1. What do you think this woman is doing and why?

2. Following WW1 America had loaned Germany large sums of money to help rebuild its economy. These plans reduced reparations payments to $8Billion (To be paid off by 2004).

3. After the Wall Street Crash (1929), America gave Germany 90 days to start to re-pay money loaned to her. No other world power had the money to give Germany cash injections. Britain and France were still recovering from the First World War and the Wall Street Crash was to have an impact on industrial Britain.

4. The only country that could (or would) help Germany financially was now effectively bankrupt herself!

5. Companies throughout Germany went bankrupt and workers were laid off in their millions. Unemployment affected nearly every German family.

6. Unemployment in Germany
September 1928
650,000 unemployed
September 1929
1,320,000 unemployed
September 1930
3,000,000 unemployed
September 1931
4,350,000 unemployed
September 1932
5,102,000 unemployed
January 1933
6,100,000 unemployed

7. People were desperate and looking for an answer to their problems!

8. Why did the Nazis succeed?

9. By the end of this lesson you will...
Be able to Describe the impact of the economic crisis of the 1920s and 1930s upon Germany
Explain how Hitler appealed to the German people
Analyse why Hitler was able to gain power in Germany.

10. Why did the Nazis succeed? The Treaty of Versailles
At the end of the First World War, Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles. Most Germans hated it. It took away German land, it cut back the armed forces they were so proud of and it forced them to pay massive REPARATIONS (compensation) to France and Britain. Hitler promised to get rid of this Treaty, to retake German land, to re-arm Germany and to make Germany great again. May Germans believed him
The Great Depression
In 1929 a world-wide DEPRESSION began. Germany was badly affected. Banks went broke. Factories shut down. Millions of people lost their jobs. The German government seemed unable to tackle the problem. However, Hitler promised that the Nazis would provide jobs for all Germans. Many Germans believed him.
Fear of Communism
Communists were strong in Germany. They had nearly taken over in 1918 and many Germans feared they would try to do so again. The Germans could see what it meant just by looking at Russia. The Communist government there had taken over industry and farms. The Nazis were violently anti-Communist. Hitler spoke out against the Communists almost as much as he did against the Jews. He sent his supporters to break up Communist meetings and to beat up Communist supporters. He said that only the Nazis could protect Germany from the Communist threat. Many believed him.

11. Hitler
Hitler himself was the Nazis’ trump card. He seemed to be a strong leader. Many Germans felt that a strong leader like Hitler was just what Germany needed. In 1925 Hitler published a book about his life and ideas called Mein Kampf (My Struggle). He repeated many of the anti-Jewish ideas that were common at the time. He also added his own attacks on the Jews. He blamed the Jews for almost anything he found wrong in Germany. Many people read Mein Kampf and supported his views. Hitler was also a very good public speaker – He was able to make people believe what he said.
Effective Campaigning
Nazi election tactics were ahead of their time. Hitler flew all over Germany, addressing five mass rallies per day (this was before the majority of people had television). The Nazis used cleaver propaganda. At the local level they ran soup kitchens and youth events. They matched their message to what their audience wanted to hear. When talking to people who hated Jews, they promised to root out the Jews from Germany; When they were talking to people who were not worried about the Jews, they did not focus upon that. Hitler also made vague promised such as he would ‘make Germany great again’.
The 25 Points
In 1920 the Nazis drew up policies for the time when they might have power. The main
policies were known as the 25 points. Two of the Nazis’ 25 points were:
Only members of the nation can be citizens of the state. Only a person of German blood can be a member of the nation. No Jew, therefore, can be a member of the nation.
Anyone who is not a citizen of the state may live in Germany only as a guest,

12. Why did the Nazis succeed? Promise: To scrap the Treaty of Versailles
Why did this promise help to bring the Nazis to power?
Promise: To provide jobs for all Germans
Why did this promise help to bring the Nazis to power?
Fear of Communism and Hatred of Jews
How did the Nazis use these to gain support?
Why did
the Nazis
succeed?
Effective Campaigning
How did this help the Nazis come to power?
Hitler
Why was Hitler important to the Nazis?

13. Why did the Nazis succeed?
From what you have learnt, write a paragraph explaining why you think Hitler was able to become leader of Germany.
What is happening in this picture?
Why is it happening?
What can this picture tell us about Germany in 1923 (the year the picture was taken)?