Download 1929-1933 – How The Nazis Gained Power

1929-1933 – How the Nazis Gained Power
Cast:
Narrator
Ebert: Leader of The Social Democrats and former Chancellor (Prime Minister) of Germany.
Bruning: Leader of the Centre Party
Hindenburg: President of The Weimar Republic (The name of Germany from 1920-1933)
Hitler: Leader of the Nazi Party.
Karl Ludecke: A friend of Hitler
Papen: Member of the Centre Party
Schleicher: An army General.
Scene 1 (1930)
Narrator:
Since the start of the depression in 1929 little has been done to help the German economy. (The
economy is everything to do with money and jobs). Many people in Germany are hungry and
homeless. Whose fault is this? It must be the politicians that run the Weimar Republic of course!
The government is unpopular, and is unable to make quick, decisive decisions. Everything has to be
voted on in the Reichstag, and they can’t agree on anything! They are hopeless. They are far too
divided.
Ebert:
You’re telling me! My party has just stormed out of the Reichstag (Parliament) today, and I have
resigned as Chancellor. I’ve had enough of this! We wanted to increase benefits for the
unemployed, but the other four parties just can’t agree.
Narrator:
That’s true. The government was a coalition made up of many different parties. This was because of
proportional representation. There are so many small parties that no one can get an overall majority.
Not to mention the fact that many of the smaller parties don’t even want democracy! The
Communists and Nazis don’t support democracy, so will do everything to make it fail. Anyway, the
government couldn’t agree what to do over this crisis, so President Hindenburg has decided to use
his emergency powers to rule Germany by decree.
Hindenburg:
I’m glad the Social Democrats have gone. They were far too free and easy, or Liberal as I call them.
I’m an old soldier, so I believe in taking control and leading the country. People should complain less
and get on with it! Now that I am in control, I’ll ask Bruning to form a new government. We don’t
even need the Reichstag. I can make laws whenever I want using my emergency powers! It’s a
good thing I’m in charge. If anyone else were to get these powers, just think what they might do…!
Bruning:
Well, I’m sure it will make me really unpopular, but I know what’s best for the country. I’ll get us out of
this mess. The country is in serious financial trouble. We need to cut public spending, lower wages
and increase taxes. It will be really unpopular, but it’s the only option. They’ll thank me in the long
run!
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Narrator:
Of course, Bruning’s attempts to reform the shattered economy were highly unpopular among voters.
The Reichstag tried to stop him making new laws, but…
Hindenburg:
If the Reichstag don’t like it, I’ll just dissolve the Reichstag! (This means holding new elections.) The
people love me! They’ll show those whining politicians what they think of their opposition to my
reforms!
Narrator:
In September 1930, there were elections for the Reichstag. They were disastrous for the parties that
supported democracy and freedom. The Nazis dramatically increased their share of seats in the
Reichstag. People were clearly losing faith in the democratic system, which seemed incapable even
of simple agreement, never mind fixing the catastrophic problems that beset Germany.
Hitler:
Great news for us Nazis!! We now have 107 seats! Before we only had 12!
Ebert:
This is bad for my Social Democrats. We have lost 10 seats!
Scene 2 (1931)
Hitler:
The secret of my success, my friends, is to increase our support by legal means. We will do this
through propaganda. We will use all means available – posters, newspapers, radio, film and loads of
pamphlets. We’ll also have lots of rallies, where we’ll all get together to show Germans how strong
and disciplined we are. People will see that we are the perfect solution to the chaos in Germany.
Karl Ludecke:
It’s true. The Nazis know how to use propaganda. There were over 100,000 people at the last
meeting. !2 large SA bands played inspiring music. When Hitler finally came on, the place went wild!
Hitler (whispering):
Of course, as well as these legal methods, we’ll also use the SA, our private army of storm troopers
wearing their brown shirts, to beat up anyone who opposes us and the cause mayhem in the streets.
The more chaos there is, the more helpless the Weimar government seems. People will become
desperate for some order in the streets. They will be desperate for me to become dictator, and stamp
hard on any trouble.
Narrator:
Between 1930 and July 1932, the Nazis virtually doubled their support as people became more and
more desperate to see the crisis in Germany end.
Scene 3 (July 1932)
Hindenburg:
It’s no good – Bruning has to go! He’s still really unpopular, and now it looks like he’s been making
money on the side with some dodgy property deals. The business people are really turning against
him, and starting to support the Nazis! People are starting to turn on me too, because I’ve been the
one keeping Bruning in power, when everyone else hates him.
Schleicher:
Go on Hindenburg, sack him! He couldn’t organise a drinks party in a brewery!
Hindenburg:
But who can I have instead?
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Schleicher:
Me! I used to be chief of the army. I’ll sort this mess out!
Hitler:
No me! I should be Chancellor!
Hindenburg:
No, I’ll have my old mate Papen.
Scene 4 (July 1932)
Papen:
So far, this has been a disaster. I still can’t get any support from the Reichstag, and Hindenburg can’t
rule with emergency powers forever! People are losing faith in democracy. I know, I’ll call an
election. That way, people will show their support for me, and elect my supporters into the Reichstag,
so we can start getting stuff done!
Narrator:
After the election, Papen had no more support then before, but now the Nazis were the biggest party
in the Reichstag. Usually, the leader of the biggest party would be made Chancellor, but it was up to
the President.
Hitler:
I’ve got the most votes. You can trust me. I want to be Chancellor… Pleeeease…?
Hindenburg:
No! You are too violent. I know what you’ve been up to, and I don’t like it! You may fool the people,
but I see through you! I don’t like your views on the Jews. They fought bravely for Germany in World
War I, and I couldn’t betray them. Papen can stay, and I’ll continue to use my emergency powers to
rule.
Papen:
I may be the Chancellor, but nobody likes me! The Reichstag doesn’t support me. When they voted
on making me Chancellor, only 32 voted for me, with 513 against! This is supposed to be a
democracy, but we can’t let Hitler become Chancellor! I know… another election!
Scene 5 (November 1932)
Narrator:
In this month, Papen held another election, but this gave him even fewer seats. So he went to
Hindenburg with a plan…
Papen:
Why don’t use close down the Reichstag again, and rule with your emergency powers, and use the
army to crush any opposition (like the Nazis!)
Schleicher:
That’s a bad idea, Mr President. It will annoy everyone. We’ve just had another election, so you
can’t claim to be democratic if you ignore the people the public voted for! It won’t just irritate the
extremists, but also the moderate parties. It could lead to Civil War! The Nazis have many
supporters in the army, so we might not be able to trust them. If it comes down to a fight between the
Nazis and us (not forgetting the Communists!), we might lose!
Papen:
If I can’t even rely on the army, I might as well resign….
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Hindenburg:
I accept! Schleicher is now Chancellor!
Schleicher:
Yeeesssssssss!
Narrator:
But just 8 weeks later…
Scene 6 (January 1933)
Schleicher:
I can’t get any support in the Reichstag. Everyone hates everyone else, and nobody trusts me to sort
it out. The democratic process just isn’t working, and nobody is willing to compromise to help fix it!
Mr President, I need you to make some emergency laws for me!
Hindenburg:
Hang on, Schleicher! A few months back, you told me that there would be a Civil War if I did that
again. You convinced me to make you Chancellor because you said that you could sort this mess
out! You’re a plonker, and you only care about yourself. You’re sacked! Now, who can I appoint?
Hitler:
Me…Me…Me!!
Hindenburg:
Well, I suppose you are the most popular politician in Germany, and we’re desperate. One wrong
move here, and Germany could explode into riots and fighting in the streets. I don’t like it, but I can’t
see any other choice. You can be Chancellor. However, I still don’t trust you, so you can only have
three Nazis in your government, and Papen is going to be your Vice-Chancellor, so that he can keep
an eye on you, and stop you from becoming too extreme.
Hitler:
Thank you Mr President. Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll show you how trustworthy I can be.
(Whispering); little does he know what I’ve got planned…!
Tasks:
1. In pairs, read through the play again. Make notes on and explain:
i) The things the Nazis did to get into power.
ii) The problems with the Reichstag or Constitution.
iii) Conspiracies, people plotting or doing deals.
2. Why were the Nazis so popular by 1932?
3. What do you think Hitler might do next?
AH2006
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