The Rise of the Nazi Party and Hitler in Germany and the Collapse of the Weimar Republic

Question 1

The forming of the wiemar and the start of the Nazi party

Answer 1

After the Treaty of Versailles, Germany formed a new Government, the Weimar Republic with parties such as the National Socialist Party (Nazis).

Adolf Hitler joined the Nazi Party in 1919 and became the leader by 1920.

Question 2

Reasons the Weimar Republic was doomed to fail

x 2

Answer 2

• Fatal flaws in the constitution

Germany - Newly Formed democracy. Which implemented proportional representation. Led to weak coalition Governments which struggled to pass legislation. Expensive and time consuming as different parties had drastically varying views, making the Government look weak and inefficient. Also coupled with the inexperience of German democrats as Germany had an authoritarian history.

• Article 48

This gave the President the power to take emergency measures without the consent of the Reichstag. Effectively this was an override of democracy.

Question 3

Reasons the Weimar Republic was doomed to fail

x 2

Answer 3

• Important institutions did not support democracy

The army, civil service, police, judiciary, universities and schools did not support democracy and it did not have any cultural roots.

• The Weimar politicians were blamed for all of Germany’s post-war problems

Weimar labelled ‘November Criminals’ and blamed for the TOV in the ‘Stab in the back’ theory. This worsened by their compliance with paying the high reparations until 1923. Causing inflation and reliance on loans from the US.

The Dawes Plan (1924) and the Young Plan (1929) aimed to allow Germany to pay back the reparations and create jobs. However, when the US economy began to falter in the late 20s and eventually crashed, this put Germany in jeopardy with their economy crashing and unemployment reaching 6 million by 1933.

This all made the Weimar Republic very unpopular.

Question 4

Timeline of the rise of the nazis to power 1920-1932

• 1920:
• 1923:
• 1924:
• 1929:
• Sep 1930:
• July 1932:

Answer 4

• 1920: Hitler becomes the leader of the Nazi Party.
• 1923: Hitler attempts a takeover after WW1 in the Beer Hall Putsch. This was a staged coup in Bavaria which resulted in him being sent to jail. In jail, he wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle).
• 1924: The Nazi Party wins 32 Reichstag seats.
• 1929: The Great Depression created difficult economic and social circumstances which caused a strong desire for a return to strong authoritarianism. The success of the Nazi Party made Hitler a stand out candidate for the German people who needed hope at this time.
• Sep 1930: The Nazi Party held 107 seats.
• July 1932: The Nazi Party held 230 seats. This was a result of German dissatisfaction as the Nazis promised to build a strong nation. Many soldiers were laid off from work due to the cut down of the army, and so when unemployment rose they turned to radical parties.