Rise Of The Nazis

Question 1

Background

Answer 1

During November 1918, Germany lost the First World War and the Kaiser abdicated and the days of the German empire were over.
New Democratic government was elected called the Weimar Republic.
It was arguably the fairest and most modern democracy in the world at the time however it was unpopular and faced many crises between 1918-1933.
During this time the right wing anti democracy Nazi party began to gain popularity in Germany.

Question 2

Factors

Answer 2

Resentment towards the treaty of Versailles, lack of united opposition, appeal of the nazis, weakness of Weimar.

Most important : economic problems

Question 3

Treaty of Versailles

KU

Answer 3

On June 28th 1919, Germany was forced to sign The Treaty of Versailles which was also nicknamed ‘The Diktat’. As a result of this, Germany lost 13% of its land to countries such as France and Poland and had to reduce its army to 100,000 men (KU). In addition Germany was made to pay financial compensation in the sum of £6.6 billion in reparations to countries affected by the war (KU).

Question 4

Treaty of Versailles

A+

Answer 4

Resentment towards the Treaty of Versailles was important to the Nazis rise to power as destroying the treaty became one of the Nazis biggest propaganda policies, as they knew the German people felt that they had signed their pride away and Hitler exploited the treaty to gain support and votes from German people (A).

Question 5

Treaty of Versailles

E+

Answer 5

Upon evaluation, it could be argued that resentment towards the Treaty of Versailles was the least important factor in the rise of the Nazis as although it was considered a huge blow to the Weimar government, the government continued to exist for almost a decade after this with many sensible Germans realising that the alternative to signing the armistice was unthinkable so was more of a ‘dark shadow’ over the Republic than a crushing blow in the same way that the economic problems were.

Question 6

Weakness of Weimar

Myth KU

Answer 6

The German Generals and Weimar politicians signed an armistice on the 11th of November 1918, which effectively meant that Germany had surrendered and lost the war. Following this, a myth developed that this was an unneeded action, and Germany could have won and was instead made out to be weak; they blamed the communists, socialists and the Jews for this surrender, labelling them traitors (KU).

Question 7

Weakness of Weimar

Myth A+

Answer 7

This was important in the rise of the Nazis as there is no doubt that this myth created an aura of distrust and made it difficult for the government to be supported and respected by the German people. This in turn pushed people to look for an alternative political grouping who would have their best interests at heart (A). However, the myth was exactly that, a ‘myth’ and in reality the German army was close to collapse in November 1918 and had Germany not converted to a democratic government their punishment would have been even more harsh. Most reasonable Germans knew this and therefore this was not a belief upheld by the majority (A).

Question 8

Weakness of Weimar

Spartacists KU

Answer 8

Between its creation and 1933, the Weimar faced a number of threats from opposing political groups. The spartacists tried to set up a Communist regime in 1919, with the use of ex-soldiers, Freikorps, who killed 700 in the violence that ensued, and the journalist Wolfgang Kapp used the force of the Freikorps to set up an anti-Versailles government (KU).

Question 9

Weakness of Weimar

Spartacists A+

Answer 9

These events demonstrated that Weimar was not in control of law and order, therefore, people wanted a government that could ensure peace in the country and Hitler seemed like strong leader who would do that. However, it is important to remember that both of these revolts ultimately failed and the revolt actually made people fear the communists (A+)

Question 10

Weakness of Weimar

Spartacists QUOTE

Answer 10

The displeasure towards the Weimar government displayed clearly by acts of revolt is further emphasised by the Historian McKichan when he states that the Republic was in fact “a republic nobody wanted” (Finlay McKichan, Germany 1815-1939, Germany: The Rise of Nationalism) REF.

Question 11

Weakness of Weimar

PR KU

Answer 11

The Weimar government was viewed as the most advanced and perfect democracy on paper, but it was ultimately flawed. Proportional representation was used by the government, and resulted in the growth of many small extremist parties as for 15% of the vote you would earn 15% of the seats (KU).

Question 12

Weakness of Weimar

PR A

Answer 12

The system of elections in Weimar Germany was confusing to many German people who did not understand what all the parties stood for or how a government was elected, causing democracy to become unpopular which helped the Nazi party policy which provided autocracy (A).

Question 13

Weakness of Weimar

Evaluation

Answer 13

Upon evaluation, many historians have argued that the Nazis were able to come to power partly due to the weakness of the Weimar government as while the system of proportional representation created coalition after coalition which led to the belief in Germany that democracy was weak and unstable, the situation in Germany created by events such as the Depression and Hyperinflation was a more definitive blow to the Weimar Government losing them the trust and support of the German people.

Question 14

Economic Problems

KU

Answer 14

Paying 100 million per year for 66 years under the treaty of Versailles crippled the German economy and they defaulted on their repayments of 1922, causing Belgian and French troops to occupy the industrial Ruhr (KU). Workers on the Ruhr went on strike and the Weimar government continued to pay them by printing more paper money which caused the German mark and the economy to collapse as money became worthless (KU).

Question 15

Economic Problems

A+

Answer 15

This was important to an extent in the rise of the Nazis in 1933 because many Germans, particularly the middle class who were the most affected group, never forgave the Weimar government for the humiliation that was forced on them due to hyperinflation and it was these people that turned to the Nazis. However, it is important to remember that the Weimar government quickly recovered from hyperinflation and took swift action to end the crisis – Gustav Stresemann was appointed chancellor, money was borrowed from America under the Dawes plan and a new currency was introduced (A+).

Question 16

Economic Problems

Wall Street KU

Answer 16

With the Wall Street Crash of 1929, America demanded repayment of their loans, once again causing the German economy to collapse (KU).

Question 17

Economic Problems

Wall Street A

Answer 17

Businesses collapsed, banks closed and unemployment rose to 6 million in 1932 which was important in the rise of the Nazis as they promised jobs to every unemployed German, gaining them support and votes across Germany. The Nazi vote went up to 13.7million in July 1932 (A).

Question 18

Economic Problems

Quote

Answer 18

The importance of economic problems to the success of the Nazis is outlined by the Historian Mary Fulbrock as concurs with the view that their success “… was directly related to the growth of mass unemployment and the growth of political instability in this period.” (Mary Fulbrock, A History of Germany) REF

Question 19

Economic Problems

Evaluation

Answer 19

Upon evaluation, economic factors were the most important factor in the rise of the Nazis because ultimately the economic crises of 1923 and 1929 meant that Weimar would never have the support of the rich and middle classes and instead the Nazis benefited from their funding, influence and power rather than any of the democratic or left wing parties, helping them into power. Therefore without the desperate situation created by these issues people would not have turned their backs with as much ease on their previous political allegiances in favour of the Nazis.

Question 20

Appeal of the Nazis

KU

Answer 20

The Nazi party had policies with a broad appeal which were popular across every sector of society as they promised employment opportunities for the unemployed and most importantly for many Nationalistic Germans, they promised to destroy the treaty of Versailles (KU).

Question 21

Appeal of the Nazis

A

Answer 21

This was important in their rise to power as the Nazis gained support and votes from every sector of German society, the rich and poor, the young and old, with their broadly appealing policies by appealing to their desires (A).

Question 22

Appeal of the Nazis

Propaganda KU

Answer 22

Propaganda was key to the Nazis success, Joseph Goebbels used new media devices such as radio and cinema to promote Nazi propaganda and this new way of promotion often made Hitler out to be the saviour that German people needed (KU). Hitler’s alliance with Alfred Hugenberg who had a monopoly over German newspapers and cinema allowed the Nazis to reach a mass audience as during the 30’s most people went to the cinema twice a week (KU).

Question 23

Appeal of the Nazis

Propaganda A+

Answer 23

This was important in the rise of the Nazis as many historians argue that Goebbels in particular and Nazi propaganda was important in causing people to believe that voting for the Nazis would genuinely lead to an improvement in their lives. However, it is important to remember that in the last free election in November 1932 the Nazis won 196 seats which was only 33% of the vote, a huge disappointment to Hitler, which shows that the Nazis were still not appealing enough to voters to win a majority in the Reichstag (A+).

Question 24

Appeal of the Nazis

Evaluation

Answer 24

Upon evaluation, the appeal of the Nazis was less important as economic factors because had the situation created by the Great Depression and Hyperinflation not been so disastrous for German people, they would not have been actively seeking a leader to guide them out of this economic turmoil with the same vigour and therefore the Nazi policies surrounding job opportunities or wages would not have been as appealing if the economic situation had not been so poor. In essence, the appeal of the Nazi party may not have been as attractive if economic problems had not hit Germany during this period (E+).

Question 25

Lack of United Opposition

KU

Answer 25

Both the socialists and communists were left-wing parties who could have joined up to defeat the Nazis, but they were opposed to each other and did not trust each other (KU). Other parties such as the Democratic Party were against Hitler’s policies, but this party significantly lost voters during the depression so had no real backing in the event that they had tried to stand up to the Nazis (KU).

Question 26

Lack of United Opposition

A

Answer 26

This was important as due to old mistrust to the left and self-interest on the right, the Nazis rise to power was virtually unchallenged as no parties were willing to stand together against Hitler as a real competitor (A).

Question 27

Lack of United Opposition

Evaluation

Answer 27

Upon evaluation, many historians have argued that lack of united opposition was less important as a factor than the appeal of the Nazis as this factor is only discussed because the Nazis had become so appealing to voters by 1933 with their wide array of policies and propaganda. If they had not been such an attractive party to the German people then lack of opposition would not have been so significant because they would simply have remained yet another small fringe party in the Reichstag with very little political influence (E+).

Question 28

Conclusion

Answer 28

In conclusion, there are many reasons for the rise of the Nazis in 1933. On the one hand, the weakness of the Weimar government ultimately led many Germans to believe that their democracy was unstable and the Nazis were able to play on this by promising a strong government, gaining them support. Also, the lack of any united opposition in Germany at the time was also an important factor as no parties within Germany were willing to united which meant there was no one to really challenge the Nazis, making it very easy for them to come to power. On the other hand, resentment towards the treaty of Versailles was not as significant as other factors as it did not have an overwhelming impact on the success of the Weimar government as they were still in power many years after it was signed. Furthermore, the appeal of the Nazis was also less significant as although they promised many things many German people were aware that they were being unrealistic and many of the promises would be unachievable were the Nazis to go through with them.

Question 29

Conclusion

Overall

Answer 29

Overall, economic problems were the most important factor as to why the Nazis came to power in 1933 as the Weimar government lead German into financial ruin multiple times and the people of Germany lay all blame on them which allowed the Nazis to use this lack of trust in the current government to their advantage by promising jobs for all those who were unemployed, which was arguably one of Germany’s biggest problems at the time. This gained them a large volume of support which ultimately helped them rise to power.