The Rise of the Nazis

1. The Rise of the Nazis Setback and Success

2. OVERVIEW In these lessons, you will examine: • Origins of the Nazi party • Aspects of Hitler’s ideology • Effects of the Munich Putsch • Factors towards electoral success • Hitler’s immediate consolidation of power

3. Origins • Originally formed in 1919 as the “German Workers’ Party” – right-wing, populist, nationalist • Became the NSDAP – “National Socialist German Workers’ Party” under Adolf Hitler’s leadership • Recruited ex-soldiers, Freikorps members and lower middle class men • Expanded with an armed guard: SA – “Stürmabteilung” (“Stormtroopers”), a.k.a. “Brownshirts”

4. Early Nazi Beliefs • Abolition of the Treaty of Versailles • Marginalization of communists and Jews • Racial protection and purification through anti-immigration • To combine individual interests with state interests • To create a strong military

5. Factors for revolt During the 1923 inflationary crisis, Hitler and the Nazis saw an opportunity for armed overthrow: • Had created a coalition with other right-wing nationalist parties • Had the support of Great War hero, General Ludendorff as well as other elements in the military • Had the support of the Bavarian state government and General State Commissioner, Gustav von Kahr

6. Setback From Nov 8-9, 1923, Hitler attempted an armed takeover of the Bavarian government known as the Munich “Beer Hall” Putsch: • Bavarian state officials and the army withdrew their support • Police opened fire on the Nazis as they marched through the city • Hitler was arrested and charged for treason; a sympathetic judge sentenced him to 5 years in jail • Hitler wrote Mein Kampf (“My Struggle”) while in prison and was released in less than nine months

7. Re-organization Under Stresemann, Germany regained international status and recovered economically; support for the Nazis faded but Hitler enacted lessons learned from the Beer Hall Putsch: • To gain power by working within the current political framework rather than through armed force • To moderate the party propaganda • To regulate party membership along the “Führerprinzip” (“leader principle”) – total allegiance to the leader

8. New directions Towards Hitler’s primary goal of taking power, the Nazis… • Sought out other nationalist parties for support • Promised to protect the interests of industrialists for their monetary support • Spent huge sums campaigning in the elections • Continued expansion of the SA and other Nazi organizations

9. The turning point The withdrawal of American loans signaled the coming of the Great Depression. Successive chancellors did not have enough support to govern: • Heinrich Brüning attempted to rule by decree but lost power in elections • Franz von Papen allowed the Nazis more freedom in the hopes of sharing power with them • Kurt von Schleicher resigned shortly after becoming Chancellor in 1932 because he could not rule by decree • Hindenburg called on Hitler to become Chancellor and to form a government in Jan 1933

10. Hitler triumphant Upon taking office, Hitler attempted to consolidate his support: • The Nazis held another election in Mar 1933 but gained only 44% of the vote • The Nazis set fire to the Reichstag buildings blamed the communists – the communists were attacked, arrested and then banned

11. The end of Weimar • On March 24, 1933, the Nazi-dominated Reichstag passed the Enabling Act, which allowed the chancellor and cabinet to issues laws with parliamentary approval. • The Socialist party was then banned. • Hitler combined the offices of president and chancellor after Hindenburg died in 1934.

12. Summary Questions • In what ways could the Nazi party be described as fascist? • Why did Hitler and the Nazis attempt an armed overthrow of the Weimar government? • What did Hitler learn after the Munich Putsch and how did he put it into action? • Who was involved in Hitler’s rise to power and why did they allow it to happen? • How did Hitler consolidate his power upon becoming chancellor?