3. THE NAZI PARTY AND NAZI IDEAS
Before 1933, the ideology of Nazism was broader than the viewpoint of Hitler.
The basic themes were: racial struggle, anti-Semitism, anti-Bolshevism, the idea of struggle,
the need for lebensraum (living space) and the destruction of the legacy of Versailles.
The philosophy of Nazism was not just influenced by Adolf Hitler but by Nazi thinkers
such as Gottfried Feder and Gregor Strasser.
The diversity of the Nazi message before 1933 was useful in presenting the political
phenomenon of National Socialism as a movement rather than a political party.
4. HITLER’S OWN SKILLS
After the failed coup in Munich Putsch, Hitler realized that the public’s perception of
the Nazi party was crucial for political success.
In order to achieve this, the Nazi party needed to use legal means, such as elections, to
gain power.
Hitler also attempted to calm the SA (Sturmabteilung or ‘brownshirts’) by making
them take mundane roles, such as training and stewarding of rallies.
Using his own skills of oratory Hitler appealed to the patriotism of the German people.
5. HITLER’S OWN SKILLS (compromise & collaboration)
Hitler's alliance with the conservative and nationalist parties was of paramount
importance in his appointment as Chancellor.
In 1929, the Nazis formed an electoral alliance with the nationalists, the Pan-German
and the Stahlhelm (nationalist paramilitaries) in opposition to the payment of further
reparations.
This became known as the Harzburh Front, this deal was of enormous importance to
Hitler because it offered the respectability needed to woo the middle classes.
6. "Propaganda tries to force a
doctrine on the whole people...
Propaganda works on the general
public from the standpoint of an
idea and makes them ripe for the
victory of this idea."
- Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler
7. PROPAGANDA
Joseph Goebbels was the party's expert on propaganda and was the one who invented
the ‘Hitler Myth’.
He published numerous pamphlets and organized demonstrations as well as election
campaigns.
The use of rallies, speeches, lectures and ‘aeroplane campaigns’ in certain areas was
effective in raising the profile of the party and increasing the vote at elections.
Goebbels sought to Nazify the whole of German culture, wiping away what Hitler saw
as the ‘decadence’ of 1920s Weimar Germany, painting instead a picture of a Germany
with traditional values and with Hitler as the beloved Führer.
8. This is a typical early Nazi poster
from 1921. The first Nazi posters has
bright red backgrounds and a lot of
text. This one announces that Hitler
will speak, gives the topic, and notes
that Jews are prohibited from
attending. In Mein Kampf, Hitler
wrote:
“We chose red for our posters, since it
is vivid and was the color that most
aroused our opponents. It forced
them to notice and remember us.”
9. USE OF FORCE
In 1921 Hitler set up a group within the NSDAP that would protect his political
meetings from attacks by rivals. It gave a military look, feel and discipline to the party.
This group was known as the ‘stormtroopers’ (Sturm Abteilung – SA) or ‘Brownshirts’.
Many members of the SA were former soldiers unemployed since the end of the war.
As the SA grew in size, rather than simply protecting Hitler and Nazi meetings from
opponents, they began to disrupt the meetings of rival political groups.
As the Nazis gained power through democratic means, the SA gained a reputation as a
well-organised gang of violent thugs. This frightened and put many off Nazism, but
others were attracted by the organisation and discipline of a uniformed group.
12. Paul von Hindenburg
He was a german field marshal in WW1. He retired as a
general in 1919. He was a war hero and became president of
the Weimar Republic in 1825. He was convinced to appoint
Hitler as Chancellor of the new Cabinet in January 30, 1933.
They thought he could be controlled. Believing he will be
locked in a conservative dominated cabinet with Papen as
vice Chancellor.
13. Weimar Politicians
At the time of 1932 Nazis had 37 percent of the vote and were the largest single party
in the Reichstag. Hitler was demanding to become chancellor but Franz von Papen was
chosen instead but he didn't have the Reichstag support.
Then he was replaced with General Kurt von Schleicher whose government was also
unable to control the Reichstag.
After this von Papen made a deal with hitler, where he would be Vice-Chancellor and
Hitler as Chancellor. He rallied for Hitler. After being convinced Hindenburg made
Hitler chancellor in hope of him creating a stable government.
14. Weimar Politicians
Specifically on the left you have the communist and socialist which overall failed to
challenge Hitler rising to chancellorship. Communist believed that by waiting and
doing nothing if Hitler came to power he will ultimately fall and communism will end
up victories. The SPD just had no idea what to do, they couldn't act violently. There
was also never any unity between the two and nothing was done to stop him.
And because the Weimar Republic went through so much chaos of losing so much to
the treaty of Versailles, and the 1929 crash this was all used as a blame to the current
system.
15. Weimar Politicians
You also have the conservatives and nationalist which had an alliance with Hitler. Both
saw his ideas of bringing Germany to being the true power it could as important. In
1929 the alliance between the nationalist and the Nazis with the Pan German League
and Stahlhelm, which opposed paying anymore reparations.
1. Conservatives, shared dislike of weakness
and lawlessness of Weimar democracy
2. Conservatives and Nationalists thought that
they could reduce some of the radical ideas of
Hitler
3. Conservative was opportunistic saw how
popular Hitler was. Wanted to use him to get
to power and then make him a puppet
16. Industrial and Business Supports
Industrial business supporters had somewhat of a reason to support Hitler. Because of
the crash, the Weimar system as a whole was blamed, it was portrayed as not being
able to have any power and fix the current situation.
These ideas helped the cause of both Communists and the Nazis, however industrial
and business supports were not fond of communist ideas and they saw Nazi support as
being beneficial to them.
17. Crash of 1929 and Depression
The crash of 1929 occurred from people taking out too much money and speculating
in the stock market. This crash of the stock market in New York. The Nazi party used
this to gain support from a wide range of German people. By taking dissatisfaction of
the economic position and turning it into protests against the current government and
social system.
18. Case for The Nazi Party and Ideas
The Nazi party and its ideas were the key factors why Hitler rose to power due to the
components that build it. The party itself was constructed by
● Its many levels of propaganda
● Effects of the crash of 1929 and The Great Depression
● The intimidation of the Sturmabteilung (Stormtroopers)
● Hitler himself
Propaganda was used to support the party and try to make it appeal to the people. The
depression gave people a reason to support the party due to promises. The Nazi ideas
were supported when they appealed to the specific needs of the people. The SA drove
off opposing parties and Hitler used his speaking skills to lead it all.
19. Case against The Nazi Party and Ideas
The Nazi party and its ideas should be partially credited for its contribution, but the
main point of all of those components is the traumatic impact of the Crash in 1929 and
The Great Depression on Germany. Many Germans were left hopeless during this
time, so the Nazi party appealed to many of those who were economically desperate.
The Nazi party then gained the most popularity it would ever have at the time because
of it. By July 1932, the Nazi party was the largest party in the Reichstag (and can be
argued to be caused by) the effects of the crash and The Great Depression. The party
itself was not genuinely supported until july 1932.
20. Best explanation of Hitler’s accession to power?
To summarize the reason why Hitler gained access to power cannot be simplified
down to one or two crucial points. Many factors contributed to his eventual rise to
power including
● The process in the politics behind earning the “Chancellor” position
● The views of the general public
● The impact of the crash of 1929 and the Great Depression on Germany
● The physical and political intimidation of the SA
● Von Papen’s influence
● Hitler’s own skill
