How and why was Hitler able to become Chancellor in January 1933

How and why was Hitler able to become Chancellor in January 1933

1. Long-term Bitterness

   • Deep anger about the WW1 armistic, the Treaty of Versailles and the 1923 economic meltdown created an underlying bitterness and lack of confidence in the German people
     • Germans hated their loss of territory - they lost 10% of their land meaning thousands of Germans were displaced, even though other nations had been allowed "self determination".
       • Hitler spoke of the policy of "lebensraum" in Mein Kampf
     • the Treaty of Versailles, presented on 7th May 1919, was a "diktat" (imposed settlement). The Germans had no say in the decision-making
       • Count Brockdorff said "those who sign this treaty will sign the death of many millions of German men,women and children"
         • Hitler promised to rip up the treaty
     • Their unity with Austria was banned
       • Hitler's ultimate goal was anschluss (unity with Austria)
     • lack of confidence after being humiliated by the "backstab" of the 11/11 armistice as they didn't think they'd lost, and the 231 war-guilt clause
       • Hitler spoke of a "greater germany" and the Aryan race being superior, blaming minorities for the economic difficulty and WW1 defeat.

2. Ineffective Constitution

   • The constitution gave the President, the states and the army too much power
     • Article 48 - President sole power in "times of emergency"
       • Hitler used this to get rid of the government altogether in 1933
   • Proportional representation meant the Reichtag was divided into 28 parties thus no decisions could be made.
     • Hitler used this to get more and more seats
   • Extremist groups trying to destroy it
     • 1919, 50 000 spartacists in a communist uprising led by Rosa Lucmburg and Karl Leibkneckt
     • Kapp Putsch 1920, Dr Wolfgang Kapp took over Berlin trying to overthrow the government, only ended when workers went on strike
       • Not stopped by the army or Freikorps led by General Hans von Seeckt, thus the army was not fully under government control
   • French Invasion of the Ruhr 1923 as The Weimar could not repay the reparations
     • rioting and general strike
     • hyperinflation
       • government printed money, thus the Mark lost value almost completely
     • Nazi Putsch in Munich 1923
   • Many officials and judges were right-wing and wanted to destroy the Weimar. Hitler only went to prison for 9 months in a relatively nice prison for treason.
   • increased Hitler's credibility

3. Money

   • Wealthy industrialists like Henry Ford financially supported the Nazis as they thought they could prevent communism.
     • This gave Hitler the money to run his propaganda and election campaigns.
     • Hjalmar Schacht - head of Reichsbank - organised fund-raising parties for Hitler.
       • even influencial government characters supported him
   • Sold 80 million Mein Kampf = profit

4. Propaganda

   • Hitler devised the swatstika
   • The party published its own newspaper "Der Sturmer" to put forward their ideas
   • Joseph Goebbels was Hitler's minister of propaganda from 1926
     • Goebbels ran a "Hitler over Germany" campaign, which involved flying Hitler from one mass rally to the next. This was reinforced by a poster campaign strong in emotional appeal, which portrayed Hitler as a strong leader who would "save" Germany
   • Mein Kampf became a national bible selling 80 million

5. Programme

   • MANIFESTO 1920, the Nazis set out their "National Socialist" beliefs in their 25 point programme, which appealed to a large range of people - "all things to all men"
     • Nationalists
       • 13) Nationalisation of public industries (water/electricity)
       • 25) strong central government with unlimited authority
     • Socialists
       • 14) Large companies must share their profits
       • 7) citizens are entitled to a job and a decent standard of living
     • Workers
       • 9) All citizens have equal rights and duties
       • 20) improved education for all so better prepared for work
     • Middle class
       • 11) All payments to unemployed people should end
       • 16) Creation of a healthy and conserved middle class

6. Attacks on other parties

   • The Stormtroopers (SA) attacked Jews, communists or any opposition in street fights called ZusammenstoBe ('clashes')
     • people supported Hitler simply because they were afraid
     • Right-wing judges didn't arrest them
     • Attacks on communists gained support from rich industrialists
   • The SA - co-founded with Ernest Roehm - were half a million by 1933, with the motto "All opposition must be stamped into the ground".
   • Hitler publically complained about the caos on the streets to undermine the Weimar and promise Nazism would bring peace and order

7. Personal Qualities

   • Hitler was a brilliant orator - his eyes had a peculiar effect on people
     • he used his orating skill to evoke sympathy from the judges to reduce his prison sentence from 5 years to 9 months
   • very organised and a good politician
   • He was a very unstable man who believed he had been called by God to become dictator over Germany. His drive was very persuasive to people.
   • his personality was manipulated by his personal photographer "Hoffman"

8. Economic Depression

   • The Wall Street Crash 1929 led to huge unemployment as American called on its loans to Germany, throwing Germany also into Depression
     • Unemployment hit 6 million in 1932
       • people went looking for extreme solutions, such as Nazism who promised help for employees, farmers and shopkeepers.
         • The number of Reichstag seats rose from only 12 in 1928, to 230 in July 1932.
     • Heinrich Bruning of the Catholic Centre Party became chancellor in 1930.
       • imposed high taxes causing problems to business
       • reduced benefits - made Depression worse

9. Recruited by Hindenburg

   • November 1932 - Nazi failed to get majority. Votes fell from 230 to 196.
   • Bruning forced to resign 1932 - Franz von Papen elected but could not get enough support from the Reichstag
     • Hindenburg and von Papen were governing under Article 48
       • Offered Hitler co-chancellor. He refused
       • Von Papen's government collapsed as Kurt von Schleicher (army General) told him the army reused to support him.
         • December 1932 - Von Schliecher made Chancellor. But he failed to get Reichstag support.
           • So, 30th January 1933, Hindenburg ASKED Hitler to become Chancellor of Germany