Nazi Rise to Power

1. Nazi Rise to Power 1929-1932

2. Something for everyone • Working class • Farmers – new policies aimed at countryside and small towns • Middle classes – self employed, small businessmen, craftsmen, shopkeepers • Army officers • Upper classes

3. Methods of publicity • Spoken word • Rallies & marches • Visual symbols all over • Nazi newspapers – disctributed free • Cinema advertising – 1929 Hitler impressed Alfred Hugenberg (leader of Nationalist Party DNVP). Two agreed to cooperate in a campaign against Young Plan. Financial support • Banners & uniforms • Visiting cities (Hitler visited 21 towns in 6 days) during a campaign in 1932)

4. Depression • October 1929 American Stock Exchange collapsed • Pay back, less trade, factories closed, unemployment grew • Republic seemed unable to solve the problem • More and more turned to extremist parties who seemed to have a simple solution for Germany’s troubles • Result: By 1930 Nazi won 108 seats in Election

5. Democracy starts to crack • Spring 1930 • President Hindenburg appoints Heinrich Bruning as Chancellor • Bruning rules Germany without majority in Reichstag • Possible because Article 48 allows President (or a person of his choice) to rule without needing Reichstag support during times of emergency • Democratic parties could not agree on how to deal with problems – most people lost faith & discontent grew

6. Hindenburg and Hitler • Hindenburg a war hero, twice elected as President • By 1932 old man, not always clear in his thinking • Didn’t like Hitler “an Austrian ex-corporal”, feared threat to democracy “A cabinet led by you would develop into a dictatorship”

7. Nazi support grows • In 1928 less than 1m voted for Nazi Party • By 1930, nearly 6.5m • July 1932, over 13.5m • Largest party in Reichstag • Others saw this popularity and hoped to use them for own purposes - Nationalists thought they could share power, industrialists thought they could defend them against Communism, army officers thought Nazi’s would give themarmy back => gave Nazi’s money

8. Legally, violently, propaganda & money • Nazi propaganda was very effective. It blamed the communists and Jews for Germany’s problems and presented Hitler as the strong leader Germany needed. • Nazi stormtroopers were used to attack the meetings of opposition parties during election campaigns. Violence and the murder of opponents were deliberate tactics. • The Nazis had control of the police in Prussia, Germany’s largest state. Opponents were arrested on false charges and the police ignored the violence of the SA. • Hitler had the support of big business; they thought he would prevent Germany becoming communist. They provided the money Hitler needed to fight elections.

10. Chancellorship • Other politicians were concerned about his growing support, others thought they could control him if they put him in a position of power • In 1932 Franz von Papen replaced Bruning as Chancellor • Hitler refused vice Chancellorship – no intention of being linked to a crumbling system with no power to change it. • General Kurt von Schleicher replaced von Papen in 1932 (enemy of von Papen) • Von Schleicher tried to limit activities of Nazi’s • In retaliation, Nazi’s allied with von Papen’s party to defeat von Schleicher in Reichstag • Von Papen then persuaded Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as Chancellor of Weimar Republic on 30 January 1933 • Care needed though – few Nazi’s in coalition government & Hindenburg had power to get rid at any time