Revision – Rise of the Nazis and Nazis in Power
Aim – to add detail, develop key ideas and practice exam technique
Clarifications/missing knowledge
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Hitler 55th member 1919, as a spy for the government, within a year drafts 25
point programme, 1921 became party leader
More votes – protestants, agricultural, suburbs. Less votes – catholics, urban
workers. There were local variations – Silesian Catholics in East Germany voted for
the Nazis as they lost land to Poland
1929 – Nazis alliance with Hugenberg’s Nationalist Party – got access to a wider
media empire – wider circulation. Funding from Thyssen. DVAP.
SA ‘propaganda by deed’ – smashing the Communists
Von Schleicher in 1932 wanted to split the Nazis to get them to cooperate with
trade unionists. Tried to get Gregor Strasser on side by offering him the position of
vice-chancellor. Hitler opposed it, strasser became increasingly isolated and
eventally resigned in 1932.
Mittlestand. Also religious and local factors.
Hitler rejected being vice-chancellor, then offered to Strasser, hoped to control
Hitler, Hindenburg scandal
Hitler proudly defended NOLK to the Reichstag, left-wing, control SA, army
pressure, Strasser. Stennes revolt in 1931 was when Stennes rebelled against the
orders of Hitler and Goebbels to act legally and limit SA violence, Hitler defeated
the revolt with a small purge.
Source Stations: Rise of the Nazis
• Early years – Hitler, Goebbels, Beer Hall
Putsch, SA, support
• Becoming chancellor – method and causes,
targeted votes, p. 135 pink book other weak
chancellors, Bruning pp. 136-137, role of
Hindenburg 142-143
• Consolidating power – chancellor to fuhrer –
night of the long knives, threat from the left of
the party, enabling act, death of hindenburg
Plan an exam question based on your station.
• Early years – Hitler, Goebbels, Beer Hall Putsch, SA,
support
– The Nazis were no more than a fringe irritant in German
politics from 1920-1929. How far do you agree?
• Becoming chancellor – method and causes, targeted votes
and propaganda, p. 135 pink book other weak chancellors,
Bruning pp. 136-137, role of Hindenburg 142-143,
– To what extent was Nazi ideology the main reason for the
success of the Nazi The failure of mainstream politicians in the
period 1929 to 1932 led to the emergence of the Nazis as a
mass movement. How far do you agree?
• Consolidating power – chancellor to Fuhrer – night of the
long knives, threat from the left of the party, enabling act,
death of Hindenburg.
– To what extent was the support of the elites the main reason
why the Nazis were able to consolidate their power in the
period January to July 1933?
The Nazis in Power
The Nazis in Power
• 1933-1939
– Opposition (aspects, suppression of, and terror)
– Conformity and popularity (Gleichschaltung, propaganda,
censorship, culture, army, Schacht’s economy 1933-6, Goering
1936-9, big business, Volksgemeinschaft, workers (different
kinds), education/youth, religion, women, family, outsiders
• 1939-1945
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Life in wartime Germany – general WWII
Persecution of the Jews
War Economy
Opposition and conformity, morale
Plan an exam question based on your station.
1933-1939
– The Nazi regime enjoyed broad consent brought about by popular policies
from 1933 to 1939. How far do you agree?
– Did Germany have a war economy in peacetime?
1939-1945
– The Final Solution was the result of systematic planning. How far do you
agree?
– The handling of the economy was poorly coordinated and this accounts for
the weaknesses in German war production in the years 1939 to 1945. How far
do you agree?
– To what extent did the Nazi Regime face serious opposition within Germany
during the years 1939–45?
– The morale of the German people stayed remarkably high during WWII. How
far do you agree?