Rise of the Nazis Help Sheet
The information in this help sheet is a start, it is not detailed enough to be used on its own,
you must use the detail from your notes. Be sure to use this knowledge as evidence of your
argument, and use it appropriately. Do not just start sticking in these pieces of information,
without understanding how they fit into your argument. You do not necessarily need to
incorporate all of these pieces of information, only points that your feel strongly contribute to
your argument. However, the more the better, if they fit!
When using the opinions of historians, make sure that you understand what the historian is
saying, and be sure that you analyse it appropriately (whether to support your argument, or to
offer an alternative view that you will use as balance). Do not just stick in a historian’s view,
just for the sake of doing it.
For each paragraph you write, remember that you must have a greater amount of analysis
than display of knowledge. Use the Analysis Questions if you are unsure how to add
analysis. Most importantly, your analysis should contribute to your argument, if it does not, you
are merely making a commentary on the information.
1. Weaknesses of the Weimar Republic
- The Weimar government under Ebert was created to shift the blame for losing the war away
from the army’s generals, and was therefore immediately resented.
-The new democracy under Ebert was burdened by a great number of serious problems from
its creation and was not able to handle any of them.
- Ebert himself was a poor candidate for the position, and was forced to make an agreement
with the army to maintain peace and prevent uprisings, in exchange he lost his ability to stir
social change which was needed.
- The Spartacist revolt left Ebert’s party disunited and all socialist parties refused to cooperate,
weakening the government and making the Reichstag appear to be a failed institution.
- The Weimer Constitution contained democratic principles which aided the rise of the Nazis,
such as proportional representation.
- The Weimar Constitution also contained Article 48, which suspended democracy in times of
crisis and was later used by Hitler.
- Lack of real, outstanding Weimar politicians who could strengthen the Republic, Stresemann
excepted.
- Inability (or unwillingness) of the Republic to deal effectively with problems in German society
William Simpson, “The Weimar Republic was born out of the external defeat of the German
Emppure and the internal collapse of its system of government. It is an open question whether
the Weimar Republic could ever have overcome the disadvantages which attended its birth.”
Page 1 of 7
Here Simpson identifies that it is possible the Weimar had so many problems to overcome,
that its weaknesses cannot be indicated as such an influential factor which led to the rise of
the Nazis. (It wasn’t their fault)
John Hiden ‘Although the time seemed ripe for a remodelling of society and a clean break
with the imperial past, German socialists were neither fully prepared for revolution nor united.’
Here, Hiden describes the weakness of Eberts government. – Make sure this isn’t your only
commentary on this quote. Fair warning.
2. Resentment towards the Treaty of Versailles
- The Treaty of Versailles made the new Weimar government appear weak, and made them
hated because they were in power when the treaty was signed.
-The weakening of the military, the great about of land lost and accepting blame for the War
were especially hated.
-The people did not understand the situation at the end of the war.
-Led to growth of criticisms which Hitler used to denounce the Weimar government as the
‘November Criminals’. In addition, Hitler created the ‘Stab in the back’ myth to gain popularity
and denounce the new government.
John Hiden ‘The Versailles treaty certainly did not doom the Republic from birth, but it did
create particularly troublesome dimensions to existing internal conflicts and contradictions
which had, to some extent, survived the revolution’
A.J. Nicholls, “The German public was in no way prepared for a harsh peace.’
3. Social and Economic difficulties
- Over-reliance on foreign investment left the Weimar economy subject to the fluctuations of
the international economy, leading to disaster after the Wall Street Crash.
- The hyperinflation of 1922/23 had severe effects on the middle classes, who were the natural
supporters of the Weimar Republic. Further, this led to disaster in society, great despair, and
great resentment towards the new democratic Weimar Republic.
- The Great Depression of 1929 – arguably, without the great depression the Weimar
Republic might have survived.
- Germany’s dependence on American loans showed how fragile the recovery of the late
1920s was.
Page 2 of 7
-Staggering unemployment figures led to the despair of many Germans, and the realisation
that the new government has failed its people, and that a major political change might be
welcome.
- The Great Depression led to the emergence of propaganda posters with legends such as
“Hitler – our only hope”. These began to strike a chord with many Germans.
- The Great Depression also polarised politics in Germany. Society began to support the
political extremes. A fear of Communism also emerged, which grew apace with the growth of
support for the Nazis.
John Hiden ‘ The Party derived enormous benefit from its continued effort to win over the
rural population during the crisis. To vote for Hitler was for many a rejection of the existing
system.’
Mary Fulbrock ‘Its [The Nazis] growing electoral support in the elections of the 1930 and
1932 was directly related to the growth of mass unemployment and the growth of political
instability in this period.’
Finlay McKichan, “Hitler would have remained on the fringe of politics had it not been for the
Great Depression.”
4. Appeal of the Nazis after 1928
- Nazi Party had attractive qualities for the increasingly disillusioned voting population.
-The Nazis appealed to all levels of society in one way or another, even though their policies
were often contradictory.
- The Nazis put their message across well with the skilful use of propaganda, under the
leadership of Josef Goebbels
- The SA were used to break up opponents meetings and give the appearance of discipline
and order
- The Nazis identified scapegoats for the population to blame, from the Jews to the
Communists.
The following are not quotes, but the opinions of historians. Use these opinions to get credit
for inserting historiography. Use them to either support your argument, or as an alternative
opinion from your own, in order to get credit for balance.
L.E. Jones argued in his 1988 work German Liberalism and the Dissolution of the Weimar
Party System that the Nazis managed to win support from a wide cross- section of society in
this time of crisis because of their appeal to many in society.
Page 3 of 7
David Welch, in his 2004 work The Third Reich- Politics and Propaganda, argues that people
who coted for the Nazis did so not so much because of their conversion by propaganda, but
because doing so would lead to a material improvement in their lives.
Finlay McKichan believes that the role of Goebbels, in charge of Nazi propaganda, was vital
in helping to spread the Nazi message.
5. The role of Hitler
- Hitler was perceived as a young, dynamic leader, who campaigned using modern methods
and was a charismatic speaker.
- He came up with the attractive policies which gave simple targets for blame and tapped into
popular prejudice.
- It was Hitler who created the identity of the Nazi Party as well as its policies. Without him
they would not have risen to such great heights of popularity.
-It was Hitler who also created the campaigns which rose the Nazi party to fame.
The authors of The Growth of Nationalism note that ‘He was the Nazi Party’s greatest
electoral asset.’
Niall Rothnie ‘Never has any party prepared for power more thoroughly than the Nazis during
the period 1925-1933’ – use this in either this section or in the appeal of the Nazis section.
6. Weaknesses and mistakes of Weimar politicians
- Splits on the left wing after suppression of Spartacist revolt made joint action in the 1930s
against Hitler very unlikely.
- The rivalry between Von Schleicher and Von Papen led to the underestimation of Hitler, von
Papen’s need to ally himself with Hitler for power. Eventually this led to Hitler gaining the
Chancellorship.
- Bruning’s weakness made the Reichstag look like a failed institution to Germans.
Page 4 of 7
Analysis help
Analysis questions referring to the pieces of information that your will gain KU marks for, and
that your must apply as evidence for your argument. If you are unsure what this means, show
up to supported study:
- How significant was this in the rise of the Nazi Party?
- Was another reason for the rise of the Nazis more significant? Why?
- Where on the hierarchy is this reason? Why?
- What evidence to you have to show that this is a significant reason? Without evidence, you
have a weak argument. With little evidence, it should be considered a weak reason.
- Why is this a significant reason for the rise of the Nazi Party, you MUST have a strong
explanation if you believe one of the reasons is a strong, or the strongest reason, for the rise
of the Nazis.
Page 5 of 7
Essay Checklist
Introduction- Did I:
__ Mention each reason for the rise of the Nazis in its own sentence.
__ List each of the sections of the essay in the same order as they appear in the essays body
(strongest to weakest or weakest to strongest, with any identified factor coming first)
__ Make sure each sentence flows well into the next.
__ Create a hierarchy of the reasons for the rise of the Nazis.
__ ANSWER the question specifically, and referring to the identified factor if there is one.
Body- Did I:
__ Have an individual section for each of the 6 reasons for the Rise of the Nazi Party
__ Make sure any identified factors appear after the introduction.
__ Make sure that all 6 sections are ordered from strongest to weakest, or weakest to
strongest, and that this order is reflected in my introduction. (excluding any identified factor of
course)
__ Make sure that my display of knowledge was developed enough to gain a mark for KU.
__ Make sure that my analysis is detailed and well explained, to the point that it is lengthier
than my display of knowledge.
__ Introduce each paragraph with an introductory sentence that summarises what the whole
paragraph will discuss. In other words, your opening sentence should not be a display of
knowledge, rather a judgement which outlines how your argument will grow in that paragraph.
__ ANSWER THE QUESTION SPECIFICALLY in each paragraph.
__ Make sure that each section contributes to my argument, or if it does not, explain why it
does not.
__ Provide a detailed explanation of alternative or opposing arguments, other than my own
(either through explaining an alternative opinion or using a historians view to show alternative
arguments) In other words, make sure it is BALANCED
__ Use alternative opinions to strengthen my argument, by asserting the strengths of my
argument over the opposing argument. (unsure what this means? Show up to supported
study)
Page 6 of 7
Conclusion- Did I:
__ summarise my argument
__ give an overall judgement about the question
__ summarise each section of my essay.
__ include developed balance by summarising opposing opinions mentioned in the essays
body.
Page 7 of 7