Hitlers appointment as chancellor of Germany in 1933 was due more to the weakness of his opponents than Nazi strengths - How far do you agree?

Question 1

Why was Papen humiliated on September 12th

Answer 1

Reichstag produced a ‘vote of no confidence’

Question 2

What were the results of Papen’s election?

Answer 2

512 to 42

Question 3

What was Papen’s reaction the the vote?

Answer 3

Dissolves parliament and arranges a new election

Question 4

What did the vote highlight?

Answer 4

Government won’t function without a proper leader.

Question 5

Why was time on Papen’s side?

Answer 5

Nazi morale/funds low - vote reduced to 33.1% (Nov) - 196 seats

Question 6

What would cause Hitler to join the government?

Answer 6

If he was chancellor

Question 7

What did P declare when he became frustrated?

Answer 7

Martial law + presidential dictatorship

Question 8

Who opposed P’s terms? Why?

Answer 8

Schleicher - believed support for the Nazis couldn’t be ignored

Question 9

What did Hindenburg hear and what was his reaction?

Answer 9

Army’s lack of confidence - demanded resignation of Papen

Question 10

When was Schleicher appointed?

Answer 10

2nd December 1933

Question 11

What was S’s aims?

Answer 11

Achieve political stability through:

• Support from left and trade unions (suggested public works)
• Split Nazi’s and attract the socialist wing (Strasser)

Question 12

What role did he ask Strasser to fulfil?

Answer 12

Vice chancellor

Question 13

Why did Schleicher fail?

Answer 13

• Trade unions sceptical of motives

- public works alienated landowners/businessmen

Question 14

Why couldn’t Strasser accept the role?

Answer 14

Hitler more influential - fears of uprising - prompted to resign

Question 15

Papen/Schleicher Failure - EVALUATION

Answer 15

Both accentuated that the rise of Nazism was inevitable and couldn’t be ignored - Hitler strength

Question 16

Who did the Weimar face hostility from?

Answer 16

Junkers - many worked against the interests of Weimar GER

Question 17

What were the continuous economic problems in Weimar?

Answer 17

• Inherited costs of WW1
• post-war reconstruction
• welfare benefits

Question 18

Why didn’t Weimar enjoy widespread support?

Answer 18

Associated with defeat in WW1 and humiliation by Treaty of Versailles

Question 19

What weaknesses did the base have?

Answer 19

• Main GER liberal parties losing support (DDP/DVP)
• ZP/DVNP moving right politically
• Loyalty of SPD to democracy had to be balanced against failure to join coalitions

Question 20

What were the 4 phases of Weimar breakdown?

Answer 20

• Difficulties at birth (1918-19)
• Relative stability (1924-29)
• Impact of world depression (1929-33)
• Bruning’s decision

Question 21

What was Bruning’s decision?

Answer 21

Rule by emergency decree undermined by welfare system - reached end July 1932

Question 22

Failure of the Weimar - EVALUATION

Answer 22

Destined to fail from the start - Hitler able to take advantage as political climate was declining.

Question 23

What did Goebbels realise?

Answer 23

Needed to reach out to specific groups - pamphlets for different groups

Question 24

How did G appeal to Nazi farmers/peasants?

Answer 24

Offered benefits to offset collapse of agriculture prices

Question 25

How did G appeal to the unemployed?

Answer 25

Offered bread and work

Question 26

How did G appeal to the Mittelstand?

Answer 26

Limited control of department stores

Question 27

What technology was implemented to expand Hitler’s ideology?

Answer 27

Loudspeakers, radio, film

Question 28

How was politics represented at a local level?

Answer 28

Through sports fixtures, concerts and fairs

Question 29

What 3 themes dominated Nazi propaganda?

Answer 29

• Fuhrer cult
• Volksgemeinschaft
• Nationalism

Question 30

What did G focus on denouncing?

Answer 30

Major groups e.g. KPD (13-17% 1930-32) and Jews (>1% of GER population)

Question 31

Power of Propaganda - EVALUATION

Answer 31

If there was a common theme of reuniting GER, Hitler could do with taking advantage of it - showing he was of the people’s interest - Fuhrer

Question 32

When did Rohm expand the SA?

Answer 32

1921-23 and 1930-32

Question 33

What was the SA responsible for?

Answer 33

Violence against other parties

Question 34

How long were the Nazis banned for and who were they restored by?

Answer 34

3 months - Von Papen

Question 35

What happened in July 1932?

Answer 35

461 political riots between KPD/Nazis

Question 36

How many people died on Nazi march through Hamburg?

Answer 36

19

Question 37

What was the Stennes Revolt?

Answer 37

Hitler became concerned with middle class voters - SA couldn't be supportive
- Leader of Berlin rebelled against Hitler to limit violence

Question 38

What did the Stennes revolt show?

Answer 38

Conflict between Hitler and SA - not resolved until NoLK

Question 39

Intimidation and the SS/SA - EVALUATION

Answer 39

Violence encouraged to show leadership - essential to expansion of Nazi power as well as show Hitler as a fuhrer.

Question 40

Was Hitlers appointment due to his strength or opponent weakness?

Answer 40

Hitler strength - Weimar was inevitable to breakdown but Hitler was always ready to act upon a failure
- He was too influential for Papen/Schleicher to continue their control.