Emergence of Hitler

1. Emergence of Hitler

2. November Criminals • On Nov. 7, 1918, the SPD (Socialist Party), led by Friedrich Ebert, issued an ultimatum demanding the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II • The government was told that if the Kaiser didn’t abdicate, the situation would get out of hand • On Nov. 9, Prince Max (the Chancellor) informed the press of the Kaiser’s abdication and his decision to resign • On Nov. 11, an armistice was signed – people blamed the left-wing government for signing it

3. Political Violence • For 5 years, Germany’s major cities suffered political violence between left-wing and right-wing groups • Both committed violence and murder against innocent civilians and each other • Most of the violence was between the right-wing paramilitaries called Freikorps and left-wing paramilitaries called Red Guards • Both admitted disgruntled ex-soldiers into their ranks

4. Examples of Political Violence • In Jan. 1919, 50,000 Spartacists rebelled in Berlin, led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Leibknecht (Spartacist Rebellion) • In Apr. 1919, after much violence, a Bavarian Soviet Republic was created • In Mar. 1920, the Friekorps, the right-wing paramilitary group, led a rebellion called the Kapp Putsch • Also in Mar. 1920, the Red Guards took control of the Ruhr region • In Mar. 1921, communist rebellions were put down in Saxony and Hamburg

5. Left-Wing Is Tied to Jews • Communist leaders of several key German states, like Prussia, Bavaria, and Saxony were Jewish • There were also prominent Jewish leaders in Russia, like Trotsky, Zinoviev, and Kamenev • Lenin (called a Jew) wished to create a German communist revolution and tried to export revolution (Comintern created in Mar. 1919) • Because Jews and Communists were tied together in some instances, Hitler scapegoated both as the enemy and cited them for all Germany’s problems Lenin was considered a Jew, although he renounced the religion

6. Problems With the Weimar Republic #1 – Right-Wing Sympathizers • Many army leaders, judges, and government officials were right-wing sympathizers. They didn’t care about the government • In the Kapp Putsch – 700 were tried of treason by only 1 went to jail • In the Beer Hall Putsch – Hitler was given a light sentence • Hitler was in Munich during these “Bolshevik revolutions” and he feared Moscow’s tampering, like many others • Most people in Germany had investments in stocks, bonds, and savings, so many were opposed to communism

7. Problems With the Weimar Republic #2 – Unable To Stop the Violence • The government didn’t have control over the army: • Army was weak because of Versailles • Army was full of right-wing sympathizers • Army blamed the civilian government for signing the armistice (Stab in the Back/November Criminals) • People criticized the government for being unable to stop the violence

8. Problems With the Weimar Republic #3 – Faulty Political System • Proportional voting led to 28 parties, making it difficult to establish a majority • This caused frequent changes in government. From 1919-1933, there were 20 different coalition governments that ruled • Article 48 allowed the president to enact legislation by decree during times of emergency, bypassing the Reichstag • This caused many to lose faith in the political system and people began to think democracy was weak

9. Problem With the Weimar Republic #4 – Ruhr Valley Crisis • In 1923, Germany failed to meet reparation payments. As a result, France occupied the Ruhr Valley and took reparations from the industries there • In retaliation, the government ordered a mass strike and printed money to pay the strikers, causing hyperinflation • Eventually, the money was replaced by a new currency, which helped the economic crisis along with U.S. loans • France was persuaded to leave the Ruhr in late 1924 • The whole incident was humiliating and led to a loss of faith in the government

10. French troops occupying the Ruhr Valley. Rough treatment of Germans by black colonial French troops led to German resentment and humiliation Ruhr Valley

11. Problem With the Weimar Republic #5 – Following the Versailles Treaty • The government had signed the Versailles Treaty, which most Germans hated • Although they violated it a few times, on the whole they followed it • As a result the government was seen as defeatist and weak Flag of the Weimar Republic

12. Heinrich Bruning • Paul von Hindenburg, the President, appoints the chancellor Heinrich Bruning, but his policies made him unpopular: • Raised taxes and reduced salaries to combat unemployment • Reduced unemployment benefits • Unemployment still rose from 2.25 million in 1930 to over 6 million in 1932 • In September 1930, the chancellor called a parliamentary election, hoping that his party could gain more votes and he could pass his program for economic relief

13. Heinrich Bruning • In the election, the Nazis won 6.5million votes in 1930 • Bruning’s election backfired because more Nazis were elected, so the electorate didn’t accept his economic program

14. Heinrich Bruning • Bruning asked Hindenburg to put the program into effect by decree through Article 48, bypassing the Reichstag • Hindenburg accepted his proposal • This ended parliamentary democracy in Germany and launched a 3-year period of rule by presidential decree Paul Von Hindenburg was a WWI hero and 2nd president of the Weimar Republic

15. Heinrich Bruning Is Dropped • He relied on presidential decree powers and clung to his rigid fiscal policy while the depression worsened. Unemployment was making Bruning unpopular (“hunger chancellor”): • 1930 – 3 million • 1931 – 4,380,000 • 1932 – 5,615,000 • In 1932, Hindenburg ran against Hitler, who attacked Bruning’s policies

16. Heinrich Bruning Is Dropped Josef Goebbels Herman Goering • Hindenburg received 19 million votes, while Hitler received 13 million, a vast number for the Nazi Party • In May 1932, Hindenburg dropped the unpopular Bruning and appointed Franz von Papen as chancellor Franz Von Papen Adolf Hitler

17. Franz von Papen • He hoped to gain Hitler’s sympathy and support by lifting the ban on the SA and by illegally ousting the socialist government of Prussia • He had no support in the Reichstag. As a result, he asked Hindenburg to call elections in July and November 1932 in an unsuccessful attempt to secure some support • In the July election, the Nazis won 230 seats and 37% of the vote, becoming the largest single party • In the November election, they won 196 seats and 33% of the vote, but remained the largest party

18. Franz von Papen Resigns • Papen urged Hindenburg to use his decree power to revise the constitution and transform the government into an authoritarian regime dominated by the wealthy groups • Hindenburg refused because he thought it would cause a general strike or civil war • On November 17th, 1932 Papen resigned • Hindenburg told Hitler that he would be considered chancellor only if he could: • Show that a parliamentary majority backed him • Govern without special emergency presidential decrees • However, Hitler hated to share power, so he couldn’t meet the conditions

19. General Kurt von Schleicher • As a result, Hindenburg appointed General Kurt von Schleicher, who represented the Army High Command • His solution was to try to split the Nazi Party and to win the support of Gregor Strasser (Hitler’s rival) and his more left-wing section of the Nazi party • When his attempt failed, he urged Hindenburg to ban both the Nazis and the Communist party. Hindenburg again refused, saying that it would could cause another crisis as Papen’s earlier proposal would have done

20. General Kurt von Schleicher Is Replaced • The Reichstag refused to back Schleicher on any of his programs for unemployment or relief • Hindenburg was convinced by Papen that the only way to end the parliamentary crisis would be by offering the chancellorship to Hitler. He was from the largest party, although he hadn’t set foot in the Reichstag • Papen believed that he could tame Hitler and keep close tabs on him as vice chancellor • On January 30, 1933, Hindenburg appoints Hitler chancellor…Papen told a friend that “Within two months we will have pushed Hitler so far into the corner that he’ll squeak!”

21. The Deal • Part of the deal with Hitler becoming Chancellor was: • Papen would use his connections to help deal with the Nazis financial problems • In return, Papen could choose most of the Cabinet • Nazis occupied only 3 posts in the coalition Cabinet: • Hitler – chancellor • Hermann Goring – in charge of Prussia • Wilhelm Frick – minister of the interior

22. Nazi Party Platform and Hitler’s Beliefs • Germany lacked land and space for a “healthy” expansion of the people (needed Lebensraum – living space) • Emphasized preeminence of German race • Jews caused all Germany’s problems • Only people of “German blood” could be citizens • Would maintain law and order • Wanted to tear up the Versailles Treaty • Tried to offer something for everyone • Common interest before self interest • Went along with the socialist theme to avoid alienating a substantial segment of the party • The notion that a democracy tolerates different ideas and approaches to solving problems was condemned as disunity and chaos of parties

23. Why People Liked Hitler • Many chose to support Hitler because: • They liked what he stood for • He gradually implemented more restrictions • Some were fanatical • Opportunists who were riding a bandwagon • They saw in Hitler a savior who would end Germany’s humiliation and injustices of Versailles

24. Anti-Democratic Feelings • Anti-democratic ideas were supported by: • Right-wing • Left-wing • Ignorant and ill-educated • Middle class youth – student unions and universities • Unemployed • Elite • Political parties