Hitler's Rise to Power- shit

Question 1

Where and when was Hitler born?

Answer 1

In Braunau, Austria on the 20th April 1889

Question 2

How did Hitler come to fight for Germany in World War One?

Answer 2

In 1913, Hitler moved to Munich and when war broke out he became a soldier. He was injured twice and received the Iron Cross for his bravery. According to his commander, he was brave, effective and conscientious.

Question 3

What happened imminently to Hitler after World War One?

Answer 3

He was recovering from Gas Poisoning in hospital. When he recovered, the army put him to work keeping an eye on local political activists in the area. Hitler began to attend German Workers’ Party (DAP) meetings as part of this

Question 4

How was the DAP set up?

Answer 4

It was founded in Munich, February 1919 by Anton Drexler, a railway mechanic.

Question 5

What were the first DAP meetings like?

Answer 5

The first DAP meeting, also attended by Hitler, had 23 people turn up. It took place on the 12th September 1919. At the third meeting, the treasurer announced that the total party funds sat at seven marks and 50 pfennigs.

Question 6

When and why did Hitler join the DAP?

Answer 6

Hitler joined the DAP on the 19th September 1919 as he was attracted by the party’s ideas

Question 7

What happened in January and February 1920 within the DAP?

Answer 7

In January 1920, Hitler became head of the propaganda for the party . In February, Hitler and Drexler wrote the Party’s twenty-five point program, a document explaining the policies of the DAP.

Question 8

What was the 25 point program strongly opposed to?

Answer 8

• the Weimar Politicians
• democracy
• the Jews

Question 9

Within two years, Hitler had taken control of the DAP and shaped it into the Nazi party. What were the five parts to this take over?

Answer 9

• Party policy (twenty-five point programme)
• Hitler’s personal appeal
• Party organisation
• Party leadership
• The Sturmabteilung (SA) or ‘Brownshirts’

Question 10

How did Hitler use his own appeal as an orator (public speaker) to attract support?

Answer 10

-He rehearsed his speeches carefully. They usually built tension to a frenzied rant at the end. They were very
persuasive
-He used gestures. At first, he would lean forward and fix his eyes on his audience, drawing them in. Towards the end of his speeches, his hands would wave furiously in the air
-He had publicity photos and paintings produced showing him as an orator

Question 11

What is nationalism and socialism?

Answer 11

Nationalism- A political outlook in which all policies are organised to make a nation stronger and more independent
Socialism- A political outlook which stresses that a country’s land, industries and wealth should all belong to the workers of that country

Question 12

Did Hitler’s personal appeal gain support for the DAP?

Answer 12

At the 46 party gatherings held between November 1919 and November 1920, Hitler appeared on 31 occasions as the star speaker. The DAP grew 1,000 members by June 1920 and 3,000 by the end of the 1920s.

Question 13

By 1920, Hitler was Drexler’s right hand man, what change was introduced to the DAP in January 1920?

Answer 13

The DAP set up a permanent office in Munich. Hitler chose Rudolf Schussler, a friend from the army, as the party’s first full time administrator. The party’s meetings were now better organised and advertised. Funds and memberships increased

Question 14

Why did the DAP change its name?

Answer 14

Hitler suggested a new name for the party. He thought it should be called the Nationalist, Socialist, German Worker’s Part as the two main pillars of the twenty-five point programme were nationalism and socialism. It helped clarify the party’s policy and appealed to more people. Support increased

Question 15

What made the NSDAP more distinguished from the other small nationalist parties in German politics?

Answer 15

They adopted its characteristic logo, the Swastika and its straight-armed party salute

Question 16

What did the party do in December 1920, to increase the party’s publicity?

Answer 16

It bought the Volkischer Beobachter (The People’s Observer) newspaper. It cost 180,000 marks and the initial circulation of the paper was 11,000 copies but within a year it had reached 17,000 copies. The voice of the NSDAP was now widely heard in Munich, across Bavaria and some other parts of Germany

Question 17

What happened in July 1921 within the NSDAP?

Answer 17

Hitler forced a leadership contest and defeated Drexler to become head of the party. He surrounded himself with supporters to help him lead the party

Question 18

Who were the new appointed sub-leaders for Hitler in 1921, what were they like?

Answer 18

Rudolf Hess- a wealthy academic, who became Hitler’s deputy
Hermann Goering- a young, dashing and wealthy First World War pilot
Julius Streicher- a publisher who founded another Nazi newspaper, Der Sturmer (The Stormer)
Ernst Rohm- a scar-faced, bull necked ex-army officer who was popular among ex-soldiers

Hitler also made powerful friends for the party, such as General Ludendorff, leader of the German Army during World War One

Question 19

What was Julius Streicher’s importance in the NSDAP?

Answer 19

• He joined the party in 1922, he was ex-army and had also been awarded the iron cross. He was already a nationalist politician
• The NSDAP doubled overnight after Streicher brought his supporters with him. It also extended the geographical appeal of the party as Streicher brought supporters from Franconia, in central Germany
• In 1923, Der Sturmer was founded. It screamed abuse at the Jews and Communists. By 1927, it had 14,000 copies in circulation

Question 20

What were the Sturmabteilung(SA or ‘Stormtroopers)?

Answer 20

The Sturmabteilung were a paramilitary force formed in August 1921. Many of the recruits were from the unemployed and were ex-soldiers or students. They dressed in brown uniforms and were nicknamed the ‘Brownshirts’. Ernst Rohm was in charge of the SA

Question 21

What did the SA do to help the NSDAP?

Answer 21

The SA paraded in the streets as a show of force. By August 1922, they numbered about 800 and impressed people with a sense of power and organisation. At NSDAP meetings, the SA were used to control the crowds, subduing any opposition to Hitler. They were also sent to disrupt opposition meetings. Therefore, the SA strengthened the NSDAP

Question 22

How did the SA help Hitler?

Answer 22

The SA were obedient to Hitler as well as Rohm. Hitler selected trusted members of the SA to be his personal bodyguards. They were known as the Stosstrupp (Shock Troop). Hitler controlled the NSDAP like a military leader.

Question 23

What was Hitler’s control like at the NSDAP party conference in January 1922?

Answer 23

He persuaded the members to give up their right to elect a leader. There was no discussion of policy at the conference: Hitler dictated policy in a 2hrs 30mins speech.

Question 24

What were the longer term causes of the Munich Putsch which occurred in November 1923 (aka Beer Hall Putsch)?

Answer 24

• From 1918-1923 there were a long lost of grievances such as the ‘stab in the back’, reparations and loss of Germany’s colonies which had been building up. Amongst Germans, there was a deep resentment of the Weimar Republic.
• From 1919-1923 the NSDAP had been growing in its Munich base in Bavaria, south Germany. Bavarian state government leaders, like Gustav von Kahr, were no fans of the Weimar government. They shared some of the NSDAP’s views and turned a blind eye to the violence of the SA. By 1923, the NSDAP had 50,000 members

Question 25

What were the medium-term causes of the Munich Putsch?

Answer 25

- From 1921-1922, Hitler and the NSDAP were heavily influenced by the far-right fascist group in Italy, led by Mussolini. - Their salute and flag was modelled by the Italian Fascists. - In 1922, Mussolini led his paramilitary forces in a 'march on Rome' forcing the democratic government of Italy to accept him as their leader

Question 26

What were the short-term causes of the Munich Putsch?

Answer 26

- Hyperinflation made buying things almost impossible, people's savings were useless - The 1923 French invasion of the German industrial area of the Ruhr caused the arresting, imprisonment and deportation of some workers. - German people were bitterly aggrieved by these events. The Weimar Republic seemed weak and unable to solve problems. It was time to exploit the grievances,

Question 27

What was occurring on the evening of the 8th November, 1923 in the Beer Hall , in Munich?

Answer 27

Bavarian government officials were meeting, Gustav von Kahr was the main speaker and others included von Seisser (head of Bavarian police) and von Lossow (head of the German Army in Bavaria). Hitler then burst in, supported by 600 members of the SA. He shot the ceiling and declared he would take over Bavaria and then Germany. Ludendorff, would become the leader of the German Army

Question 28

What did Hitler demand Kahr, Seisser and Lossow do in the Burgerbrau Keller?

Answer 28

At gunpoint, he demanded they all should support him. Being overpowered, they reluctantly shook hands. Meanwhile, Rohm and his SA took over the local poice and army headquarters

Question 29

What mistake did Hitler and Ludendorff make during the Munich Putsch?

Answer 29

They failed to take over the army barracks who remained loyal to the Government and Ludendorff released Kahr, Seisser and Lossow. They also expected lots of support from local people and officials but they were to be disappointed

Question 30

What happened in the lead up to the events that ensued in the main square in Munich 1923?

Answer 30

- At 5 am Hitler and his supporters gathered to launch their attack on the streets of Munich - After much hesitation, at Midday, Hitler continued with his revolt with the support of 1000 SA and 2000 volunteer supporters - They robbed two local Jewish banks to pay the supporters. Together, Hitler, Ludendorff, Goering, Rohm and Streicher and their followers all marched on the town centre

Question 31

What happened in the main square with Hiter, Ludendorff and his Shock Troops in the Munisch Putsch?

Answer 31

They were met by state police. The rebels pressed pistols onto the policemen's chests, spat on them and pointed bayonets at the them. Then someone, opened fire and chaos broke loose. Graf, Hitler's Bodyguard threw himself in front of Hitler and was wounded by 6 bullets. Goering was shot in the thigh and Hitler was dragged to the ground by his bodyguards with such force so that he dislocated his arm. In moments, 14 of Hitler's supporters were dead and so were 4 policemen

Question 32

What happened after the initial moments (ie. Death of 4 policemen and 14 supporters) of the Munich putsch?

Answer 32

- Most the rebels scrambled for refuge, one group entered a girls school and hid under a bed - Ludendorff, Rohm and Streicher were all arrested. Goering was spirited away by supporters and went into hiding abroad - Hitler fled in a car, then hid at his friend's house, Ernst Hanfstaengl, ten miles south of Munich. He was later found hiding in a wardrobe and was arrested on the 11th November

Question 33

What happened as a result of the failed Munich Putsch?

Answer 33

- The main NSDAP leaders were put on trial: Ludendorff was found not guilty by support of judge but Hitler and three others were sentenced to fice years in Landsberg prison - The NSDAP was banned

Question 34

What did Hitler do after his imprisonment sentence and the Munich Putsch?

Answer 34

- He realised he needed a new strategy to gain support. He needed nationwide support through 'hated democracy' - He used his time in prison to write Mein Kampf (My Struggles) which contained his political ideals and inspiration for all to read - He used his trial to get publicity for his views

Question 35

Who wrote Mein Kampf whilst Hitler was in Landsberg prison?

Answer 35

Rudolf Hess who was dictated to by Hitler. Hess became deputy leader of the Nazi Party later on

Question 36

Mein Kampf is a key source of information about the political beliefs of Hitler and the Nazi Party. What were these key beliefs?

Answer 36

- Hitler believed the German Race (Aryans) were destined to rule the world - Jews were weakening the Aryan race(intermarriage, industry and politics) and were conspiring against them - Nationalism and Lebensraum - Socialism (wealth of industry and land) - Totalitarianism - Traditional German values

Question 37

When did Hitler come out of prison and what happened to the banned Nazi party?

Answer 37

- Hitler came out of prison after nine months on December 20th 1924 - The ban on the NSDAP was lifted on February 16th 1925 and the party met 11 days later

Question 38

What/where were the main changes that were made to the Nazi party to make them better organised?

Answer 38

- Organisation - Personnel - Paramilitary Groups - Finances - Hitler himself

Question 39

What were two large roles appointed to make sure the Nazi party was better organised and well financed?

Answer 39

- Party Secretary appointed (Philipp Bouhler) | - Party Treasurer appointed (Franz Schwarz)

Question 40

How was the party (logistically speaking) changed?

Answer 40

It was now organised like a mini state, with Hitler as leader and departments for all aspects of government

Question 41

What did Hitler divide Germany up into to improve support via targeted aims?

Answer 41

He split Germany up into 35 regions or Gaue, one for each Weimar constituency. Each Gau had a leader called a Gauleiter.

Question 42

Who were two prominent Gauleiters and in which Gau did they lead?

Answer 42

Gregor Strasser - Powerful in the North of Germany | Joseph Goebbels - Promincence in Rhineland

Question 43

How did Hitler pay for all the new improvements to the Nazi party?

Answer 43

He overhauled finances. He raised money from wealthy industrialists (nationalists) and hoped they would be powerful enough to control trade unions. The party even received big loans from Thyssen, Krupp and Bosch

Question 44

What were the SA like after Hitler came out of prison?

Answer 44

They had grown to 400,000 strong by 1930 but the Putsch proved they weren't totally loyal. Many stormtroopers were violent thugs and difficult to control, and Ernst Rohm was their leader

Question 45

How did Hitler combat the issue of the SA in 1925?

Answer 45

- He replaced himself as leader of the SA and Rohm was forced to work abroad - He set up the Schutzstaffel (Protection squad) or SS which contained specially selected men who Hitler could trust to be his bodyguards

Question 46

Who were the SS controlled by?

Answer 46

They were originally controlled by Hitler's chauffeur and bodyguard, Julius Streck but were later put under the control of Heinrich Himmler

Question 47

What influence did Himmler have on the SS?

Answer 47

He expanded the SS to 3,000 members by 1930 and made them famous and feared. Black uniforms were introduced to the SS in 1932 which made them even more menacing

Question 48

What did the Nazis do regarding people who didn't fit into the SA (ie Women and youth)?

Answer 48

They made groups and associations for them: - The German Women's Order - National Socialist German Students League - Hitler Youth - School pupils league

Question 49

What divide started to appear with the Gauleiters in 1926?

Answer 49

Some party activists such as Strasser and Goebbels emphasised the socialist side of the Nazis as they were based in northern, urban and industrial areas. However, others like Hitler stressed the Nationalist side of the party more

Question 50

How did Hitler address the party/ gauleiter divide in 1926?

Answer 50

Hitler called a national party conferencee in Bamberg, Bavaria (southern majority)

Question 51

What happened at the Bamberg conference?

Answer 51

- Northern leaders put their views forward - Hitler put his views forward and spoke for five hours. Most of his speech had a go at the socialists, claiming they were communists - Goebbels then switched to Hitler's side, leaving Strasser to call him a "scheming dwarf"

Question 52

What happened to Goebbels and Strasser after the Bamberg conference?

Answer 52

Goebbels was promoted to Gauleiter of Berlin as a reward. Strasser pledged his loyalty to Hitler but was murdered in 1934 due to a nazi clear out.

Question 53

What were the reasons for limited Nazi support between 1923-1929 despite increasing member numbers to 100,000?

Answer 53

- Dawes and Young Plan brought about economic stability, inflation eased, employment increased, SPD won 30% of vote as there was no need for extremism - Germany had more world status (Locarno pact and LON and Kellogg-Briand pact). The NSDAP weren't needed - Hindenburg was president which increased support for the Republic massively - Nazis only won 1% of votes in Berlin because there was no need for them

Question 54

When did the economic depression hit?

Answer 54

October 1929 (After Stresemann's death on the 3rd)

Question 55

What caused the economic depression?

Answer 55

The Wall Street Crash

Question 56

How did Wall Street "crash"?

Answer 56

- Falling shares meant people's investments fell in value - People rushed to sell shares before the value of shares fell any further - On 'Black Thursday'(24th October 1929), 13 million shares were sold. Panic selling sent prices down even further Investors had lost $4,000 million within a week

Question 57

How were German banks affected by the Wall Street Crash?

Answer 57

Banks were major investors on the US stock exchange so suffered huge losses

Question 58

What did the German people do in response to the Bank's heavy losses after the Wall Street Crash?

Answer 58

They feared they wouldn't have access to money in their bank accounts so everyone rushed to remove all their money out the banks, leaving some banks to run out of cash like the German Civil Servant Bank which went bust in 1929

Question 59

What did the collapse of German banking in 1929 mean in regards to industry?

Answer 59

It meant businesses in industry and agriculture were demanded to give back the money from their loans so the banks had some cash to pay out account holders. As a result, German insustries and farms had to cut back production or even close down completely

Question 60

Why were so may people made unemployed as a result of the economic and industrial situation in Germany 1929?

Answer 60

- Industries and farms scaled back which made workers unemployed - Foreign dealing companies had less business so more workers were made unemployed - Unemployed Germans were poorer so company sales plummeted and even more people were made unemployed

Question 61

What was the fall in industrial output between 1929 and 1932?

Answer 61

40%

Question 62

What was the official unemployment figure in September 1929 and January 1933?

Answer 62

1.3 million(1929) to 6.1 million(1933). | In 1933 40% of all factory workers, 50% of all Germans between 16-30 and 60% of university graduates were unemployed

Question 63

How did the unemployed suffer from the high unemployment rates post 1929?

Answer 63

Government became unable to pay unemployment benefits as so many people were unemployed. Taxes were raised and benefits cut causing even more sufferance and problems

Question 64

How did the savers suffer from the high unemployment rates post 1929?

Answer 64

Some people had their savings invested in shares. When the share prices crashed, the value of their savings crashed too. They had no savings to fall back on

Question 65

How did the workers suffer from high unemployment rates post 1929?

Answer 65

Those in work suffered from high taxes and cut wages. Real wages of 1932 were 70% of 1928 levels

Question 66

How did the homeless suffer from high unemployment rates post 1929?

Answer 66

Problematic shanty towns were set up and the homeless wandered the streets aimlessly looking for food or work. This boredom turned to violence and fights broke out on the streets between police and roaming bands of men. There was an increase of 24% for thefts in Berlin

Question 67

What was Bruning's response to deal with unemployment (chancellor between 1930 and 1932)?

Answer 67

He proposed higher taxes for unemployment benefits but then put fixed time limits on the benefits to make them more affordable

Question 68

Were Bruning's policies regarding unemployment favoured?

Answer 68

No, right wing parties, middle classes and wealthy opposed higher taxes while left wing parties and working classes opposed reduced benefits. Importantly, leader of the SPD, Hermann Muller refused to support these policies.

Question 69

What was the vote result on Bruning's unemployment policies in July 1930?

Answer 69

256 votes to 196 vetoed the policies going ahead

Question 70

How often did the Reichstag meet in 1930, 1931 and 1932?

Answer 70

1930-94 1931-41 1932-13

Question 71

How many presidential decrees were passed in 1930, 1931 and 1932?

Answer 71

1930-5 1931-44 1932-66

Question 72

When did Bruning resign after he had lost control of the Reichstag?

Answer 72

May 1932

Question 73

How many seats did the SPD, NSDAP, KPD gain in the May 1928, September 1930 and July 1932 elections?

Answer 73

SPD- 152, 142, 133 NSDAP- 12,107,230 KPD- 54,77,89

Question 74

How large was the KPD by 1932?

Answer 74

They had 15% of the votes in Elections and were the largest communist party in the world outside of the Soviet Union

Question 75

What were the two main reasons which caused a growth in support for the KPD up to 1932?

Answer 75

Growing unemployment- reached 5 million by 1932 | Falling wages- real wages in 1932 were about 15% lower than in 1928

Question 76

Why did the Nazi party grow at a faster rate than the communists after 1928?

Answer 76

Due to concern from middle and upper classes regarding a possible communist government when support towards it increased

Question 77

Why did people support the Nazi party between 1929-1933?

Answer 77

- Fear of communism - Hitler's appeal - The SA - Unity - Appeal to sections of society

Question 78

How did Hitler's personal appeal grant the Nazis more support from 1929-1933?

Answer 78

- The Weimar was weak and Hitler looked like a strong leader - Hitler promised law and order - Hitler promised to force other countries to scrap the Treaty of Versailles and treat the German people fairly

Question 79

How popular was Hitler around the 1930 and 1932 elections? Why?

Answer 79

He was very popular because: - spoke across the country - featured on many posters - took advantage of aeroplane whirlwind campaigning

Question 80

How did the SA help increase support of the Nazi party from 1929-1933?

Answer 80

- Uniformed SA made Nazis seem organised, disciplined and reliable - Looked strong enough to handle unrest and stand up to foreign powers - The SA were able to disrupt opposition parties and their chances of gaining support, tore posters, intimidated candidates, broke into offices and disrupted rallies

Question 81

What was the strength difference between the RFF and SA by 1932?

Answer 81

The RFF had 130,000 members by 1932 whereas the SA had 400,000

Question 82

What sections of society were tailored for by the Nazi party between 1929 and 1933?

Answer 82

Big businesses, working-class, middle-class, farmers, young people and women

Question 83

What did the Nazis do to appeal to the big businesses (1919-1933)?

Answer 83

Hitler persuaded wealthy businessmen that the Nazi party was the best hope of protection from the rise of the communists

Question 84

What did support from big businessmen mean for the Nazi party?

Answer 84

Nazi finances benefitted and so did propaganda. Businesses like Krupps and Benz poured money into the party whilst Alfred Hugenberg, newspaper tycoon and cinema chain owner, allowed Goebbels to use the cinemas and newspapers for Nazi propaganda against the communists

Question 85

What did the Nazis do to appeal to the working-class (1929-1933)?

Answer 85

They tried to seem like a party of the German Working classes. They supported traditional German values and aimed to create a stronger Germany (common interests with workers). Nazi posters also promised "Work and Bread" on their posters

Question 86

Did the Nazis get more working class support than the communists?

Answer 86

No they did not, only 270,000 workers joined the party but this was still growth despite never dominating working class vote

Question 87

Why did the middle-class turn their support to the Nazi party between 1929-1933?

Answer 87

- The Great depression hurt middle classes, companies were lost as were savings and pensions. Hitler seemed like a strong leader who could help the country recover - Nazis seemed like a strong party who could protect their assets from the growing Communists - Middle-classes believed there had been a moral decline (more drinking and sexual openness) under the Weimar and saw the Nazis as a return to traditional values

Question 88

How did the Nazis get the farmers to support them? (1929-1933)

Answer 88

They changed their policy which stated all private land would be confiscated and changed it to confiscation of private land if owned by Jews. This reassured farmers and they hoped Hitler would also protect them from the Communist party confiscating their land

Question 89

How strong was the support for the Nazis from the Farmers after the Wall Street Crash?

Answer 89

Strong indeed- in the 1930 elections, the Nazis gained 60% of the votes in some rural areas

Question 90

How did the Nazi party appeal to young people during the period of 1929-1933?

Answer 90

The party seemed exciting, the rallies were colourful and full of atmosphere and organised. The SA appealed to young men, Hitler's speeches were stirring and promised the youth greater importance than the traditional parties.

Question 91

Did young people join the Nazi party after 1929?

Answer 91

They did - the 720, 000 new members of the party included 43% of people aged 18-30

Question 92

What did the Nazi's claim in order to gain more support from women who didn't tend to favour their traditional policies about them? (1929-1933)

Answer 92

They claimed voting for the NSDAP was best for their country and their families

Question 93

How did Hitler build a sense of unity to increase support for the Nazis? (1929-1933)

Answer 93

He appealed to both the whole nation and groups with the stressing of German values, superiority, pride, togetherness and lack of recognition of classes and hierarchy. Building a sense of volksgemeinschaft