"Analyse the factors that enabled Hitler and the Nazis to assume power in Germany in 1933 and discuss which factor you conside

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“Analyse the factors that enabled Hitler and the Nazis to assume power in Germany in 1933 and discuss which factor you consider was the most significant”

Adolf Hitler (leader of the Nazi party) gained support throughout the 1920’s and was eventually appointed Chancellor of Germany by Hindenburg on January 30th 1933, and became dictator on March 23rd 1933 after Hindenburg’s death. The Nazis also had gained 288 seats in the Reichstag and three members in the Cabinet. Hitler and the Nazis were able to do this because of many important factors including, The Treaty of Versailles, Ineffective Weimar Constitution, Munich Putsch (Beer Hall Putsch), and The Great Depression which all contributed to Hitler and the Nazis gaining power in 1933.

The Treaty of Versailles was signed on the 28th of June 1919 at the Palace of Versailles. This had huge ramifications on the Weimar Government and the way it was viewed by the German public. The treaty stated under clause 231 that Germany was to be blamed for the war. This caused the German public to feel ‘pain and anger’. Frederick Schneidemann, the German Chancellor (June 1919) resigned rather than sign the treaty, saying: “May the hand wither that signs this treaty.” 

The German public were angry about the reparation payments believing that France and Britain were trying to ‘starve their children to death’. The treaty also stated a reduction in the German military; the German high seas fleet scuttled all their ships instead of handing the fleet over to Britain, the army was reduced to one hundred thousand (100,000) and there were large reductions in military hardware/weaponry. Germany lost one tenth of its land, which caused uproar.  

Hitler was able to gain support for his view against the signing of the treaty; he blamed the pacifists, gypsies, Jews, Communists and corrupt politicians for the signing of the treaty. Hitler and the Nazi Party gained support from the German public, especially the middle class who had become disillusioned with the Weimar Government.

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The signing of the Treaty of Versailles was an important factor that enabled Hitler to gain support from the German people and get his political party in the “public eye”. It helped him set a foundation to move forward as a strong political opposition and alternative choice for the people of Germany.

The Ineffective Constitution of the Weimar Republic caused unstable governments, i.e. Article 48 of the constitution gave the President sole power in ‘times of emergency’ – something he often took. The system of proportional voting led to 28 parties being present in the Reichstag, meaning frequent changes ...

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