Rise of the Nazi Party, 1918-1933 Flashcards
1
Q
Hitler’s early life (not on syllabus but useful to know)
A
- Austrian Catholic, family moved often, model student, not very strong, mummy’s boy
- Wanted to be an artist, didn’t get into art school, spent 5 years on streets of Vienna where anti-Semitism was high, developed hatred of Jews
- Fled Austria to avoid military, fought in war for Germany, role was to inform people if any colleagues were communist
- Temporarily blinded by gas shell in WW1, awarded iron cross
- Thought end of war was unpatriotic, stabbed in the back; he wasn’t fighting when war ended so he could say he wouldn’t have backed down
- Saw so much death in war he disregarded human life
2
Q
When did Hitler join the Nazi party, and what did he change its name to?
A
Hitler joined German Worker’s Party in 1919, and became leader in 1921 and changed name to National Socialist German Worker’s Party (Nazis for short)
3
Q
Key features of the Nazi Party, 1919-1923
A
- Organised private army called SA or storm troopers- protected Nazi meetings and attack opponents
- Drew up 25 point programme- Union of all Germans (pure race), scrap T of V, German citizenship only to Germans (not Jews), only Germans could vote, non-Germans entered after 1914 have to leave, nationalise business and land etc.
- 1922- 3,000 members
4
Q
Munich Putsch date
A
November 1923
5
Q
Causes of Munich Putsch
A
- Weimar Republic was unpopular due to Ruhr and hyperinflation
- Mussolini had seized power in Rome in 1922 after march on Rome
- Thought he would get support from people and army
- Convinced Weimar had stabbed them in the back- T of V
- Had support from General Ludendorff, former army leader (popular) and SA
- Bavarian State govt didn’t support Weimar much- near Austria so nationalist, thought they would help him- influential
- Had goals- 25 point programme
6
Q
Key features of Munich Putsch
A
Hitler held members of Bavarian govt at gunpoint and forced to join him, and then let them go
- Von Kahr (leader of Bavarian govt) alerted police
- Next day, Bavarian police shot Nazi SA (16 killed)
- Hitler and Ludendorff arrested- high treason
7
Q
Effects of Munich Putsch
A
- Trial lasted one month, allowed to make speeches- publicity, exposing him to media
- Sympathetic judge- only 5 year sentence- minimum sentance- (only served 9 months)
- ‘Soft’ prison- allowed visitors, books and letters
- Developed views and wrote ‘Mein Kampf’
- Hitler learnt he needed to secure power legally
8
Q
Changes to the Nazi party from 1924-1929
A
- Gaues- Party branches led by a ‘gauleiter’
- SA- Forced Rohm to resign as leader to make them less violent, appointed Von Salomon to create better image
- SS- Hitler’s loyal personal guard- couldn’t trust SA
- Hitler Youth- Indoctrinate the young- future voters
- Propaganda- Goebbels put in charge
- Swastika- instantly recognisable, represented peace
- Fuhrerprinzip- one leader of Nazi Party obeyed by all, complete control
9
Q
How many seats did the Nazi Party win in the 1928 election?
A
12
10
Q
Political effects of the depression
A
- Caused chaos in Germany
- Govt couldn’t solve problems- weak
- Unemployment (6 million), Hitler promised more work
- Street battles between communists (Nazi rivals) and police meant SA looked disciplined and orderly
11
Q
Key events in 1932-1933
A
- General election triggered violence between Nazis and communists
- Nazis were largest party in Reichstag so Hitler wanted to be chancellor, but Hindenburg said no, appointed Von Papen
- Von Papen had no support so was replaced by Von Schleicher, but was forced to resign within a month
- Hitler made chancellor, thought he was weak and could be controlled
12
Q
Nazi election results
A
- 1924- 32 seats- publicity from Munich Putsch
- 1928- 12 seats- joined L of N, hyperinflation dropped-Stresemann
- 1930- 107 seats- depression, people became desperate
- July 1932- 230 seats- depression, people became desperate
- Nov 1932- 196 seats- depression beginning to ease up
13
Q
Key ideas in Mein Kampf
A
- Volksegmeinschaft- strongest races dominate weak
- Lebensraum- all German speaking people incorporated into the nation
- All ills in Germany caused by Jews
- Abolition of T of V
