Rise of Hitlers + Nazis 03 Flashcards
Name of Hitler’s political party
National Socialist German Workers Party
Hitler’s leadership style
- lazy leader he had an ideology rather than a plan
- inspiration from Italian Fascists (salute, flag, marching) to try to give Nazi followers an identity
Otto von Lossow
Head of Germany in Bavaria
Gustav von Kahr
Bavarian prime minister
Eric Ludendorf
Former army leader
Munich Putsch
Hitler’s attempt to seize power in Nov 1923 Nazis and soldiers confrontations 14 nazis killed
Hitler jail
- used his trial for Munich putsch as a stage to make speeches and to attack the Weimar government
- seen as a nationalist standing up for German rights and popularity grew only spent 9 months in jail
Beer hall - February 1925
- relaunch of Nazi party at Beer hall attended by 4000 supporters key beliefs:
- measures against Jews
- prioritised living space for Germans
- dominance of Aryan race
Reorganisation of Nazis after jail
- created HQ in Munich and appointed Nazi leader to each 34 districts of Germany
- first Weimar rally held in 1926
- set up youth organisations such as Hitler Youth Organisation/ Nazi women’s league
- focused heavily on propaganda and public speaking
Goebbels
Surname of Nazi in charge of propaganda
Nazi support in 1929
100,000 supporters but didn’t gain many seats at all in the Reichstag
- Streseman and Hindenburg managed to unite moderate parties, so Germans were happy with the government and felt no need to vote for extreme parties like the Nazis
- Wall Street crash of 1929 created an opening for Hitler
Result of coalition with DNVP against the Young plan (Weimar government) to his success at becoming chancellor
- gave Hitler legitimacy and stronger influence. DNVP formed of social elites and businessmen to manage rising communism
Result of Hitler’s use of NEGATIVE COHESION to his success at becoming chancellor
- negative grouping of Marxists, Jews, communists united people therefore giving him stronger influence
Result of Hitler’s portrayal Wall Street crash to his success at becoming chancellor
- rise in unemployment levels (6million) and economic chaos helped negative cohesion and assisted propaganda against Jews and other minorities
Who replaced Stresemann as Chancellor when he died in 1929?
Heinrich Brüning
How did the Great Depression affect Germany?
poverty + unemployment
1929: 1.6 million unemployed
1932: 6+ million unemployed
How did the Weimar Republic handle the Great Depression?
Poorly.
To help recover the economy, Brüning introduced tough economic policies that increased taxes and reduced pensions, as well as cutting unemployment benefits
He gained the nickname “the hunger chancellor”
He also exploited article 48, enabling him to surpass the government in implementing these polices.
What were the consequences of the great depression on the nazi party?
people were desperate, more open to extremist views to solve economic struggle. This resulted in the growth of Nazi party popularity.
Federal Election % Nazi:
1928: 3%
1932: 33%
How did the nazi party use the Great Depression to gain popularity?
Hitler spoke confidently, giving messages of hope, wanting to make Germany “great” again. This appealed to the younger generation of unemployed people.
They gave some of the unemployed jobs in the SA. Military order of the SA also reminded people of the chaos of the Weimar Republic…
They set up soup kitchens
They scapegoated Jews for the depression
Who replaced Brünning as Chancellor
Franz von Papen May 1932
When did the Nazi Party become the most popular party in the Reichstag? Was this when Hitler became Chancellor?
July 1932.
Despite this, Hindenburg did not trust him and did not accept Hitlers demand to be made chancellor.
Makes the Weimar Government look undemocratic
How and when did Hitler become Chancellor with the help of von Papen?
Hitler made a political deal with von Papen, who had recently been replaced as chancellor (making him willing to do this.)
von Papen persuaded Hindenburg to make Hitler chancellor, on the grounds that Hitler would make von Papen his vice chancellor.
1933 Hitler was made chancellor.
He did not keep his deal with von Papen as he was never made vice chancellor.
Summary: why was Hitler able to become Chancellor?
1) the Great Depression, made the Nazis look good as the SA helped out
2) Failure of the Weimar Government during the depression + general political chaos in years prior, use of article 48 (undemocratic)
3) Hitlers general appeal, good speaker, delivering messages of hope that appealed to many ie “Make Germany Great Again”. Found scapegoats for all of Germanys problems
4) Propoganda and violence, use of the SA and striking symbols ie swastikas
5) von Papen political deal, especially as a result of the government looking so undemocratic, almost forced to give Hitler chancellor position
What did the Nazi party need in the Reichstag to pass laws?
2/3 majority
How did Hitler achieve a 2/3 majority in the Reichstag?
1) he attempted to stop other political parties campaigns
2) he dictated the media/ news coverage
3) he blamed communists for the Reichstag fire of Feb 1933, which allowed him to make the communist party illegal and imprison communists through his use of THE ENABLING ACT
How did Hitler consolidate total power?
1) he made the SA illegal, as although they had helped him they were unpopular and its members were beginning to become loyal to its leader Röhm
2) the night of the long knives, June 1934 where Hitler arrested or imprisoned any enemies including Röhm as they supposedly were planning to overthrow the government
3) Hindenburgs death. Hitler then combined the role of Chancellor and president, and combined them to make der Führer (the leader) making Hitler a dictator
4) he reorganised local government, so that all aspects of life in Germany were carefully controlled by Nazis
