How far do the levels of unemployment in the Weimar Republic explain the rise of the Nazi to power?

Theo St John Stevens 09/02/2011 How far do the levels of unemployment in the Weimar Republic explain the rise of the Nazis to power?

I think that levels of unemployment can only explain the rise of Nazis power to a certain extent. There are a number of reasons why it can be argued that the rise of the Nazi's was caused by unemployment. The levels of unemployment rose (due to the 1929 Wall Street Crash) as so did the percentage of seats Nazi's held in the Reichstag. In 1928, before the Wall Street Crash, 10% of the population was unemployed. The Nazi's only had 12 seats which was 2.4% of the Reichstag.This shows that when unemployed levels were relatively low (10%) the Nazi's did not have many seats (12). However after the wall street crash the Nazi's gained in power. In September 1930, unemployed rose too 3.1 million at 15.3% of the population, Nazi's gained 18.5% of the Reichstag with 107 seats. This shows that when the unemployed levels rose (by 5.3%) the number of seats dramatically rose (by 95 seats).It meant the Nazi's gained in power because it held (16% more of the Reichstag).

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However there is a number of other factors which could be argued that they let to the rise of the Nazis. An main reason which could be argued cause a large rise in Nazism is their campaigning. The Nazi’s campaign methods were modern and effective. Joseph Gobbels was their head of propaganda. He ordered the purchase of an Munich radio channel. This boosted supported for the Nazi’s because it meant that in every house hold the Nazi’s could influence the families. The way in which they spread there beliefs was different. They used generalized slogans instead of detailed policies. This meant that the common worker could understand the Nazi’s beliefs, which meant that they gained support. One of the greatest campaigning tools was Hitler. He appeals and attracted others because he was such an powerful orator.This meant that the Nazi’s ideas which were not that favorable, were accepted and supported just because of the influential way in which Hitler spoke and gained peoples support. An reason why the Nazi’s gained power was how they acted towards others, how others acted towards them and how they gained support. The Nazi’s gained power by having a sense of flexibility. E.g. If one of there policies was criticized they would simply dropp it, when industrialist expressed concern towards nationalization of industries, the Nazi’s simply dropped the policy. This meant that they could dodge criticism and keep the support of it’s followers and portray no signs of weakness. The Nazi’s made sure they always were better than there opposition. An example of this is in 1921, the SA was set up. This protected Nazi rallies and disrupt other parties rallies. This is important because it meant that the rallies had the full potential to express their beliefs without interference and the SA cause other groups not to be able to do this. The Nazi’s policies were modernized, they tried to appeal to as many groups in society was possible. E.g. they tried to gain support from the unemployed by setting up soup kitchens and providing shelters. These policies gained the Nazi’s greater support which helped them gain power because it meant that many different groups in society supported the Nazi’s. This was because most groups in society found aspects of the Nazi’s manifesto which they supported. An key idea which shows why people supported the Nazi’s and they gained in power is Negative Cohesion. This means that people did not support or share the views of the Nazi’s. However because they supported them because they shared the same fears and dislikes as the Nazi’s. An example of a fear or dislike would be towards Jews and communism. The Nazi was very anti-Semitic and hated communism. This meant that people supported the Nazi’s they gained in power.

In conclusion I think that unemployment was a large factor in contributing to the rise in power of Nazism. This is shown how after the wall street crash of November 1929, as unemployment levels rose so did the support for the Nazi’s. However there are other factors which caused the Nazi’s rise to power. These include Negative Cohesion. People had the same fears as Nazi’s. The great speeches from Hitler which gained them so much support. So I think that unemployment only caused a rise in Nazism to a certain extent because other factors had a major contribution to the rise of Hitler to chancellor in 1933.