The Growth of the Nazi Party Flashcards
What 5 factors caused the growth of the Nazi Party?
- The Depression
- Germans were unhappy with the Weimar Government
- The appeal of Adolf Hitler
- Fear of the rise of other extremist parties like the Communists
- Nazi Party structure, methods and tactics
The Nazis repeated what 3 core beliefs?
-The Treaty of Versailles was a crime to Germany
-The Jews should be blamed for economic problems
-Germany should be reborn as a great and powerful country
Why did the Depression make people vote for Hitler?
Desperate Germans now wanted to believe the Nazi’s core beliefs and vote for them.
What was the relationship between unemployment and votes for Nazis?
As unemployment increased, votes for the Nazi Party increased.
What could the Weimar Politicians not seem to do regarding the Depression?
They couldn’t seem to agree on how to help the unemployed and get Germany out of the depression.
Which 2 chancellors couldn’t make an impact?
Muller and Bruning.
What was Bruning doing at one point to be able to pass laws?
Using the President’s emergency decrees and making them legal until Article 48.
What happened when Bruning tried to pass laws to seize rich people’s land and give it to poor peasants?
The new president, Hindenburg, quickly withdrew his support (Hindenburg himself owned lots of land). Without this support, Bruning resigned.
What did many ordinary Germans think about the democratic system of Weimar Germany?
That it was just not working.
Give an example of how support for the Nazi Party increased:
They had 12 seats in May 1928, and 196 in November 1932.
Give an example of how support for the Communist Party increased:
They had 54 seats in May 1928 and 100 in November 1932.
How did the appeal of Hitler increase the support for the Nazis?
He had a charismatic personality, and could make people believe that he could be trusted to make Germany a great nation. As a powerful and inspiring speaker, he was able to fill his audiences with hope.
Who were the most frightened of German Communists and why?
Middle and upper-class Germans, particularly business men and landowners, because they didn’t want to lose the wealth and position in society that they had worked so hard to build.
Why did Hitler gain support from the German middle and upper-classes?
Because he promised to deal with the communist threat. He also sent his own private army, the Stormtroopers (SA), to fight with communist gangs.
After prison, Hitler and the Nazis wanted to spread their ideas how?
Systematically, and to build up support through an effective combination of persuasion and intimidation.
Give 4 Nazi tactics which helped them build support:
-Nazi Party officers were set up all over Germany to recruit more loyal followers
-They used propaganda
-Hitler took part in fabulous parades and rallies
-The Hitler Youth Organisation was set up
Describe the growth of Hitler’s SA:
There were 100,000 men in the SA by 1931 which grew to 400,00 by 1932
Name 5 ways the Nazi’s promoted their agenda with propaganda:
-Radio broadcasts
-Cinema news reports
-Newspapers
-Leaflets
-Posters
Who was the chief Nazi propagandist and from when?
Hitler made one of his most loyal followers, Joseph Goebbels, the chief Nazi propagandist from 1928.
What kind of trips were organised for young Nazis in the Hitler Youth and what kind of things did they do?
Camping trips were organised and they could learn to fire guns, wrestle, read maps and build campfires.
How did the Nazis appear in Germany after the Depression?
The most organised and disciplined group in the country.
Name 2 new technologies Hitler used to his advantage:
-Aeroplanes
-Radios
Give an example of when Hitler used aeroplanes:
In 1932, he used an aeroplane to take him to 20 cities in 7 days to make election speeches.
Hitler’s constant use of radios showed what?
How ‘in touch’ and modern the Nazis were as radios had only recently become widely popular.
Name the 5 groups of people who voted for the Nazis?
-Farmers
-Women
-Young people
-Middle-class
-Upper-class and rich factory owners
What 3 things did the Nazis promise farmers?
-Higher pay for their crops
-Better quality of life
-Higher status in German society
