Why did the Nazis became more popular in the

1920s?

Reasons for popularity Reasons for popularity of Nazisof Nazis

Clear policies – 25 Point Clear policies – 25 Point Programme / Mein KampfProgramme / Mein Kampf

Party discipline – Hitler Party discipline – Hitler reorganised party into gau, reorganised party into gau,

Presence of SA at meetingsPresence of SA at meetings

Reasons for popularity Reasons for popularity of Nazisof Nazis

Hitler’s leadership skills – Hitler’s leadership skills – effective public speaker, effective public speaker, tuned into popular feeling, tuned into popular feeling, played on hatred of Treaty of played on hatred of Treaty of Versailles (said he would tear Versailles (said he would tear it up) also promised economic it up) also promised economic prosperity, rebuilding of prosperity, rebuilding of military strength and new military strength and new international standing for international standing for Germany Germany

Reasons for popularity Reasons for popularity of Nazisof Nazis

Trial after Munich Putsch – Trial after Munich Putsch – Hitler given public platformHitler given public platformEven the judges approved of Even the judges approved of what he said.what he said.

Change from violence to legal Change from violence to legal methods of – broadened appeal methods of – broadened appeal to middle-classesto middle-classes

Why did the Nazis became more popular 1929-

1932?

The Wall Street CrashThe Wall Street Crash 1929, US stock 1929, US stock market market crashedcrashed

US economy US economy plunged into plunged into depression.depression.US loans were US loans were recalled pulling recalled pulling the supporting the supporting pillars out from pillars out from under the German under the German economyeconomy

A journalist once said: “When America “When America sneezes the whole world catches a cold”sneezes the whole world catches a cold”

What was the impact of the What was the impact of the Depression on Germany?Depression on Germany?

1928-1932, unemployment increased from 1928-1932, unemployment increased from 2.5 to 6 million2.5 to 6 million

DisillusionmentDisillusionment with Weimar Republic - with Weimar Republic - people still remember the people still remember the hyperinflation of 1923. hyperinflation of 1923.

Growth of Growth of extremismextremism – Communists – Communists increased their seats in the Reichstag increased their seats in the Reichstag from 54-77from 54-77

Nazis increased their seats in the Nazis increased their seats in the Reichstag from 12 to 107- became the 2Reichstag from 12 to 107- became the 2ndnd largest partylargest party

How did the Depression help How did the Depression help Hitler?Hitler?

Chaos & confusion Chaos & confusion (exploited by (exploited by SASA))

Support from Support from professionalsprofessionals & & industrialistsindustrialists increasedincreased

Nazi campaigns & Nazi campaigns & propagandapropaganda cleverly cleverly exploited popular exploited popular feelingfeeling

This Nazi poster entitled, ‘Hitler our last hope’ was extremely

effective.

This poster is from the September 1930 Reichstag election.

In it a Nazi sword kills a snake, the blade passing through a red Star of David. The red words coming from the snake are: usury, Versailles, unemployment, war guilt lie, Marxism, Bolshevism, lies and betrayal, inflation, Locarno, Dawes Pact, Young Plan, corruption, prostitution, terror, civil war.

Hitler wanted to Hitler wanted to take advantage of take advantage of the increasing the increasing popularity of the popularity of the Nazis Nazis

He wanted to take He wanted to take the next step the next step towards real towards real political power.political power.

Hitler decided to stand as Hitler decided to stand as president in 1932.president in 1932.

He expected to be He expected to be successful because:successful because:

Hindenburg was old and Hindenburg was old and out of touchout of touch

Hindenburg was Hindenburg was associated with associated with ‘November Criminals’ of ‘November Criminals’ of Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles

Hitler’s policies were Hitler’s policies were persuasive and persuasive and attractive– e.g. an end attractive– e.g. an end to unemployment, anti-to unemployment, anti-SemitismSemitism

What do you think this photo suggests about Hitler’s

relationship with Hindenburg?

March 1932 Hitler March 1932 Hitler challenged challenged Hindenburg for Hindenburg for the presidencythe presidency

He lost by 19.4 He lost by 19.4 million votes to million votes to 13.4 million13.4 million

But he raised his But he raised his profile (i.e. profile (i.e. increased increased publicity)publicity) Hindenburg – the

winner!

A huge tangled A huge tangled web of web of political political infighting and infighting and backstabbing backstabbing finally finally resulted in resulted in Hitler becoming Hitler becoming Chancellor of Chancellor of Germany.Germany.

How did political How did political developments help developments help

Hitler?Hitler? May 1932, May 1932, Chancellor Chancellor Bruning Bruning resigned due resigned due to rising to rising unemploymentunemployment

Chancellor Bruning – not a

happy man!

In May 1932 In May 1932 Von Papen Von Papen became became ChancellorChancellor

Von Papen – aristocratic &

respected

Political developmentsPolitical developments

In July 1932 In July 1932 Von Papen Von Papen called a called a general general election to win election to win more seats for more seats for the Centre the Centre PartyParty

The Nazis won The Nazis won 230 seats230 seats

In November 1932, In November 1932, Von Papen held new Von Papen held new elections but elections but failed again to win failed again to win more seats for more seats for Centre PartyCentre Party

Hindenburg replaced Hindenburg replaced von Papen. General von Papen. General von Schleicher von Schleicher became Chancellorbecame Chancellor

The Nazis won 196 The Nazis won 196 seatsseats

Von Schleicher – the military man!

In December 1932, Von Schleicher In December 1932, Von Schleicher resigned when Hindenburg refused to resigned when Hindenburg refused to continue to govern using continue to govern using Article 48Article 48

In January 1933, In January 1933, Hitler persuaded Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to appoint Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as ChancellorHitler as Chancellor

(Look at the Temporary (Look at the Temporary triangle cartoon on triangle cartoon on the studysite)the studysite)

http://http://study.abingdon.org.uk/study.abingdon.org.uk/history/history/4th_1933_punch.html4th_1933_punch.html

Von Papen was Von Papen was appointed Vice appointed Vice ChancellorChancellor