Why did the Nazis have little success before 1930?

Why did the Nazis have little success before 1930?

1. While Hitler was in prison, some of his supporters formed the National Socialist Freedom Party, but in December 1924 (Hitler's release) the party only won 14 seats in the Reichstag.

2. Hitler was determined to try and win power legally, but Stresemann's policies meant that there was very little support for extremists like Hitler.

3. In 1925, Hitler divided Germany into 34 districts & put a leading Nazi in charge of each. He also founded the Hitler Youth & the Schutzstaffel (SS, personal bodyguard).

4. By the end of 1926 (after readopting the original 25 point programme), the Nazi Party had 50,000 members, & in 1927 held its first Nuremberg rally.

5. It had become a nationally known Party with a strong leader & effective propaganda.

6. But despite all the hard work, the Nazis only won 12 seats (8th largest party) in the 1928 Reichstag election.

7. Despite the constitution's use of proportional representation as the method of electing Reichstag deputies, the years following the Munich Putsch were stable.

8. Political: A compromise was found. The LEFT parties wanted greater change & more power for ordinary people. The RIGHT parties wanted little change. This is conservative (conserve the country as it is). In Germany this meant the restoration of the Kaiser & power in only one/ a few hands. The CENTRE parties wanted moderate change. The 'Z' party was set up to protect the interests of the R.C Church, so appealed to all 3 classes.

9. Economically: The period saw a gradual rise in the standard of living of most Germans. But certain sections of society (urban middle class of state employees & tradesmen) were becoming richer, & bankruptcies grew from the farming sector.

10. Socially: people had more freedom than under the Kaiser; the theatre put on plays that criticised German life, paintings commented on society & literature had a social message & music reflected modern issues.