Hitler’sRisetoPower
Hitler'srisetopowercannotbeattributedtooneevent,butamixtureoffactorsincludingeventshappeningoutside
Germany,thestrengthsoftheNaziparty,andtheweaknessesofotherpartieswithinGermany.Hitlerusedthesefactorsto
hisadvantageandin1933helegitimatelygainedpowertobecomechancellor.
WallStreetCrash
In1929,theAmericanStockExchangecollapsed,andcausedaneconomicdepression.Americacalledinallitsforeignloans,
whichdestroyedWeimarGermany.UnemploymentinGermanyroseto6million.
Thegovernmentdidnotknowwhattodo.InJuly1930ChancellorBrüningcutgovernmentexpenditure,wagesand
unemploymentpay-theworstthingtododuringadepression.HecouldnotgettheReichstagtoagreetohisactions,so
PresidentHindenburgusedArticle48topassthemeasuresbydecree.
TheNazisgainsupport
AngerandbitternesshelpedtheNazistogainmoresupport.
Manyworkersturnedtocommunism,butthisfrightenedwealthybusinessmen,sotheyfinancedHitler'scampaigns.
Manymiddle-classpeople,alarmedbytheobviousfailureofdemocracy,decidedthatthecountryneededastrong
government.NationalistsandracistsblamedtheTreatyofVersaillesandreparations.
ByJuly1932,theNazisheld230seats
In1928,theNazishadonly12seatsintheReichstag;byJuly1932theyhad230seatsandwerethelargestparty.
Thegovernmentwasinchaos.PresidentHindenburgdismissedBrüningin1932.Hisreplacement-Papen-lastedsix
months,andthenextchancellor-Schleicher-onlylastedtwomonths.HindenburghadtouseArticle48topassalmost
everylaw.
Hitlerhandedpoweronaplate
InJanuary1933,HindenburgandPapencameupwithaplantogettheNazisontheirsidebyofferingtomakeHitlervice
chancellor.Herefusedanddemandedtobemadechancellor.Theyagreed,thinkingtheycouldcontrolhim.
InJanuary1933,Hitlerbecamechancellor,andimmediatelysetaboutmakinghimselfabsoluterulerofGermanyusing
Article48.
ReasonswhyHitlerrosetopower
1. Hitlerwasagreatspeaker,withthepowertomakepeoplesupporthim.
2. Themoderatepoliticalpartieswouldnotworktogether,althoughtogethertheyhadmoresupportthantheNazis.
3. Thedepressionof1929createdpovertyandunemployment,whichmadepeopleangrywiththeWeimargovernment.
Peoplelostconfidenceinthedemocraticsystemandturnedtowardstheextremistpoliticalpartiessuchasthe
CommunistsandNazisduringthedepression.
4. TheNazistormtroopersattackedHitler'sopponents.
5. Goebbels'propagandacampaignwasveryeffectiveanditwonsupportfortheNazis.TheNazistargetedspecificgroups
ofsocietywithdifferentslogansandpoliciestowintheirsupport.
6. HitlerwasgivenpowerinaseedypoliticaldealbyHindenburgandPapenwhofoolishlythoughttheycouldcontrolhim.
7. GermanpeoplewerestillangryabouttheTreatyofVersaillesandsupportedHitlerbecausehepromisedtooverturnit.
8. IndustrialistsgaveHitlermoneyandsupport.
ThepreviouseightsuggestionsaboutwhyHitlerrosetopowerfallintothreecategories:
1.
outsideevents
2.
strengthsofHitlerandtheNaziparty
3.
weaknessesofotherpoliticalparties
Thinkabouttheargumentsandfactsyouwouldusetoexplain:
1.
HowHitlercametopowerin1933.
2.
WhyHitlercametopowerin1933.
3.
HowimportantHitlerwasintheNazis'risetopower.
4.
WhytheWeimarRepubliccollapsed