The Treaty of Versailles further decreased the government’s desperately needed funds as the British, French and Belgians were now even more in want of reparations to help their own struggling economies – by 1932 worldwide industrial production was 38% less than in 1929. Accepting the Treaty had meant a huge loss of pride for Germans, and if it could not even ensure economic security and work for them, many people’s feeling about signing the Treaty resurfaced, creating negative views towards the Weimar government. The treaty also prevented Germany from following the example of other European countries in using rearmament as a way to fight unemployment. The army could been used to combat the street battles between the Police, Communist Red Fighting League and Nazi SA, restoring law and order to the streets of Germany which many Germans wanted. A strong army would also have given the impression to the people that the Weimar government was still in control, and not the powerless and indecisive government unable to save Germany from its problems that to many Germans it looked like, a result of the democratic Weimar constitution.
The democratic constitution using proportional representation led to a collection of small, individually-powerless parties sharing power. This prevented the government from making any quick and decisive decisions, stopping them from dealing with a problem initially before it grew too uncontrollable. For example the problem of the anti-government army leaders and judges who were mainly right-wing nationalists. They let off right-wing offenders lightly, like Hitler after the Munich Putsch in 1923 when he attempted to take over Bavaria, which allowed Hitler to later become Fuhrer instead of his life-imprisonment.
However, the Nazi party began to appeal to a wide range of people. It attracted authoritarians and many other people as it had one strong leader, in contrast with the common view of squabbling democratic politicians fighting for Cabinet positions of the Weimar government. People believed that if Germany was united by one strong leader, it could become great again like in the pre-war days of the Kaiser.
Hitler also promised to reject the Treaty of Versailles and make Germany a strong nation once again, instantly attracting most nationalists to support him. In ‘Mein Kampf,’ he had already outlined his policies to use military force if necessary to secure Lebensraum (living space) in the east for the German race. This book became a bestseller after Hitler lost the election for president by 13 million votes to Hindenburg’s 19 million, raising the Nazi’s profile incredibly, and the book bringing Hitler’s ideas to more and more people. In it he claimed the German race was superior, encouraging patriotic Germans to follow him.
The unemployed also responded to Hitler despite the initially-more popular Communist party, after he launched his appeal for break and work. His support grew as the unemployment figures rose towards six million while the Weimar government appeared to be doing nothing. This particular appeal also attracted the votes of women, especially those who favoured traditional values (which Hitler also promised to re-introduce) who wanted the best for their families; work for their men. Hitler also gave the unemployed groups to blame.
The Nazis’ strong anti-communist policies won growing support as the communist influence grew due to unemployment rising, and the failure of the Weimar government to solve Germany’s problems. The middle-classes were worried that they would be discriminated against by the working classes like in Russia if the Communists gained power, and the big industrialists who were against the communist ideas of introducing state-control of businesses, and also the increasing strength of workers unions. Both saw the Nazis as a party that would stop the communists and limit or ban workers’ unions, and contributed to Nazi funds. Henry Ford and the Skoda company were examples of those who gave money. Strongly religious people, supported them as they saw communism as a complete threat to religion altogether, although not approving of many Nazi policies like racism.
Racists and anti-Semites were attracted by the Nazis racist and anti-Semite policies. Many Germans who wanted Germany to become strong again also gave growing support as the situation worsened as the Nazis gave them scapegoats, for examples the Jews and communists for the country’s problems – making the Germans feel it is not their country that is bad, and that by actively following Nazi policies, they could make Germany great again by ridding it of the scapegoats the Nazis dictated, including their political rivals.
In conclusion, it was a series of linked factors that gave Hitler growing support. The Depression sparked off problems, which the Weimar constitution and Treaty of Versailles prevented the government from using methods to effectively tackle. Whereas, Hitler used any methods to appeal to many different groups by promising a strong Germany once again – something the Weimar government was not doing, and the main reason for Hitler’s growing support.
