Hitler and the growth of the Nazi Party 1918-33

Hitler and the growth of the Nazi Party 1918-33

1. Hitler's early life

   • Born in Austria 1889
   • Went to Vienna to study art but became destitute
   • Anti-Semitism rife in Vienna (due to wealth of Jews)
   • Joined German army 1914 + won Iron Cross
   • Felt betrayed by Weimar politicians
   • Met Anton Draxler of DAP while working in intelligence services in Munich

2. The early Nazi Party

   • Hitler joined in 1919
   • Renamed Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP)
   • Hitler leader in 1921
   • Private army of Sturmabteilung (SA) used to protect meetings or disturb Communists
   • 25-point programme: reverse Versailles, destroy Communism + make Germany great
   • 1922: 3,000 members

3. The Munich Putsch 1923

   • Causes
     • Unpopularity of government due to Ruhr invasion + hyperinflation
     • Convinced of support in Munich
     • Emulating Mussolini's March on Rome
   • Events
     • Hitler bursts into Beer Hall during meeting
     • Forces Kahr to join him
     • Police alerted + minor skirmish in which 16 Nazis killed
     • Hitler + Ludendorff arrested
   • Results
     • Hitler sentenced to prison in Landsberg BUT minimum sentence given
     • Nazi Party banned until 1927
     • Hitler gained popularity + notoriety
     • Mein Kampf published - reorganised party

4. Nazi lean years

   • Failures
     • Unpopular due to success of Stresemann
     • Only 12 seats in 1928 election
     • Internal disagreements
   • Successes
     • Plan devised to reinvent the party
     • Attempting to take power democratically
     • Gauleiter set up - better administration + more efficient

5. Rise in popularity 1929-33

   • Wall Street Crash: rocketing unemployment - needed a strong party to turn to solve problems
   • Hitler: a charismatic leader who made people believe he could solve problems
   • Josef Goebbels: propaganda campaigns increased support, particularly during 1932 Presidential Election
   • SA: gave impression of discipline + order - lacking in Depression
   • Industrialist support - Bosch, Krupp etc. funded expensive campaigns

6. How Hitler became Chancellor, 1932-33

   • Jul 1932: Chancellor Bruning removed, Nazis largest party but Hindenburg suspicious - von Papen chancellor
   • Nov-Dec 1932: Nazis lost seats + von Papen replaced with von Schleicher
   • Von Papen furious - connived with Hindenburg (believed they could control Hitler)
   • 30 Jan 1933 - Hitler made Chancellor