Essay Plan. How was Hitler able to achieve power in 1933?

by marywaters (student)

Mary Waters

How was Hitler able to achieve power in 1933?

In the years leading up to 1933, Germany was filled with unsureness and with a lack of confidence amongst the German people, causing them to search for new solutions and new leaders. It was circumstances such as the failure of the Weimar Republic and the economic depression of 1929 that forced people to search to the extreme of the political spectrum, either to the extreme left or the extreme right. Hitler and his Nazi Party offered solutions to the political, economic and social dilemmas which appealed to the majority of the German population in a rigorously conducted campaign.

The political instability and lack of constitution in the Weimar Republic was one of the key factors that allowed Hitler to achieve power.

Weakness of Weimar in its inability to provide a stable government

Discredit of democracy with the failure of the Weimar political system

Hatred of Treaty of Versailles and the guilt clause

Republic associated with the hated T.O.V → symbol of shame and defeat, until Hitler erased provisions after ‘34

Humiliation of ’23 Ruhr occupation and devastation of hyperinflation

Misfortunes in Germany after 1918 → weakened confidence of Germans

Germany humiliated by the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler and the Nazi Party exploited this hatred through propaganda

Goebbels’ propaganda campaign, “We will not rest until they give us the power.”

Played on the failure of government

Anger about the First World War. Treaty of Versailles created long term bitterness felt by many of the German people

Hitler created a policy that appealed to the bitterness of the German people

Ineffective Weimar constitution. Proportional voting made it impossible to have a majority in the Reichstag. Longest govt lasted only two years. The political chaos caused many to lose faith in the new political system. Army not under full government control

After hyperinflation of 23, Germany went into a period of economic stability under Gustav Stresemann. Meant that many Nazi policies became ...

This is a preview of the whole essay

Played on the failure of government

Anger about the First World War. Treaty of Versailles created long term bitterness felt by many of the German people

Hitler created a policy that appealed to the bitterness of the German people

After hyperinflation of 23, Germany went into a period of economic stability under Gustav Stresemann. Meant that many Nazi policies became irrelevant so its message became less appealing and the party lost support.

In these years, Hitler created the SS, merged with other right winged parties and took them over, and put Goebbels in charge of propaganda.

Depression of 1929 allowed the Nazi party to appeal to a more diverse range of German society

The economic depression of 1929 and the rising unemployment rate allowed for Hitler to provide hope and a secure government to the German people.

German prosperity after 1924 was financed mostly by borrowed US loans, 23 billion makrs from the USA alone

Weakness of economy as the country used short term loans to fund long term projects

Decline in the flow of foreign investment. Production slowed and unemployment began to rise.

US banks recalled their loans, which left Germany with no money.

Number of unemployed soared to over six million

Hitler and other leaders attacked the weaknesses and inefficiency of the government, the divided political parties, the threat of communism and the social and economic consequences of the depression

Hitler carried a message of hope and recovery to the German people.

Appealed to the middle class

During the crisis, people wanted someone to blame and looked to extreme solutions- Hitler gave them both.

Nazi representation in the Reichstag rose from 12 in 1928 to receiving 37.4 percent of the vote in July 1932.

Divisiveness of political parties on the left between the KPD and the SPD.

Hitler’s great skill as an orator and his brilliant thinking and strategy allowed for his rise to power in 1933, appealing to different aspects of the uncertain German population.

Movement displayed great skill in playing on a variety of emotions and appealing to particular groups

Many in rural Germany → promise of agrarian reform

Unemployed → promise of relief

Army → promise of rearmament

Industrialists and business interests → Nazis = only group that actively opposed communists

Young people → attracted by idealism and the hope for a better Germany

Nationalists → supported pledge to restore German honour and greatness

The middle class (suffered through inflation and depression, saw the Nazis as promoting middle-class values and returning stability, order and security

Nazism seemed to provide the answer to personal and national frustration. The emotionalism and the irrationalism of the movement had strong appeal to those who were disillusioned by decay of German society.

Offered strong leadership. “The only solution was to found in a strong leader”

Hitler described as a “baffling figure- so intelligent and so commonplace, so terrifyingly mad in his long-term goals and basic assumptions, so astute and skilful in his diplomacy and success”

Force of his personality drove the movement

Sought power with a ruthless will and determination

Had a passion to dominate

Absolute belief in himself as a man destined by fate to lead the German people

Outstanding oratory skills

Ability to move the masses

He was clever and calculating politician → constantly underestimated by opponents

Master of tactics and an opportunist who took full advantage of the weakness of his enemies

Most severely, it was the miscalculation of Hitler and his aims by his opponents that allowed him to achieve power in 1933, where the strength and appeal of Hitler’s movement was aimed to be used to establish their own authority and power.

Nazis were given power in January 1933 by the deliberate action of the conservative elite groups who were actually Hitlers opponents.

They all underestimated both Hitler and his movement

Conservatives did not support the concept of parliamentary democracy and sought to use the strength and appeal of Hitler’s movement to entrench their own authority and power. Did not want or expect triumph of Nazism.

The Nazi party was losing support in 1932

Economy was showing signs of recovery and the threat from the communists was never great and the threat of the army was out of the question.

If the army had been called upon it would have supported Hindenburg and not Hitler however the miscalculation of Hitler and his movement meant that he was summoned by his opponents and given the chancellorship.

“His adversaries were the ones to make it possible.” J. Fest

The Nazi rise to power took place for many reasons, most notably that Hitler and the Nazi party greatly appealed to the German people by providing them with hope and the promise of a stable government, with a campaign designed to exploit all weaknesses within the German government. Their policies were heavily supported by many, inclusive of the removal of the Treaty of Versailles, a stable government, opportunities for employment and the appeal of Hitler as a leader himself.