Great Depression and rise of the Nazis

Question 1

When did the Wall Street Crash occur?

Answer 1

29th October 1929

Question 2

What event did the Wall Street Crash cause?

Answer 2

The Great Depression

Question 3

What economic impact did the Wall Street Crash have?

Answer 3

Millions of Americans couldn’t sell shares for as much as paid, some couldn’t pay banks back, couldn’t buy goods and businesses collapsed causing unemployment

Question 4

How did the Great Depression hurt Germany?

Answer 4

German factory goods not selling, American banks demand back lended money, German banks demand from businesses, which couldn’t pay, and went bankrupt, millions of Germans unemployed

Question 5

What political effect did the Great Depression have in Germany?

Answer 5

Desperate people prepared to listen to radicals like left-wing Communists and Right-Wing Nazis

Question 6

By the time Hitler became chancellor in January 1933, how many Germans were unemployed?

Answer 6

6.1 million

Question 7

By 1928, how many votes did the Nazis get, and what percentage of the population voted for them?

Answer 7

received 800,000 votes, less than 3% of population voted for them

Question 8

By 1928, how large were the Nazis compared to other political parties?

Answer 8

8th most popular German political party

Question 9

What were the major factors which contributed to the Nazis’ rise to power?

Answer 9

The Great Depression, unhappiness with the Weimar government, Hitler’s appeal, fear of Communism, Nazi party structure and tactics

Question 10

By July 1932, how big was the Nazi Party compared to other parties?

Answer 10

The Nazis were the most popular party

Question 11

By July 1932, how many votes did the Nazi Party record?

Answer 11

Nearly 14 million

Question 12

How did the Great Depression contribute to the Nazis’ rise in popularity?

Answer 12

Desperate, unemployed Germans were prepared to listen to and vote for the Nazis, whose message was the same as in the early 1920s

Question 13

How did unhappiness with the Weimar government contribute to the Nazis’ rise in popularity?

Answer 13

Weimar politicians argued constantly, achieved very little, two Chancellors Müller and Brüning had little impact and resigned

Question 14

How many seats did the Nazi Party have in the 1928 - 1932 elections?

Answer 14

May 1928 - 12; September 1930 - 107; July 1932 - 230; November 1932 - 196

Question 15

How many seats did the National People’s Party (DNVP) have in the 1928 - 1932 elections?

Answer 15

May 1928 - 73; September 1930 - 41; July 1932 - 37; November 1932 - 52

Question 16

How many seats did the People’s Party (DVP) have in the 1928 - 1932 elections?

Answer 16

May 1928 - 45; September 1930 - 30; July 1932 - 7; November 1932 - 11

Question 17

How many seats did the Centre Party (Zentrum) have in the 1928 - 1932 elections?

Answer 17

May 1928 - 62; September 1930 - 68; July 1932 - 75; November 1932 - 70

Question 18

How many seats did the German Democratic Party (DDP) have in the 1928 - 1932 elections?

Answer 18

May 1928 - 25; September 1930 - 20; July 1932 - 4; November 1932 - 2

Question 19

How many seats did the Social Democratic Party (SPD) have in the 1928 - 1932 elections?

Answer 19

May 1928 - 153; September 1930 - 143; July 1932 - 133; November 1932 - 121

Question 20

How many seats did the Communist Party (KPD) have in the 1928 - 1932 elections?

Answer 20

May 1928 - 54; September 1930 - 77; July 1932 - 89; November 1932 - 100

Question 21

How did the appeal of Hitler contribute to the Nazis’ rise in popularity?

Answer 21

Hitler had a charismatic personality and was a powerful speaker, drawing people to the Nazis

Question 22

How did the fear of Communists contribute to the Nazis’ rise in popularity?

Answer 22

Middle and upper class Germans, especially businessmen and landowners, and churchgoers, frightened of Communists, Hitler fought Communism from start

Question 23

How did the Nazi Party’s methods and tactics contribute to its rise in popularity?

Answer 23

Nazi Party offices established to recruit followers; radio, cinema and poster propaganda used; Hitler in rallies made speeches, Hitler Youth Organisation set up to encourage young followers, new technology (planes, radios) used

Question 24

What were some groups which the Nazis appealed to?

Answer 24

Farmers, women, Middle-class (small business owners, bank workers, doctors, managers), young people, upper classes and rich factory owners

Question 25

When was Hitler appointed as Chancellor?

Answer 25

30th January 1933

Question 26

How did Hitler become chancellor? (events)

Answer 26

September 1930 election, Brüning resigned, Chancellor Franz von Papen, July 1932 election, November 1932 election, Papen resigned, Chancellor Kurt von Schleicher, Schleicher resigned, Chancellor Hitler

Question 27

How did the Nazi increase their support after the September 1930 election?

Answer 27

Millions of posters, mass rallies, SA beat up Communists and disrupted their meetings

Question 28

What was Reichsbanner?

Answer 28

Organisation formed by members of SPD, Zentrum, DDP, prepared to use violence to defend parliamentary democracy

Question 29

When was Reichsbanner formed?

Answer 29

1924

Question 30

Which groups did Reichsbanner often clash with?

Answer 30

Nazi Stormtroopers and Communist Party members

Question 31

How did Hindenburg try to limit Hitler's power after he was appointed as Chancellor?

Answer 31

Franz von Papen was appointed as Vice Chancellor and Hitler could only have 2 fellow Nazis in the cabinet

Question 32

When did the Reichstag burn down?

Answer 32

27th February 1933

Question 33

When did Hindenburg pass an emergency "Protection Law" which gave Hitler power?

Answer 33

28th February 1933

Question 34

When did a German election occur after leading Communists were banned from taking part in its campaign?

Answer 34

5th March 1933

Question 35

When was the Enabling Act passed?

Answer 35

23rd March 1933

Question 36

What did the Enabling Act do?

Answer 36

Gave Hitler the power to make laws without asking the rest of the Reichstag politicians

Question 37

What was the final action which gave Hitler the Reichstag majority he needed?

Answer 37

Politicians in the Centre Party were persuaded to join the Nazis

Question 38

When were Nazis put in charge of all local government, councils and the police?

Answer 38

7th April 1933

Question 39

Where was the first concentration camp opened and who was it for?

Answer 39

Dachau, southern Germany, for political prisoners

Question 40

What secret police was formed by the Nazis?

Answer 40

Gestapo

Question 41

When did Hitler ban all trade unions?

Answer 41

2nd May 1933

Question 42

When did Hitler ban all political parties in Germany except the Nazis?

Answer 42

14th July 1933

Question 43

When did President Hindenburg die?

Answer 43

2nd August 1934

Question 44

What did Hitler do after Hindenburg's death?

Answer 44

Hitler took over the President's job while remaining Chancellor, had army swear oath of loyalty to him

Question 45

When did the Night of the Long Knives occur?

Answer 45

30 June 1934 - 2nd July 1934

Question 46

How many members of the SA were executed during the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 46

Around 400

Question 47

How large was the German Army in June 1934?

Answer 47

100,000

Question 48

What was the Schutzstaffel (SS) originally?

Answer 48

Hitler's elite personal bodyguards

Question 49

Who was the leader of the Schutzstaffel?

Answer 49

Heinrich Himmler

Question 50

Who was the leader of the SA?

Answer 50

Ernst Röhm

Question 51

What were the impacts of the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 51

All leading Nazis who didn't agree with Hitler dead; SS instead of SA grew in importance, responsible for Hitler's security; murder established as method of Nazi government