He offered the Army rearmament, expansion and the destruction of Versailles. He told businessmen and the middle classes that the Nazi party would destroy communism, he said that there would be political and economic stability, a firm government, protection of their money and property, as well as a scapegoat (this would have been the Jews as they were considered the cause of all their problems). He promised the unemployed jobs through government spending and public works schemes. Nationalists were told that they could reclaim the land that they had lost at Versailles, Hitler also promised to unite all German – speaking people, and conquer Lebensraum for Germany. Farmers were promised stability and the chance to root out the cause of the depression (the Jews).
Hitler also used propaganda to whip up fear and hatred of the communists. He also used what some people called his propaganda machine, E.g. Newspapers, posters and film. He did this to get his message across to the German people.
The Nazis also claimed that Germany needed a strong leader and also needed to get rid of the Treaty of Versailles.
The Nazis succeeded in the elections as businessmen were afraid of communists who would try and nationalize industry. The middle class people hoped that the Nazis would prevent them from more inflation. The unemployed thought that the Nazis would get people to get back to work.
Hitler was a good public speaker and whipped up emotions in his rallies. He was dynamic and gave his message to millions with propaganda. He was the only politician who gave the German people any hope and so the German people started to vote for him. He also used simple slogans that anyone could understand even if they were not interested in politics, for example, “We want work and bread. Elect Hitler,” He also used the SA and the SS to break up meetings of opponents and keep Nazi party members loyal. The Weimar government was one of the other main reasons why the Nazis were able to come to power. If it hadn’t had been for this many of the German people would not have resented the fact that they had agreed to sign the Treaty of Versailles and they thought that the politicians had given in too easily. The Government also raised taxes, cut wages and reduced unemployment benefit. These were very unpopular. Another reason that I have forgotten to mention until now is ‘ Article 48’, article 48 gave the president powers to be able to suspend the Reichstag and rule by decree in the case of a ‘national emergency’. When the wall street crash occurred Hindenburg decided to use this and he dissolved the Reichstag, this would obviously help Hitler as Hindenburg called for an election to take place in 1930. In this election Hitler increased his votes. This incident showed Hitler that not even Hindenburg had confidence in the Reichstag and it also gave Hitler a legal pathway into becoming Chancellor.
Overall I think that the Nazis fully benefited from the depression of 1929- 1930, as it would eventually lead Hitler into becoming the president of Germany as well as also turning people against the Weimar Government and against the Treaty of Versailles. By 1932 the Nazis were the biggest single party in the whole of Germany.