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The Depression and the Rise of the Nazis The Story… Hitler’s rise to power was based upon long-term factors – resentment in the German people, the weakness of the Weimar system – which he exploited through propaganda, the terror his storm troopers, and the brilliance of his speeches. During the “roaring twenties” Germans ignored his program of hatred. But when the Great Depression ruined their lives, they voted for him in increasing numbers. Needing support, and thinking he could control Hitler, President Hindenburg made the mistake in January 1933 of giving Hitler the post of Chancellor. Please take out paper for notes. American Stock Market Crash Sent USA into depression Americans (bankers + businessmen) lost LOTS of $. Asked German banks to repay. Economic collapse Had been dependent upon US loans Bankruptcy + unemployment skyrocketed “Balance of power” made decisive action by gov. difficult Enter the Nazis! Ideas now relevant Is the Weimar government indecisive? Then Germany needs a strong leader! Are reparations adding to Germany’s problems? Then kick out the Treaty of Versailles! Is unemployment a problem? Let the unemployed join the army, build Germany’s armaments and be used for public works! Now, 25 points = attractive to most vulnerable Offered “scapegoats” to blame Nazi Campaigning Film, radio, records, plane trips, rallies, posters, pamphlets Promised a lot, but said little NO detailed plans or policies Generalized slogans uniting behind one leader, strong government Traditional values (never clear about what this meant) Get rid of Treaty of Versailles If criticized, dropped the policy Nazi appeal Appealed to all classes: Rich (aristocrats) – feared Communism & wanted rearmament Middle class – wanted law & order & feared communism Working class – wanted jobs. Hitler promised to end unemployment. Church – supported Hitler because Communists were generally atheist Unemployed – organized soup kitchens & provided shelters Nazi appeal SA & SS gave an impression of discipline and order Became more violent (breaking up Communist & other party meetings) “My mother saw a storm trooper parade in the streets…The sight of discipline in a time of chaos, the impression of energy in an atmosphere of universal hopelessness seems to have won her over.” –Albert Speer, 1931. Later he became a Nazi leader. Negative Cohesion: Shared dislike of Democracy If you hate what I hate, then we’d get along! Shared hate: for democracy & Weimar government politicians “squabbling” and unable to tackle problems of Depression Unemployment = 6 million Negative Cohesion: Shared dislike of Communism Middle-class business owners, industrialists, and farmers feared Communism SA met Communist violence with their own violence Promised to protect farmers (in USSR millions had been killed or imprisoned during gov. takeover of all land). Nazi appeal “He was holding the masses, and me with them, under a hypnotic spell by the sheer force of his beliefs. His words were like a whip. When he spoke of the disgrace of Germany, I felt ready to attack any enemy.” – Karl Ludecke, an early follower of Hitler (1924) Greatest asset = Hitler Powerful speaker Tour of rallies leader of a modern party with “modern ideas” “Man of the people” – someone who knew/understood the peoples problems Believed he had been called by God to become dictator of Germany & rule the world (this self-belief persuaded people to believe in him). Nazi Propaganda The headlines say "Jews are our misfortune" and "How the Jew cheats." Germany, 1936 September 1930 Reichstag election. The caption: “Freedom and Bread.” Nazi Reactions Nazi Critics The storm troopers attacked Jews and people who opposed. Many kept quiet simply because they were scared of being murdered. Were there Critics? “He began to speak and I immediately disliked him. I didn’t know then what he would later become. I found him rather comical, with his funny moustache. He had a scratchy voice and a rather strange appearance, and he shouted so much. He was shouting in this small room, and what he was saying was very simplistic. I thought he wasn’t quite normal. I found him spooky.” – eyewitness to one of Hitler’s meetings “His policies were half-baked, racist clap-trap… but among the jumble of hysterical ideas Hitler showed a sure sense of how to appeal to the lowest instincts of frightened masses.” Tony Howarth, Historian Nazi appeal - reactions “Of course, I was ripe for this experience. I was a man of 32, weary with disgust and disillusionment, a wanderer seeking a cause, patriot seeking an outlet for his patriotism.” – an early follower of Hitler (1924) Triumph of the Will http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHs2coAzLJ8 Rise of the Nazis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2YEUhHFMH Y&feature=fvwrel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz2PPNNafP4 “At one of the early congresses I was sitting surrounded by thousands of SA men. As Hitler spoke, I was most interested in the shouts and more often the muttered exclamations of the men around me, who were mainly workmen or lower-middle-class types. “He speaks for me… Ah Gott he knows how I feel.” One man in particular struck me as he leaned forward with his head in his hands and with a sort of convulsive sob said: “Gott sei Dank [God be thanked], he understands.” - German Teacher in 1943 “The majority of Germans never voted for the Nazis. The Nazis made it clear they would destroy democracy and all who stood in their way. Why then didn’t their enemies join together to stop Hitler? Had the Communists and Socialists joined forces they would probably have been strong enough both in the Reichstag and on the streets to have blocked the Nazis. There were simply not enough Germans who believed in democracy and individual freedom to save the Weimar Republic.” S. Williams, Historian How did Hitler become Chancellor in 1933? July 1932: Hitler challenged Hindenburg for presidency Current Chancellor Franz von Papen was allowed to carry on as Chancellor, but had no support of Reichstag November 1932: Another election was called. Nazi vote fell. Hitler threatened suicide. December 1932: Kurt von Schleicher appointed as Chancellor. Within a month resigned (lacked support of Reichstag). Hindenburg needs Chancellor with support of Reichstag (they control Chancellor, Chancellor controls from Reichstag) Confident they could limit Hitler’s influence and resist his extremist demands. Wanted him to get support of Reichstag and control Communists. Thought policies would continue you to be made by Cabinet. Thinking Hitler could be controlled was a serious error. Hmmmmm…. Hitler ended up as Chancellor not because of the will of the people, but through behind-the-scenes deal by some German politicians. How much do you agree with each of the statements? 1. Give each statement a score 1 (don’t agree) – 5 (very much agree). 2. Write a short paragraph explaining your score for each statement. a. Very few people fully supported the Nazis. b. The key factor was the economic depression. Without it, the Nazis would have remained a minority fringe party. c. The politicians of the Weimar Republic were mainly responsible for the rise of the Nazis. Why did the Nazis succeed in elections? Two views: Propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels: 1. Hitler’s destiny to become Germany’s leader and the German people came to recognize this. Historian Gordon Craig: 2. People supported Hitler and the Nazis not because they shared the Nazi views, but because they shared the dislikes (negative cohesion). Who do you agree with? Goebbels or Craig? Discuss: Was it Hitler’s destiny to become leader and the German people finally realized this, supporting him through positive cohesion? Was it simply “negative cohesion” and people fear that led them to support the Nazis? Summary Diagram http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/lessons/germany/c hancellor.html Next section with reading: http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/lessons/germany/cha ncellor_dictator.shtml Let’s Review: Nazi ideology Let’s review: 1919-1923 At first, Weimar Republic had great difficulties: Left wing rebellions All people were angry with it Right wing rebellions and terrorism Invasion and inflation Munich Putsch Let’s review: 1924-1929 The Republic survived and (after Gustav Stresemann became Chancellor in 1923) did well: Economic prosperity Foreign policy successes Cultural flowering Today: 1929-1933 After Wall Street Crash of 1929 the Republic collapsed Unemployment Nazi party grew more powerful 1933: Adolf Hitler became Chancellor "Men are not born with hatred in their blood. The infection is usually acquired by contact; it may be injected deliberately or even unconsciously by the parents, or by the teachers... The disease may be spread throughout the land like the plague, so that a class, a religion, or a nation will become the victim of popular hatred without anyone knowing exactly how it all began; and people will disagree, and even quarrel among themselves, about the real reason for its existence; and no one foresees the inevitable consequences.” Malcolm Hay