The Rise Of Hitler And The Nazis To January 1933

Question 1

Nazi Origins

Answer 1

• Anton Drexler: January 1919 - Germans Workers Party
• Hitler joined September 1919, February 1920 - in charge of Propaganda
• Re-wrote the aims of the party- 25 point programme, swastika, arm salute & renamed NSDAP in august 1920
• end of 1920: 1,100 members and bought People’s Observer
• Hitler party leader 1921: aims deliberately vague to appeal to many parties - nationalists, hated Treaty, ant-Semitic & ant-communist, strong authoritarian government
• 1921, SA ‘brown shirts’ as a paramilitary force to show power and strength: Stosstrupp as personal bodyguard

Question 2

Munich Putsch

Answer 2

• November 1923, poor economic situation - peak hyperinflation
• leaders of Bavarian state supported Nazis & influenced by Fascists in Italy
• 20,000 supports and the SA, close relationship with General Ludendorff
• von Kahr and Lossow = Ebert state if emergency = 2000 Nazis marched on Munich, fire exchanged 14 Nazis killed Hitler arrested

Question 3

Consequences of the Munich Putsch

Answer 3

• used trial as a stage: seen as nationalist standing up for german right in newspapers across Germany - popularity grew
• 5 years in jail at Landsberg Castle - only spent 9 months but showed support from judges
  Wrote Mein Kampf with Rudolph Hess (later deputy leader of Nazis)
• Nazi Part Banned

Question 4

Nazi Re-Organisation

Answer 4

• ban on Nazi Party lifted February 1925, made return in Munich Beer Hall
• rally attended by 4000, published mein kampf and became bestseller with ideas about lebensraum, aryan race, anti-semitism and workers right
• National headquarters in Munich
• 34 districts with Nazi Leaders
• 1926, conference in Bamberg about 25 point plan and Hitlers confirmed leadership
• Nazi rally in Weimar 1926 and SS established
• Hitler Youth, Nazi Womens League, support from particular groups, especially farmers
• Goebbeks emphasised anti-semitism in newspapers, trained members in public speaking
• by 1929, over 100,000 but in May 1924 (32 seats) vs 1928 (12 seats) - 18% in farming community, 1% in Berlin

Question 5

The Great Depression (October 1929)

Answer 5

• in 1933, over 50% people aged 16-30 unemployed
• 4/10 couldn’t get an industrial job, with no unemployment benefits
• framers in debt and businesses struggled to get customers
• Brüning (Centre Party) and Müller (SDP) feel out of welfare benefits, so Brüning convinced Hindenburg to use Article 48 to make him chancellor, he rose taxed, reduced benefits

Question 6

Building Nazi Support Following the Crash (1930-33)

Answer 6

• In 1930, Nazis won 107 seats and communists won 77 seats because public were angry
• Hitler: 1930-32, appear as strong, business support as alternative to National Party
• SA: 1930, 400,000 members, rallies symbolised power, disrupted political opponents meetings, violence to threaten opposition and voters
  Propaganda: 8 newspapers, posters, parades, marches, rallies, lead by Goebbels
• July 1932, 230 seats (37.5% of the vote)
• April 1932, Hitler ran for president, got 13 million but lost to Hindenburg

Question 7

Hitler Becomes Chancellor

Answer 7

• Brüning tried to ban SA but got replaced by a coalition and Von Schleicher convinced Hindenburg to fire him
• coalition under Von papen was weak, in next election, Nazis were weakened but remained largest party with 190 and Von papen resigned
• Von Schleicher became chancellor and to convince Hindenburg to make him head of a military dictatorship but failed and lost Reichstag support
• powerful business men asked for Hitler as chancellor, but he refused until Von papen convinced him to make Hitler chancellor and himself vice chancellor
• Hitler became chancellor 30 January 1933