1. The Rise of the Nazi Party

2. Overview
• The Nazi Party was formed
in 1919
• Hitler joined the party
shortly after its inception
• Germany was in a state of
disarray after the First World
War
• There were many extremist
groups in Germany at the
time

3. 1919-1923
• Many Germans felt that they
had been ‘Stabbed in the back’
by the Weimar politicians by
signing the Treaty of Versailles.
Many of them joined Right Wing
groups such as the Freikorps or
the Nazi party.
• People feared a Communist
revolution in Germany. They
looked to Right Wing groups to
act against this.
• Right Wing groups gained
popularity by saying that they
would not adhere to the Treaty
of Versailles.

4. How did the Nazi party gain
support in this period?
• Military uniforms demonstrated
strength at a time when the
government was weak
• Use of force against
communists and Trade unionists
was popular with businesses
• Populist policies and rhetoric
were employed to discredit
opponents and develop
support.
• References to traditional values
and reminders of ‘Who was to
blame’ for the economic crisis
built support.

5. 1923: Munich/Beer Hall Putsch
• By 1923 the Nazi party had
gained much support in Bavaria.
Now firmly under the control of
Adolf Hitler the group attempted
to seize control force.
• Despite having many
sympathisers, the coup failed
and Hitler was imprisoned.
• The failure of the Munich Putsch
demonstrates that power needs
to be taken through legal means.

6. Regrouping
• Whilst in prison, Hitler
analysed, developed and
refined the party’s strategy
• Shift to winning electoral
support
• Development of
propaganda tools
• Attempts to win support of
big business

7. 1924-1929
• Focus on traditional values
• Built fear of Left Wing groups
• Continued use of military
imagery
• BUT the success of
Stressemann’s policies
meant little support for
extremists

8. 1929-1932: A Change in Fortunes
• Wall Street Crash leads to
end of effective financial
assistance from USA
• Unemployment rises rapidly
• Hyperinflation recurs
• Threat of Communism
increases
• Coalition government fails
to address problems
successfully

9. Into government
• Nazis used force to prevent
uprisings
• Rhetoric played on peoples fears
• Big Business won over through
radical economic plans
• Emphasis placed on military
power won support of many
soldiers and traditionalists
• Weak coalition governments
enabled Nazis to gain political
strength
• Propaganda and shows of might
impressed the masses

10. Into government
• Electoral support rose
significantly from 1930 onwards
to make the Nazis the largest
single party in the Reichstag
• Continuing economic crisis led to
break down of coalitions
• Aging and ineffective president
Hindenburg increasingly reliant
upon Article 48 (rule without
needing to consult the
Reichstag)
• Germany in desperate need of a
strong leader

11. Into government
• Invited to become Chancellor
by politicians who believed that
Hitler could be manipulated
• The February 1933 Reichstag Fire
was used to scapegoat
Communists as enemies of
Germany
• In the March 1933 election the
Nazis had a majority in the
Reichstag
• By 1933 the Nazi Party’s rise to
power was complete

12. Rise to power: an overview
• Strong leadership
• Determination
• Popular Rhetoric and Hitler’s
capabilities as a public speaker
• Weakness of Coalition
government
• Wall Street Crash and the
consequent economic collapse
• Support of significant
businessmen
• Disruption of extremist
opponents
• Fear of Communism

13. Practice question
• Explain how the following
together contributed to
the rise of the Nazi Party up
to 1933:
– The economic depression
from 1929
– The Nazi Party’s use of
propaganda
– The weaknesses of the
Weimar Republic