1. Learning Objective: To understand the development and growth of the Nazi Party in the 1920s

2. The Nazi’s in the 1920s
During the 1920s the Nazi Party underwent some quite big changes to their structure and organisation
For most of the 1920s they were unsuccessful and remained a small and extreme party- they were one among many

3. 1919-1923 Set up in 1919 by Anton Drexler
It began as the German Workers Party but changed its name to the National Socialist German Worker’s Party under Hitler in 1921
Hitler joined the Nazi’s in 1919 after attending one of their meetings on behalf of the Weimar government as a spy

4. The role of Hitler
Hitler’s talent for public speaking and organisation was soon recognised by Drexler
Drexler gave Hitler more and more responsibility until he became the leader of the Party in 1921
Hitler introduced a number of initiatives including
Flag
Twenty five point programme (outlined the Nazi beliefs)
Introduced the use of effective propaganda
Introduced the use of force with the SA (brownshirts)

5. What did the Nazi’s stand for?
Anti- communism
Anti- Jewish and beliefs in racial superiority
Strong government and Germany
Lebensraum- living space
Destroy the Treaty of Versailles
Re-arm Germany
Destroy the Weimar Republic

6. The Munich Putsch
On 8 and 9th of November 1923 Hitler and the Nazi’s attempted to take power
On 8th November they stormed a beer hall in Munich where the leader of Bavaria, Von Kahr and other officials were holding a meeting.
He demanded that the Nationalist Socialist revolution had begun and tried to persuade them to follow him
They promised but Ludendorff unwittingly allowed them to leave and they informed the authorities
The next day when Hitler and the Nazi’s marched into the city of Berlin they were waiting.
Hitler got injured, the rebellion was put down and the leaders were arrested and put on trial.

7. The Aftermath
Whilst in the short term the Putsch was a complete failure- Hitler had been arrested
Some positive changes and results came about
Trial- gave Hitler chance to share his views- they were popular and in all the newspapers. He became a national figure
Prison-gave him time to think and write his book
Realisation- Hitler came to the conclusion that the only way to get power was through votes- legally. He made important changes to the Party to achieve this.

8. The Nazi’s in the wilderness
From Hitler made some important changes to the Party
He set up the SS (black-shirts) as his personal bodyguards- they were fanatically loyal to Hitler
He also enlarged the SA- most of these were unemployed men
He changed the structure dividing the country into regions called a Gau. The head of that region was called a Gaulieter. This meant there were wide spread local Nazi parties all across Germany

9. He also set up a Nazi youth organisation to get young people into the Party
They made effective use of propaganda and Hitler placed Goebbels as head of Propaganda. He created leaflets, posters, films, radio broadcasts and even set up ‘photo opportunities’
He also set up the Fuhrerprincip- the leadership principle- the idea of loyalty to one strong leader

10. How successful were the Nazis?
May 1924 32
December 1924 14
1928 12
September 1930
107

11. Why weren’t the Nazi’s successful in the 1920s
After 1924 Weimar Germany changed- it became more successful and prosperous. This meant more people were willing to support it
Hitler’s views were popular with the down trodden- there were less of these- people were less inclined to listen when they were doing well
Alot of workers supported other parties who they thought better represented their interests such as the Communist and Socialist Parties

12. Task To create a leaflet on the Nazi’s in the 1920s You should include
Profile on Hitler- his background and beliefs
What the Nazi’s believe in
Significance of the Munich Putsch
Structure and organisation of the Party
Successes and failures of the Party in the 1920s

13. Questions
What did the Nazi’s stand for in the 1920s? (4) 4 beliefs listed
Explain how Hitler changed the Nazi Party after 1924? (6) 3 ways explained- identify and reason and then explain it.
Explain why the Nazi’s had little success before 1930? (6) 3 reasons explained
How successful was Hitler in developing the Nazi Party between 1924 and 1929? (10) 3 arguments for and against- conclusion plus judgement