This document discusses factors that contributed to Hitler's rise to power in Germany. It analyzes both favorable circumstances and Hitler's leadership abilities. Regarding circumstances, it cites the weakness of Germany's Weimar Republic due to issues with its proportional representation system which led to political instability, as well as the economic crises of hyperinflation in the early 1920s and the Great Depression in 1929 which undermined support for moderate parties. Hitler was able to take advantage of this unstable political and economic environment to increase support for the Nazi party.

1. Chapter 3
3.1 To what extent was Hitler’s rise to power due more to
favourable circumstances than his leadership abilities
3.2 To what extent, if at all, did Hitler’s rule benefit the
people in Germany?

2. Reasons for the rise of Hitler
1) Favourable circumstances
2) Hitler’s abilities

3. Favourable circumstances
• Weakness of the Weimar Republic
• Hyperinflation
• Impact of Great Depression

4. Proportional Representation
For eg if we use proportional
representation in Singapore’s context
Taking data from the 2011 General
Elections
PAP 60% 52
WP 13% 11
NSP 12% 11
SDP 5% 4
RP 4% 4
SPP and SDA 6% 5
BUT
PAP: 81
WP: 6
NSP: 0
SDP: 0
RP: 0
SPP and SDA: 0

5. Singapore’s current system

6. What are the implications?
• No party had majority
• High degree of fragmentation in parliament

7. Coalition government
• All parties in the parliament come together to
form a coalition government
• Some parties were extreme and not willing to
compromise

8. What are the implications
• The coalition government kept breaking up
which meant frequent changes to government
• 20 different coalition governments from 1919
– 1933
• Difficult to pass laws

9. Article 48
• Gave President the power to dissolve both houses of
parliament and rule for 6 months in times of
emergency
• Civil liberties could be suspended
• Not clearly defined

11. Singapore Constitution Article 150

12. Weak support
Left-wing
- Opposed to democracy
- Took part in revolutions
to overthrow the WR
- Communist Spartacists
fought against the
Freikorps

13. Weak Support
Right-wing
- Disagreed with the TOV
- Nationalistic and
conservative
- Felt betrayed by the WR
(November Criminals)
- Wanted a dictatorial
government and thus
impeded the work of the
WR
- Blamed the politicians for
the defeat of Germany

14. Favourable circumstances
• Weakness of the Weimar Republic
• Hyperinflation
• Impact of Great Depression

15. What is Hyperinflation?

16. Hyperinflation
• Workers went on strike so that there was
nothing the French could take
• The WR printed more money to pay the
striking workers as well as to pay off some
debt
• Only resolved when the Rentenmark was
introduced

18. What are its implications
• Middle classes were hardest hit
as their entire savings were
wiped out
• Even though it was eventually
solved, the WR never won back
the support of the middle class

19. Stresemann Era (1923 – 1929)
• Chancellor (Aug 1923 – Nov 1923)
• Brought hyperinflation to an end
• Negotiated the Dawes Plan in 1924
• Locarno Treaties
• Entry into the League of Nations
• Young Plan in 1929

20. Favourable circumstances
• Weakness of the Weimar Republic
• Hyperinflation
• Impact of Great Depression

21. Great Depression
1929

22. Economic Crisis
• Government made cuts to social services
• Poverty, Homelessness, Starvation
• 1932, 6 million people unemployed (33%)

23. Political Crisis
• Coalition government could not decide on
what to do
• No laws were passed
• People wanted more decisive action
• Decline in support for moderate parties
• Increase in support for extreme parties(Nazi
Party/Communist Party)

24. Favourable Circumstances
1) Weakness of the Weimar Republic
– Constitution and Proportional Representation
– Weak Support
2) Hyperinflation
3) Impact of Great Depression