The rise of the extremist parties

Fragility of parliamentary system

Economic crisis

Appeal of Nazi party / propaganda / Hitler

No solution for economic crisis

Aggravation of economic crisis

Fragility of political system

Further political radicalisation

KPD

• Little support 1924-28

KPD

• Little support 1924-28• Paramilitary organisation:

Roter Frontkämpferbund

Ernst Thälmann

KPD

• Little support 1924-28• Paramilitary organisation:

Roter Frontkämpferbund• Loyal to Moscow and

Comintern

„Bloody May“ 1929

KPD

• Little support 1924-28• Paramilitary organisation:

Roter Frontkämpferbund• Loyal to Moscow and

Comintern• Perceives SPD as „social

fascists“ – split in 1929

KPD

• Little support 1924-28• Paramilitary organisation:

Roter Frontkämpferbund• Loyal to Moscow and

Comintern• Perceives SPD as „social

fascists“ – split in 1929• Members:

1930: 130,000

1932: 300,000

KPD NSDAP

• Little support 1924-28• Paramilitary organisation:

Roter Frontkämpferbund• Loyal to Moscow and

Comintern• Perceives SPD as „social

fascists“ – split in 1929• Members:

1930: 130,000

1932: 300,000

• Little support 1924-28

KPD NSDAP

• Little support 1924-28• Paramilitary organisation:

Roter Frontkämpferbund• Loyal to Moscow and

Comintern• Perceives SPD as „social

fascists“ – split in 1929• Members:

1930: 130,000

1932: 300,000

• Little support 1924-28• Paramilitary organisation:

Sturmabteilung (SA)

Sturmabteilung

KPD NSDAP

• Little support 1924-28• Paramilitary organisation:

Roter Frontkämpferbund• Loyal to Moscow and

Comintern• Perceives SPD as „social

fascists“ – split in 1929• Members:

1930: 130,000

1932: 300,000

• Little support 1924-28• Paramilitary organisation:

Sturmabteilung (SA)• Start-up in 1925,

Focus on Hitler

KPD NSDAP

• Little support 1924-28• Paramilitary organisation:

Roter Frontkämpferbund• Loyal to Moscow and

Comintern• Perceives SPD as „social

fascists“ – split in 1929• Members:

1930: 130,000

1932: 300,000

• Little support 1924-28• Paramilitary organisation:

Sturmabteilung (SA)• Start-up in 1925,

Focus on Hitler• Seeks power by legal

means

KPD NSDAP

• Little support 1924-28• Paramilitary organisation:

Roter Frontkämpferbund• Loyal to Moscow and the

Comintern• Perceives SPD as „social

fascists“ – split in 1929• Members:1930: 130,0001932: 300,000

• Little support 1924-28• Paramilitary organisation:

Sturmabteilung (SA)• Start-up in 1925, Focus on Hitler• Seeks power by legal

means• Members:1930: 130,0001932: 450,000Jan. 1933: 720,000

Public transport strike in Berlin, November 1932

• Right to work

• Abolition of child labour

• Old-age-pension-system

• Confiscation of war profits

Nazi economic programme

• State socialism:Economy serves the people, not the individual

State oversees direction of economy

Nazi economic programme

• State socialism:Economy serves the people, not the individual

State oversees direction of economy

• Autarkic economic development:Self-sufficiency through Lebensraum in Central Europe

Nazi economic programme

• State socialism:Economy serves the people, not the individual

State oversees direction of economy

• Autarkic economic development:Self-sufficiency through Lebensraum in Central Europe

• Direct state intervention in monetary matters:Public investment

Cheap money policy

Investing in capital goods

Workers attracted by the Nazis

• Nationalistic workers

Workers attracted by the Nazis

• Nationalistic workers

• Workers of the domestic / stagnant sector

Workers attracted by the Nazis

• Nationalistic workers

• Workers of the domestic / stagnant sector

• Unemployed workers

Workers attracted by the Nazis

• Nationalistic workers

• Workers of the domestic / stagnant sector

• Unemployed workers

• Workers with the desire for social mobility

Persecution of the KPD

• 2. Feb 1933: assembly ban on KPD

Persecution of the KPD

• 2. Feb 1933: assembly ban on KPD

• 17. Feb. 1933: firearms can be used

Persecution of the KPD

• 2. Feb 1933: assembly ban on KPD

• 17. Feb. 1933: firearms can be used

• 24. Feb 1933: headquarters of KPD closed

Persecution of the KPD

• 2. Feb 1933: assembly ban on KPD

• 17. Feb. 1933: firearms can be used

• 24. Feb 1933: headquarters of KPD closed

• 28.Feb. 1933: burning of the Reichstag blamed on KPD – Emergency Decree

Persecution of the KPD

• 2. Feb 1933: assembly ban on KPD

• 17. Feb. 1933: firearms can be used

• 24. Feb 1933: headquarters of KPD closed

• 28.Feb. 1933: burning of the Reichstag blamed on KPD – Emergency Decree

• 7. April 1933: Law for the Restoration of the Civil Service

Persecution of the KPD

• 2. Feb 1933: assembly ban on KPD

• 17. Feb. 1933: firearms can be used

• 24. Feb 1933: headquarters of KPD closed

• 28.Feb. 1933: burning of the Reichstag blamed on KPD – Emergency Decree

• 7. April 1933: Law for the Restoration of the Civil Service

• 1. May 1933: „Marxism is dead“

Persecution of the SPD

• 8. Mar 1933: occupation of trade union buildings, arrest of functionaries

Persecution of the SPD

• 8. Mar 1933: occupation of trade union buildings, arrest of functionaries

• 10. Mar 1933: arrest of SPD politicians (leaders, deputies, mayors)

Persecution of the SPD

• 8. Mar 1933: occupation of trade union buildings, arrest of functionaries

• 10. Mar 1933: arrest of SPD politicians (leaders, deputies, mayors)

• 11.Mar 1933: occupation of Reichsbanner headquarters, arrest of trade union leaders

Persecution of the SPD

• 8. Mar 1933: occupation of trade union buildings, arrest of functionaries

• 10. Mar 1933: arrest of SPD politicians (leaders, deputies, mayors)

• 11.Mar 1933: occupation of Reichsbanner headquarters, arrest of trade union leaders

• 22. Jun 1933: SPD enemy of the state, all remaining socialists arrested