Rise of the Nazis

Question 1

From 1928-32 how did Nazis do in the elections?

Answer 1

1928- 2.6%
1930- 18.3% (Bruning’s early vote)
July 1932- 37.3% (biggest party)
November 1932- 33.1% (biggest party)

Question 2

What were some of the propaganda the Nazi’s used?

Answer 2

Door knocking
Leaflets
Marches
Speeches
Posters
Rallies

Question 3

How many copies of their economic programme did they distribute during July 1932 election?

Answer 3

600,000

Question 4

How did the Nazis enhance their speeches/

Answer 4

By using the latest technology- slide shows, films and loud speakers

Question 5

How did marches help him gain votes?

Answer 5

Made Hitler look orderly and organised

Question 6

What did the posters of Hitler show?

Answer 6

Hitler as saviour of Germany

The SPD/KPD as evil

Question 7

What was the ‘Hitler over Germany’ campaign?

Answer 7

Hitler travelled by plane during the 1932 presidential election to make unto 5 speeches a day in different cities
Also flew a banner showing pro-Hitler messages

Question 8

How did the anti-young campaign help Hitler?

Answer 8

Gave Hitler access to Alfred Hugenburg’S (DVNP) vast media empire. It gained NSDAP more funds and funders, eg Thyssen
After depression people began to respect Hitler more as he was right

Question 9

What was Nazi membership like?

Answer 9

In 1931 grew from 390,000 to 800,000

However turnover was quick as people became disillusioned by the Nazi’s lack of power in 1932

Question 10

What were the effects of the presidential election?

Answer 10

Hitler presented as the younger man of action
Hindenburg was a candidate for the left, backed by the SPD
In some rural areas, eg Pomerania, Hitler defeated Hindenburg
Campaign and results made Hitler more legitimate and publicised

Question 11

What were the results of the presidential election?

Answer 11

Hindenburg got 49.6% in the first round and 53% in the second
Hitler got 30% and 37%

Question 12

How did street fighting help the Nazi cause?

Answer 12

Nazis got a matyr- Horst Wessel who was shot by two communists
Unlike communists

Question 13

What were the weaknesses of the opposition?

Answer 13

SDP was not anti-versailles, their democracy was linked to crises
KPD/SPD refused to work together
Hindenburg more likely to choose a RW gov as that was his agenda
Series of Govs made democracy look weak

Question 14

How did the Nazi party distinguish themselves from other parties?

Answer 14

They called themselves a movement

Question 15

What was the Nazi’s message to voters?

Answer 15

They would make Germany a great nation again
Destroy Versailles
Solve economic problems
Give the people work and bread
Feeble Weimar system would be replaced by strong leadership
Criticised coalition gov for being unable to do anything
Portrayed SPD s evil communists
Promised women would be valued
Promised to give small producers their money back from Jews

Question 16

How was Hitler key to the Nazi party success?

Answer 16

Used Putch, trial and Mein Kampf for publicity
When in prison, NSDAP feel apart and he had to virtually refound it
He based the party on Fuhrerprinzip- one strong leader

Question 17

How was Hitler seen by listeners?

Answer 17

He was a charismatic powerful speaker, able to identify audiences emotions and relate to them, eg through being a soldier or artist, able to identify with both elite and working classes grievances
However many who met him were not impressed

Question 18

How was the party organised?

Answer 18

Organised into areas or Gaue, headed by a a local leader Gauliter

Question 19

How many people had passed through their speaking school by 1933?

Answer 19

6000

Question 20

What organisations did the Nazi’s create?

Answer 20

Their welfare organisation ran soup kitchens and gave food donations

Question 21

What was the SA?

Answer 21

Formed in 1920 to protect Nazi speakers, by 1933 had 500,000 members- nicknamed brownshirts
From 1930 led by Rohm.

Question 22

Why were men attracted into the SA?

Answer 22

Half came from working class- mainly unemployed
Provided with a uniform, meals, sometimes accommodation and there was camps too\Men attracted by anti-communism/semitism, love for Hitler or violence

Question 23

What were the SA supposed to do?

Answer 23

Distribute leaflets, protect Nazi meetings, drive communists from the streets
Not allowed to carry arms but still fought- 84 killed 1932, nearly 10,000 injured
Disciplined marches showed Nazis would restore law and order
Fear of an SA seize of power scared many

Question 24

What did the SA do when they were banned?

Answer 24

Still paraded, just without the uniform

Question 25

What were the Nazi slogans?

Answer 25

Easy

‘First bread, then reparations’

Question 26

Who voted for the Nazis?

Answer 26

More popular in rural areas, self-employed and farmers disproportionally voted for them

Question 27

What did Evans say about the 1932 presidential election?

Answer 27

Hitler was beginning to look unstoppable

Question 28

What did Evans say about propaganda?

Answer 28

Intense propaganda soon brought its desired results

Question 29

What did Kirk say about the Nais?

Answer 29

At its peak in 1932 NSDAP represented a wider range of social classes than any other parties

Question 30

What did McDonough say about propaganda?

Answer 30

It was key to Nazi success, thanks to Gobbels

Question 31

What did Goldhagen believe?

Answer 31

Anti-communist arguments were more important to winning votes than antisemitic arguments

Question 32

What did Huxley believe?

Answer 32

Propaganda canalises an already existing stream

Question 33

What did Brunstein believe?

Answer 33

Economic issues played a large part in Nazi appeal