Gathering the middle class vote 1932 year of elections and opportunity

1. Gathering the middle class vote 1932 year of elections and opportunity

2. Who did Hitler appeal to?

3. Electoral Success • Hindenburg was elected President in March/April 1932 with 49.6% and 53% in consecutive ballots. • Hitler managed 30.1% and 36.8%, although defeated had doubled from the Reichstag elections • However the SA and SS were banned by emergency decree due to increasing violence giving evidence towards the fact that Hitler was planning to stage a coup if he won • General von Schliecher however wanted to tame the Nazi’s and use the SA to create a military dictatorship, and as a result met Hitler. Hitler agreeda position in the new presidential cabinet in return for the removal of Brunig and the lifting on the ban of the SA/SS.

4. General Groener resigned after being shouted down by Nazi deputies in the Reichstag and on May 29thHindenberg demanded the resignation of Brunig. • A new government was formed with Franz von Papen as Chancellor, Schliecher as Minister of Defence. • New Reichstag elections were called for the end of July. • The ban on the SA was lifted and in the run up to elections over 100 were left dead and 7000 injured.

5. Political establishment wanted a return to a more authoritian form of government • Deconstruction of the democratic system was started by von Papen in his coup against the Prussian governments in July 1932. • The political violence in the run up to elections saw von Papen dismiss the SPD dominated Prussian government as it had failed to keep the peace. He did this legally through article 48 • When the leader of the SPD Otto Braun questioned this Hindenberg ordered the army to seize control and appointed a commissioner to govern Prussia. • The SPD and trade unions did not resist • A political police were founded who had no allegiance to the Weimar Republic but only obeyed the Reich Commissioner and von Papen. • The use of legality to seize power set a new precedent. The emergency powers had effectively been used to destroy the constitution.

6. Electoral success 1932 • In July the Nazi’s had 37.3% of the Reichstag vote which meant 230 seats- the largest party in the Reichstag. • They now had a mandate to be involved in any government. Von Schleicher and von Papen were prepared to embrace Nazi support and ignore the violence as it helped suppress the left. • The NSDAP was an attractive ally due to its mass support and broad base.

7. Why Nazi? • Traditional view is that The Middle classes (middletstad) voted Nazi- civil servants, officials and others affected by economic unstability • They did not attract substantial votes from the industrial working classes, but they did cut across class lines more than the SPD and KPD, due to their presentation as a national party. • This is backed by the ill thought out but attractive idea of VOLKSGEMEINSHAFT • The ideal of national community based on racial identity • Many voted Nazi as they were fed up with the failure of Weimar democracy and the vote Nazi was a protest vote • Style was more important that political substance and although they had many vague policies- this is what made them unique and attractive.

8. But • Von Papen refused to hand over Chancellorship to Hitler- he had no majority • Despite negotiations VP and AH could not agree a position of the Nazi’s in government so guess what- an election in November • The Nazis lost 4% of votes but were still the largest party in the Reichstag • Statement • Hindenburg would not appoint AH without a majority • The NSDAP could vote down any government with the support of one other group. • Only option- to rule without the Reichstag and supress all opposition

9. And so • Hindenburg sacked von Papen as Chancellor and appointed Schleicher, who tried to tempt the Nazis into the government but failed • Von Papen then concentrated on getting Hitler to support his bid for power thus getting back at Schleicher • Big business- determined to see a more authoritarian rule and for big financiers arranged for Hitler to meet with von Papen to discuss forming a government

10. Jan 1933 • VP and AH held talks about forming a government based on broad nationalist coalition, similar to Harzburg Front. • Support came from Agrarian League, and industry • Hindenberg turned to VP to form a viable government especially as Schleicher could not form a government without support from the Reichstag • As negotiations proceeded VPwas persuaded not to be Chancellor but have a very heavily right sided Cabinet with AH as chancellor • However Hindenburg was persuaded to appoint Hitler as Chancellor as • Once the Weimar republic had been undermined a new more authoritarian government could be installed. This could only happen if it had popular support – only the NSDAP could provide this • Hindenberg believed he could control Hitler if VP was vice chancellor • On January 30th Hitler was appointed Chancellor

11. Red book • Read pages 122- 129 • Take notes • Complete skills builder on page 127

12. Read worksheet • Answer focus route question • Complete activity box • “Nazi consolidation of power in 1933 was primarily due to the use of terror and violence” • How far do you agree with this judgement? • 30 mark essay due next week.

13. Review • Who killed Weimar democracy • Read and vote.