Hitler's Rise to Power, 1919-33 (Edexcel GCSE History)

The SA (Sturmabteilung) were the Nationalist Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP) private army. They were formed in August 1921 and were nicknamed the 'Brownshirts'.

True.

The Sturmabteilung (SA) was made up of the unemployed, students, and ex-soldiers.

Hitler used the Sturmabteilung (SA) to:

• Control crowds

• Start fights

• Disrupt meetings

• Strengthen the image of the Nazi party

The Nationalist Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP) had 50,000 members by November 1923

The Munich Putsch was in November 1923.

The French invasion of the Ruhr and hyperinflation were two short- term causes of the Munich Putsch.

True.

Hitler was inspired by Mussolini's 'March on Rome' in 1922 to use the military to take over the German government.

Ernst Röhm was the leader of the SA and was responsible for securing the local army and police headquarters in Munich.

True.

General Ludendorff failed in this role during the Munich Putsch because he was persuaded to let Kahr, Seisser, and Lossow go. Without their support, the putsch had no official backing and the army suppressed the SA with ease

Yes.

The Munich Putsch of 1923 failed as Hitler failed to gain the support of Kahr, Seisser, and Lossow, to gain the support of the local army, and rushed the execution of the Munich Putsch.

Adolf Hitler received a 5-year prison sentence for his role in the Munich Putsch.

High Treason is the crime of betraying your country, especially by attempting to kill or overthrow the monarch or government. Hitler was convicted of high treason.

True.

Support for the NSDAP dropped after the Munich Putsch in 1923 because the Munich authorities decided to ban the NSDAP.

Yes.

Adolf Hitler learned that violent putsches did not work. After being released from prison, he considered how to use the Weimar legal system to gain ultimate power in Germany.

Adolf Hitler wrote Mein Kampf during his time in prison. It was published in July 1925.

Mein Kampf means 'My Struggle'. Mein Kampf contained the core values of the Nazi Party.

In Mein Kampf Hitler outlined his support for the racial superiority of the Ayran race and Social Darwinism. He introduced Lebensraum and Führerprinzip and the restoration of traditional values, and wealth redistribution.

The German government lifted the ban on the Nazi Party in February 1925.

True.

Hitler reorganised the Nazi Party in the Lean Years by introducing departments for finance, and agriculture as well as the creation of the Hitler Youth.

Adolf Hitler divided Germany into 35 regions called gaue. Each gaue had a Nazi Party leader called a gauleiter.

Adolf Hitler funded his ambitions for the Nazi Party to become a national party by persuading business owners who shared his nationalist vision for Germany to contribute. Big corporations such as Thyssen, Krupp, and Bosch funded the Nazi Party.

No.

In 1925 Adolf Hitler did not trust Ernst Rohm and the SA. Rohm had increased his control over the SA when Hitler was in prison.

The two steps Adolf Hitler took to improve his paramilitary force were:

• To send Ernst Rohm abroad

• Create a new private army called the Schutzstaffel (‘Protection Squad’), or SS

Heinrich Himmler became the leader of the SS after Julius Schreck.

The Bamberg Conference was in 1926, in Bavaria.

The Bamberg Conference solidified the nationalist direction of the Nazi Party, weakened the socialist aspects of the Nazi Party, and resulted in Goebbels's promotion and Strasser's fall.

In the May 1928 election, the Nazi Party only won 12 seats (roughly 3% of the overall votes). They were the 7th biggest party in the Reichstag.

Two reasons there was limited support for the Nazi Party by 1928 are:

• Many critics now supported the Weimar Republic.

• Streseman's policies improved life in Germany.

False.

The Wall Street Crash occurred on 24th October 1929.

A turning point is an event where a decisive change occurs that affects the course of history.

The 'Golden Age' in Weimar Germany was a period of prosperity and stability.

True.

The Wall Street Crash marked the end of the Weimar Republic's 'Golden Age'.

An economic depression is a severe downturn in economic activity, typically characterised by high unemployment and falling prices.

True.

Stresemann possessed the ability to combat the economic impact of the Wall Street Crash on Germany.

Increase.

By January 1933, unemployment hit 6.1 million people.

When share prices fell, the value of savings dropped. If people became unemployed, they would not have any savings to survive on.

Chancellor Brüning used Article 48 115 times. Using Article 48 made the chancellor look like a dictator. People started to lose faith in democracy.

Increase.

From 1928 to 1932, the KPD (German Communist Party) gained one million voters. By 1932, the KPD was the largest Communist party outside of Russia.

More.

Hitler’s ideas began to appeal to a broader audience. Hitler rallied the people around the issues of the Treaty of Versailles, providing “Bread and Work” to the unemployed and restoring law and order.

Between 1930 and 1932, Hitler increased his popularity by:

• Using his oration talents to make numerous speeches to the people

• Hiring aeroplanes for travel across the country

• Organising impressive marches and rallies

Paramilitary forces are organised armed groups that operate like military forces but are not part of the official armed forces.

True.

The SA had 400,000 members and the KPD’s( German Communist Party) Red Front Fighters numbered 130,000.

Big businesses thought that the NSDAP could protect them from the rise of communism.

The two aspects that appealed to some working-class voters were:

• The promise of "Work and Bread"

• The NSDAP's support of traditional German values

False.

Many middle-class people believed that the Weimar government had lost their savings and caused a moral decline in Germany. Many voters supported a strong leader like Hitler to rebuild Germany.

In the 1930 elections, the Nazi Party gained 60% of the rural vote in some areas.

Farmers were poorly treated under the Weimar Republic. High debt, low prices and increasing taxes damaged the standard of living in farming communities.

True.

Young people were hit heavily by unemployment. The NSDAP promised to improve young people's lives more than the moderate parties.

National unity is when the people of a country are joined together on a cause or a belief.

The three ways that Hitler aimed to achieve national unity were by:

• Reminding Germans of the dolchstoss committed by the Weimar government in the Treaty of Versailles.

• Accusing the Jewish people of being ‘enemies of Germany’

• Promoting the return to traditional values

False.

Hitler learnt that achieving power through violent putsches was not possible after the failed Munich Putsch.

In the repeat of the 1932 presidential election, Hitler achieved 36% of the votes. Hitler lost the election. The fact that Hitler achieved 13 million votes scared many moderate parties in the Reichstag.

Brüning resigned because he did not have majority support in the Reichstag. In addition, Hindenburg no longer supported Brüning’s government.

A coalition is a group of two or more political parties working together to win an election or govern a country.

False.

The coalition of von Papen and von Schleicher was called the 'Cabinet of Barons.' The public created this nickname because this government did not help the lower classes.

Decrease.

In the November 1932 election, the NSDAP retained their position as the biggest party but their share of the votes had reduced to 33%.

False.

Out of desperation to avoid a Nazi government, Hindenburg appointed von Schleicher as chancellor on 2nd December 1932.

A military dictatorship is when the armed forces take over the running of the country. They govern the country without elections and with ultimate power.

Von Schleicher called for Hindenburg to suspend the Weimar Constitution. A suspension of the constitution would allow von Schleicher to form a military dictatorship. Hindenburg refused.

Von Papen suggested that he should be co-chancellor to Hitler's chancellorship. Hindenburg and von Papen believed they had Hitler ‘in their hand’ and could keep him under control.