Rise Of Political Parties

Question 1

Communism: growth

Answer 1

2 million votes in Reichstag election Jul 1928-32

Membership increased - 217,000 in 1929 - 360,000 in 1932

After 1929 focused more on the unemployed. ‘Committees’ set up, marches against benefit cuts, took control of Wedding district of Berlin

Question 2

Threat of communism

Answer 2

emphasised class struggle
16.9% votes 1932 reichstag
→ RFFL - had force

x → never had a Successtul revolution
→over 50% members 1932 left within a few months
Why left within a few months → short on money - many unemployed
→ “social fascists - too extreme (only certain workers)
Blood feud

Question 3

Negative results 1929 for the Nazi party

Answer 3

Weaknesses: 800,000 votes (2.6%) in May 1928 (6.5% in May 1924 remember!!)
Little breakthrough in working class
Weimar government had no need for extremist parties
Only 1.4% in Berlin

Question 4

Strengths for Nazis by 1929

Answer 4

Rural areas of northern Germany (depression in agriculture- grain prices low!) nazis polled 4% in Schleswig Holstein but in 2 counties the reigon polled over 17% (Farmers discontent - promised higher prices and protection against imports in 1930.)

27% of their votes manual labourers (city) in 1930

1929 professional bodies to recruit and represent teachers
1925 - 27,000, 1928 - 108,000

Jan 1932 - 16 meetings on subject of unemployment

Question 5

What did Strasser do

Answer 5

Given role of changing structure of the party
Organised into Gaus, each of which had a local party leader (Gauleiter) Free to organise party how they saw fit

Question 6

Local party/party programme

Answer 6

Persuading teachers, shop owners in village halls…
1933- 6,000 speakers had passed through training school
6000,00 phamplets 1932 election

Nazi welfare organisation - appeal of SS - soup kitchens , fighting off communists and also fear of violence

1920 (25 point) party programme

HUGENBERG CAMPAIGN. 13.8 pc of electorate votes

Fuhrer princip - 26 Bamburg

Question 7

Other NAZI APPEAL

Answer 7

Discipline and unity
Struggle / war
Volksgemeinschaft
25 point programme
Propaganda - money provided by Hugenberg and Thyssen. - ensured they wouldn’t go to Communism
Volklisher Beobachter

Question 8

Impact of depression

Answer 8

Unemployment rose from 1.5 to 5 million 1929-32.

Made government look weak

Towns dependent on a single industry hit

Sales on food fell - farmers

Shanty towns

Grand coalition 1930 collapsed. DVP wanted to reduce unemployment benefits while SPD wanted to increase. Muller resigned
-> forced to rely on presidential decree

HITLER GAINED 15%, THALMANN GAINED 2.5 1930