Assess the significance of the depression to the NSDAP rise to power in the period from 1929-1933

Authors Avatar by divinechess (student)

Modern History Essay

Asses the significance of the depression of the NSDAP rise to power in the period from 1929-1933

The rise of the NSDAP and Hitler, within the Weimar, was the conclusive event which sparked the end of Germany’s first “true democracy”. The collapse of the US Stock exchange in October 1929, led to an anti-democratic wave throughout Germany, and much of the population, seeked alternative leaders and a new style of government. The depression was significant event, of which assisted the rise to power of the NSDAP, as the use of powerful propaganda, such as the “Hitler over Germany” campaign, highlighted the weaknesses of the democracy economically and politically and gained heavy support for the extremist groups. Although the depression,, had a significant consequence of the overall fate of Germany it cannot be solely based, as the NSDAP’s significant short term rise can also be derived from the grounds of internal political failures and instability as well as unfavorable economic policies and decisions.  

Firstly, the collapse of the US Stock Exchange caused severe economic depression within Germany, of which the extremist right wing group the NSDAP used for powerful propaganda in promotion to the working class of Germany. The Goebbels designed “Hitler over Germany” campaign, used the consequences of the economic depression to exploit the weaknesses of which democracy presented. At the time the Crash had led to 4.6 million Germans unemployed and the NSDAP used this as powerful propaganda appealing to the working class Germans for support, as the working classes were vulnerable to this type of propaganda. The Nazi party re-assured the working class that if they were elected, they would being about a massive boost in overall national employment and aid those significantly who were unemployed, as the depression itself had led to lower overall welfare payments and higher taxation on all classes. The 1932 elections proved a pivotal point in the changing of power and direction as the NSDAP gained significant support, from the usual left wing mindset, working class. Over one quarter of the workers voted for the Nazi Party, as they one support within many urban centers. The high unemployment levels, which had been a result of the collapse of the US Stock exchange collapse in October 1929, contributed to the extreme short term popularity of the Nazi party, in which overall led to the collapse of the Weimar Republic in 1933.

Join now!

Secondly, the great depression of 1929, brought about economic instability within the Reichstag itself. Economic policies which were brought in by the Bruning Government such as the deflationary policy, which sought to cut the expenditure and balance the budget. The result of the deflationary policy was cuts in welfare spending and increases in taxation. The result of the deflationary policy was that the impact of the depression was even greater. Historian Allan Bullock wrote “ men standing hopelessly on the street corners of every industrial town in Germany”. The deflationary policy had left the working class even more depressed ...

This is a preview of the whole essay