The KPD Had More Similarities With The Nazis Than Differences During 1928-33 Flashcards
1
Q
3 factors where KPD had more similarities with Nazis than differences during 1928-33
A
Electoral success
Gaining popular support
Ideology
2
Q
Electoral success: similarities
A
- Both made gains over the period
- Both seen as viable parties following the depression
3
Q
Electoral success : differences
A
- Nazi party was strongest in the Protestant north, east and west of germany
- Communists were strongest in poorest area of cities
- Nazi party came the main party of protest
1928 - Nazi had 2.6% vote, KPD had 10.6% of vote
July 1932 - Nazi 37.3%, KPD 14.3%
4
Q
Gaining popular support : similarities
A
- Both attracted working class parties
- Membership of both parties grew
- Both used propaganda effectively - posters and speeches
5
Q
Gaining popular support : differences
A
- Nazis ultimately more popular and are the party in power 1933
- Nazis were more successful at broadening their appeal
- Nazis support - pre 1929 - lower class and the mittlestand. Post depression - broader middle class and farmers
- KPD - seen as defenders of working class
- KPD didn’t come close to launching a successful revolution - didn’t break out of their working-class strongholds. Whereas Nazi party succeeded in becoming a broad-based political movement
6
Q
Ideology : similarities
A
- both had extreme political views
- both target youth - seen as important future of parties
- both involved in street violence : Red front fighters league KPD and the SA
7
Q
Ideology : differences
A
- Nazi - clear focus on Hitler as leader and anti-Semitic key from the 25 point programme onwards
- KPD : large focus on unemployed from 1929 onwards
- KPD : revolutionary
- KPD : wanted close cooperation with USSR
- KPD : ultimate aim was to overthrow Weimar, but Nazi party wanted power
- KPD at the time seen as biggest threat due to USSR, Nazi party was actually the biggest threat
