1. Nazi Rise to Power

2. Something for everyone
Working class
Farmers – new policies aimed at countryside and small towns
Middle classes – self employed, small businessmen, craftsmen, shopkeepers
Army officers
Upper classes

3. Methods of publicity Spoken word Rallies & marches
Visual symbols all over
Nazi newspapers – disctributed free
Cinema advertising – 1929 Hitler impressed Alfred Hugenberg (leader of Nationalist Party DNVP). Two agreed to cooperate in a campaign against Young Plan. Financial support
Banners & uniforms
Visiting cities (Hitler visited 21 towns in 6 days) during a campaign in 1932)

4. Depression October 1929 American Stock Exchange collapsed
Pay back, less trade, factories closed, unemployment grew
Republic seemed unable to solve the problem
More and more turned to extremist parties who seemed to have a simple solution for Germany’s troubles
Result: By 1930 Nazi won 108 seats in Election

5. Democracy starts to crack
Spring 1930
President Hindenburg appoints Heinrich Bruning as Chancellor
Bruning rules Germany without majority in Reichstag
Possible because Article 48 allows President (or a person of his choice) to rule without needing Reichstag support during times of emergency
Democratic parties could not agree on how to deal with problems – most people lost faith & discontent grew

6. Hindenburg and Hitler
Hindenburg a war hero, twice elected as President
By 1932 old man, not always clear in his thinking
Didn’t like Hitler “an Austrian ex-corporal”, feared threat to democracy
“A cabinet led by you would develop into a dictatorship”

7. Nazi support grows In 1928 less than 1m voted for Nazi Party
By 1930, nearly 6.5m
July 1932, over 13.5m
Largest party in Reichstag
Others saw this popularity and hoped to use them for own purposes
- Nationalists thought they could share power, industrialists thought they could defend them against Communism, army officers thought Nazi’s would give them army back => gave Nazi’s money

8. Legally, violently, propaganda & money
Nazi propaganda was very effective. It blamed the communists and Jews for Germany’s problems and presented Hitler as the strong leader Germany needed.
Nazi stormtroopers were used to attack the meetings of opposition parties during election campaigns. Violence and the murder of opponents were deliberate tactics.
The Nazis had control of the police in Prussia, Germany’s largest state. Opponents were arrested on false charges and the police ignored the violence of the SA.
Hitler had the support of big business; they thought he would prevent Germany becoming communist. They provided the money Hitler needed to fight elections.

10. Chancellorship
Other politicians were concerned about his growing support, others thought they could control him if they put him in a position of power
In 1932 Franz von Papen replaced Bruning as Chancellor
Hitler refused vice Chancellorship – no intention of being linked to a crumbling system with no power to change it.
General Kurt von Schleicher replaced von Papen in 1932 (enemy of von Papen)
Von Schleicher tried to limit activities of Nazi’s
In retaliation, Nazi’s allied with von Papen’s party to defeat von Schleicher in Reichstag
Von Papen then persuaded Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as Chancellor of Weimar Republic on 30 January 1933
Care needed though – few Nazi’s in coalition government & Hindenburg had power to get rid at any time