Rise to Power Flashcards
Economic factors
- Reparations of 6.6 billion pounds
- 1/5 of the industry is taken by the Allies, stripped of all overseas colonies, forced to give up 13% of their European territory with over 7 million losing their citizenship
- Demobilised soldiers could not find work, industrial land was lost, as Weimar Republic was not able to pay reparations–invasion of the Ruhr by the French and Belgian troops in January 1923.
- Over-printed money–hyperinflation as the result of German and French and Belgian invasion of the Ruhr in 1923-25, left after accepting the Dawes Plan
- New currency in 1924 hit the middle-class savings
- US loans–1924 Dawes Plan–dependent economy
- Not improving agriculture
- Wall Street Crash of October 1929–withdrawal of loans
- Lack of technological progress in the economy
- Fall in food prices leading to accumulation of farmers’ debts even before 1929 crash (the NSDAP promised farmers to take care of them)
- unemployment: 2 mil in 1929 - 6 mil in 1932. 1/3 Germans with no regular wages
Richard J. Evans: Evans highlights the profound impact of the Great Depression on the German economy, which severely affected the population and contributed to the Nazi Party’s rise. He notes, “The economic instability, especially following the Wall Street Crash of 1929, devastated the German economy. This crisis led to massive unemployment, falling wages, and widespread poverty, which eroded faith in the Weimar Republic and increased support for extremist solutions like those offered by the Nazis” (Evans, “The Coming of the Third Reich”).
Timothy Snyder: Snyder argues that economic factors alone do not fully explain Hitler’s rise, highlighting the importance of other elements such as political maneuvers and social conditions. “While economic instability was significant, it was the combination of economic hardship, political instability, and Hitler’s strategic exploitation of these conditions that facilitated his rise” (Snyder, “Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning”).
Social division
- The Stab in the Back Myth supported by the military leaders who believed in liberal betrayal by signing ToV “November Criminals”
- February 1920 25-point programme: scrapping of the ToV = appeal to nationalists and the military; religious freedom = religious groups; land reforms = farmers; creation of middle class, abolition of unearned income / breaking of debt-interest slavery = working class
- Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch of November 1923 establishing him as a political hero, acting out of self-sacrifice for the nation, wrote “Mein Kampf” while imprisoned
Hitler: “Fear of communism was a crucial element in the middle-class support for the Nazis.” — Alan Bullock, “Hitler: A Study in Tyranny”
Timothy Snyder: Snyder argues that while social divisions were important, it is an oversimplification to attribute Hitler’s rise solely to these factors. He emphasizes that economic crises and political instability played more critical roles. The exploitation of social divisions was part of a broader strategy that included manipulating economic despair and political chaos (Snyder, “Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning”).
Impact of war
- The War Guilt Clause
- ToV
- Demilitarisation of Rhineland
- Reduction of army to 100,000 men
- the Weimar Republic was a revolution from above as Peter Gay wrote: “Germans were not familiar with democracy and were used to an authoritarian state”
Weakness of political
system
- The War Guilt Clause
- Demilitarisation of Rhineland
- Reduction of army to 100,000 men
- the Weimar Republic was a revolution from above as Peter Gay wrote: “Germans were not familiar with democracy and were used to an authoritarian state”
- The president appointed the chancellor who ran the government; Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution states that the president has the power to act in emergencies. The first president, Ebert, used this power responsibly (136 times), but the second–Paul von Hindenburg chose chancellors who could not fulfil their duties and were allowed to pass measures without Reichstag’s approval
- Spartacus League (left-wing socialists) tried to overthrow the Republic in 1919, communists cause troubles in the Ruhr in March 1920 and in Saxony and Thuringia in 1923
- Conservative and nationalistic elite remained hostile towards the republic
- Kapp Putsch of March 1920 and the “White Terror” of 1920-22, when 400 political murders occurred, Freikorps, Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch of November 1923
- Proportional representation–a lot of parties that have to agree with each other
Richard J. Evans: Evans highlights the structural weaknesses of the Weimar Republic, such as its reliance on unstable coalition governments and the extensive use of Article 48, which allowed the President to rule by decree. He states, “The Weimar Republic’s political instability and the frequent recourse to emergency decrees undermined democratic norms and created a fertile ground for extremist parties” (Evans, “The Coming of the Third Reich”).
Timothy Snyder: Snyder critiques the idea that the Weimar Republic’s political weaknesses alone led to Hitler’s rise. He argues, “While the Weimar Republic had significant flaws, it was the combination of external pressures, such as the Great Depression, and Hitler’s own manipulative tactics that were more critical to his rise” (Snyder, “Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning”).
Persuasion and
coercion
- Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch of November 1923 establishing him as a political hero, acting out of self-sacrifice for the nation, wrote “Mein Kampf” while imprisoned
- On 5th March 1933, the Nazis gained 43.9% of the total vote cast (deal with DNVP and Catholic Centre Party (Hitler assured protection of the Catholic Church approved by the Pope) to obtain two-thirds, majority to change the constitution). Richard Evans suggested that some people were still longing for democracy
Role of leader
- Propaganda mocking the government’s inaction making wild promises that remained vague, 34,000 Nazi party meetings within 4 weeks of the 1930 election, winning 6.5 million votes and 107 seats in Reichstag.
- Reichstag fire on 27 February 1933 gave Hitler an excuse to blame communists, and ask Hindenburg to issue an emergency decree
- February 28called the Reichstag’s Fire decree which allowed the imprisonment of anyone who was considered opponents of the Nazis, suppression of anti-Nazi publications, banning KPD only after the March elections because it was used to dilute anti-Nazi (leftist) votes shared with the SPD and to prevent violent uprising.
- Night of the Long Knives: On 30th June 1934, Röhm (head of SA) and 85 other officers and political rivals were killed as a result of Hitler’s concerns that the violent and uncontrollable behaviour of the more radical part of SA can threaten his rule by calling for the second revolution to establish socialism and because the army was hostile to SA. Goebbels (head of propaganda) helped to portray Hitler as the saviour of the country and allowed Himmler (head of SS) to assume dominance in Germany, while Hitler sought support from the army.
- Following Hindenburg’s death in August 1934, Hitler established himself as the supreme leader of Germany: the Führer
Ian Kershaw: Kershaw highlights Hitler’s charismatic leadership as central to his rise. He states, “Hitler’s ability to present himself as a dynamic, forceful leader who could restore Germany’s greatness was a crucial factor in winning widespread support” (Kershaw, “Hitler: A Biography”).
Timothy Snyder: Snyder critiques Hitler’s leadership as fundamentally manipulative and driven by demagoguery. He argues, “Hitler’s rise was based on exploiting fears, prejudices, and economic anxieties, using demagogic tactics to manipulate public sentiment and gain support” (Snyder, “Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning”).
Ideology
- Superiority of German race
- Anti-Semitism
- Anti-communism
- Anti-capitalism
- Totalitarian government (cult of the leader)
- Survival of the fittest
- National community
- Nationalisation
- Lebensraum in the East
- In the late 20s, the socialistic values are removed. In the
beginning nationalism and socialism are parts of the party’s
policies
Use of force
- The Night of the Long Knives 30th June to 2nd July:
On 30th June 1934, Röhm (head of SA) and 85 other officers and political rivals were killed as a result of Hitler’s concerns that the violent and uncontrollable behaviour of the more radical part of SA can threaten his rule by calling for the second revolution to establish socialism and because the army was hostile to SA. Goebbels (head of
propaganda) helped to portray Hitler as the saviour of the country and allowed Himmler (head of SS) to assume dominance in Germany, while Hitler sought support from the army. - Concentration Camps:
The establishment of concentration camps, starting with Dachau in 1933, was a critical tool in maintaining control through terror. These camps were used to detain political prisoners, communists, socialists, trade unionists, and other perceived enemies of the state. The brutal conditions and systematic killings within the camps served as a stark warning against resistance to Nazi rule. - Reichstag Fire and the Enabling Act (1933):
Following the Reichstag fire on February 27, 1933, the Nazis blamed the communists and used the event as a pretext to arrest thousands of political opponents. The Reichstag Fire Decree was issued, which suspended civil liberties and allowed for the detention of political adversaries without trial. Subsequently, the Enabling Act was passed in March 1933, granting Hitler dictatorial powers and allowing him to legislate without the Reichstag’s consent. This act effectively dismantled the democratic Weimar Republic and established Hitler’s legal dictatorship. - Gestapo (Secret State Police):
The Gestapo, established in 1933, was the secret police force tasked with identifying and eliminating opposition to the Nazi regime. The Gestapo operated with near-total impunity, using torture, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings to suppress dissent. The omnipresent threat of being reported to the Gestapo created a climate of fear that stifled opposition and ensured compliance among the population. - The SS (Schutzstaffel):
The SS, led by Heinrich Himmler, became a central instrument of terror and control. Initially Hitler’s personal bodyguards, the SS evolved into a powerful organization responsible for enforcing Nazi ideology, running concentration camps, and carrying out mass executions. The SS also conducted the infamous “Final Solution,” the systematic genocide of six million Jews during the Holocaust.
Ian Kershaw: Kershaw notes that the Nazis’ rapid establishment of a centralized, authoritarian state after the chaos of the Weimar Republic was seen by some as a positive development that restored national pride and order (Cleargy + industrialists)
Richard J. Evans: Evans emphasizes the oppressive nature of the Nazi regime, which relied on terror, violence, and coercion to maintain control and silence opposition. The use of force and the establishment of concentration camps were integral to the regime’s repressive strategies, leading to widespread fear and compliance among the population
Propaganda
- Additionally, the withdrawal of the US loans that helped Germany pay the reparations after the Wall Street Crash in October 1929 resulted in the rise of unemployment from 2 million people in 1929 to 6 million in 1932 and left a third part of the population with no real wages. The Nazis effectively utilized these conditions by mocking government inaction in their propaganda and making wild promises that remained vague. Playing on people’s fears, Hitler swiftly gained followers making Nazis the largest party in July 1932 elections
- Hitler’s devotion and commitment provided the German people with hope for the better future and fulfilled their emotion needs, he was portrayed as all-knowing and all-
powerful. - Appealed to those like middle class and farmers in the northern Germany who did not benefit from “the golden years” of the Weimar Republic.
- New party organisations for women, students, young people,
and teachers.
Ian Kershaw: Kershaw acknowledges the effectiveness of Nazi propaganda in crafting a powerful and appealing image of Hitler. He writes, “The carefully orchestrated propaganda campaigns portrayed Hitler as the savior of Germany, creating a cult of personality that drew widespread support” (Kershaw, “Hitler: A Biography”).
Timothy Snyder: Snyder criticizes Nazi propaganda as a tool for manipulation and deception. He argues, “Nazi propaganda was not about convincing people of the truth but about creating a reality in which the truth did not matter, enabling the regime to commit atrocities with impunity” (Snyder, “Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning”).
