Chapter 3

3.1 To what extent was Hitler’s rise to power due more to favourable circumstances than his leadership abilities

To what extent was Hitler’s rise to power due more to favourablecircumstances than his leadership abilities?

Reasons for the rise of Hitler

1) Favourable circumstances

– Weakness of the Weimar Republic

– Hyperinflation

– Impact of Great Depression

2) Hitler’s abilities

Hitler’s abilities

• Nazi Ideology

• Charisma and oratorical skills

• Exploitation of fears of communism

• Skilfulness at making deals

• Reorganisation of Nazi Party

Nazi Ideology

• The Nazi Party promised to make Germany powerful again

• Hitler promised ordinary Germans jobs, benefits and stability

Why is this important??(Hint: What was the Weimar Government like?)

Nazi Ideology

• NSDAP published a 25 point programme

• Key points– The abolition of the Treaty of

Versailles– ‘Union of all Germans in a Great

Germany– Only pure-blooded Germans be

allowed to live in Germany and be citizens

– Nationalisation of large businesses– Establishing strong central

government

Video – Hitler speaking at a Nazi Party Rally

Nazi Ideology

• Hitler eventually gained support from his promises and ideology he presented

• Believed in the superiority of the Aryan race

• Offered something for everyone• Main beliefs in his book Mein Kampf• Eventually seen as only right-wing

party able to compete against the communists

PAP 2011 General Elections Manifesto

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7kQDo8lt7I

Charisma and oratorical skills

• Powerful speaker and strong communicator

• Appeared sincere to the people

• Practiced his speeches

Oratorical Skills

• Addressed people’s concerns

• Used his oratorical skills to win support for himself and the Nazi party

Hitler’s Oratorical Skills (video)

Exploitation of fears of communism

• Capitalising on the fears that people had of communism

• As the Weimar republic collapsed, people started turning to extreme left/right-wing parties

• Hitler portrayed the Communist Party and their ideals as threats to different segments of society

Fear of Communism

Farmers feared communists—worried the state would take over all lands & assets.

Businessmenfeared communists—worried that state will take over big businesses and increasing strength of trade unions.

Exploitation of fears of communism

• Many rich businesses and industrialists donated money to the Nazi Party

• Financed Nazi campaigning and propaganda

• Communists fought the police in the streets

• Used his personal armed forces to break up fights and communist meetings

Skilfulness at making deals

Skilfulness at making deals

July 1932

•Nazi Party won the most number of votes in the Reichstag

•Hindenburg allowed von Papen to remain as chancellor as he distrusted Hitler

Nov 1932

•Von Papen had no support from the Reichstag. Another election was called

•Nazi vote share dropped, Hitler realised he had to make a deal with the conservatives

•New Chancellor von Schleicher also lacked support and was forced to resign in Dec.

Jan 1933

•Hindenburg reluctantly invited Hitler to be Chancellor as he thought they were able to control him

•When the time was right, Hitler acted decisively to take complete control

Reorganisation of the Nazi Party

1921 - Hitler became party leader

1923 - Beer Hall Putsch - FAIL

1924 - Hitler released from prison

1933 - Hitler became Chancellor of Germany

Reorganisation of Nazi Party

Increasing Party Membership

• Established local parties

• Set up Hitler Youth

Establishing SA and SS

• SA – Nazi Paramilitary organisation

• SS – Hitler’s elite bodyguards

• Portrayed both SA and SS as militaristic

Nazi Propaganda

• Appealed to emotions rather than intellect

• Portrayed Nazis as a strong and powerful unit

Hitler Youth (Hitlerjugend)

Germany awake from your nightmare!Give foreign Jews no place in your Reich!

We will fight for your resurgence!Aryan blood shall never perish!

All these hypocrites, we throw them out,Judea leave our German house!

If the native soil is clean and pure,we united and happy will be!

We are the fighters of the NSDAPTrue Germans in heart, firm and tough in our StruggleTo the Swastika, devoted are weHail our Leader, Hail Hitler to thee!

SA (brownshirts) and Waffen SS

Nazi Propaganda

The eternal Jew

Hitler’s abilities

• Nazi Ideology

• Charisma and oratorical skills

• Exploitation of fears of communism

• Skilfulness at making deals

• Reorganisation of Nazi Party

Reasons for the rise of Hitler1) Favourable circumstances

– Weakness of the Weimar Republic

– Hyperinflation– Impact of Great Depression

2) Hitler’s abilities– Nazi Ideology– Charisma and oratorical skills– Exploitation of fears of

communism– Skilfulness at making deals– Reorganisation of Nazi Party

To what extent was Hitler’s rise to power due more to favourablecircumstances than his leadership abilities?