The Development of the Nazi Party

The Development of the Nazi Party 1920 to 1923

Aims of this lesson By the end of this lesson you will • Understand the main developments in the Nazi Party between 1919 and 1923 • Understand and describe the main Nazi symbols • Describe the main features of the SA and evaluate its role in the early years of the Nazi Party. • Evaluate the threat that it posed to the government in October 1923

The Early Nazi Party • Party foundered as the German Workers Party (DAP) in 1919 • Leader Anton Drexler • Hilter sent to spy on it and was asked to join – very quickly became its leader • Changed its name to the National Socialst German Workers party (NSDAP) • Shortened to Nazi Party

The SA • The brown shirts – Hitler's armed thugs who protected meetings and attacked his opponents • Leader Ernst Roehm • Very violent but got the job done – many had previously been members of the Freikorps

Party symbols • Used the colours of the old German flag – red white and black – to form the Nazi flag • Used an old religious symbol – the Swastika – to represent the party • Striking and easily recognisable

The situation in 1923 • The Party were only known in Bavaria but not in the rest of the country • No one had heard of AH • Hitler had linked up with Ludendorf and was looking for an opportunity to take power • They posed very little threat to the state in 1923

The Development of the Nazi Party