Hitler and the Nazis message of “blood and soil”, nationalism and the idea of lebensraum played a part in the Nazi party gaining support and achieving power in 1933. However, it could be argued that it was due to the Nazi’s strong anti- communist, anti- Weimar and anti- Semitic feelings that attracted the support of the conservative right and groups such as the elite, big businesses and the army. The fear of communism among big businesses and the lack of stability in the government led to them supporting Hitler and funding the Nazi party financially. The army supported the Nazi part partly because of its message of building a ‘Greater Germany’ and the party’s strong views against the Treaty of Versailles.
However, other historians would argue that it was due to other factors that the Nazis came to power in 1933. It could be suggested that the reasons Hitler came to power were due to the failings of the Weimar Republic. During the period of the Weimar Republic the public began to lose faith in the parliamentary system due to various reasons. As soon as the Weimar Republic was formed it could be argued it was doomed. This is because as soon as the Weimar Republic formed it was associated
with defeat and the ‘stab in the back’ myth. The Civilian government was seen as ‘stabbing’ the army in the back for signing the Treaty of Versailles.
However, many of the German people did not realise that the Treaty was a ‘diktat’ and that they had no choice but to sign the Treaty. Germany was forced to accept reparations and war guilt; this was hard and humiliating and angered many German people.
The Weimar was economically unstable, as firstly Germany had to pay reparation and then suffered from hyperinflation in 1923. In 1923 the Weimar Republic said it could no longer pay the reparations. The French invaded the Ruhr intending to be paid in kind. The German miners, encouraged by the government went on strike. The miners still had to be paid and this led to the government printing off more and more money. The currency soon became worthless and prices went up alarmingly, this was hyperinflation. Overnight the savings of the German people became worthless and lost support in the Weimar Republic. This led to the German people losing faith in the Weimar Republic and started to support political extremes in an attempt to return things back to normal and improve their standard if living. This was the first step in the building of support for the Nazi party and in the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the German people had become so desperate they were prepared to listen to anyone who promised they could solve their problems. The Wall St Crash started a world wide economic crisis. Due to the falling share prices in America the US stopped lending money and began to call back its loans. This had a profound effect on Germany. Factories were in trouble, businesses were losing profits and the unemployment rate of Germany went up from under 2million to just over 6million. The German people were desperate and would listen to anyone who could get things back to normal and improve their standard of living. This in turn led to people losing faith in the government and turning to extreme parties to solve their problems. This therefore led to a rising in support for the Nazi party. Due to the Nazi party having public support it was more likely they would gain power.
Not only was the Weimar Republic economically unstable but politically unstable too. Due to multiple parties and Article 48 no security could be achieved. Because of Proportional Representation may parties didn’t get on and no party had a majority in the Reichstag this in turn led to the president obtaining more and more power. Due to the economic slum and political instability under the Weimar Republic the German people wanted security and stability and were prepared to accept anyone as leader as long as their standard of living improved. This led to increased support for Hitler and him being invited into power by means of backstairs intrigue. This would therefore suggest that it was due to the collapse of the Weimar Republic that the support of the Nazi party grew. This in turn led to the elite appointing Hitler to provide security for the German people.
Hitler used the timing of such event to his own advantage and spread the Nazi message. He did this with the use of his oratory skills and propaganda. It could be argued that the success of Hitler and the Nazi party was in fact due to themselves. Hitler was a powerful, charismatic orator and tailored his message towards his audience (“Catch all party”). Hitler showed leadership skills that had not yet been witnessed in the Weimar Government. He played on the fears of the German public and tried to come up with solutions to their problems. For example, after the Wall Street Crash of 1929 Hitler spread the Nazi message by offering solutions such as ‘bread and work’, creating a Greater Germany and restoring the country's pride and status. The German people were attracted to the party as they were they only party that offered some hope of stability this led to an increase of support. Also when the Depression struck in 1929 the Nazi’s were ready to exploit the problems of the German people. The propaganda was powerful and effective and promised to reduce unemployment, create a united Volksgemeinschaft and the Nazi’s also played on the public’s fear of Jews and communists. The Nazi’s distributed pamphlets, held meetings, rallies, and marches in an attempt to spread the Nazi message. The Nazi organisation was impressive the Nazi party split Germany into regions called Gauge’s and managed the Nazi campaign in each area in order to target individuals, groups or families. From the above it would seem that it was due to the timing of events and the Nazi party’s organisation and ability to exploit the situation that there support increased. This in turn led to people wanting the Nazi party in power and they were less likely to oppose them. Thus this concludes that without the support of the German people the Nazi party would not have been able to gain power in 1933.
Finally it can also be argued that it was due to the use of violence and the fear of the Nazi party that their support increased and led to them achieving power in 1933. The SA (Stormtroopers, Brownshirts) was made up by the unemployed, ex-soldiers and was led by Ernst Rohm. The SA was used to eliminate opposition. The SA used to streetfight with their opposition mainly the KPD. Through the use of fear, intimidation and terror the SA got rid of opponents to the Nazi party.
In conclusion, it was due to a combination of the above factors and their support that the Nazi party gained power in 1933. However, if it had not been for the support of the conservative right who held the most power in society the Nazi party would never have come to power in 1933. The conservative right played not all but the most important role in the success of the Nazi party this was mainly done by the negotiations and plotting of the elite in the Backstairs Intrigue which allowed Hitler to be invited into power.
