Germany: How The Nazis Achieved Power

Question 1

Weimar Republic: John. D.Clare

Answer 1

“most British historians at that time tended to blame Weimar’s collapse on proportional representation, weak coalitions and backroom politicking.”

Question 2

Weimar Republic: Evans

Answer 2

“proportional representation did not create the deep divisions between the parties…the real problem of the constitution was the independently elected President, who had wide-ranging emergency powers under article 48 to rule by decree.”

Question 3

Treaty of Versailles: Evans

Answer 3

“sense of outrage and disbelief swept through the German upper and middle classes like a shockwave -was almost universal.”

Question 4

Treaty of Versailles: Wilde

Answer 4

“the Treaty of Versailles contributed greatly to the alienation many Germans felt about their civilian, democratic government…this provided rich material Hitler used to gain support on the right.”

Question 5

Economic Difficulties: Mommsen

Answer 5

“the desperate conditions encouraged a process of extreme political polarisation.”

Question 6

Economic Difficulties: Carr

Answer 6

“It is inconceivable that Hitler could ever have come to power had not the Weimar Republic been subjected to the unprecedented strain of a world economic crisis.”

Question 7

Mistakes of Opponents: Fischer

Answer 7

“the success of the NAZIs was due to the elites miscalculating the influence and impact of Hitler.”

Question 8

Mistakes of Opponents: Kershaw

Answer 8

“chance events and conservative miscalculations were more important than Hitler.”

Question 9

Mistakes of Opponents: Anderson

Answer 9

“an elite group of Germans put the NAZIs into power wrongly believing that they could control them.”