The Nazi Party (1924-1929)

Question 1

The ‘politicization’ of the Nazi party and Hitler’s problems

Answer 1

While the Nazi party was banned during Hitler’s prison sentence for the Munich Putsch, Ludendorff, Rohm, and Rosenburg established the NSDAP, gaining 24 seats in the 1924 elections. The Nazi party changed in many ways when Hitler was absent:

1) It was poorly managed by Rosenburg and infighting became prevalent, especially between Strasser and Streicher
2) A new figure called Josef Goebbels, who was very critical of Hitler was introduced

Question 2

Hitler’s renewed leadership of the NSDAP (1926)

Answer 2

1) Hitler finally reasserted himself as the leader of the NSDAP at the Bamberg conference in 1926 where he put Strasser, Streicher, and Goebbels in their respective places.
2) He emphasized that the Weimar government could no longer be ‘out-gunned’ and that they would now have to ‘out vote’ them in the upcoming elections.

Question 3

Strength of the NSDAP at the time

Answer 3

The party Hitler took over in 1926 was far from strong:

1) The NSDAP only gained 12 seats in the Reichstag
2) They only had 35,000 members (mainly in Bavaria)
3) The Social Democrats had already won the trust of the working class and the change was irreversible.

Question 4

Re-organization and re-building of the NSDAP

Answer 4

1) Hitler created and formalized the SS with the key leading figure being Heinrich Himmler as a unit to protect him personally.
2) He created a new structure for the NSDAP in which Germany was divided into Gaue (each had a Gauliter) who was a dedicated Nazi who would control that region
3) The SA were disciplined and violence was reduced
4) Hitler established the Hitler Jugend in 1926
5) Hitler focused on appealing to the middle class and farmers

Question 5

Hindrances to the growth of the NSDAP

Answer 5

1) Life was pretty good for German citizens at the time. People therefore stuck with moderate political parties such as the Social Democrats. There was no reason to seek out the right-wing extreme.
2) When Hitler was in jail, the NSDAP did relatively well, gaining 32 seats in the Reichstag. However, when Hitler regained control, this number was reduced to 12.