The Nazis, Leaving Cert HIstory

1. The Rise of the Nazis

2. The Beginning of the Nazis
• In 1919 Hitler joined the German Workers Party as a
spy for the German Government.
• In 1920 the party changes it’s name to NSDAP
(Nazis) and adopts the 25 point programme
(nationalist and anti-semtic)
• Hitler became leader in 1921 and adopted the
swastika emblem.
• Hitler then set up the SA (brownshirts) as private
"army" under the leadership of Ernst Rohm.
• The Brownshirts break up left-wing meetings and
attack communists and anti-Nazis.

3. The Munich Putsch 1923
• When the French invaded the Ruhr Hitler saw an opportunity
and decided to try and seize power.
• He planned to first take the Bavarian government in
Munich,and then march on Berlin(like his idol Mussolini)
• He was supported by a right-wing politician, Ludendorff, and
declared himself President of Germany.
• Hitler took over a Bavarian government meeting but couldn't
get enough support
• The attempted coup was easily put down by armed police
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

4. Aftermath of the Munich Putsch
• Hitler tries to escape but was later
arrested and charged with treason.
• He used his trial to make long public
speeches which were widely and
sympathetically reported.
• He gets a very lenient sentence of 5
years in Landsberg Prison from the
sympathetic judge.
• He only serves 9 months .
• While in prison he writes "Mein Kampf"
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

5. Main Ideas in Mein
Kampf
• The Aryan race is the
master race (Herrenvolk).
• Aryans should have
"lebensraum" (living space)
in a new German Empire
(expanding to the East).
• All other races inferior
(especially Jews).
• Treaty of Versialles should
be reversed, and Germany
and Austria should unite
(Anschluss).

6. Support for the Nazis Declines
• Germany did well under Stresemann - support for
extremists declined.
• During this time the Nazi Party splits and support
declined dramatically.
• In 1924 the Nazis win 14 seats in the Reichstag.
• Hitler decides to reform the party on his release in
December 1924 in order to place it under his
complete control.
• In 1928 the Nazis lose more seats and now have 12
seats in the Reichstag (2.6% vote).
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

7. Hitler Reorganises the Nazis
• In 1925 Hitler re-launched the NSDAP .
• Power was concentrated in the leader.
• A new army was created as Hitler’s personal bodyguard- the SS. They would come under the
control of Heinrich Himmler.
• Special sections set up for students, teachers, youth and farmers.
• Party branches in all major towns - soon 100,000 members.
• Hitler decided to use elections and works to exploit the weaknesses in German democracy and
the constitution to gain power rather than through revolution.
• The Nazis work to get support from industrialists – both financial and political. Industrialists
see the Nazis as a bulwark against communists and trade unions.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

8. Other Factors in the
Rise of the Nazis
• Hitler’s tireless organizational abilities and
rousing oratory- as we have seen by 1929 he
had created a united and disciplined party.
• Effective use of propaganda:
1) Uniforms, swaztikas, banners and
salutes all helped to make the Nazis a distintive
brand- gave unity and purpose to members.
2) Hitler used his trial after the Munich
Putsch to condemn the Weimer government-
widely quoted in National newspapers.
3) Joseph Goebbels was an adept
master of Nazi propaganda-he used rallies,
newspapers,cinema and radio to effectively
drive home the Nazi message.

9. Other Factors in Nazi rise
The Great Depression:
• 1929 the value of the shares in New
York Stock exchange collapse
• Americans call in the loans they gave
to Germany
• Unemployment rises from 1.5million to
6 million
• Poverty widespread
• People turn to non democratic parties
like the Communists and the Nazis
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

10. Other Factors in the Rise of the
Nazis
Weakness of Weimer Government
• Weimer government is unpopular as associated with defeat
(November Criminals)and Versailles Treaty,”The Diktat”
• Ruling class of judges, generals etc. are of the old pre-war
Empire.
• When the Great Depression occurred the gov failed to
adequately deal with the Crisis. Heinrich Bruning, The
Hunger Chancellor, cut spending and increased
taxes(austerity) which made the situation far worse.
• 1931 Banking collapse makes the situation worse again.
• Bruning so unpopular he has to rely on article 48 which
gave the President(Hindenburg) the powers to get
emergency laws passed- this further undermines the
democratic system.

11. Other Factors in the Rise of the Nazis
• Hitler’s nationalistic policies are popular- promises to rip up treaty of Versailles,
crush communism, fix the economy and unite all Germans. He gets support from
Industrialists, Nationalists, Farmers and the Middle classes- very strong amongst
the young and women.
• Hitler provides scapegoats for all Germany’s problems:
1. The Novemebr Criminals were responsible for the treaty of Versailles
2. The Weimer Government were responsible for the continuing economic crisis
3. Jews and Communists were responsible for all that was wrong in Germany

12. Growing support
• Dec 1924 won 14 seats in Reichstag election
• May 1928 12 seats
• 1930 107 seats(Communists won 77)
• Presidential election of April 1932 , Hitler lost to
Hindenburg but received 13 million votes.
• July 1932 230 seats, largest party in Reichstag
after highly successful propaganda elction
campaign.
• However Hindenburg did not want to make that
“Bohemian corporal” chancellor.
• Ex chancellor Franz Von Papen persuades
Hindenberg to make Hitler chancellor with
himself as vice-chancellor-says he will control
him.
• Hitler becomes chancellor in January 1933.