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

Exam Questions

22 mins22 questions
11 mark

Which party did Hitler join after being hired by the Weimar government?

  • KPD

  • DAP

  • NSDAP

  • SPD

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21 mark

Which of the following was not a part of Hitler’s takeover of the NSDAP in 1921?

  • Hitler’s personal appeal. 

  • The NSDAP’s private army, the SA (Sturmabteilung).

  • Forcing a change of leadership and choosing members for key positions.

  • The Twenty-Two Point Programme.

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31 mark

What was a key feature of the Twenty-Five Point Programme?

  • Promoting the private ownership of land. 

  • Anschluss and the union of all of Europe under one German-controlled government.

  • Promoting the return of Germany’s overseas colonies to provide extra food and space for the German people.

  • The belief that the Jewish people were German citizens.

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41 mark

What was one of the main roles and responsibilities of the SA?

  • To control crowds at meetings.

  • To create propaganda for the NSDAP.

  • To deliver speeches across Germany on behalf of Hitler.

  • They acted as Hitler’s personal bodyguards.

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51 mark

During the Munich Putsch, what was the role of Ernst Röhm?

  • He was the key organiser of the Munich Putsch, in charge of securing the Bavarian government. 

  • Leader of the State Government of Bavaria and in charge of rallying the local people.

  • Head of the Bavarian police and responsible for securing the national army.

  • Leader of the SA and responsible for securing the local army and police headquarters in Munich.

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61 mark

Why do historians refer to the years of 1924 - 1929 as the ‘Lean Years’?

  • Hitler was in jail and the Nazi Party leaned towards other members, like Ernst Röhm, to lead the NSDAP.  

  • Support for the Nazi Party was limited as many supported the Weimar Republic. The Nazi Party gained 12 seats in the Reichstag in the May 1928 election, and support for the Nazi Party increased to 100,000 members.

  • Hitler reorganised the NSDAP from jail and made the party smaller. He removed the SA and only focused on political solutions to Germany's problems.

  • The government banned the Nazi Party until 1926. During this time, members had to go into hiding and were not allowed to undertake any political actions.

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71 mark

When was the Wall Street Crash?

  • September 1929.

  • October 1929. 

  • November 1929.

  • December 1929.

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81 mark

Why did the Communist Party (KPD) not become the largest party in Germany despite its growth?

  • The middle and upper classes feared Communism and supported alternative solutions like the Nazi Party instead of the KPD.

  • President Hindenburg supported the KPD. However, Hindenburg was unpopular in Germany and the KPD failed to become the largest party in Germany. 

  • The government in Russia caused fear of communism across Europe. All German people disliked the idea of having equal rights for all of their citizens under a constitution.

  • The KPD was more popular with the middle class than the working class and, therefore, struggled to get the votes needed to become the largest party in Germany.

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91 mark

Why did farmers support the Nazi Party?

  • Farmers were poorly treated by the Weimar Republic. By 1929, the income of agricultural workers was 4% below the national average.  

  • Farmers liked the NSDAP’s Twenty-Five Point programme as it benefitted them. 

  • The NSDAP promised if people voted for them, they would confiscate land owned by Jewish people. Farmers would benefit from this policy.

  • Farmers believed the Nazis would protect them from the SPD who planned to take land from the farmers.

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101 mark

Study Source B. Source B shows the decline of the Weimar Republic after the Wall Street Crash. What inference could be made about Source B?

Source B: A picture taken in 1931. It shows the Protestant Church feeding the unemployed in Berlin. This food was paid for by charity donations, not the government—image courtesy of the Library of Congress, USA.

People in winter clothing stand in line beside a mobile field kitchen, receiving hot food and drink from soldiers. Steam rises from the cooking equipment.
  • The Wall Street Crash affected people from different backgrounds. The photograph shows a range of different people collecting food from this soup kitchen. 

  • The Protestant Church was not affected by the Wall Street Crash because they had enough money to hand out food to the unemployed.

  • The Wall Street Crash did not have a huge effect on Berlin as there were not many people collecting food from this soup kitchen.

  • The Protestant Church were feeding the unemployed in Berlin.

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111 mark

Study Interpretation 1 and Interpretation 2. These interpretations are about how Hitler became Chancellor. How are these two interpretations different?

Interpretation 1: From Hitler’s Thirty Days to Power by H A Turner, published in 1996.

In January 1933, Hitler did not seize power: it was handed to him by the men who controlled Germany. The Nazi Party had suffered huge losses in the Reichstag elections of November 1932 and it was starting to fall apart by January 1933. 

Hindenburg began to mistrust Chancellor von Schleicher. Meanwhile, von Papen managed to overcome the elderly President Hindenburg’s doubts about Hitler and persuaded him to appoint Hitler as Chancellor. 

Hitler was supported by less than half the German population when he was appointed Chancellor by President Hindenburg. 

Interpretation 2: From Hitler by I Kershaw, published in 1991.

It was an extraordinary achievement by the Nazis to win the votes of a third of the German people between 1929 and 1932. By 1932, Hitler was in charge of a massive movement of 800,000 Party members and 13 million voters were generally prepared to place their trust in him. Nazi propaganda suggested that victory was inevitable. 

Mass support gave Hitler a key to unlocking the door to power. No other party leader had anything like Hitler’s support from the German population. 

  • Interpretation 1 states that Hitler did not become Chancellor because they ‘suffered huge losses in the Reichstag’. Interpretation 2 states that Hitler did not become Chancellor because they only won a ‘third’ of the votes in the elections between 1929 and 1932.

  • Interpretation 1 states that Hitler became Chancellor in 1933 because he trusted von Schleicher. Interpretation 2 states that Hitler became Chancellor in 1933 as ‘no other party leader had anything like Hitler’s support from the German people’.

  • Interpretation 1 states that Hitler became Chancellor in 1933 as political elites, like von Papen, persuaded Hindenburg to make Hitler Chancellor. Interpretation 2 states that Hitler became Chancellor as he won two-thirds of the vote between 1929 and 1932. 

  • Interpretation 1 states that Hitler became Chancellor by political elites, not because the Nazi Party were popular in Germany. Interpretation 2 states that Hitler became Chancellor due to the NSDAP electoral success and Germany’s mass support for Hitler.

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11 mark

What was the main cause of the DAP’s rapid increase in membership in 1920?

  • The Twenty-Five Point Programme.

  • The introduction of the SA.

  • Hitler’s speeches and his appeal.

  • The DAP desired to remove the Weimar politicians who signed the Treaty of Versailles.

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21 mark

What was a cause of the Munich Putsch in 1923?

  • The Dawes Plan. 

  • The Treaty of  Versailles.

  • The Locarno Treaties.

  • The Treaty of London.

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31 mark

What was a consequence of the Munich Putsch?

  • Hitler was deported to Austria, as he was an Austrian citizen.

  • Support for the party increased as Hitler became a national celebrity. They managed to gain 62 seats in the Reichstag during the May 1924 election.

  • Hitler learnt that a violent putsch did not work. He considered how to legally gain power.

  • Hitler wrote a book in prison called Kampf Mein, which formalised his ideas and a new approach to how to govern Germany.

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41 mark

What consequences did the Wall Street Crash have on Germany? 

  • Germany’s economy collapsed as German banks had shares in US businesses. German banks had to recall their loans to German industrial and agricultural businesses to repay their account holders.

  • Britain recalled its loans from German banks. Germany was forced to close businesses and international trade stopped. These actions increased employment. 

  • Germany became bankrupt because the Locarno Treaties connected Britain, France and Germany to the USA’s economy. The USA’s money allowed Germany to pay reparations and First World War loans.

  • Germany’s unemployment rates dramatically increased. By January 1933, unemployment was at 4.3 million.

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51 mark

Study Interpretation 1. Interpretation 1 is about the decline of the Weimar Republic after the Wall Street Crash. What historical sources did Intereptation 1 use to shape this interpretation? 

Interpretation 1: An extract from Weimar and the Rise of Hitler by A.J. Nicholls. It was published in 2000.

The real German problem lay in the political structure of the Weimar Republic and the decision of its political leadership. Instead of trying to find a solution to the crisis to save the republican system, many officials, businessmen and politicians were only too happy to exploit the crisis to change the system. Most of them did not intend to help Hitler into power. By their actions, however, they undoubtedly did so. 

  • Interpretation 1 used historical sources that showed how the Weimar Republic supported German people during the Wall Street Crash.

  • Interpretation 1 used historical sources that showed the effects that the Wall Street Crash had on the people and the actions of the Reichstag. 

  • Interpretation 1 used historical sources such as newspapers and political cartoons as the interpretation focuses on the popular opinion at the time towards the Wall Street Crash.  

  • Interpretation 1 used historical sources from internet sources, such as Wikipedia. This would have given the historian accurate knowledge to form their opinion on the Wall Street Crash.

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61 mark

Study Source A. Source A shows how the Nazi party appealed to the German people. How does Source A support the following inference:

“The Nazi Party appealed to many young people in Germany”.  

Source A: From an interview with a member of the Nazi Party

“... for five years I remained unemployed and I was broken both in body and spirit and I learned how stupid were all my dreams in those hard days at university. I was not wanted by Germany... then I was introduced to Hitler. You won’t understand and I cannot explain either because I don’t know what happened, but life for me took on a tremendous new significance... I committed myself, body, soul and spirit, to the movement”

  • The Nazi Party were promising more than the moderate political parties were, as suggested in Source A. 

  • The author felt “broken” by the Nazi party until they went to university. University allowed young people to break free from the brainwashing of the Nazi regime.  

  • The Nazi Party promised to provide jobs for young people. Individuals such as this Nazi Party member were drawn to this as the source states they were unemployed for “five years”. 

  • The Nazi Party attracted the youth as their rallies were colourful and exciting. They were easily persuaded by Hitler’s speeches and became members of the party. 

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11 mark

Why was Hitler’s takeover of the NSDAP so significant to the popularity of the party?

  • The membership of the party increased. By November 1923, the NSDAP had 50,000 members. 

  • The membership of the party increased. By November 1924, the NSDAP had 55,000 members.

  • The membership of the party increased. By November 1925, the NSDAP had 60,000 members.

  • The membership of the party increased. By November 1925, the NSDAP had 65,000 members.

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21 mark

Why were Heinrich Brüning’s policies important to his political standing? 

  • His policies were universally praised and helped to increase his support in the Reichstag.

  • His policies made him popular among the working class. This helped the Centre Party in the 1930 and 1932 elections.

  • His policies, including tax hikes and cuts to unemployment benefits, led to the Reichstag losing faith in him.

  • His economic policies helped to end the Great Depression in Germany and allowed him to retain his position in the Reichstag.

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31 mark

How significant were the November 1932 elections to Hitler becoming Chancellor of Germany?

  • The November 1932 elections were very significant. The NSDAP became the biggest party in the Reichstag, forcing Hindenburg to make Hitler Chancellor. 

  • The November 1932 elections were significant, as the NSDAP retained their position as the biggest party in the Reichstag. However, the election’s significance is limited because Hindenburg appointed von Schleicher as Chancellor after von Papen resigned.

  • The November 1932 elections were not significant. The NSDAP only won 33% of the votes, which was not enough for Hitler to become the Chancellor.

  • The November 1932 elections were significant as Hilter won the Chancellorship against his rival, Hindenburg.

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41 mark

Study Interpretation 1 and Source A. Interpretation 1 is about Hitler's rise to power. How does Source A support Interpretation 1?

Interpretation 1: From Hitler’s Thirty Days to Power by H A Turner, published in 1996.

In January 1933, Hitler did not seize power: it was handed to him by the men who controlled Germany. The Nazi Party had suffered huge losses in the Reichstag elections of November 1932 and it was starting to fall apart by January 1933. 

Hindenburg began to mistrust Chancellor von Schleicher. Meanwhile, von Papen managed to overcome the elderly President Hindenburg’s doubts about Hitler and persuaded him to appoint Hitler as Chancellor. 

Hitler was supported by less than half the German population when he was appointed Chancellor by President Hindenburg. 

Source A: A cartoon called ‘The Temporary Triangle’ by the British political magazine Punch. It shows Hitler on the shoulders of President Hindenburg (on the left) and von Papen (on the right). 

A political cartoon showing Hitler sitting on the shoulders of President Hindenburg and von Papen. In the background are Nazi SA soldiers showing their support for Hitler. The title reads "The Temporary Triangle" and the wording underneath the title reads "Von Hindenburg and von Papen (together) - 'For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow, (Aside: "Confound him!") and so say both of us!"
  • Source A supports Intereptation 1 as it suggests that the Chancellorship was given to Hitler by Hindenburg and von Papen. The source shows both men supporting Hitler on their shoulders.

  • Source A supports Interpretation 1 as it suggests that Hitler became Chancellor as he was popular. In the background of the cartoon, you can see a crowd who support Hitler. 

  • Source A supports Interpretation 1 as it suggests that Hindenburg mistrusted von Schleicher. In the cartoon, Hitler has his hand on the head of von Schleicher, pushing it to the side.  

  • Source A supports Interpretation 1 as it suggests that Hitler became the Fuhrer. In the cartoon, he is sitting on top of both President Hindenburg and von Papen.   

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51 mark

Study Source D. Source D is about the aims of the Munich Putsch in 1923. What are the limitations of Source D? 

Source D: An extract from the speech that Hitler delivered at the Bergerbrau Keller on 8th November 1923. 

“The Bavarian government is removed. I propose that a Bavarian government shall be formed consisting of a Regent [a temporary monarch] and a Prime Minster who will have dictatorial powers. I proposed Herr von Kahr as Regent and Herr Pohner as Prime Minister. 

The national government of the November Criminals and the Reich President in Berlin are declared to be removed. I propose that, until we can bring the November Criminals to account, the national government will be taken over by me. Ludendorff will take over the leadership of the German National Army, Lossow will be German Minister for the Armed forces, Seisser will be the German Police Minister”. 

  • The source is limited as it does not state what has happened to the Bavarian government.

  • The source is limited as it is only an extract from the speech and not the full speech delivered by Hitler on 8th November 1923.

  • The source is limited as it does not explain who will replace the national government once removed.

  • The source is limited as it does not explain how Hitler planned to remove the November Criminals from the national government. 

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