Hitler

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Hitlers rise to power growth of Nazism,
1929-1939
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In 1929 the golden age of the Weimar Republic
came to an end. This was caused by an economic
crisis that created political problems. These
problems in turn led to the total collapse of
democracy in Germany.Modern World History,
p.152
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Economic causes Political causes
Hitlers tactics Hitlers tactics
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Economic causes

• Wall Street Crash (October 1929)
• American banks demanded repayment of loans
• German businesses slumped or went bankrupt
• Statistics 1.8 million unemployed (1928)
• 6 million (1932)

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Economic causes

• People could not afford rents or mortgages
• Begging on streets
• People lost faith in Weimar Republic
• Growth of political extremists

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Political causes

• Streseman died, October 1929
• German Foreign Minister
• He had spent years working to restore the German
  economy and stabilize the republic and died,
  having exhausted himself in the process.
• Disagreement among coalition parties
• 3 alternatives print more money
• cut unemployment
• raise taxes

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What were the problems with all these
alternatives?
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Political causes

• Hermann Muller (leader of SPD) refused to cut
  benefits to save money and resigned
• (Social Democratic Party of Germany
  (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands SPD)
• Heinrich Bruning (leader of Centre Party) lacked
  support in Reichstag and used Article 48 to pass
  legislation

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In effect, Weimar democracy came to an end in
1930.Modern World History, p.153
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Hitlers tactics

• Support for Nazis grew rapidly, 1929-32
• Hitler toured by plane
• Speeches
• Modern technology, microphones radio

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Hitlers tactics

• Joseph Goebbels responsible for propaganda
• Nazis owned 8 newspapers

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Hitlers tactics

• Wealthy supporters, Alfred Hugenberg (leader of
  German National Party, newspaper owner)
• Thyseen (steel manufacturer)
• Promises to reduce powers of trade unions

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Hitlers tactics

• SA (Storm troopers)
• Sturm Abteilung (Storm Section)
• Numbers increased to 400,000 by 1932
• Street battles, bullying tactics

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Who did Hitler the Nazis appeal to?
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Negatives
Positives
General appeal Elite Workers Peasants
Racial minorities Young Women
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General appeal

• Stabbed in the back theory of the Treaty of
  Versailles
• Failures of Weimar Republic,
• Exploited suffering caused by Great Depression
• Anti-semitism

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Elite

• Feared communist uprising
• Supported Nazis (e.g. paid for Nazi electoral
  campaigns)
• Lost confidence in Weimar Republic
• Suspicious of Hitlers background hoped to
  control him within government (using Hindenburg
  von Papen)
• Traditionally supported Nationalist Party

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Workers Peasants

• Farmers
• Badly affected by Depression and slump in food
  prices
• Nazi promised financial support incentives for
  farming communities
• Naturally supported socialist communists

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Workers Peasants

• Germany suffering from economic depression
• 6 million unemployed (1933)
• Nazis promised to end unemployment financial
  hardship
• Traditionally supported socialists communists

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Racial minorities

• No discrimination under Weimar governments
• Hitler made Jews scapegoats for Treaty of
  Versailles
• Anti-Semitism in Nazi Party (e.g. Mein Kampf)

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The young

• Disappointed with Weimar Government
• Attracted by career opportunities within Nazi
  Party
• Impressed by activities of Hitler Youth Movement
• Joined Hitler Youth to rebel against family
  constraints

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Women

• Greater emphasis on role of women as mothers
  housewives
• Improved womens rights under Weimar Republic
• Nazi opposed to female careerism

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How did Hitler become Chancellor in 1933?
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Political developments

• March 1932 Hitler challenged Hindenburg for the
  presidency
• He lost by 19.4 million votes to 13.4 million

Hindenburg the winner!
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Political developments

• May 1932, Chancellor Bruning resigns due to
  rising unemployment

Chancellor Bruning not a happy man!
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Political developments

• May 1932 Von Papen becomes Chancellor

Von Papen aristocratic respected
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Political developments

• July 1932 Von Papen calls a general election to
  win more seats for Centre Party
• Nazis win 230 seats

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Poltical developments

• November 1932, Von Papen holds new elections but
  fails again to win more seats for Centre Party
• Hindenburg replaces von Papen with General Kurt
  von Schleicher
• Nazis win 196 seats

Schleicher the military man!
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Political developments

• Von Schleicher resigns when Hindenburg refuses to
  continue to govern using Article 48

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Poltical developments

• January 1933, Hindenburg appoints Hitler as
  Chancellor
• Von Papen is appointed Vice Chancellor

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? Your task

• Construct a timeline showing Hitlers rise to
  power
• Why do you think Hindenburg appointed Hitler as
  Chancellor, especially as the Nazis were becoming
  less popular?

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How did the Nazis consolidate power, 1933-4?
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Reichstag fire Elections Enabling Act
Political parties Trade unions Night of the Long Knives
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Reichstag fire

• 27 February 1933, Reichstag building burns down
• Marinus van der Lubbe, communist, arrested
  admits guilt
• Communist plot feared leaders imprisoned
• Article 48, state of emergency imposed

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Elections

• March 1933 election to Reichstag
• Hermann Göring, Minister of the Interior, ordered
  police to leave SA alone
• Opponents, e.g. SDP KPD forbidden from
  campaigning under terms of state of emergency

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Elections
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Elections

• Hitler needed 2/3 majority
• Won support of Nationalists Centre Party
  (promising to defend RC Church)
• Banned Communist Party

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Enabling Act

• March 1933, Enabling Act
• SA SS present during vote
• 444 members for v. 94 against

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Political parties

• Law against the Formation of Parties
• KPD SPD leaders arrested imprisoned in
  concentration camps
• Germany a one party state

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Trade Unions

• Trade Unions powerful during Weimar Republic
• Depression weakened political influence
  membership
• 2 May 1933, Trade Unions offices occupied by
  Nazis leaders arrested imprisoned
• Labour Front (DAF)

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Night of Long Knives

• 30 June 1 July 1934 leaders of SA arrested
  shot
• Ernst Röhm (leader of SA)
• George Strasser (founder of DAP)
• Schleicher (former Chancellor)
• 1000 deaths

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Why did Hitler purge the SA?

• Rohm others feared as revolutionaries
• Growth in membership to 2 million by 1934
• Removal of potential opponents
• Pressure from within SS (e.g. Himmler)
• Concession to conservative elite
• Concession to army (Reichswehr) August 1934
  swear oath of personal loyalty

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0support20of20the20Nazis,201929-1933.ppt -