hitler’s rise to poweriicshumanities1.weebly.com/.../hitler’s_rise_to_power.pdf ·...

Hitler’sRisetoPowerHitler'srisetopowercannotbeattributedtooneevent,butamixtureoffactorsincludingeventshappeningoutsideGermany,thestrengthsoftheNaziparty,andtheweaknessesofotherpartieswithinGermany.Hitlerusedthesefactorstohisadvantageandin1933helegitimatelygainedpowertobecomechancellor.WallStreetCrashIn1929,theAmericanStockExchangecollapsed,andcausedaneconomicdepression.Americacalledinallitsforeignloans,whichdestroyedWeimarGermany.UnemploymentinGermanyroseto6million.Thegovernmentdidnotknowwhattodo.InJuly1930ChancellorBrüningcutgovernmentexpenditure,wagesandunemploymentpay-theworstthingtododuringadepression.HecouldnotgettheReichstagtoagreetohisactions,soPresidentHindenburgusedArticle48topassthemeasuresbydecree.TheNazisgainsupportAngerandbitternesshelpedtheNazistogainmoresupport.Manyworkersturnedtocommunism,butthisfrightenedwealthybusinessmen,sotheyfinancedHitler'scampaigns.Manymiddle-classpeople,alarmedbytheobviousfailureofdemocracy,decidedthatthecountryneededastronggovernment.NationalistsandracistsblamedtheTreatyofVersaillesandreparations.ByJuly1932,theNazisheld230seatsIn1928,theNazishadonly12seatsintheReichstag;byJuly1932theyhad230seatsandwerethelargestparty.Thegovernmentwasinchaos.PresidentHindenburgdismissedBrüningin1932.Hisreplacement-Papen-lastedsixmonths,andthenextchancellor-Schleicher-onlylastedtwomonths.HindenburghadtouseArticle48topassalmosteverylaw.HitlerhandedpoweronaplateInJanuary1933,HindenburgandPapencameupwithaplantogettheNazisontheirsidebyofferingtomakeHitlervicechancellor.Herefusedanddemandedtobemadechancellor.Theyagreed,thinkingtheycouldcontrolhim.InJanuary1933,Hitlerbecamechancellor,andimmediatelysetaboutmakinghimselfabsoluterulerofGermanyusingArticle48.ReasonswhyHitlerrosetopower1. Hitlerwasagreatspeaker,withthepowertomakepeoplesupporthim.2. Themoderatepoliticalpartieswouldnotworktogether,althoughtogethertheyhadmoresupportthantheNazis.3. Thedepressionof1929createdpovertyandunemployment,whichmadepeopleangrywiththeWeimargovernment.

PeoplelostconfidenceinthedemocraticsystemandturnedtowardstheextremistpoliticalpartiessuchastheCommunistsandNazisduringthedepression.

4. TheNazistormtroopersattackedHitler'sopponents.5. Goebbels'propagandacampaignwasveryeffectiveanditwonsupportfortheNazis.TheNazistargetedspecificgroups

ofsocietywithdifferentslogansandpoliciestowintheirsupport.6. HitlerwasgivenpowerinaseedypoliticaldealbyHindenburgandPapenwhofoolishlythoughttheycouldcontrolhim.7. GermanpeoplewerestillangryabouttheTreatyofVersaillesandsupportedHitlerbecausehepromisedtooverturnit.8. IndustrialistsgaveHitlermoneyandsupport.

ThepreviouseightsuggestionsaboutwhyHitlerrosetopowerfallintothreecategories:1. outsideevents2. strengthsofHitlerandtheNaziparty3. weaknessesofotherpoliticalparties

Thinkabouttheargumentsandfactsyouwouldusetoexplain:1. HowHitlercametopowerin1933.2. WhyHitlercametopowerin1933.3. HowimportantHitlerwasintheNazis'risetopower.4. WhytheWeimarRepubliccollapsed