Prime Minister supported Hitler
- Germany’s economy was in shambles/peopel blamed the Weimar Government
- Mussolini was influenctial
- Nazi party had many members
People in the Munich Putsch 1923
Otto von Lassow
- Head of German army in Bavaria
- Fled during the putsch to join the opposition to Hitler
People in the Munich Putsch 1923
Gustav von Kahr
- Bavarian prime minister
- Supported Hitler’s aims
People in the Munich Putsch 1923
Erich Ludendorff
- Sought Kahr’s support in the Putsch
- Led to Putsch along with Hitler and was arrested
Munich Putsch 1923
November 8 - Right wing meeting held in Munich beer hall
- Hitler and his SA supporters stormed the hall
- Hitler forced Kahr and Lossow to support his plan to march to Berlin and install Ludendorff as Germany’s new leader
- Members of the SA used violence and intimidation against members of the Bavarian state government
- Lossow and Kahr swore loyalty to the Putsch and left the hall
Munich Putsch
November 9
- President Ebert declared state of emergency and Lossow told to crush uprising
- Lossow and Kahr announced their opposition to the putsch
- Ludendorff beleived the soldiers would give him their support and persuaded Hitler to continue
- 2000 Nazis and their supporters marched into Munich aiming to take over buildings
- Armed police and soliders confronted the Nazis (pointless supporting a minor party)
- Fire was exchanged and 14 Nazisk killed
Munich Putsch
November 11
Hitler arrested and awaited trial
Why did the Munich Putsch fail
- Poorly planned by hitler
- Army did not support the SA
- People didn’t want revolutions
Munich Putsch - Consequences: trial
- Hitler and other leaders went on trial in Feburary1924
- Hitler used trial to make speeches
- Seen as nationalist and patriot
- Hitler sentenced to 5 years dspite being found guilty of treason
- Won early release and only served 9 months
- Ludendorff found not guilty
- Nazi Party banned
Outcome of the trial
- Gave HItler a platform to speak
- Light sentenes were proof that influenctial figures were anti-Weimar
- During his imprisonment he wrote his manifesto
- Failure of the Putsch made Hitler reflect on the best way to take power
Mein Kampf - Manifesto
- German race will rule the world because they are superior
- Jews are lading to a conspiracy to undermine Aryans
- Jews want to weaken the Aryan race by intermarriage
- Jews are taking over German businesses and moderate political groups
- The Treaty of Versailles must be undone
- Lebensraum is needed so that the Aryan population can expand
- Germany must invade RUssian land to the east of Germany to drive out the communist threat
- Germany’s wealth must benefit German working people, not the rich
- Democracy is weak: Germany eneds one leader who can roganise everything for the benefit of the people
Hitlers change to a legal approach
- Created a national headquarters for the Nazi Party in Munich
- Divided Germany into districts and appointed a leading Nazi to increase support
- First rally held in Weimar
- Encouraged more young people to join the SA and also set up the Hitler Youth
- Hitler established a new private bodyguard SS
- Goebbels - edited the Nazi newspaper and was in charge of propaganda, emphasises the Nazi’s opposition to Jews - Very popular
- Nazis held public meetings across Germany and trained members to be effective public speakers
- Nazi party establsihed various organisation to take its message to particular groups of people
- Party concentrated on winning the support of farmers Germany’s agriculture was suffering badly
Reorganisation of the Nazi Party 1924-1929
- Nazi Party ban lifted
- Hitler held a 4000 strong rally at the same Beer Hall
- Mein Kampf became a bestseller
Wall Street Crash 1929
- To keep people happy theyu increased unemployment benefits
- INitially raised taxes to pay unemployment benefits
- As problem worsened, amount of benefits were reduced
Effects of wall street crash
- Many unemlpoyed
- Price of goods for farmers falling
- Many lost their businesses
- High food prices
Effect of WSC on Weimar
- Heinrich Bruning (centre party leader) became chancellor
- Tried to use article 48 to pass measures but ht Reichstag pushed back and he did not have majority
- Bruning asked Hindenburg to use article 48 and Germany 1930 was basically ran by Hindenburg
- Bruning introduced measures including tax rises and cuts to unemployment benefits
- Many germans turned to extreme political parties
- Nazis went freom 12 seats to 107 seats
Nazis gaining seats
Appeal of Hitler
- Anti communist
- Business leaders worried about communism
- Krupps, Siemens gave Nazis money
- Decline of National Party - Hitler was an alternative
Nazis gaining seats
The SA
- 400,000 strong by 1930
- Mass rallies showing order
- Disrupted meeting of political opponents
- Used violence and intimidation to threaten voters
Nazis gaining seats
Propaganda
- Focused on popular messages not concrete ideas
- Policy changed depending on popularity
- Rallies with entertainment
- 8 Newspapers all aimed at different audiences
- Rallies to show order, unity, and strength
- Targeted posters
- Negative cohesion
1932 Election and the Fall of Bruning
- Nazis are biggest party by 1932 July
- Hitler runs for president
- Bruning tries to ban the SA and the SS
- Kurt Von Schleicher - army general - persuades Hindenberg to fire Bruning
Franz Von Papen
- Hindenburg chooses Papen to head a coalition
- Schleicher gives Hitler a place in the coalition to control him
- Coalition is weak
- Hitler demands to be chancellor - Nazis are biggest party
- Hindenburg rejects
- Papen resigns
Von Schleicher and Hindenburg
- Powerful businessmen write to Hindenburg and ask him to make Hitler Chancellor
- Communists gained 11 seats
- Hindenburg said no and appointed Von Schleicher as chancellor
- Von Schleicher asks Hindenburg to suspend coalition and make him leader of a military dictatorship - accuses Hitler and Von Papen of planning coup
- Von Papen is now determined to take power
- Thinks he can appoint hitler as chancellor and control him
- Hindenburg says yes
Reichstag fire
- Marinus van der Lubbe (Dutch Communist) found on the site
- Confessed, put to trial, and executed
- Debate about who was responsible