1. Hitler’s rise to power & growth of Nazism, 1929-1939

2. “In 1929 the golden age of the Weimar Republic came to an end
“In 1929 the golden age of the Weimar Republic came to an end. This was caused by an economic crisis that created political problems. These problems in turn led to the total collapse of democracy in Germany.” Modern World History, p.152

3. Lesson overview
Economic causes
Political causes
Hitler’s tactics

4. Economic causes Wall Street Crash (October 1929)
American banks demanded repayment of loans
German businesses slumped or went bankrupt
Statistics: 1.8 million unemployed (1928)
6 million (1932)

5. Economic causes People could not afford rents or mortgages Shantytowns
Begging on streets
People lost faith in Weimar Republic
Growth of political extremists

6. Political causes Streseman died, October 1929
Disagreement among coalition parties (Centre Party & SPD)
3 alternatives: print more money
cut unemployment
raise taxes

7. What were the problems with all these alternatives?

8. Political causes
Hermann Muller (leader of SPD) refused to cut benefits to save money and resigned
Heinrich Bruning (leader of Centre Party) lacked support in Reichstag and used Article 48 to pass legislation

9. “In effect, Weimar democracy came to an end in 1930
“In effect, Weimar democracy came to an end in 1930.” Modern World History, p.153

10. Hitler’s tactics Support for Nazis grew rapidly, 1929-32
Hitler toured air by plane
Speeches
Modern technology, microphones & radio

11. Hitler’s tactics Joseph Goebbels responsible for propaganda
Nazis owned 8 newspapers

12. Hitler’s tactics
Wealthy supporters, e.g. Alfred Hugenberg (leader of German National Party, DNVP & newspaper owner); Thyseen (steel manufacturer)
Promises to reduce powers of trade unions

13. Hitler’s tactics SA Numbers increased from to 400,000 by 1932
Street battles, bullying tactics

14. Who did Hitler & the Nazis appeal to?

15. Lesson overview General appeal Elite Workers & Peasants
Positives
Negatives
General appeal
Elite
Workers & Peasants
Racial minorities
Young
Women

16. General appeal
‘Stabbed in the back’ theory of the Treaty of Versailles
Failures of Weimar Republic,
Exploited suffering caused by Great Depression
Anti-semitism

17. Elite Feared communist uprising
Supported Nazis (e.g. paid for Nazi electoral campaigns)
Lost confidence in Weimar Republic
Suspicious of Hitler’s background – hoped to control him within government (using Hindenburg & von Papen)
Traditionally supported Nationalist Party

18. Workers & Peasants Farmers
Badly affected by Depression and slump in food prices
Naiz promised financial support & incentives for farming communities
Naturally supported socialist & communists

19. Workers & Peasants Germany suffering from economic depression
6 million unemployed (1933)
Nazis promised to end unemployment & financial hardship
Traditionally supported socialists & communists

20. Racial minorities No discrimination under Weimar governments
Hitler made Jews scapegoats for Treaty of Versailles
Anti-Semitism in Nazi Party (e.g. Mein Kampf)

21. The young Disappointed with Weimar Government
Attracted by career opportunities within Nazi Party
Impressed by activities of Hitler Youth Movement
Joined Hitler Youth to rebel against family constraints

22. Women Greater emphasis on role of women as mothers & housewives
Improved women’s rights under Weimar Republic
Nazi opposed to female careerism

23. Women -  Your task
How useful is Hitler’s speech in understanding the views attitudes of Nazis towards women?
How far do the sources agree with each other? (i.e. have similar views on the role of women)
How reliable is Utta Rudiger’s account of Hitler’s speech in Dusseldorf in 1932

24. Women
Disliked move away from traditional family values in Weimar Constitution
Liked Nazi appeal to family & emphasis on role of women as mothers & housewives

25. Women
The so-called granting of equal rights to women, which Marxism demands, in reality does not grant equal rights but constitutes a deprivation of rights, since it draws the woman into an area in which she will necessarily be inferior. The woman has her own battlefield. With every child that she brings into the world, she fights her battle for the nation.
Adolf Hitler, speech (September, 1935)

26. Women
We were told from a very early age to prepare for motherhood, as the mother in the eyes of our beloved leader and the National Socialist Government was the most important person in the nation. We were Germany's hope in the future, and it was our duty to breed and rear the new generation of sons and daughter. These lessons soon bore fruit in the shape of quite a few illegitimate small sons and daughters for the Reich, brought forth by teenage members of the League of German Maidens. The girls felt they had done their duty and seemed remarkably unconcerned about the scandal.
Isle McKee was a member of the German Girls' League, later recalled her experiences in her autobiography.

27. Women
Women have the task of being beautiful and bringing children into the world, and this is by no means as coarse and old-fashioned as one might think. The female bird preens herself for her mate and hatches her eggs for him. In exchange, the mate takes care of gathering the food and stands guard and wards off the enemy.
Joseph Goebbels, speech in Munich (1939)

28. Women
It was a huge hall and everyone was waiting for Hitler to arrive... I must say it was an electrifying atmosphere. Even before 1933 everybody was waiting for him as if he was a saviour. Then he went to the podium. I remember it all went quiet, and he started to speak in his serious voice. Calm, slow, and then he got more and more enthusiastic. I must admit, I can't remember exactly what he actually said. But my impression afterwards was: this is a man who does not want anything for himself, but only thinks about how he can help the German people.
Utta Rudiger, heard Adolf Hitler speak in Dusseldorf in 1932.

29. Women -  Your task
How useful is Hitler’s speech in understanding the views attitudes of Nazis towards women?
How far do the sources agree with each other? (i.e. have similar views on the role of women)
How reliable is Utta Rudiger’s account of Hitler’s speech in Dusseldorf in 1932

30. How did Hitler become Chancellor in 1933?
Ferriby, p.155-6

31. Political developments
March 1932 Hitler challenged Hindenburg for the presidency
He lost by 19.4 million votes to 13.4 million
Hindenburg – the winner!

32. Political developments
May 1932, Chancellor Bruning resigns due to rising unemployment
Chancellor Bruning – not a happy man!

33. Political developments
May 1932 Von Papen becomes Chancellor
Von Papen – aristocratic & respected

34. Political developments
July 1932 Von Papen calls a general election to win more seats for Centre Party
Nazis win 230 seats

35. Poltical developments
November 1932, Von Papen holds new elections but fails again to win more seats for Centre Party
Hindenburg replaces von Papen with General Kurt von Schleicher
Nazis win 196 seats
Schleicher – the military man!

36. Political developments
Von Schleicher resigns when Hindenburg refuses to continue to govern using Article 48

37. Poltical developments
January 1933, Hindenburg appoints Hitler as Chancellor
Von Papen is appointed Vice Chancellor

39.  Your task
Read Ferriby, p & construct a timeline showing Hitler’s rise to power
Why do you think Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor, especially as the Nazis were becoming less popular?

40. How did the Nazis consolidate power, 1933-4?

41. Night of the Long Knives
Lesson overview
Reichstag fire
Elections
Enabling Act
Political parties
Trade unions
Night of the Long Knives

42. Reichstag fire 27 February 1933, Reichstag building burns down
Marinus van der Lubbe, communist, arrested & admits guilt
Communist plot feared – leaders imprisoned
Article 48, state of emergency imposed

43. Elections March 1933 election to Reichstag
Hermann Göring, Minister of the Interior, ordered police to leave SA alone
Opponents, e.g. SDP & KPD forbidden from campaigning under terns of state of emergency

44. Elections

45. Elections Hitler needed 2/3 majority
Won support of Nationalists & Centre Party (promising to defend RC Church)
Banned Communist Party

46. Enabling Act March 1933, Enabling Act SA & SS present during vote
444 members for v. 94 against

47. Political parties Law against the Formation of Parties
KPD & SPD leaders arrested & imprisoned in concentration camps
Germany a one party state

48. Trade Unions TUs powerful during Weimar Republic
Depression weakened political influence & membership
2 May 1933, TU offices occupied by Nazis & leaders arrested & imprisoned
Labour Front (DAF)

49. Night of Long Knives
30 June – 1 July 1934 leaders of SA arrested & shot
Ernst Röhm (leader of SA)
George Strasser (founder of DAP)
Schleicher (former Chancellor)
200 deaths

50. Why did Hitler purge the SA?
Rohm & others feared as revolutionaries
Growth in membership to 2 million by 1934
Removal of potential opponents
Pressure from within SS (e.g. Himmler)
Concession to conservative elite
Concession to army (Reichswehr) – August 1934 swear oath of personal loyalty