HITLER THE NAZIS The German Workers Party Stresemanns

The German Worker’s Party � Stresemann’s government succeeded in stabilising Germany. � However, extremist

� In 1920, renamed itself the National Socialist German Worker’s party, Nazis for short.

1921 � Hitler removes Drexler as leader. � Commitment & power as a speaker

In 1921 Adolf Hitler formed his own private army called Sturm Abteilung (Storm Section).

1923: the Munich Putsch Nazi’s still a minority party. � Hitler believed the time

Failure � Hitler has miscalculated the mood of the people – did not rise

Defendants in the Beer Hall Putsch trial. Note Ernst Röhm to the right and

1924 – 1929: the Nazi’s in the wilderness � In prison, Hitler writes Mein

1924 � May: Reichstag elections – Nazi’s wons 32 seats. � Encouraged, Hitler sets

Nazi support: 1919 -1933 Date of Election SPD Social Democrats Jan 1919 Jun

1925 Hitler enlarges the SA. 55% unemployed – many exservicemen � Forms the SS

1928 � Election results convince the Nazi’s to look for support elsewhere. � Had

� The Nazi’s praised the peasants as racially pure Germans, � They used propaganda

1928 Election poster: Two million dead! Did they die in vain? Never! Front

1929: Crash & Depression � USA Stock market crashes & sends USA into economic

� The Depression was a world wide problem – Weimar government had greater difficulty

Enter the Nazis! � The Weimar government is indecisive – Then Germany needs a

Why did the Nazis succeed? � Propaganda chief, Goebbels, created his own version of

Nazi campaigning Nazi campaign methods were very modern & effective. � Relied on generalised

� Used every opportunity to show that the Jews, the Communists, the Weimar politicians

The Nazis greatest campaign tool was Hitler. � He was a powerful speaker &

1932 � Nazi support rocketed � Reichstag elections, July: Nazis were the largest single

The tide turns… � Second elections, 1932: �Nazi share of vote falls �Hitler loses

Desperate measures… von Schleicher forced to resign Weimar government clearly not working. Principles of

Why? � With Nazi support dropping, Hindenburg and Von Papen (who had remained as

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HITLER & THE NAZI’S

The German Worker’s Party � Stresemann’s government succeeded in stabilising Germany. � However, extremist opposition still existed. � The German’s worker party – formed in 1919 by Anton Drexler � Adolf Hitler became a member of this party in 1919. � (GSCE pd 148)

� In 1920, renamed itself the National Socialist German Worker’s party, Nazis for short. � Twenty-five point programme: �Abolition of Treaty of Versailles �Union of Germany & Austria �Only ‘true’ German’s to live in Austria – Jews esp. excluded �Large businesses industries nationalised �Strong central government

1921 � Hitler removes Drexler as leader. � Commitment & power as a speaker soon started attracting attention. � His appeal was clear & simple �Stirred nationalist passions �Gave Germany a scapegoat for all her problems: the Allies, the Versailles treaty, the ‘November Criminals’ (Socialist politicians who signed treaty), the Communists & the Jews.

In 1921 Adolf Hitler formed his own private army called Sturm Abteilung (Storm Section). � The SA (also known as stormtroopers or brownshirts) were instructed to disrupt the meetings of political opponents and to protect Hitler from revenge attacks. � Captain Ernst Roehm of the Bavarian Army played an important role in recruiting these men, and became the SA's first leader. �

1923: the Munich Putsch Nazi’s still a minority party. � Hitler believed the time had come to topple the Weimar government. � 8 November 1923: Hitler hijacked government meeting. � Nazi storm troopers take over official buildings. � Weimar troops hit back – 16 Nazi’s killed. � Hitler arrested & charged with treason. �

Failure � Hitler has miscalculated the mood of the people – did not rise to support him � However, at trial, Hitler gained enormous publicity for his ideas � He so impressed the judges that he & accomplices got off very lightly: 5 years in prison, even though treason should carry a life sentence. � Hitler only served 9 months in the comfort of Landsberg castle.

Defendants in the Beer Hall Putsch trial. Note Ernst Röhm to the right and in front of Hitler.

1924 – 1929: the Nazi’s in the wilderness � In prison, Hitler writes Mein Kampf (My Struggle). � Clarified his ideas about Germany’s future � Realised that Nazi party could not seize power by force, but would have to work from within the democratic system. � Set about rebuilding the Nazi party.

1924 � May: Reichstag elections – Nazi’s wons 32 seats. � Encouraged, Hitler sets up the Hitler Youth, Hitler Student’s league & similar movements � (Source – ‘we demand’ by Goebbels)

Nazi support: 1919 -1933 Date of Election SPD Social Democrats Jan 1919 Jun 1920 May 1924 Dec 1924 May 1928 Sep 1930 Jul 1932 Nov 1932 Mar 1933 165 102 100 131 153 143 133 121 120 22 88 62 45 54 77 89 101 81 91 64 65 69 62 68 75 70 74 75 39 28 32 25 20 4 2 5 63 157 156 174 134 90 66 83 72 7 9 32 29 14 29 12 51 107 72 230 11 196 12 288 7 423 459 472 493 491 577 608 584 647 Communists KPD/USPD Centre Party (Catholics) DDP (Democrats) Right-wing parties (BVP/ DVP/DNVP) NSDAP (Nazis) Others Total Deputies

1925 Hitler enlarges the SA. 55% unemployed – many exservicemen � Forms the SS – fanatically loyal to Hitler. � Joseph Goebbels appointed to take charge of Nazi propaganda: winning over the people by appealing to their feelings, rather that rational argument. � �

1928 � Election results convince the Nazi’s to look for support elsewhere. � Had yet to win over the workers – radical political views made them more likely to follow the Communists (SDP – Social democratic party) � Most Nazi support came from peasant farmers, shopkeepers, small business owners – not prospering under Weimar government.

� The Nazi’s praised the peasants as racially pure Germans, � They used propaganda to contrast the supposedly clean & simple life of the peasant with the allegedly corrupt, immoral, criminal 0 ridden cities (for which they blamed the Jews!)

1928 Election poster: Two million dead! Did they die in vain? Never! Front soldiers! Adolf Hitler shows you the way!

1929: Crash & Depression � USA Stock market crashes & sends USA into economic depression � Effects felt world wide – esp. in Germany – borrowed money from USA to repay debt & reparations � Germany experience economic collapse. � Business closed = mass unemployment.

� The Depression was a world wide problem – Weimar government had greater difficulty dealing with unemployment because of the USA loans that Germany had become dependant on. � The coalition government with the careful balance of power also made decisive action by the government difficult.

Enter the Nazis! � The Weimar government is indecisive – Then Germany needs a stronger leader. � Reparations are adding to Germany’s problems – Then kick out the Treaty of Versailles! � Unemployment is a problem – Then let the unemployed join the army, let them build Germany’s armaments & get involved in public works like road building!

Why did the Nazis succeed? � Propaganda chief, Goebbels, created his own version of evens from 1929 to 1933. � In his version, it was Hitler’s destiny to become Germany’s leader, and the German people started to believe this. � Was this an accurate perspective?

Nazi campaigning Nazi campaign methods were very modern & effective. � Relied on generalised slogans, not specific policies. � United Germany behind one leader � Going back to traditional values (though never clear about what exactly that meant) � This made it hard for people to criticise them � If criticised, policy would simply be dropped �

� Used every opportunity to show that the Jews, the Communists, the Weimar politicians & the Treaty of Versailles were to blame for Germany’s problems. � Huge rallies were held to impress the people with their enthusiasm & size. � At the time, frequent street battles between the Communist gangs & the police, made the Communists seem unruly & disorganised. � In contrast, the SA & SS were very disciplined & orderly. � The Nazis also organised soup kitchens & provided shelter in hostels for unemployed.

The Nazis greatest campaign tool was Hitler. � He was a powerful speaker & excellent communicator. � He used radio, records & films to spread his message. � He appeared as a man of the moment – flying round the country on tours. � A leader who also understood the needs of the people. �

1932 � Nazi support rocketed � Reichstag elections, July: Nazis were the largest single party (230 seats) – but still not majority � Hitler demanded the post of Chancellor from President Hindenburg � Hindenburg was very suspicious of Hitler & refused, allowing Franz von Papen to continue as chancellor.

The tide turns… � Second elections, 1932: �Nazi share of vote falls �Hitler loses 2 million votes �Nazis lose 38 seat �Hitler sees elections as a disaster. �Nazis start running out of funds. �December, Kurt von Schleicher made chancellor.

Desperate measures… von Schleicher forced to resign Weimar government clearly not working. Principles of democracy already overthrown as Hindenburg running country with emergency powers � In order to save democracy, Hindenburg needed a chancellor with support in the Reichstag. � Secret meeting: Hindenburg, Von Papen, Industrialists, army leaders & politicians. � January 1933 - Hindenburg offers Hitler the post of Chancellor. � � �

Why? � With Nazi support dropping, Hindenburg and Von Papen (who had remained as an adviser) were confident that they could limit Hitler's influence & resist his extremist demands. � Hindenbrg and Von Papen both thought they could control Hitler. � But they were very wrong.