RiseoftheNazisRevisionGuide

KeyTopics1. TheNazisinthe1920s2. HitlerbecomesChancellor,19333. HitlerbecomesDictator,1934

Name:

HitlerandtheearlyNaziPartyTherootsoftheNazipartystartin1889,withthebirthofAdolfHitlerbutthepoliticalbeginningsofthepartystartin1919withthesetupoftheGermanWorkersParty,theDAP.ThispartywasoneofthemanynewpartiesthatsetupinthepoliticalchaosaftertheFirstWorldWaranditwasthejoiningofAdolfHitlerthatchangedGermanysfutureforever.

HitlerwasborninAustriain1889toanabusivefather.

HitlerwantedtobecomeanartistsbutwasrejectedbytheViennaArtSchool

Between1908-13,hewashomelessandsoldpaintings

In1913,hemovedtoMunichandbecameobsessedwithallthingsGerman

HefoughtintheFirstWorldWar,winningtheIronCrossbutwaswoundedbygasin1918

HitlerwasshockedbyGermanysdefeatinWWIandblamedtheWeimarRepublic

In1919,HitlerbeginstospyontheGermanWorkersParty(DAP)butthenjoinstheparty,soontakingover.

TheearlylifeofHitler

WhoweretheDAP?TheGermanWorkersParty(DAP)wassetupbyAntonDrexlerin1919inMunich.Atfirsttherewereonlyasmallgroupof50members

1. Hitlerisinvitedtojointhepartyin1919afterDrexlerhearshimdebatingataDAPmeeting(whichhewasspyingon!)

2. HitlerbecomesDrexler’sright-handmanandin1920togethertheyannouncedtheparties25PointProgramme.

3. Hitler'spersonalappealandabilityasanenergeticandpassionatespeakeralongwithhatredoftheWeimarRepublicmeantmembershipgrewto3000by1920.

4. HitlersuggeststheDAPchangeitsnametotheNationalSocialist GermanWorkers’Party(NSDAPorNazisforshort).TheyalsochoosetheSwastikaastheirsymbol.

5. InJuly1921,HitlerbecomesleaderoftheNaziParty

HitlerandthebirthoftheNaziParty1919-21The25pointplanwastheNazimanifesto(theirpolicies)itincludedtheirbeliefsandideology.Thekeypointsincluded:

25PointPlan

1.Thecreationofastrongcentralgovernment

2.TheunionofallGermansinaGreaterGermany

3.GetridoftheTreatyofVersailles.

4.Increasepensionsfortheelderly

5.Nationaliseindustries(governmentcontrol)

6.Everybodyshouldhaveajob.

7.BuildupGermany'sarmedforces

8.OnlyGermanracesmaybemembersofthenation,noJewsandallothernonGermansmustleave.

9.ExpandGermanyacrossnewterritorytofeedthepeopleandtosettlesurpluspopulation(Lebensraum).

10.Allcitizensshouldhaveequalrightsandduties.

11.Everyhard-workingGermantohavethechanceofhighereducation.

12.Statemustprotectmothersandinfants,stopchildrenworking.

TheDAPwerenationalsocialists:Nationalists – believedthatallpoliciesshouldshouldbeorganisedtomakethenationstrongerSocialists– believedthatthecountry'sland,industryandwealthshouldbelowtotheworkers.TheyalsohatedtheWeimarRepublic,TreatyofVersaillesandJewswhotheyblamedfortheproblems.

The25PointProgrammeappealedtomanyGermans(workers,soldiers,women)especiallyatatimewhentheWeimarRepublicwasinserioustrouble.

Givetwothingsyoucaninferfromthe25PointProgrammeabouttheNSDAPinthe1920s(4Marks)

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HitlerandtheearlyNaziPartyOrganisation oftheparty TheroleofSturmabteiling (SA)

ExamQuestions

Hitlermadehispersonalmarkonthepartybyintroducinganumberofchanges:

• TheNSDAPsetupapermanentofficeinMunich

• TheyalsoboughttwonewspaperstheWolkischer Beobachter ("Peoplesobserver”)andDerSturmer,thisallowedtheNazismessagetospreadacrossGermany

• HitlercarefullyselectedpartyleadersfortheirskillsandtohelptheNaziimage,theyincluded:RudolfHess (Hitler'sdeputy),HermannGoering(WW1hero),JuliusStreicher(Publisher)andErnstRohm(apopularexarmyofficer)

• HitleralsomadepowerfulfriendssuchasGeneralLudendorff,leaderoftheGermanArmyduringWW1

HitlerusedtheSA(Sturmabteilung),StormtroopersorBrownshirts asawaytocontroloftheparty.

TheyweresetupinAugust1921asaparamilitaryforcewhodressedinbrownshirts.ManyofthemSAwereex-soldiersorFreikorps.

TheSAparadedinthestreetsasashowofforce.ByAugust1922,theynumberedabout800andimpressedpeoplewithasenseofpowerandorgansation.

TheSAcontrolthecrowdsatmeetingsoftenusingviolence.Theywerealsosenttoattackandbeatopposition,likecommunists.Therefore,theSAstrengthenedtheNSDAPandmade

Hitlermorepowerful.

HitlergainscompletecontroloftheNSDAPBythepartyconferenceofJanuary1922,Hitler'scontroloftheNSDAPwascomplete.Hepersuadedthememberstogiveuptheirrighttoelecttheirleader.

ThiswastheFuhrerprinzip – whereHitlerattheFurher(leader)ofthepartyhadcompletepowerandauthorityovereverything.TheNSDAPwashisparty.

Hitler’sleadershipensuredthatNazimembershipgrewfromabout1,100inJune1920toabout55,000inNovember1923.

SourceD:ThepledgeofloyaltyandobediencetakenbymembersoftheSAAsamemberoftheNSDAP,Ipledgemyselfbyitsstormflagto:• Bealwaysreadytostakelikeandlimbinthestrugglefortheaimsofthemovement• Giveabsolutemilitaryobediencetomymilitarysuperiorsandleaders• Bearmyselfhonourable inandoutofservice

SourceE:AmemberoftheNaziPartydescribingoneofHitler’sspeechesin1922Mycriticalfacultywassweptaway.Learningforwardasifheweretryingtoforcehisinnerselfintotheconsciousnessofallthesethousands,hewasholdingthemasses,andmewiththem,underahypnoticspellbythesheetforceofhisbelief….Iforgoteverythingbutthema;thenglancingaround,Isawthathismagnetismwasholdingthesethousandsasone.

1.HowusefularesourcesDandEforanenquiryintotheearlyNaziParty?ExplainyouranswerusingSourcesDandEandyourknowledgeofthehistoricalcontext.(8marks)

2.GivetwothingsyoucaninferfromSourceAabouttheNSDAPinthe1920s(4marks)

SourceA:ExtractsfromtheTwenty-FivePointProgramme,originallyproducedbytheDAPinFebruary1920.lWedemandtheunionofallGermansinaGreaterGermany.2WedemandequalityofrightsfortheGermanpeopleinitsdealingswithothernations.3Wedemandlandandcoloniestofeedourpeopleandsettleoursurpluspopulation.4OnlythoseofGermanbloodaremembersofthenation.NoJewmaybeamemberofthenation.7WedemandthattheState'sprimarydutymustbetopromoteworkandthelivelihoodofitscitizens.9Allcitizensshallhaveequalrightsandequalduties.17Wedemandalawtotakefromtheownersanylandneededforthecommongoodofthepeople.22Wedemand...thecreationofapeople's25WedemandthecreationofastrongcentralstatepowerfortheReich

Icaninfer

Detailsinthesourcethattellmethis

Icaninfer

Detailsinthesourcethattellmethis

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TheMunichPutsch,1923InNovember1923,HitlerlaunchedtheMunichPutsch (TheBeerHallPutsch)aviolentuprisingtooverthrowtheWeimarRepublicandsetupNazistate.

Itendedinfailurewith14deadNazisandHitlerinprison,anduntil1928theNazisstruggledtogetanysupport.However,theMunichputschisseenbyhistoriansasignificantfactorinHitler’seventualrisetopower.

EventsoftheMunichPutsch

8th November1923Hitlerwith600SAenteredabeerhallinMunichwheretheBavariangovernmentweremeeting.Atgunpoint,Hitlerforcedgovernmentleaders(VonKahr,Lossow,andVonSeisser)tosupporthim.

RohmandtheSAthentookoverthelocalpoliceandarmyheadquartersbutnotthelocalarmybase.WhenHitlerleftLudendorff,thenletthegovernmentleadersgo,theyrefusedtosupporttheputsch.

9th November1923Hitlergatherwith1000SAand2000volunteerssupportersandmarchedonMunichtowncentertodeclarehimselfthePresidentofGermany.Hehopedthelocalpeoplewouldsupportthem,butthedidnotandneitherdidthearmy.

TheGroupwasmetbystatepolice.Someoneopenedfireandtherewaschaos.Ludendorff,RohmandStreicher werearrested

11th November1923Hitlerwasfoundhidingatafriendshouseinawardrobeandwasarrested.14Nazisweredead,Hitlerdislocatedhisshoulder andhisallieswereinjail.ThePutschhadfailed

ReasonsfortheMunichPutsch

ConsequencesoftheMunichPutsch

TheMunichPutschhappenedforavarietyofdifferentcauses:

Longer-termcausesFrom1918therewasalonglistofissuesthatcausedangeramongstGermans,suchas;the‘stabintheback’,reparations,thelossofthewarandthelossofGermany’scolonies.Also,therewasresentmentoftheWeimarRepublic,particularlyinareaslikeBavariawheretheNaziswerebased.LocalleaderGustavonKahrsharedmanyoftheNaziviews.

Medium-termcausesFrom1921to1922,theNaziswereheavilyinfluencedbytheFascistsinItalyledbyMussolini(theycopiedthesaluteandflags).MussolinihadtakenpowerinRomebyoverthrowingthedemocraticgovernment,perhapstheNaziscoulddothistoo?

Short-termcausesDuring1923,GermanywasinchaoswithhyperinflationandtheRuhrcrisis.HyperinflationinGermanyreacheditspeak andmillionsofGermansweredeeplyunhappy.ManysawtheWeimarrepublicasweakandunabletosolvepeople'sproblems.ThetimewasripetoexploitthesefeelingsandHitlerdecideditwasaperfecttimetotakepower.

Intheshortterm,theputschwasadisasterfortheNazis.TheuprisinghadfailedduetoalackofsupportandleadingNazislikeLudendorff,RohmandHitlerwereputontrialin1924fortreason.

• Ludendorffwasfoundnotguilty,asarespectedex-soldierfromWW1thejudgelethimoff• Hitlerwassentencedto5yearsinprison• TheNazipartywasbanned

Inthelongterm,theputschcouldbeseenasasuccess.1.Hitleronlyserved9monthsinjailandheusedhistrialtogetnationalpublicityfortheNazis.HespenthistestimonyattackingtheWeimarRepublic,the‘NovemberCriminals,TreatyofVersaillesandJews.

2.HitlerusedhistimeinprisontowriteMeinKampf (MyStruggle)whichcontainedhispoliticalideasanditbecametheinspirationforthefutureNaziparty

3.Hitlerrealised heneededanewstrategy– violencewouldnotwork,theNazismustgettopowerdemocratically.TheNazismustnowwinpublicsupporttogetvotedintopower.

4.ThebanontheNSDAPwasliftedin1925andthenewNazipartyrelaunched,getting32seatsintheelection.

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The’LeanYears’1924-28TheMunichPutschhasprovedapoliticaldisasterfortheNaziParty- 16Naziswerekilled,theputschwasnotsupported,HitlerwasimprisonedandtheNazipartywasbanned.

RelaunchofthepartyOn27th Feb1925,Hitlerre-launchedtheNazipartyatMunichBeerHallwheretheMunichPutschfailed.4000peoplecametohearhimspeak.OncetheNaziPartywasre-launched,HitlerbegantotakecontroloncemoreandbegantomakechangestotheNazipartyanditsstructure.

Despite theHitler'schanges,theNaziswerefailing whereitmattered– votesinthepollingbooth!In1928,theNazisonlygot3%ofthevotes,theywerethe7th biggestpartyintheReichstag.

HitlerwasreleasedinDecember1924,afteronly9monthsand2weekslaterthebanontheNaziswaslifted.

However,HitlerusedhistimetocollecthisthoughtsinMeinKampf andplanthereorganisationoftheNaziParty

MeinKampf

ThereorganisationoftheNaziParty

LeadershipofthepartyAtthe1926Bamburg Conference,Hitlerstrengthenedhisposition.HebeatJosefGoebbelsandGregorStrasser forleadershipoftheparty,GoebbelswasmadeGauleiter forBerlinasareward.

AtBamburg,Hitleralsosquashedanysplitsbetweenthenationalistandsocialistpartsoftheparty – hehadcontroloverpolicy.

Ersnt RohmwasremovedasleaderoftheSAashewasseenasathreat

HitleralsosetuptheSS(Schutzstaffelorprotectionsquad).ThesewereselectedmemberswhoworkedasHitler’spersonalbodyguard.

TheLeanYears– Alackofsuccess

NaziOrganisationTheNazipartywasbasedinMunich,withdepartmentsforfinance,educationandindustry.TheyalsoraisedmoneyfrombusinessmenwhosupportedtheNazis.

Germanywassplitinto35Gaue(regions)withalocalleader,theGauleiter.Hitlerusedthesetokeepcontrolovertheparty.

TheNazisalsosetuptheGermanWomen’sOrderandHitlerYouthtogainwomenandyouthmembers.

By1929,theNazipartyhadover100,000members.

DevelopingsupportfortheNazisGoebbelswasalsoputinchargeofpropaganda.HeandHitlerbelievedthatthebestwaytogetthesupportofthemasseswasbyappealingtopeoplestheirfeelings

TheNazistargetedwealthybusinessmen,farmers,women,soldiersandanyonewhohatedtheWeimarRepublic,theTreatyofVersaillesandJews.Promisesweremadetoallgroups

Theywagedapropagandacampaignusingposters,leaflets,radioandfilm,andorganisedrallies.

SowhyweretheNazisfailingtosecuremorevotes?1. The‘GoldenYears’- UnderStresemannGermanywaseconomicallybetteroff,peoplehadmoremoneyandjobs.ThereforetheysupportedextremepartiesliketheNazisless.Also,StresemannimprovedGermany’sinternationalstanding,makingthepeoplehappier.

2.ExarmygeneralandwarheroHindenburgbecamePresident,hewasrespectedandthisincreasedsupporttheWeimarRepublicandcutthosewhowereagainstit.

3.TheNazisstruggledtogetanysupportfromtheworkingclasses(whowerethemajority),theyonlygot1%oftheirvotesinBerlinandtheRuhr.ITwasveryclear,whentheeconomywasstrong,fewpeoplevotedtheNazis.

MeinKampf becamethebasisforNazipartybeliefsandpoliciesfrom1924,itincludedthefollowing:1. Nationalism– Hewantedto‘makeGermanygreatagain’byreversingtheTreatyofVersailles

buildin upthearmy,invadingcommunistRussiaandconquerlandsfortheGermanpeople.2. HitlerbelievedtheGerman(Aryan)racewasdestinedtoruletheworld,butwasatrisk

fromJewswhowantedtoweakenAyrans andtakeover3. Socialism –UsingthewealthofGermanytobenefittheworkingpeople4. Totalitarianism – removingdemocracyandreplacingwithoneleader5. Traditionalvales– StrongChristianfamilyvalueswithcleargenderroles.

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Nazisinthe1920sExamQuestionsUsingyourrevisionguide,thesourcesandA4paper,practicethebelowexamquestions.Remembertousethe‘howto’guidesinthefrontofthisbooktohelpyourinyouranswers.

1.ExplainwhytheMunichPutsch(1923)failedYoumayusethefollowinginyouranswer:

• theGermanArmy• Bavarianleaders

Youmustalsouseyourowninformation(12Marks)

2.ExplainwhyHitlercarriedouttheMunichPutschYoumayusethefollowinginyouranswer:

• Ludendorff• FrenchoccupationoftheRuhr

Youmustalsouseyourowninformation(12Marks)

2.Studyinterpretations1and2.TheygivedifferentviewsabouttheextentofGermanrecoveryintheyears1924-29.Whatisthemaindifferencebetweentheseviews?Explainyouranswerusingdetailsfrombothinterpretations.

3.SuggestonereasonwhyInterpretations1and2givedifferentviewsabouttheextentofGermanrecoveryintheyears1924-29.

4.Howfardoyouagreewithinterpretation2abouttherecoveryofGermany1924-29.Explainyouranswer,usingbothinterpretationsandyourownknowledgeofthehistoricalcontext.(16Marks)

Interpretation1FromWeimarandNaziGermany,FReynoldson,publishedin1996.From1924to1929theWeimarRepublicwasmuchstrongerthanithadbeenjustafterthewar.LedbyStresemannintheReichstag,thedifferentpartiesmanagedtoworktogether.TheextremepartiessuchastheNazisgainedfewerseatsintheelections.TheGermanpeoplewerebetteroffandmorecontented.TheWeimarRepubliclookedsafe

Interpretation2FromWeimarandNaziGermany,E.Wimlott,publishedin1997GermanprosperitywasbuiltonquicksandfoundationsTheWeimareconomywasdependentuponhigh-interestAmericanloans,whichusuallyhadtoberepaidorrenewedwithinthreemonths.Intimesofdepression,USmoneylenderscoulddemandrepayment.Moreover,unemploymentneverfellbelow1.3million.Althoughbigbusinessgrewinthe1920s,smallfirmsstruggledandmanywentbankrupt.

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Usingthesetwoboxestomicro-planyouranswertotheabovequestionsYouonlyneedtoplanoutyour3-4paragraphs,andkeywords/termsyouwouldincludeineach

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HowdidHitlerbecomeChancellorin1933?1.TheDepressionInOctober1929,WallStreetinAmericacrashed.AsaresultUSbankslostbillionsofdollars,businessesandbanksshutdowncausingaworldwidedepressionwhichspreadtoGermany.FirstlytheUSstoppedlendingmoneytoGermanyanddemandedalltheloansberepaid.

ThiscausedseriousproblemswithinGermany.

Year Unemployed NaziSeatsin theReichstag

1930 3million 107

Nov1932 6million 230

July1932 5million 196

1933 4.8million 288

TheGermanGovernmentThegovernmentrefusedtoprintmoremoney,soChancellorBruning decidedtoraisetaxesandcutunemploymentbenefits.Theyalsostruggledtoagreeonhowtofixtheeconomy,sonothinghappened.

Thedepressionalsoledtoariseofsupportforthecommunistparty(KPD)fromtheworkingclasses.Theyfelttheyweretheirbesthope.

By1932theyhad100membersofparliament.

2.TheFearofCommunismHitlerandtheNazishatedcommunism(theythoughtitwaslinkedtoaJewishconspiracytodestroyGermany)andtheyvowedtodestroycommunism

TheNazisusedtheSAtofightthecommunistsinthestreetsanddisruptmeetings.

Ascommunistsupportgrew,thisworriedthemiddleandupperclassesandGermanbusinessmen.TheywerefrightenedofaCommunistrevolutionastheywouldsuffer.SotheybegantosupporttheNazis givingthemvotesandmoney.

3.TheWeaknessesoftheWeimarRepublicManypeoplehatedtheWeimarRepublicandtheyneverforgavethemforthelossofWW1,the‘stabintheback’,theTreatyofVersaillesandtheDepressionwhichtheyfailedtofix.

Between1919-1933,therewere20differentcoalitiongovernmentwhoconstantlyfellout,thismeantnothinggotdonesoPresidentHindenburghadtokeepusingArticle48topasseverylaw.ThismadetheWeimarRepubliclookweakanduseless.

ThishelpedincreasevotesfortheNazisasHitlerwhopromisedastronggovernmentliketheyprevioushadintheWeimarRepublic.

GermanbusinessesTheywereforcedtopaybacktheirloansandnowreceivednoinvestmentsfromUSbanks.Industrialproductiondropped40%by1932andwagesdropped15%Asaresultbusinessmenlostmoneyandhadtofireworkersandclosetheirfactoriesandcompaniescausingbankruptcy.

TheGermanpeopleItledtomassunemploymentofworkers,3millionworkersin1930then6millionby1932Thefarmers,themiddleclassesandbusinessmenlosttheirsavings,businessesandwentbankruptWithnowork,raisedtaxesandbenefitsslashedtheGermanpeoplesufferedterriblepoverty

HowdidtheDepressionhelptheNazis?ThedepressioncausedmorehatredtowardstheWeimarRepublicwhomadeproblemsworse.AsaresultthepeoplebegantovoteforextremepartieslikethecommunistsandNazis.

TheNazisusedthedepressiontogetmorevotesastheypromisedtofixtheeconomy.InspeechesHitlerpromised‘breadandwork’toallworkersinGermany,whilsttheyopenedsoupkitchensforthepoor.

ThereisadirectlinkbetweenthedepressionandNazivotes,asunemploymentrosesodidNazivotes.

ThedepressionwasagifttotheNazis,ithelpedthemfinallygetintopower.

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HowdidHitlerbecomeChancellorin1933?

May1932

• Inearly1932,theNaziwerefarfrombeinginpowerbutthingbegantochange.•Bruning resignsafterlosingsupport,soHindenburgmakesFranzvonPapenchancellor

July1932

•TheNazisgettheirmostvotes,240seats(38%)•However,HindenburgrefusestomakeHitlerChancellorashedespiseshim,callinghima‘jumpedupcorporal’

Nov1932

• VonPapenlosessupportandquitsasChancellor• TheNazisdropto196votesintheelection,butarestillthelargestparty

Dec1932

•SchleicherispersuadedtobecomeChancellor,buthehasnopowerorsupportintheReichstag•VonPapenpersuadesHindenburgtosackSchliecher whowantstousethearmytotakepower.•TheyfoolishlythinktheycanmakeHitlerChancellorwhilstcontrollinghim.

Jan1933

•On30th January1933,HitlerisappointedChancellorofGermany•TheNazishavegotintopowerlegallyanddemocratically

5.Hitlerbecomeschancellorin1933

4.TheOrganisation oftheNazisandtheRoleofHitler

TheSATheSAmadetheNazisseemorganised,disciplinedandreliable.Inatimeofthedepression,theylookedstrong.

TheSAwerealsouseddisruptotherpartieslikethecommunistsandopenlyfoughtwiththemonthestreets.Inoneclash18werekilled

PropagandaJosefGoebbelsusedmoderntechnologysuchasradios,films,andloudspeakersalongsidepostersandleaflets.Theyowned140newspapers!

Theyhadsimplemessageslike‘OnePeople,OneNation, OneLeader’

Propagandatargetedspecificgroups;workers,farmersandbusinessmen.

GoebbelswasabletomakesuretheNazimessagewasheardeverywhere,locallyandnationally.Themessagewas‘unity’,bringingGermanytogetheragain

PromisesTheNazispromisedsomethingtoeveryone,itiswhatgainedthemvotes.

AboveallHitlerpromisedtomakeGermanygreatagainbyrestoringlawandorder,destroyingcommunism,abolishingtheTreatyofVersaillesandfixingthedepression.

HealsoattackedtheWeimargovernmentandblamedJewsfortheproblems.Specificgroupsweretargetedwithpropaganda:• BigBusiness:PromisedHitlerwastheirbestprotectionfromcommunism• WorkingClass:Theypromised‘WorkandBread’andareturntotraditional

Germanvalues• MiddleClass:Hitlerwasthestrongleadertobringeconomicrecovery,he

wouldprotectthemfromcommunismandhewouldoverturnthechangedmadeundertheWeimarRepublic

• Farmers:PromisedprotectionfromcommunismandtakinglandfromJews

RoleofHitlerHitlerwasshownasthestrong,decisiveleaderthatGermanyneeded.Hewasaveteran,workerandappealedtoallGermans.GermanypropagandacalledHitler‘ourlasthope’

Hitlerwasanexcellentorator(speaker)whodrewlargecrowds,hewouldflyaround6citiesaday,deliveringsimplebutpowerfulspeeches.

Inthe1932Presidentialelection,Hitlerreceived11millionvotes(30%)whichhighlightedhowthepeoplesawHitlerasafutureleaderofGermany.

OrganisationTheNaziswereveryorganised,theysetupNaziofficesalloverGermanytorecruitmorevotersandgotfinancialsupportfromwealthybusinessmenandindustrialistslikeKruppandBosch.TheyevensetupgroupsliketheHitlerYouthtoreachtheyoungofGermany.

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July1933,PoliticalpartiesbannedHitlerbansallpoliticalpartiesexcepttheNazis,theleadersoftheotherpartiesareimprisoned.ThisgivesHitlertotalcontrol.Democracyisover

HowdidHitlerbecomeDictatorin1934?1,TheReichstagFire,27th Feb1933

OnFebruary27th 1933,theReichstag(Germanparliament)wasburntdownwithacommunistVanDerLubbe arrestedatthescene(Therearerumours theNazisdidit.)

AsHitlerhadbeenwarningofacommunistplottooverthrowthegovernment,thefirewasthe‘proof’heneededtoshowthatcommunistswanttodestroyGermany.

HitlerpersuadedHindenburgtosign‘TheReichstagDecree’,alsocalledtheEmergencyDecree,whichgaveHitlermanypowers.

1. ThelawsallowtheNazicontrolledpolicetoarrestanyonesuspectedofopposingthegovernment,banmeetings,closenewspapersandholdpeoplewithouttrial.

2. Germanhadnowbecomeapolicestate

TheNazisarrestover4000communistsandbanthecommunistparty.

Theyshutdownpoliticalopponentsmeetingsandnewspapers,whilstthousandsaresenttoconcentrationcamps

ThisreducesNazipoliticalopposition.

TheMarch1933Election 2.TheEnablingAct,1933

May1933,TradeUnionsbanned

ThebanningofTradeUnionsremovedworkersrightsandbringsthemunderhiscontrol.

On23rd March1933,theReichstagpassesEnablingActwhichgivesHitlerpowertopassanylawwithoutapprovaloftheReichstag.

HeimmediatelybeginstousethesepowerstogainmorecontroloverGermany.

IntheMarch1933election,theNazisgettheirtheirbesteverresult(44%)However,itstillfailedtogivetheNazisanoverallmajority.

ThispersuadedHitlertopasstheEnablingAct,ashewantedtoenddemocracy.

ThisgaveHitlermore

powerbecause…

Thisledto

April1933,People’sCourtsHitlersetsupthe‘People’sCourts’togivehimcontroloverthejusticesystemandlaws.JudgesaremadetoswearanoathofloyaltytoHitler.

3.TheNightoftheLongKnives,1934Hitlerbeginstofearfromthreatsinhisownparty,theSA(Brownshirts)

TheSAareaforceof3millionmenunderexsoldierErnstRohm.TheywereoriginallyusedtointimidateNazioppositionandwereimportantinHitlercomingtopowerin1933.HitlerbelievedRohmwantstooverthrowhim,whilstthearmydespisedthepowertheSAhadandHimmlerandtheSShatedRohmandwantedtoreplacetheSAwiththeSS.

In1934,afterencouragementfromtheArmyandSS,HitlerordersthearrestofSA‘traitors’

Onthenightof30th June1934,theSSarrest400SAleaders,someareimprisonedandothersareexecutedincludingErnstRohm.

Hitleralsousestheopportunitytotakeoutoldpoliticalopponents,suchasex-chancellorVonPapen.

Hitlerhadnoweradicatedallthreatswithinhisparty,thearmywerenowmoresupportiveanditshowedHitleragreedtomurdertokeeppower.

Jan,1934,LocalGovernment

HitlerabolisheslocalLanderparliamentsandreplacedthemwithagovernor(Gauleiter)whodirectlyservesHitler.

Hitlerhasbeengivencompletepoweroverthegovernmentandlaws,whicheffectivelymakesGermanyadictatorshipunderHitler.

TheEnablingActendsalldemocracyinGermany

4.TheDeathofHindenburgOn2nd August1934,PresidentHindenburgdies

Withinhours,HitlercombinestheroleofPresidentwithChancellortocreateanewtitle‘FuhreroftheThirdReich’

Healsoforcedthearmytoswearaunconditionaloathofloyaltyandobediencetohim.ThisbringthemunderHitlers control.

HitlerisnowthecompleterulerofGermany

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HitlertakespowerExamQuestionsUsingyourrevisionguide,thesourcesandA4paper,practicethebelowexamquestions.Remembertousethe‘howto’guidesinthefrontofthisbooktohelpyourinyouranswers.

1.ExplainwhyHitlerwasabletobecomeChancellorinJanuary1933Youmayusethefollowinginyouranswer:

• TheDepression• TheroleofHitler

Youmustalsouseyourowninformation(12Marks)

2.ExplainwhyHitlerwasabletobecomethedictatorofGermanyby1934.Youmayusethefollowinginyouranswer:

• TheNightoftheLongKnives• TheReichstagFIre

Youmustalsouseyourowninformation(12Marks)

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Usingthesetwoboxestomicro-planyouranswertotheabovequestionsMicroplanyour3-4paragraphs,andkeywords/termsyouwouldincludeineach

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