1. The Lean Years,
Learning Objectives:
To examine the main steps taken to re-launch and reorganise the Nazi Party.
To suggest reasons for the Nazi Party’s poor performance in elections,
STARTER:
Why might the Munich Putsch be seen as a success for Hitler and the Nazi Party? (8marks)

2. Re-Launch of the Nazi Party
LO: To examine the main steps taken to re-launch and reorganise the Nazi Party
Re-Launch of the Nazi Party
Hitler stated:
“Instead of working to achieve power by armed conspiracy, we shall have to hold our noses and enter the Reichstag against the Catholic and Marxist deputies. If outvoting them takes longer than outshooting them, at least the results will be guaranteed by our own Constitution!”

3. Re-Launch of the Nazi Party
LO: To examine the main steps taken to re-launch and reorganise the Nazi Party
Re-Launch of the Nazi Party
Hitler re-launched the Nazi party on 27th Feb 1925 at Burgerbrau Keller, the scene of the failed Munich Putsch.
4000 people came to hear him speak and the hall was so full that 1000 others had to be turned away.
Following this, Hitler began changing many aspects of the organisation of the Nazi Party, in a bid to make it more efficient and ensure their rise.

4. Re-Launch of the Nazi Party
LO: To examine the main steps taken to re-launch and reorganise the Nazi Party
Re-Launch of the Nazi Party
THE WORKING CLASS
They ran many public meetings and tried hard to win the support of the working classes.
They discovered that the anti-Jewish message most appealed to the working-classes and increased their anti-Semitic propaganda.
Anti-Jewish

5. Re-Launch of the Nazi Party
LO: To examine the main steps taken to re-launch and reorganise the Nazi Party
Re-Launch of the Nazi Party
THE MIDDLE CLASS
In 1928, the Nazis realised they needed to win over the middle classes. They focused on these and increased their anti-Communist message.
The Nazis…
Ran evening classes to train members in public speaking
Concentrated on public meetings
Visited towns throughout Germany
Focused on issues that people thought important
Would change their message to fit the individual

6. Re-Launch of the Nazi Party
LO: To examine the main steps taken to re-launch and reorganise the Nazi Party
Re-Launch of the Nazi Party
By 1929 the Nazi party was incredibly well organised, more of a machine than a group.
It had 10,000 members and Hitler was extremely popular.
However, many historians have described as the ‘lean years’ for the Nazi Party:
What do you think the term ‘lean years’ means? And why were they so lean?
Date of Election
Jan 1919
Jun 1920
May 1924
Dec 1924
May 1928
Sep 1930
Jul 1932
Nov 1932
Mar 1933
SPD Social Democrats
165
102
100
131
153
143
133
121
120
Communists KPD/USPD 22 88 62 45 54 77 89
101 81
Centre Party (Catholics) 91 64 65 69 68 75 70 74
DDP (Democrats) 39 28 32 25 20 4 2 5
Right-wing parties (BVP/ DVP/DNVP) 63
157
156
174
134 90 66 83 72
NSDAP (Nazis) 14 12
107
230
196
288
Others 7 9 29 51 11
Total Deputies
423
459
472
493
491
577
608
584
647

7. Just remember a Golden PIE!
The Stresemann Era was a Golden Age for Weimar…
Just remember a Golden PIE!
For each part of
the pie, what
evidence
can you give? P
olitical stability
More support for Weimar, less support for extreme groups I
mproved international relations
Locarno Treaties 1925 (co-operation, keeping of borders)
Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928 (armies for self defence) E
conomic recovery
Rentenmark 1923
Dawes Plan 1924 (loans from US, lowered reparations)
Young Plan 1929 (lowered reparations)

8. Why didn’t the Nazis win?
LO: To suggest reasons for the Nazi Party’s poor performance in elections,
Why didn’t the Nazis win?
Since 1923 inflation had eased, employment had increased and the public were better off.
This was largely due to the work of Gustav Stresemann, who was popular both in Germany and abroad.
In 1925 Hindenburg, the well-respected 78 year old ex-field marshal of the German army, became president. His reputation restored confidence in the Weimar Republic.
As a result of all of the above, voters supported the Weimar government and the moderate parties instead of voting for extremists like the Nazis.