P.E.N to Power: the Rise of Hitler

P- Politics of the Weimar Republic Initially, Weimar Coalition is created to form the Republic (Between Socialists {SPD}, German Democratic Party {DDP}, and the Center Party) -elections every 4 years -Plurality control aka no majority representation -Chancellor selected by the legislature -President elected for 7 year terms; to rule with the Reichstag except under emergency powers SPD- left wing liberalDDP- right wing moderatesCenter- religious focus, mix of both right and left wing politicians

1924 German Election- for 493 Seats Social Democratic Party 7,881, % 131 German National People's Party 6,205, % 103 Centre Party 4,118, % 69 German People's Party 3,049, % 51 Communist Party of Germany 2,709, % 45 National Socialist Freedom Movement 907, % 14 Events of Kapp Putsch-Germany accepts reparation demands of the Allies of WW1-Loss of the Ruhr Valley to France, Belgium-Beer Hall Putsch

1928 German Elections- For 491 Seats Social Democratic Party 9,152, % 153 German National People's Party 4,381, % 73 Centre Party 3,712, % 61 Communist Party of Germany 3,264, % 54 German People's Party 2,679, % 45 National Socialist German Workers Party 810, % 12 Events from Start of Paul von Hindenburg Era

1930 German Election - for 577 seats Social Democratic Party 8,575, % 143 National Socialist German Workers Party 6,379, % 107 Communist Party of Germany 4,590, % 77 Centre Party 4,127, % 68 German National People's Party 2,457, % 41

July, 1932 German Elections - For 608 seats National Socialist German Workers Party 13,745, % 230 Social Democratic Party of Germany 7,959, % 133 Communist Party of Germany 5,282, % 89 Centre Party 4,589, % 75

P.E.N. Approach to the rise of Hitler... As represented through this picture, Hitler was once a random guy in the crowd. Some important foundation facts about Hitler: -Austrian-German -Involved in World War 1 as a dispatch runner: earned the Iron Cross twice. -After the war, Hitler was assigned to infiltrate the German Workers Party.

P- Political Failures of the Weimar Republic -Elections involved over 30 political parties to chose from, in which the people elected the legislators and the President. (From Communists to National Socialists) -The majority of legislators elected (typically holding around 30% of the vote), than chose a Chancellor and Cabinet, that in times of emergencies could give supreme power to the President. Paul Von Hindenburg as President (dies in 1934) + Dissolving the Parliament twice + appointing Hitler to Chancellorship in '33 + Reichstag Fire/Decree + Enabling Act = Hitler take over of the German government

Reichstag Fire Decree Articles 114, 115, 117, 118, 123, 124 and 153 of the Constitution of the German Reich are suspended until further notice. It is therefore permissible to restrict the rights of personal freedom [habeas corpus], freedom of (opinion) expression, including the freedom of the press, the freedom to organize and assemble, the privacy of postal, telegraphic and telephonic communications. Warrants for House searches, orders for confiscations as well as restrictions on property, are also permissible beyond the legal limits otherwise prescribed.

Enabling Act Article 2: Laws enacted by the government of the Reich may deviate from the constitution as long as they do not affect the institutions of the Reichstag and the Reichsrat. The rights of the President remain undisturbed. Article 3: Laws enacted by the Reich government shall be issued by the Chancellor and announced in the Reich Gazette. They shall take effect on the day following the announcement, unless they prescribe a different date. Articles 68 to 77 of the Constitution do not apply to laws enacted by the Reich government.

E-Economic Pressures 1)Borrowed money to fight in WW1 = during the start of the war $1=5. Marks after the war $1= 10 Marks 2)No income tax 3) Reparation demands leads to $1=50 Marks 4)Since reparations had to be paid in "hard currency" aka gold Marks, mass amounts of currency is printed to pay for foreign hard currency to then use to pay debts. $1=60 Marks 5) Start of payments leads to the start of devaluation of Marks in Germany. 1922: $1=300 to 1,000 marks

German Hyperinflation 1923:1 lb of Bread: 3 Billion Marks1 lb of Meat: 36 Billion Marks1 glass of Beer: 4 Billion Marks

N- Nationalism and Newspapers/Media Nationalism - World War 1 suppressed German nationalism due to the due to losing the war. - As seen with the Nazi's propaganda, the economic depression after WW1 shows the extremes of what Germans thought. -Newspapers/Media Use by the Nazi's to spread the antisemitic and other news to people during the height of popularity in print media. Example: The failed Beer Hall Putsch event was published by the newspapers. Subsequent trial of Hitler and his defense speeches were also published in which he grew in popularity. -Mein Kampf- Hitler's personal writing on his political ideology. According to Hitler in Mein Kampf, the Weimar Republic parliament was ineffective, the economic troubles were caused by the Jews, and other political parties were troublesome.

Examples

Now known as Hitler... It is clear that these social aspects play a catalytic part in allowing Hitler to rise to power during the Interwar Years.