This page considers Hitler's leadership of the Nazis and its impact on their eventual rise to power.

1. Hitler’s leadership
of the Nazis

2. In July 1919, an intelligence
agent named Adolf Hitler was
assigned to monitor the
German Workers’ Party
(DAP).
The party was led by Anton
Drexler and Hitler became
attracted to Drexler’s
arguments in favour of strong
government, anti-Semitism
and anti-Communism.

3. Hitler joined the DAP and soon
became an extremely active
member.
The party changed its name to
the National Socialist German
Workers’ Party (NSDAP).
Hitler would later personally
design a new logo: a black
swastika in a white circle on a
red background.

4. After leaving the army, Hitler
became more and more
prominent not only in the Nazi
Party but also German society.
In June 1921 the Nazi Party
came close to splitting over
plans to merge with the German
Socialist Party. Fearing Hitler’s
resignation, the party instead
made Hitler leader.

5. Hitler attracted great support
within the party, and also new
members too.
Hitler then attempted to take
power in the 1923 Munich
Putsch. Hitler and members of
the SA broke into a public
meeting in a beer hall. They
then attempted to take control
of the Bavarian government.

6. The Beer Hall Putsch did not
succeed – but helped Hitler.
Hitler was put on trial and
during this period received huge
publicity, becoming a national
figure. Whilst he was in
Landsberg Prison he wrote
Mein Kampf, outlining his
political views. He was released
after only a few months.

7. The NSDAP’s decline – and
infighting – when Hitler was in
prison had shown how
important he was to the party.
After being released, Hitler set
about reorganising the Nazi
Party. He had come to believe
that a putsch would not
succeed and that the Nazis
must win electoral power.

8. Hitler believed that Germany
could only succeed through
Fuhrerprinzip – and he
believed the same was true of
the Nazis.
This was the idea that
democracy cannot properly
function (giving weak
government) and so a one-
party state with a strong
leader was needed.

9. Hitler realised the value of
image and propaganda in
winning public support.
As well as designing the new
Nazi logo, he also introduced
the right arm salute. He also
gave the SA stormtroopers a
brown shirt uniform, to make
them seem more organised and
militaristic.

10. Hitler himself was a key part of
the propaganda. He was a
powerful speaker at mass
meetings, most famously the
Nuremberg Rallies (although
people said he was not very
impressive when spoken to on
an individual level).
Hitler also worked alongside
Joseph Goebbels who became
his propaganda chief.

11. The Nazis’ use of propaganda
was not restricted to rallies. They
made leaflets and posters,
produced radio and cinema
adverts and used planes too.
In addition the Nazis aimed to
win support from prominent
local people such as butchers or
teachers, to persuade others to
join them.

12. The Nazis were organised by
Gregor Strasser. Local party
branches were divided into
Gaues and organised under a
Gauleiter. They ran soup
kitchens and organised food
parcels to win public backing.
This was especially important
during the economic
depression, when voters
became attracted due to this.

13. There were numerous Nazi
organisations too, to attract all
members of society. They had
groups for young people,
women, student, lawyers,
factory workers and others too.
The Nazis called themselves a
Bewegung (movement) to set
themselves apart from other
political parties.

14. The Nazis also win support
through their political policies.
They offered a simple message to
Germans, including:
• Lebensraum (living space)
• Volksgemeinschaft (national
community)
• End the Treaty of Versailles
• Anti-Semitism and Communism

15. Hitler also ensured that the
Nazis could challenge any
opposition using violence if
required.
The SA (Sturm-Abteilung or
stormtroopers) were the Nazis’
paramilitary wing. They were
formed in 1920 to help protect
Nazi speakers but soon played
a much bigger role.

16. The SA wore brown shirts and
portrayed the Nazis as
controlled and disciplined. By
1933, the SA had 500,000
members.
They engaged in marches and
distributing leaflets, but also
often fell into violent
confrontations with rival
groups, especially Communists.

17. Due to the violence they were
involved in, the SA were
banned by Chancellor Bruning
in 1932, although Chancellor
Papen ended this.
For most of the 1920s and
early-1930s, the SA were led
by Ernst Rohm, who
supported a more radical and
socialist Germany.

18. Historians’ views
• Frank McDonough: Propaganda was key to Nazi success,
thanks to Josef Goebbels. It is no coincidence that the great
surge in Nazi electoral support took place in the period after
Goebbels took control of Nazi Party propaganda.
• Jill Stephenson: Nazi propaganda was a powerful weapon,
with mutually irreconcilable promises made to different social
or regional groups at the same time but in different locations.
But what enabled the NSDAP to disseminate its propaganda
was the growing strength of its organisation.