The rise of the Nazi party

The rise of the Nazi party

1. Formation of the party

   • Formed 1919 as German Workers' Party
   • Hitler joins as the 555th member in 1919
   • Key ideas
     • Anti-Weimar republic
       • November Criminals
     • Anti-ToV
     • Hates Communism
     • Anti-democracy

2. Stage 1: VIOLENCE

   • SA - Sturmabteilung
     • Formed 1920
     • Led by Ernst Röhm
       • Thuggish
       • Loyal to Hitler
     • They basically went around beating up communists
   • Munich Putsch
     • See Weimar period mind map
     • Ended with Hitler gaining recognition
       • He also decided only to use democracy from now on to gain power
       • Televised trial
       • Mein Kampf
       • Established self as extreme right leader

3. Stage 2: gaining support

   • Strengths of the Nazi party
     • Propaganda
       • Classes were held for members to improve their public speaking
       • Goebbels was head of Propaganda
         • Published loads of leaflets and posters
           • Promised Arbeit und Brot
           • Incredibly effective
           • At first aimed at working classes
             • Ineffective - they chose communists instead
             • Then aimed at middle classes and farmers
               • They were scared of communists so naturally liked the anti-communist Nazis
           • Also used radio
           • Very flexible - if a policy wasn't popular they dropped it
           • Made people scared of communists
           • Hitler portayed as some superman
     • Party overall very organised
       • Militaristic
     • Cooperated with other parties
       • e.g. Nationalists
   • Weaknesses of the Weimar government
     • The Great Depression 1929
       • Wall street crash happened
         • US asked for Dawes Plan loans back
           • German industries couldn't cope
             • Extreme unemployement
               • 6 Million by 1933
       • Weimar gov too scared to do anything without Stresemann
         • Didn't want hyperinflation again
         • People saw them as being useless
           • They went for extreme parties instead
     • Increased tax a lot
       • People were already starving - this made it worse
     • Stesemann the absolute unit died
     • Social Democrats withdrew from the coalition
     • President Hindenburg had to rely on article 48 a lot
       • Emergency powers meaning he didn't have to put things throught the Reichstag
       • Made people angry

4. Becoming Chancellor

   • The Nazis became the largest Party in 1932
     • But Hindeburg didn't allow Hitler to become chancellor
   • Franz von Papen was chancellor
     • Unpopular
     • Authoritarian
     • Tried to make deal with Hitler, getting Nazi support
       • Hitler refused
         • Didn't want to be associated with a failing government
     • He resigned in December due to pressure
       • Kurt von Schleicher became chancellor
         • Tried to control the Nazis' worst behaviour, but failed
         • Also tried to make a deal with Hitler, offering Hitler place as a chancellor
           • Hitler refused again
             • Without Nazi support, his government remained unpopular
         • Von Papen wanted revenge on him
           • Plotted with Hitler to get rid of von Schleicher
             • Made deal to have Hitler as chancellor, and him as vice
               • With cabinet of mostly non-Nazis
               • He thought he could keep Hitler under control
           • Hindenburg reluctantly agreed
             • Von Schleicher sacked, Hitler in
               • Then all hell broke loose...
               • January 1933