The establishment and development of the Weimar Republic: 1919–Jan 1933 Flashcards
1
Q
what were the 3 stages of turning germany into the weimar republic
A
- revolution from above
- revolution from below and abdication of the kaiser
- the writing of the weimar constituion
2
Q
when was the revolution from above
weimar era
A
sept- oct 1918
3
Q
what was the revolution from above
weimar
A
By September 1918 Germany was losing the war and in retreat on the Western Front.
General Ludendorff told the Kaiser that Germany was losing the war and should appeal to the USA for an armistice.
However much of the German public were unaware of this as the government controlled media was lying to them and saying they would still win.
When the public found out the truth, the Kaiser’s government would get the blame – A PROBLEM!
4
Q
what was Ludendorff’s plan in response to the revolution from above
A
General Erich Ludendorff advised the Kaiser (in September) to create a more democratic system. To give power to the Reichstag to make laws (legislative power).
This was not because Ludendorff was a nice liberal democratic person. He was not. He was on old right-wing general.
However by passing power to the politicians just before they lost a world war, he could shift the blame for losing the war to the politicians and away from the army and the Kaiser.
They could then say that the army were ‘stabbed in the back’ by cowardly left-wing politicians. [STAB IN THE BACK MYTH]
5
Q
impact immediantly following kaiser abdication and stab in the back myth
A
On 2nd October 1918 full legislative power was given to the Reichstag politicians.
The Army High Command gave up its political role
A new Chancellor Max von Baden was appointed.
Peace negotiations started with the USA.
6
Q
when was the revolution from below and abdication of the kaiser
A
nov 1918
7
Q
what was the revolution form below
kaiser
A
kiel mutiny - 28 oct 1918
Word had got out that the war was lost yet the High Seas Fleet had been ordered to sea to attack the British navy. So they mutinied.
There were riots in the town of Kiel which quickly spread to other cities such as Berlin and Munich.
The rioters were angry that the war was lost and yet this had been kept from the public by the media.
This is known as THE GERMAN REVOLUTION
8
Q
why did the kaiser abdicate
3 reasons
A
1) Because he feared that if he didn’t then the revolution would continue, get worse and there would be chaos.
2) In Russia in 1917 COMMUNISTS had seized power in a revolution. German Communists were called Spartacists and were already trying to stir up the riots and strikes more and to push for the complete overthrow of the government. The Kaiser believed that he had to go in order to stop this.
3) The Americans told the German government that they would only negotiate with them if the Kaiser abdicated. They blamed him for starting the war.
9
Q
what was the red republic and when was it
+impact of it
A
In November 1918, Spartacists seized control of Bavaria and declared it to be a separate country.
They called it the Bavarian Soviet Republic or The Red Republic.
It was led by Kurt Eisner and its capital was Munich.
This massively** HYPED UP the fear of Communism** felt by the Kaiser and the rich.
10
Q
who were the sparticists
A
communists, who wanted Germany to be run by the working classes.
11
Q
when did the kaiser officially abdicate
A
9th nov 1918
12
Q
impact of kaiser abdication
A
The Kaiser abdicated. He was allowed to go into exile in Holland. He died in 1941.
Germany became A REPUBLIC (a country with no monarch)
On the same day, Friedrich Ebert (a Socialist) became the Chancellor. He called for the revolution to end and everyone to go back to work.
13
Q
who was the new chancellor after the kaiser abdicated
A
Ebert
14
Q
when was the weimar constitution written
A
spring 1919
15
Q
what is a constituin
A
A Constitution is set of rules by which a country is governed (who are the leaders, how do the elections work etc) They can also list the rights of the citizens.
16
Q
who wrote the constituion
weimar
A
Chancellor Friedrich Ebert and other politicians from the Reichstag drew up the new Constitution
17
Q
main rules of weimar constitution
6
A
- Power would be divided between a PRESIDENT and a CHANCELLOR.
- The President would be elected every 7 years and would run foreign policy.
- The Chancellor would be chosen by the President and would run domestic (internal) policy.
- The Reichstag (Parliament) would be elected every 4 years and the Chancellor would need to win votes in the Reichstag in order to pass laws.
- All adults could vote, including women.
- A Bill of Rights guaranteed basic human rights for the people, including freedom of speech.
18
Q
issues with weimar constitution
A
Article 48 of the Constitution gave the President EMERGENCY POWERS to rule by decree (without Parliament) in ‘an emergency’. But what an ‘emergency’ was wasn’t made clear.
If 2/3 of the Reichstag MPs voted for AN ENABLING ACT then full dictatorial powers could be given to the Chancellor in ‘an emergency’.
BOTH OF THE ABOVE HAVE BEEN HUGELY CRITICISED BY HISTORIANS BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED LATER
Also the voting system was Proportional Representation which meant that the governments were all COALITION GOVERNMENTS (several political parties in them).
THIS HAS ALSO BEEN CRITICISED AND IS ACCUSED OF CAUSING UNSTABLE GOVERNMENTS
19
Q
who were the reichstag and what did they do
A
[the lower house]
* voted for by the german public, using proportional representation
20
Q
who were the reichsrat and what did they do
A
[the upper house]
* each german state sent representatives
21
Q
when was the treaty of versaillies
A
18th jan 1919
22
Q
how did the treaty of versaillies meeting work
A
27 Countries were represented at the conference. However:
The five major victorious powers (France, Britain, Italy, the U.S., and Japan) controlled the Conference. Amongst the “Big Five”, in practice Japan only sent a former prime minister and played a small role; and the “Big Four” leaders dominated the conference.
23
Q
who were the big four leaders at the treaty of versaillies
A
Georges Clemenceau (French PM)
David Lloyd George (British PM)
Woodrow Wilson (US President)
Vittorio Orlando (Italian PM)
24
Q
what did germnay call the treaty of versailles and WHY
A
a DIKTAT (meaning a dictated peace that was forced on them!)
25
germany's opinion of the treaty of versailles
The Germans attended the conference but were not allowed to take part in the negotiations.
They hoped for a moderate peace where they would remain a great power and avoid paying reparations.
26
the big fours view of aims of the treaty of versailles
**FRANCE**- wanted to weaken Germany militarily and economically as much as possible. To **break them as a major power so that they would never threaten France again**. To ‘MAKE GERMANY PAY’ and take revenge.
**USA**- wanted to treat **Germany *leniently* in order to avoid resentment and a future war**. His plan (Wilson’s 14 Points) emphasised creating a League of Nations – a forum through which countries could discuss their disputes and avoid war.
**BRITAIN**- in the middle
**ITALY** - wanted territorial gains for italy
27
impact of the big fours aim of treaty of versailles
WHEN THE TERMS WERE FINISHED IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE FRENCH HAD PUSHED THE TREATY TO BE HARSH, BUT NOT HARSH ENOUGH TO DESTROY GERMANY COMPLETELY………
28
effect of terms of treaty of versailles
| stats
Germany lost 10% of its land, 12.5% of its population, 16% of its coal industry and 48% of its iron industry.
29
terms of treaty of versailles
| territory
* lost Alsace-Lorraine to France
* lost all their colonies
* lost west prussia and the polish corridor
30
terms of treaty of versailles
| military
The army was restricted to **100,000** men.
The navy was restricted to **6 battleships only**.
**No air force** was allowed at all.
The Germans were supposed to **hand over most of their ships to Britain** (74 ships). But **instead** they scuttled them (**deliberately sank them)** at Scapa Flow, off the coast of Scotland.
31
terms of treaty of versailles
| reparations
Germany was made to pay Reparations
The total amount wasn’t finalised until 1921. It was **£6.6 billion** .
Germany had to **start paying immediately**, before the final figure was worked out.
Mostly it was to be paid in goods and in instalments (certain amounts per year in different goods).
German factories were* handing over* between **10-20% of what they produced** in reparations.
32
impact of the reparations
Reparations led to less goods being in German shops. This contributed to causing hyperinflation later (big price rises).
Most of the reparations were paid to France.
They caused deep resentment from businesses who lost profits.
33
terms of treaty of versailles
| war guilt clause
**Article 231** of the Treaty of Versailles, known as the *War Guilt Clause*, was a statement that Germany and her allies were responsible for beginning World War I
The War Guilt Clause was actually **added to the treaty in order to persuade the French and Belgians to agree to reduce the sum of money that Germany would have to pay** in reparations from the even higher figure that they wanted.
But this is *not how the Germans saw it*. They deeply resented this part of the treaty as it i**mplied that the war was a result of German aggression rather than the other long and short term causes of the First World War**
34
when were the terms of the treaty of versailles finalised
may 1919
35
overview of main effects of treaty of versailles
1) The** reparations undermined the economic recovery** of Germany and therefore fuelled political extremism.
2) According to historian A.J Nicholls, the **main political effect was on the moderate centre-right politicians and voters** (conservatives). It meant that the political gains of 1918 (greater democracy etc) were superseded in their minds by the ***effects of the humiliating treaty and this created a false nostalgia for pre-1918 Germany*** (made it seem better than it was).
The far right and far left would have opposed the treaty anyway regardless of what it said.
36
DID THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES DOOM THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC FROM THE START?
No it didn’t, most historians no longer believe this. There was an economic recovery in the mid-1920s (the ‘Golden Years’) and support for right-wing extremism fell.
It was the Great Depression (started 1929) which wrecked the Weimar Republic.
37
was the treaty too harsh
It was both too harsh and too lenient.
It was harsh enough to give Germany a desire for revenge and cause deep resentment.
However it was not harsh enough to wreck Germany completely and remove it as a future threat.
38
when was the great inflation
1923
39
economic background of germany
Between 1890 and 1914 the Germany economy was growing rapidly and overtaking the British economy
The Germany economy was strong due to extensive natural resources, industrialisation, a well-educated population and an advanced financial system
WWI put a great strain on the German economy
The economic policies of the early Weimar government’s worsened the state of the economy
The Ruhr crisis led to a full-blown crisis
40
economic impact of ww1
The *Kaiserreich* government made** no financial provision for a long war**.
Instead it **sold ‘war bonds’ and borrowed money to pay for the war**.
Debt increased from **5 billion marks in 1914 to 144 billion in 1919**.
The economy was so focused on producing weapons that there was a **shortage of consumer goods. This drove up prices.
**
Defeat meant that Germany had to pay **reparations** (6.6 billion)
It **lost territory** which included some of its most **industrialised areas** – the Saar, Alsace Lorraine and Silesia. This **reduced the size of the German economy**
41
early weimar gov economic policies
These governments were faced with the problems of reducing the huge level of debt and paying reparations
There was some **increase in taxation** – on profits of companies, unearned wealth and income
But there was **no reduction in public spending because it was felt that it was more *important to stimulate the economy* to help it recover from the wa**r and build support for the new regime
So it was **decided to print more money**
This caused the mark to become less valuable against other currencies and increased prices
Weimar governments also tried to postpone reparation payments
42
what was the ruhr crisis
The **postponement of several reparation payments in 1922 angered the French Prime Minister**, Raymond Poincare
In December 1922, the Inter-Allied Reparations Commission (IARC) declared Germany in default of the reparations payments
Poincare ordered **French and Belgian troops to occupy the Ruhr in January 1923**
The **German government** under Cuno decided to follow **a policy of passive resistance **(refusal to work with the occupying powers) and urged workers in the Saar to go on strike
43
how did the ruhr crisis lead to hyperinflation
Unfortunately, the **policy of passive resistance backfired** on the German government
It **could not collect tax revenue from the Ruhr**, further weakening the state finances
The *French blockaded coal supplies to the rest of Germany*, r**educing industrial production** and **forcing the import of coal from abroad**
The government finances collapsed and the mark became worthless
By **autumn 1923 it cost more to print a banknote than its face value** and newspaper presses had to be used to ensure there was enough money printed
44
price of 1kg bread in 1913 and in nov 1923
1913- 0.29
1923- 428 billion
45
who benefit from hyperinflation
mortgage holders- loans were easy to pay back
exporters- sales to foreign countries was attractive because of the rate of exchnage
the german state - large parts of gov debt were paid off
46
who didnt benefit from hyperinflation
savers- money invested was eroded
those on fixed income- money declined in real terms dramaticallu
recipents of welffare- relied on charity or state, payments fell behind the inflation rate
land-lords - income was fixed
47
when were the golden years
1924-29
48
evidence of political stability in the weimar era
End to violent protest on the streets and assassinations
No attempted revolutions and no rival governments set up
Extremist left and right parties did not have much appeal due to the economy stabilising
Centrist parties holding their share of the vote (SPD, Z)
NSDAP very small (1928 2.8%)
In Prussia there was a stable coalition involving the SPD, Z and DDP.
49
evidence of political instability
High turnover of governments (6 in 6 years)
Continued minority govts with unstable multi-party coalitions
The two major political parties, the SPD and DVP, disagreed over social and economic policies, and so found it difficult to cooperate.
DNVP disliked Stresemann’s policy of rapprochement with the Allies.
Z Party adopted more right-wing policies which made it harder to cooperate with SPD and DDP
Hindenburg was elected President in 1925. He had lukewarm support for the Republic and refused to include the SDP in any government! He brought in the DNVP instead. His election suggests that there was considerable support for an old-style authoritarian government, and the army and the elites still had much influence.
50
when did stresemann become foreign minister
late 1923
51
stresemann's aims
To modify the terms of the Versailles Treaty
Restore Germany to being a great power
These aims could not be achieved by military power so Streseman had to resort to diplomacy instead
52
how did stresemann ***try*** to achieve his aims
Recognition that France was right to have security concerns about Germany and that it held the balance of power in Europe. Germany had to make friends with France if it was to get relaxation of the Versailles terms
Use Germany’s export trade to get help and support from the UK and the USA
Make friends with Russia to help with redefinition of Germany’s eastern borders
To encourage peace and co-operation so that Germany could become a leading power in Europe again
53
when was the dawes plan
april 1924
54
what was the dawes plan
An **800 million gold marks loan** to help German economic recovery, mainly financed by the USA
Reparations confirmed at **132** (£6.6) **billion marks**
Over **5 years annual payments of reparations would raise from 1 billion marks to 2.5 billion marks** and then at varying levels according to Germany’s economic performance. These arrangements were meant to be temporary
Sanctions for non-payment must be agreed by all allies, not just France alone
**French promised to evacuate the Ruhr during 1925**
55
what did stresemann do to the currency
creation of the Rentenmark
* a Rentenmark would be worth one billion old marks
56
when was the locarno pact
1925
57
what was the locarno pact
**A series of treaties signed to secure Germany’s western borders**
1. A mutual guarantee agreement accepting the Franco-German and Belgian-German borders. These terms were guaranteed by the UK and Italy. All five countries agreed to renounce the use of force except in self-defence
2. The demilitarisation of the Rhineland was recognised as permanent
3. Arbitration treaties between Germany, Poland and Czechoslovakia agreed to settle future disputes peacefully but Germany’s eastern borders were not accepted as final
58
what did stresemann achieve in september 1926
| and conditions of this
Germany joined the League of Nations in September 1926 and was given great power status on the Council of the League (executive body) which meant it had a veto over decision-making
Germany did not have to participate in any League of Nations military force as a demilitarised country
Germany could use its membership to raise matters of interest to it
59
when did germany join the league of nations
sept. 1926
60
when was the treaty of berlin
1926
61
what was the 1926 treaty of berlin
This** built on the 1922 Rapallo Pact** which promoted friendship between Germany and Russia
There were both public and secret clauses
The a**im was to further improve relations and allow economic and military co-operation**
One of the secret clauses was to give Germany rearmament capacity in Russia
The purpose of the treaty was to** put pressure on the western allies to improve their relations with Germany** to prevent it from becoming too close to Russia
62
when was the kellogg-briand pact
1928
63
what was the kellogg-briand pact
| +problem with it
The Kellogg-Briand Pact in 1928, signed by 70 countries, outlawed ‘war as an instrument of national policy’
*However, the pact was not complied with and Germany was secretly rearming beyond the terms of the Versailles Treaty with Russia’s connivance*
64
when was the young plan
1929
65
what was the young plan
Total sum of reparations reduced to 37 billion marks
Annual payments to be made over 58 years (and at a lower level than under the Dawes Plan)
End of Allied supervision
This was intended to be final settlement of reparations
Germany participated in the negotiations for the first time
Allied troops withdrawn in June 1930
It has been estimated that Germany ended up paying only 1/8 of the original sum set in 1919
Germany stopped paying reparations in 1932
66
successfullness of stresemann's foreign policy?
success- modify terms of treaty of versailles {reduction of reparations, treaty of berlin which allowed economic and military co-op}, join league of nations
failures- kellogg-briand pact, treaty of berlin [secret clause],
67
the situation of weimar in summer/autumn of 1923
The Germany currency had collapsed in value
French and Belgian troops were occupying the Ruhr and the government was encouraging ‘passive resistance’
Political instability – attempted communist uprising in Saxony and the Munich Putsch
68
stresemanns actions regarding economy
September 1923 he **called off the ‘passive resistance’** and promised to pay reparations
Government spending was cut – over **700,000 government employees were sacked**
Appointed an economic expert to oversee the i**ntroduction of a new currency** – the Rentenmark
Streseman’s decisive economic policies **won him respect from the allies** who then agreed to an international conference to discuss the payment of reparations
The successful **suppression of left and right wing uprisings**
69
strengths of german economy 1924-29
| 12
1. Significant reduction in strikes
2. Large increase in industrial production
3. Growth in cartels lowered prices of goods which helped exports
4. A drop in unemployment 1924-25 and 1927-28
5. A huge drop in the budget deficit 1924-29 (due to Dawes Plan loans)
6. Increase of trade 1924-29 (higher imports & exports) – exports increased by 40%
7. Big rises in wages – 5-10% in 1927 & 1928
8. Improvements in social welfare – introduction of compulsory unemployment insurance covering 17 million workers in 1927 which was the largest scheme in the world.
9. Foreign loans more than covered the reparations payments
10. Economic growth
11. Stabilisation of the currency Nov 1923
12. Dawes Plan 1924
70
weaknesses of the german economy 1924-1929
| 8
1. Large number of **strikes in 1928** (**when profit rose** there was a clash over whether they ***should be reinvested into the industry or used to increase wages *** -> resentment from employers over state arbitration which they argued favoured workers)
2. Only **by 1927** was production **higher than pre-war levels**
3. Unemployment n**ever fell below 1.3 mill**ion
4. Exports still lower than imports
5. Dangerously dependent upon foreign loans
6. Economic growth was lower than that of UK, France and USA and uneven
7. **Agricultural slump** - worldwide (by 1929 over half German farms were failing to make a profit. **Resentment that the govt seemed to be favouring the towns not the countryside**
8. **stabilisation of the currency did not help export industry** - > industrialists looking to cut costs made workers redundant
71
how stable was economy by 1929
Highly dependent on exports which made the economy vulnerable to changes in world economic conditions such as increases in tariffs
Loss of valuable resources due to the Versailles Treaty
High pre-war birth rate meant more people joining the workforce in the late 1920s
Dependency on foreign investment due to the reluctance of Germans to save and invest as a result of the Hyperinflation Crisis
Long-term failure of the government to control the debt
72
conclusion of economic stability
The economic stability of the Golden Years was a mirage hiding deep problems with the German economy
The Great Depression exposed the fundamental weaknesses of the German economy and its mismanagement by successive governments
Streseman wrote in 1928, ‘Germany is dancing on a volcano. If the short-term credits are called in, a large section of economy would collapse’
The Weimar economy was ‘an abnormal, in fact a sick economy’ (Borchardt)
73
74
what caused the end of the golden years
the great deppression
75
when was the wall street crash
29th Oct 1929
76
why was the american great depression a problem for germnay
no more loans from the us AND they recalled loans already made
77
Impact of great depression on germnay
Unemployment rose
Less money to spend -> **demand for goods collapsed**
Production was cut -> More loss of jobs
By **1932, 33% of the workforce was unemployed** PLUS many working shorter hours or had taken pay cuts.
Rise in poverty / inability to pay rent or feed family
REMEMBER – many people’s savings had been wiped out in the 1923 crisis
**Malnutrition & poor housing -> disease**
Shame, hopelessness & inadequacy
Drastic fall in government revenue from taxes
Massive **increase in government expenditure** – unemployment benefits (a **system set up to cope with 800,000 unemployed**…..)
78
what happened in july 1931 and what did it lead to
Collapse of the Austrian bank
People feared that this was the first of many, and rushed to withdraw their money from all banks. The banks ran out of money and had to close.
AND France blocked a loan to Germany that would have helped BUT in 1932 there was an agreement that reparations repayments could be stopped.
79
two main sources of nazi ideas
mein kampf and the 25 points programme
80
nazi view of race
Hitler believed in a hierarchy of races in the world with Germans, as an Aryan race (non-Jewish people of northern Europe), being the master race (Herrenvolk) to dominate over all other races
He believed in social Darwinism – races compete in a survival of the fittest
Germans should retain their racial purity by not mixing with other races
81
82
nazi view of authoritarianism
Hitler argued that **parliamentary democracy is weak and ineffective as it goes against the German traditions of militarism** and a strong state and encourages the development of Communism
He believed that the **early Weimar politicians**, in particular the Socialists, **were the ‘November criminals’** and had stabbed Germany in the back over the Versailles Treaty
He also claimed that the Weimar governments were weak and indecisive
Hitler proposed an all-embracing one party state run on the Fuhrerprinzip (Fuhrer principle) that would do away with representative government and ***liberal*** values and **replace them with a dictatorial charismatic leader who would make all decisions on behalf of the people**
83
nazu view regarding nationalism
Hitler demanded that Germany reject the armistice of 1918 and the Versailles Treaty and recover the territories lost to Germany
Then Germany should create a Reich (empire) bringing together all ethnic Germans in Austria, Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia) and the Baltic Coast
Hitler dreamed of a super power Greater Germany conquering Eastern Europe and Russia to provide living room for more Germans (Lebensraum), raw materials, cheap labour, food and the destruction of Soviet communism
84
nazi view of socialism
The 25 Points Programme contained ideas that were anti-capitalist and therefore could be construed as socialist.
Hitler was not a socialist but recognised the popularity of ideas that promoted a collective national identity by encouraging people to work together for the benefit of the state and support German values.
He also wanted to overcome the old differences over class, religion etc
He called it Volksgemeinschaft (national community)
Socialist ideas caused divisions in the Nazi Party and Hitler abandoned them after the purge of Rohm and the S.A. in 1934
85
developmemt of nazis till 1929
In the early Weimar years the NSDAP was a marginal party only known in Bavaria
In the mid 1920s it was a growing party but still very much at the fringes and arguably in decline electorally
By September 1930 the Nazis had become the second largest party in Germany
86
what was the catalyst for nazi supporty
great depression
87
nazi % of votes in 1928, 1930, 1933
1928 - 2.6
1930 - 18.3
1933 - 43.9
88
membership of NSDAP in 1920, 1923, 1929 , 1932
1920 - 2000
1923- 55,000
1929 - 178,000
1932 - 800,000
89
SA membership in 1921, 1924, 1930, 1933
1921 - 2000
1924 - 30,000
1930 - 60,000
1933 - 2 million
90
organisation of nazi party
Hitler **joined the party in 1919** but quickly became a leading member
He became the **party’s propaganda chief** and was its most impressive speaker, drawing large crowds at the local beer halls in Munich
He organised **armed squads to protect party meetings **and intimidate opponents which became the **S.A**. (Sturm Abteilung) or Stormtroopers
Hitler developed the Nazi salute, swastika and party uniform
Hitler g**ained control of the party in July 1921** after the party founder tried to oust him
Hitler ruled the party according to the (dictatorship)
Over the 1920s, the Nazis **won backing** from various rich and important backers, such as Herman **Goring**, newspaper owner Julius **Streicher**, the piano manufacturers Bechstein, senior figures in the chemical giant IG Farben and the insurance company Allianz
An effective national party structure was developed under Gregor Strasser consisting of Gauleiters (regional party leaders) and various associations were created, such as the Hitler Youth
91
nazi use of violence
Hitler learned the importance of strategic use of violence (and propaganda) in politics from the Social Democrats, a populist left-wing Austrian party
Hitler created two bodies in the Nazi Party whose purpose was to protect the party and intimidate opponents –** the SA and SS**
The **SA was created in 1921** and was led between **1921-1925** and **1930-1934** by Ernst **Rohm**, an infamous degenerate and rabble rouser
The **SS** was created in **1925** to act as an **elite bodyguard to Hitler**.
In **1929**, it was placed under the control of **Himmler** and became an elite and ***highly politicised means of control of the armed forces*** and perpetrated many atrocities
92
when was the SA invented
1921
93
when was the SS invented
1925
94
function of the SS
1925- hitler's elite bodyguards
1929- placed under the control of Himmler became an elite and highly politicised means of control of the armed forces and perpetrated many atrocities
95
Nazi use of propaganda
The party’s message was spread through rallies and the media
Members were trained to give speeches
The most famous were the rallies in Nuremburg, first held in 1923, but became annual 1933 to 1938
The party established its first newspaper in 1921 called the People’s Observer
Goebbels was appointed propaganda chief in 1928, succeeding Strasser
He proved to be a very able propagandist and engineer of spectacle
96
