Hitler’s Rise to
Power
How did these problems help the
Nazis?
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The Nazis used the Depression to gain popularity.
They highlighted the weaknesses of the Weimar
Government and promised the people of
Germany jobs and food.
To the people of Germany Hitler represented a
strong, powerful leadership, going back to the
time of the Kaiser when Germany was strong and
successful.
No. of Seats in Parliament
Hitler's Rise to Power
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
1928
1930
Jul-32
Year
Nov-32
1933
Hitler's Rise to Power
Unemployment
6,000,000
5,000,000
4,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
0
1928
1930
Jul-32
Year
1933
How did the Nazis do it?

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The effects of the Depression can only
partly explain the success of the Nazis.
All the parties claimed to have solutions to
the Depression.
What made the Nazis so special?
Organisation
Weaknesses
Of the Opposition
Hitler the Superman
Propaganda
How did the
Nazis do it?
Flexibility
Support of the
Industrialists
Use of Technology
Promises to Voters
Task

Using the information on page 51in your
text books you have to explain how each of
those factors helped the Nazis rise to
power.
Organisation

The Nazis were very well organised and
had skilled leaders at almost every level.

How did this help?
It meant that the Nazis looked better and
more powerful than the other parties. At a
time when Germany was in chaos the
Nazis were strong and organised.

Propaganda

The Nazis were masters at propaganda
and they trained local groups in
propaganda skills.

How did this help?
The Nazis were believed to be the most
powerful party in Germany. People
believed their promises.

Support of the industrialists

One of the Nazis aims was to achieve the
support of the powerful industrialists. Hitler
made a deal with the Nationalists, by which
both parties agreed to co-operate.

How did this help?
The Nazis gained votes and also received
financial backing from the industrialists.

Use of Technology

The Nazis used technology to influence people.
They used radios to reach large audiences and in
the 1932 presidential election Hitler flew all over
Germany in order to speak at 4 or 5 massive
rallies each day.

How did this help?
The use of technology was impressive. It also
meant that Nazi ideas were spread all over
Germany and reached huge numbers of people.

Promises to voters

The Nazis promised people what they
wanted to hear.

How did this help?
Everyone wanted to vote for the Nazis as
they appealed to everyone.

Flexibility

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If the Nazis found that an idea was losing them
support then they would change and if an idea
was popular they would repeat it.
The Nazis made lots of vague promises such as
they would ‘make Germany great again’
How did this help?
No-one really knew what the Nazis stood for but it
sounded good!
Hitler the superman
Hitler was portrayed as the saviour
of Germany. The Nazi campaigns
focused around his personality and
his skills.

How did this help?
 Hitler was a powerful leader
and no-one from any of the other
parties could match him.

But…

Hitler needed glasses to read but refused
to be seen wearing them in public. His
speeches had to be typed in print 12 mm
high!
Weaknesses of the opposition

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Other parties constantly underestimated
the Nazis.
They also quarrelled amongst themselves
rather than uniting to fight the Nazis.
How did this help?
It meant that there was no effective
opposition to the Nazis.
Summary - Why was Hitler successful
by 1933 and not in the 1920s?
Everything had been good for the most part of the
1920s. People were not looking for an alternative
government, they were happy with the Weimar
Government.
 The rising unemployment caused by
the Depression meant that many people
were very unhappy and were looking
for solutions. The Weimar Government
was not helping the people of Germany
and the Nazis were promising jobs and
bread.
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The other parties underestimated the Nazis
they thought that the Nazi campaigns were
absurd and thought that the German
people would see through them.
The other parties were too busy squabbling
amongst themselves to form an alliance
against the Nazis.
During the Depression and the aftermath of
unemployment the Nazis were seen as
strong and powerful. They promised
solutions and gave the German people
hope.
And finally…


The Nazis were also popular because there
was no other option.
The Nazis used fear to control the people
of Germany and to eliminate the opposition.