starter activity

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? starter activity
How many reasons can you give for why the Nazis
became more popular in the 1920s?
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Reasons for popularity of Nazis

• Clear policies 25 Point Programme / Mein Kampf
• Party discipline Hitler reorganised party into
  gau, SA at meetings
• Hitlers leadership skills effective public
  speaker, tuned into popular feeling
• Trial after Munich Putsch H. given public
  platform
• Change from violence to legal methods of
  broadened appeal to middle-classes

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How did Hitler become Chancellor?

• Hitlers rise to power, 1929-33

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Presentation overview

• Use your textbook to research the following areas
  (page references have been given to help you)
• What was the Wall Street Crash? (p.100)
• What was the impact on Germany? (p.70)
• How did the Depression help Hitler? (p.70)
• Why did Hitler think he could become president in
  1932? (p.72)
• How did Hitler become Chancellor? (p.72)

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What was the Wall Street Crash?

• 1929, US stock market crashed
• US economy plunged into depression

A journalist once said When America sneezes the
whole world catches a cold What did they mean by
this?
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What was the impact on Germany?

• 1928-1932, unemployment increased from 2.5 to 6
  million
• Disillusionment with Weimar Republic
• Growth of extremism Communists increased seats
  in Reichstag from 54-77
• Nazis increased from 12 to 107- 2nd largest party

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How did the Depression help Hitler?

• Chaos confusion (exploited by SA)
• Support from professionals industrialists
  increased
• Nazi campaigns propaganda cleverly tuned in to
  popular feeling

This Nazi poster entitled, Hitler our last hope
was extremely effective. Why? What makes the
style different from later Nazi posters?
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Why did Hitler think he could become president in
1932?

• Hindenburg was old and out of touch
• Hindenburg associated with November Criminals
  of Tr. of Versailles
• Hitlers policies end to unemployment,
  anti-Semitism
• Close call - Hitler lost on 2nd vote

What do you think this photo suggests about
Hitlers relationship with Hindenburg?
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? Your task

• Construct a timeline showing how Hitler became
  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!
12
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

• December 1932, 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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Plenary
Some historians think Hindenburgs decision to
appoint Hitler as Chancellor was one of the
biggest mistakes made in recent history. Do you
think Hindenburg made the right decision at the
time or he was completely wrong?
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? Your task

• Imagine you are President Hindenburg. Write a
  letter of apology to the German people. Explain
  the reasons why you took the actions you did and
  why you might have made the biggest mistake of
  your career.