Hitler And Nazi Germany (Origins And Rise)

Front 1

Origins and rise of Hitler

Back 1

AHAHA DEAD YET?

Front 2

Economic Failures (1919-29)

Back 2

- Costs of war and the impact of the wartime blockade, compounded by the ToV, severely affected the German economy; returning soldiers could not find work and valuable industrial land was lost. Germany could not meet the reparations in 1923
- The government started overprinting money. Loss of production provoked hyperinflation. A new currency was introduced in 1924 but the loss of value in saving hit middle-class hard and caused lasting damage.

Front 3

Economic Failures (1919-29)

Back 3

- Shortage of domestic investment, which forced the gov. to borrow money from the US, placed the economy in a dependent position


- Wall Street Crash in Oct 1929 sent economy into crisis as the US start recalling its loans.

Front 4

Political Problems (1918-)

Back 4

- Germany → authoritarian rule Kaiser Wilhelm II
- WWI destroyed imperial regime → Kaiser abdicated and a republic was declared
- Socialist government under Friedrich Ebert; signed armistice to end war in Nov 1918. Many Germans were shocked because they believed that their country would win

Front 5

Political Problems (1918-) PART II

Back 5

- The constitution had problems:
- Voting: proportional representation produced coalition governments and allowed small parties to gain representation in the Reichstag. Also, constant governmental changes weakened support for democratic government
- Significant power for the president. (Article 48: rule by decree in case of an emergency)

Front 6

Treaty of Versailles

Back 6

- June 1919: Treaty of Versailles: 13% territory in Europe and all colonies lost, severely restricted armed forces, a demilitarised Rhineland in the west and a corridor of land given to Poland which divided East Prussia from the rest of Germany. Germans were forced to accept war guilt and pay reparations (£6.6 billion in 1921). Anschluss with Austria was also forbidden.

Front 7

Nazi Party (1919-29)

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- Founded by Anton Drexler
- 1921: SA (Sturmabteilung) created
- Nazis attracted ex-soldiers and members of the Freikorps (supported nationalist views/wanted job opps.) Also attracted lower middle-class workers, lower civil servants and students

Front 8

Munich Putsch (Nov 1923)

Back 8

- 8 Nov: Nazis interrupted political meeting in Munich beer hall
- RW Leaders: Kahr, Lossow, Seisser persuaded to agree to Hitler's plan to march into Berlin and establish new gov. Kahr contacted police
- 9 Nov: Hitler and Ludendorff led 2000 armed Nazis through Munich; Ludendorff arrested and Hitler escaped but arrested on 11 Nov

Front 9

Effects of Munich Putsch

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- Failed but was a propagandist success; Hitler said: patriotic concern for country; spent nine months in prison and wrote his book Mein Kampf (My Struggle)

Front 10

Nazi Party (1924-29)

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- Hitler introduced Fuhrerprinzip; demanding obedience because 'he knew best'. SS as Hitler's personal guard in 1925-26; SA (brownshirts) refunded in 1926
- Party org. created for women, students, young people and teachers; helped part direct its appeal to a wide spectrum on society
- Dec 1929: Party membership to 178K

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Circumstances of 1929-33

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- Oct 29 1929: Wall Street Crash; withdrawal of US loans and collapse in the export market: unemployment soared from 2 mil in 1929 to 6 mil in 1932
- Nazis used propaganda to promise the people that Hitler would end unemployment, break the ToV and gave people a scapegoat (Jews)
- Chancellors: Bruning, von Papen, Schleicher struggled to rule without parliamentary majorities and relied on president's decree powers

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Circumstances of 1929-33 PART II

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- Reichstag elections (seats obtained): (Sept 1930: 107); (July 1932: 230, became largest German party in Reichstag). Party was financially exhausted after two elections and Hitler refused Hindenburg's offer of the vice-chancellorship but found it increasingly difficult to restrain impatient SA (wanted power through revolution)

Front 13

Bruning (Mar 1930 - May 1932)

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- Relied on presidential decrees
- Unable to control street violence
- Economic depression continued

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Papen (June 1932 - Nov 1932)

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- Relied on presidential decrees
- Tried to gain Nazi support by lifting ban on SA
- Ended democratic government in Prussia

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Schleicher (Dec 1932 - Jan 1932)

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- Relied on presidential decrees
- Persuaded Hindenburg to dismiss Bruning and Papen but reluctant to be them himself
- Tried to ally with Gregor Strasser and failed

Front 16

Being appointed Chancellor (30 Jan 1933)

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- Party was in decline and Papen and Hindenburg thought it was the right time to harness their energies; still strong enough to counter threat but Hitler too weak to threaten traditional elite rule
- Offered Chancellorship but only two other Nazis got cabinet post
- Papen, deputy Chancellor, convinced that he could remove Hitler; Hitler called for immediate elections: helped by Reichstag Fire (Feb 1933): blamed communists
- Nazis were able to to search, arrest and censor 'until further notice' and utilised this to remove opps.
- Party gained 43.9% and joined with Catholic Centre Party, 11.2%; promised to protect the Church
- Emergency decree was also used to expel all communists from the Reichstag

Front 17

Enabling Act (1933)

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- Allowed Chancellor to issue laws without it first going through the Reichstag and did not need presidential approval either.
- The act had a lifespan of four years before it had to be renewed via the Reichstag

Front 18

Historiography =.=

Back 18

- Taylor and Shirer: rise of Nazism connected to aggressive nature of Germany after war
- Bracher: circ. of 1920-30
- Bullock and Kershaw: Hitler's personality