Why did Nazis achieve power in 1933?

Question 1

At the end of World War 1, what were there a lot of? (Background)

Answer 1

Revolts across Germany, similar to the Russian Revolution. Eventually Kaiser abdicated and a new German republic was set up in 1919.

Question 2

In 1919, the new system of government in Germany was known as the Weimar Republic. How did it get its name? (Background)

Answer 2

The assembly that set the system up met in the city of Weimar.

Question 3

How long did the Weimar republic govern for? (Background)

Answer 3

14 years, until 1933.

System ended when Hitler was appointed Chancellor and gradually dismantled the system of democracy.

Question 4

Nazi control meant a fascist dictatorship was installed over Germany, and soon the Nazi’s would attempt to control who? (Background)

Answer 4

Europe as well as Germany, ultimately failing to do so during World War 2.

Question 5

What did the new Weimar Republic include? (Weaknesses of Weimar)

Answer 5

A new constitution which described how the country would be run.

Part One outlined the system, Part Two outlined the rights of Germans.

Question 6

Huge democratic changes were introduced under Weimar. Name some examples (Weaknesses of Weimar)

Answer 6

-All Germans (Male + Female) over 20 can vote.
-Reichstag (Parliament) was directly voted.
-President was elected by the people.

Question 7

What system did the Reichstag use for elections? (Weaknesses of Weimar)

Answer 7

The Party System, or proportional representation which meant a party with 15% of the votes won about 15% of the seats.

Question 8

In the 1924 Reichstag election, how many parties were elected? (Weaknesses of Weimar)

Answer 8

14

Question 9

What is one positive of the Weaknesses of Weimar? (Parliament)

Answer 9

The Use of PR for elections helped smaller parties like the Nazi’s get elected.

The proportional representation helped them get some elected, letting them build support.

Question 10

What is a second positive of Weaknesses of Weimar? (Parliament)

Answer 10

Between 1924 - 1928, pro-Weimar parties gained most of the votes (around 75%!) rather than small/extreme parties such as the Nazi’s. Suggests most Germans supported democracy.

Question 11

What did the large number of political parties/proportional representation combination mean? (Weaknesses of Weimar)

Answer 11

No party ever won a Reichstag majority (up until 1933). Meant Weimar governments were coalitions (or more than one party).

Question 12

Coalition governments regularly collapsed and couldn’t agree on actions. What are two examples of this?

Answer 12

1) In 14 years of Weimar there were 18 different governments

2) In 1932 alone there were three different chancellors.

Question 13

What is a positive of Weaknesses of Weimar/Unstable politics?

Answer 13

PR Selections meant that no single party ever won a majority, leading to coalitions (of up to five different parties). The coalitions often collapsed, leading to a lack of confidence in the Weimar system.

Question 14

What is a negative of Weaknesses of Weimar/Unstable politics?

Answer 14

During the years of Weimar democracy, election turnout was always at least 75%. The high figure suggests most Germans supported the democratic system.

Question 15

What was a common German belief following the end of World War 1? (Treaty of Versailles)

Answer 15

They believed they hadn’t lost World War One but actually had been stabbed in the back.

Question 16

What was the nickname given by the Germans to leaders who had signed the armistice? (Treaty of Versailles)

Answer 16

‘The November Criminals’

Question 17

German anger became worse in the following years. What is an example of this? (Treaty of Versailles)

Answer 17

Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles, the legal agreement to end the war. Many Germans called this a ‘diktat’.

Question 18

What were some conditions the Treaty of Versailles gave to Germans? (Treaty of Versailles).

Answer 18

-Germans had to agree to take blame for starting the war
-Military was reduced, only 100,000 soldiers allowed
-No air force

Question 19

What was some positives of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 19

One of the Nazi’s main promises was to reverse the treaty of versailles, which attracted more support. In particular many soldiers that lost their jobs joined the Nazi party.

Question 20

What was some negatives of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 20

Treaty was signed in 1919 however the Nazi’s did not become powerful until 1932. During the 1920s where people did not back the Nazi’s suggesting limited treaty importance.

Question 21

What did the Treaty force Germans to do? (Treaty of Versailles)

Answer 21

Pay reparations which covered the cost of the war. This amounted to £132 million golden marks.

Question 22

By 1923, Germany was now stuck in what?

Answer 22

A hyperinflation crisis which led to high poverty, unemployment and loss of people’s life savings.

Question 23

What was a positive of Treaty of Versailles/Inflation?

Answer 23

Hyperinflation and German anger led to Hitler starting a revolt in 1923. This gave him a huge public profile. Publicity helped Nazi’s gain support.

Question 24

What was a negative of the Treaty of Versailles/Inflation?

Answer 24

Hyperinflation ended in 1923, however Hitler didn’t take power until a decade later. The Depression was more important in ending Weimar, and was not caused by Versailles.

Question 25

As punishment for losing the First World War, Germany had to pay massive reparations to victorious sides. What number did they have to pay?

Answer 25

132 million marks was a huge figure that would not have been paid off until 1986.

Question 26

Germany struggled with paying the reparations, so much so, that what happened? (Economic difficulties)

Answer 26

France invaded the Ruhr area of Germany and to take resources such as coal.

Question 27

Following Ruhr invasion, German workers went on strike. Weimar agreed to do what? (Economic Difficulties)

Answer 27

Agreed to pay their wages. To pay for this, Germany printed more money.

Question 28

As government printed more money, in 1921 prices started increasing quickly. What was made harder? (Economic Difficulties)

Answer 28

People affording basic items.

In 1923 these price increases caused hyperinflation.

Question 29

What is Hyperinflation? (Economic Difficulties)

Answer 29

Where prices increase by a drastic amount in a short period of time. For example, by January 1922, a single US dollar was equivalent to 80 German marks. By November 1923, a single US dollar was worth 4,420 million marks.

Question 30

What were some effects of hyperinflation? (Economic Difficulties)

Answer 30

-Destroyed lives
-Wiped out people’s savings
-Caused huge unemployment
-Left people unable to afford items like food/fuel
-Some people benefited slightly by easily paying off loans.

Question 31

What’s a positive of Economic Difficulties?

Answer 31

The economic chaos caused by hyperinflation led to more support from extremist groups including Nazi’s. Led to Nazi’s gaining a higher profile for Germany.

Question 32

What is a negative of Economic Difficulties?

Answer 32

Weimar government eventually ended chaos with introduction of new currency, the Rentenmark. In the following years the German economy was stronger and Nazi support fell.

Question 33

What was the full lengthened name of the Nazi’s? (Appeal of Hitler and the Nazi’s after 1928).

Answer 33

National Socialist German Worker’s Party - which grew from the German Worker’s Party. The letters (NSDAP) gave the Nazi’s their name.

Question 34

What was a reason Hitler became in control of the Nazi Party? (Appeal of Hitler and the Nazi’s after 1928)

Answer 34

He was a great public speaker. He was very passionate and gained strong support. This was true throughout his time as a Nazi and Germany leader

Question 35

From 1923 onwards the Nazi’s would hold huge rallies to promote its message. From 1927 where were all of these meetings held? (Appeal of Hitler and the Nazi’s after 1928)

Answer 35

In the city of Nuremburg. Thousands would attend to hear Hitler speak.

Question 36

What’s a positive of the Appeal of Hitler and the Nazi’s after 1928/Persuasion?

Answer 36

Hitler was able to persuade more people to join and vote for the Nazi’s. In particular, he attracted rich supporters who then funded his campaigns.

Question 37

What’s a negative of the Appeal of Hitler and the Nazi’s after 1928/Persuasion?

Answer 37

Many of Germany’s elite were put off by Hitler’s tone and the violence often associated with the Nazi Party. This undermined attempts to help him take power.

Question 38

During the Depression, Nazi’s gave support to poor Germans. How did they do this? (Appeal of Hitler and the Nazi’s after 1928)

Answer 38

Soup kitchens and hostels for the homeless. Women especially used soup kitchens to feed their families.

Question 39

What’s a positive of the Appeal of Hitler and the Nazi’s after 1928/Trust?

Answer 39

The economic support given to poor Germans during the Depression made them trust the Nazi’s. They may have supported them in case they again needed future help.

Question 40

What’s a negative of the Appeal of Hitler and the Nazi’s after 1928/Trust?

Answer 40

Nazi organisation improved but they still needed economic problems to gain more support in Germany. The Nazis were the smallest party in the Reichstag in 1928, and the biggest by 1932.

Question 41

What was the relationship between Hitler and President Hindenburg? (Weaknesses/Mistakes of Opponents)

Answer 41

They were said to not like each other, Hindenburg calling Hitler simply “upstart corporal”.

Question 42

How old was Hindenburg by 1933? (Weaknesses/Mistakes of Opponents)

Answer 42

He was in his 80s, with some historians believing he was senile by this time. In 1932, he stood in the Presidential election, largely to stop Hitler being elected.

Question 43

What is a positive of Weaknesses/Mistakes of Opponents?

Answer 43

By 1932, Hindenburg was too ill to effectively run Germany. If Hindenburg had stepped aside in favour of a younger and stronger candidate, this person may have found it easier to stop Hitler.

Question 44

What is a negative of Weaknesses/Mistakes of Opponents?

Answer 44

Hitler managed to win 37% of the national vote in the 1932 presidential election. It was possible Hitler could’ve been elected president if he was up against a candidate other than the popular Hindenburg.

Question 45

What’s a positive of Weaknesses/Mistakes of Opponents?

Answer 45

Hindenburg and many of his supporters underestimated Hitler, giving him the chance to be appointed Chancellor. Franz von Papen (former Chancellor) even said “we’ve hired him” after this.

Question 46

Hindenburg made regular use to do what with Article 48? (Weaknesses/Mistakes of Opponents)

Answer 46

Pass laws which were not supported in he Reichstag. In 1932 alone he used Article 48 on 60 separate occasions.

Question 47

Weimar’s consitution included Article 48 which gave strong powers to the President. What else did it do? (Weaknesses/Mistakes of Opponents)

Answer 47

Let the president pass laws in the event of national emergency, even without Reichstag approval.