Exploitation of the fears of Communism + Reorganisation of the Nazi Party

 

A Postcard by the Nazi 

How Hitler make use of the fear of communist to gain support?

In 1929 due to the Great Depression ,many Germans were suffered from jobless and hunger.Hence, Germans were prepared to listen to the great promises of extremist party such as Communist party and the Nazi party. Because of that, Hitler fear that Communist party may win the election. Hitler make use of the Soviet Union as a example to appeal to those that fear what communist would bring and the middle class people who are afraid that their assert may get taken away. The Nazi party on the other hand are a Anti-Communist party which make the Germans to feel more trustworthy, hence gain Hitler much of the support. Hitler also make use of propaganda to instill fear in the people of the Communist. As a result, The Nazi party won much of the seat in the election.




Reorganization of the Nazi Party

Hitler joined the German Workers’ Party that was formed in 1919 which he soon became the leader.In 1920, the party renamed itself the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazis), and announced its Twenty-Five Point Programme.

The Nazis were both nationalist and socialist as they believed in Germany’s greatness and they believed that the state should benefit everyone equally.

The Nazi membership in the 1920s includes of Skilled Workers (e.g Plumbers), Businessmen (e.g factory owners) lower employees (e.g shop assistants) , Unskilled workers ( e.g farm labourers) , Farmers, Students, Professionals (e.g Doctors lawyers) and Aristocrats.The Nazi was at decline after the failure of the Munich Putsch, Hitler decided that he would have to get power by elected, rather than by rebellion. However, he was banned from speaking until 1928. By 1928 Nazism appeared to be a dying cause as support for the Nazi party had grown due to the country’s problems of hyperinflation and the French invation of the Ruhr.

In this period, Hitler was set about reorganising the party which he had input many things which helped it take power after 1928. Hitler set up the SS which is a personal bodyguard fanatically loyal to him. He then set up a network of local parties which he merged with other right- wing parties then took them over. Hitler Youth was set up to attract young people to the party. Josef Goebbels was put in charge of propaganda which both Goebbels and Hitler believed that the best way to get the support of the masses was by  appealing to their feelings rather than by argument. A propaganda campaign was started by the use of posters, leaflets, radio and flim, and rallies were organised. Hitler gained the support of wealthy businessmen promising them that, if he came to power, he would destroy communism and the trade unions which gave him the financial needs to run his campaigns.

Information from:
 http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_image.cfm?image_id=1899
http://www.regencystamps.com/1930_anti_semitic_anti_communist_picture_postcard-lot311519.aspx
http://igcseedexcelhistorynazigermany.weebly.com/re-organisation-of-the-party-1924-1928.html

Charisma and Oratorical skills + Skillfullness at making deals with politicians

Hitler's Charisma and Oratorical Skills:
Hitler, despite his unheroic appearance, did not lack in charisma. There was an intensity about him that mesmerized many people who came into contact with him (and repelled others). When Hitler spoke publically, he had the knack of transmitting this charisma through whatever medium he was using, whether it was movie footage, radio, or in person. While this was an innate talent, it was not one that Hitler left to chance. He did practice his speeches, and his movements, consciously working to find a style that would capture the imagination and hearts of the listeners.
And yes, Hitler used propaganda very effectively. He could speak to his brownshirts about the jews and how they betrayed the Volk/People, to businessmen about the need to control the spread of communism, and to the average worker about the need for a strong German economy. He appealed to both the patriotic (Germany was betrayed from within, and he would lead germany back to its proper greatness) and to the selfish (not only will you have jobs, but here are low cost vacations, and join the party and advance your career). In short, Hitler told people what they wanted to hear. And he offered the only realistic alternative to the extremism of the Communist party at the time.

 

Skilfulness At Making Deals With Politicians

On election day September 14, 1930, the Nazis received 6,371,000 votes – over eighteen percent of the total – and were thus entitled to 107 seats in the German Reichstag. It was a stunning victory for Hitler. Overnight, the Nazi Party went from the smallest to the second largest political party in Germany.
It propelled Hitler to solid national and international prestige and aroused the curiosity of the world press. He was besieged with interview requests. Foreign journalists wanted to know – what did he mean – tear up the Treaty of Versailles and end war reparations? – and that Germany wasn't responsible for the First World War? 
Gone was the Charlie Chaplin image of Hitler as the laughable fanatic behind the Beer Hall Putsch. The beer hall revolutionary had been replaced by the skilled manipulator of the masses. 
On October 13, 1930, dressed in their brown shirts, the elected Nazi deputies marched in unison into the Reichstag and took their seats. When the roll-call was taken, each one shouted, "Present! Heil Hitler!"
They had no intention of cooperating with the democratic government, knowing it was to their advantage to let things get worse in Germany, thus increasing the appeal of Hitler to an ever more miserable people. 
Nazi storm troopers dressed in civilian clothes celebrated their electoral victory by smashing the windows of Jewish shops, restaurants and department stores, an indication of things to come. 

Now, for the floundering German democracy, the clock was ticking and time was on Hitler's side.

Hitler in the German ReIchstag - 1938

Information From:

http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/riseofhitler/elect.htm

https://ww2memories.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/hitler_reichstag_1938.jpg

https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090122125658AAj34li

http://www.counter-currents.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/hitlerspeaks2.jpg

Nazi Ideology

How Hitler gained support from Nazi ideology?

Hitler had always been against socialist ideas, particularly those who are involved in racial or sexual equality. He renamed his party the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) so that those who had German blood are favoured equally by him. Hitler presented promises and ideology to the Germans which results in him gaining popular support.

 

Germany’s economy was in such a poor state that Hitler’s promise of strong government and stability was widely supported and not least by industrialists. By attacking Jews in the world of business, Hitler appealed to their non-Jewish rivals.Hitler’s plans to re-arm Germany were also popular. By recruiting a large army and building a whole new navy and air force, he would be able to reduce unemployment. With so many people out of work, this was an appealing prospect. Hitler promised to expand into Russia and Poland to create Lebensraum or 'living space' for Germany in the east. Therefore, Hitler gained support from the Germans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twenty-Five Point Programme

 

NSDAP came to be seen as the only right-wing party that could compete with left-wing parties like the Communist Party.

The most important points of this programmes were the demands for:

 

•  The unity of all German-speaking peoples
• The abolition of the Treaty of Versailles
• Only Germans can be citizens.   No Jew can be a German citizen.
• Strong central government with unrestricted authority
• The union of Germany and Austria
• Increases in old age pensions

 

Facism

 

Facism is a system of government marked by centralisation of authority umder a dictator, stringent socio-economic controls, and suppresion of the opposition throuh terror and censorship.Mussolini's dictatorship and methods greatly influemced Htler in his bid for power in Germany.

 

The Jews

 

Hitler targeted the jews for racial and econmic reasons . He considered the jews to be racially impure because there were not native Germans, but had immigratd to Europe from Israel.The jews were very wealthy which made them unpopular amost the Germans who were suffering due to economic problems.

 

 

The Aryan 'Master Race'

 

 It tapped into the anti-Semiticprejudice that was commo in Germany and other parts of Europe. The Nazis also believed that war and struggle were an important part of Aryan life.

 

 

 

 

Information from:

http://www.johndclare.net/Weimar_25_point_programme.htm

 

https://www.google.com.sg/search?q=nazi+ideology&biw=1366&bih=643&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=q0aOVbrlFdLkuQS2nJ-gDw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#imgrc=El1Zjfvmj6I-lM%3A

 

http://www.theholocaustexplained.org/ks3/the-nazi-rise-to-power/how-did-nazis-gain-power/propaganda-and-promises/#.VY5VeLBsLIU

 

Great Depression

Why Germany suffered from Great Depression?

      The Great Depression was due to the stock market crash of Tuesday, October 29, 1929 on wall street in the New York Stock Exchange.It caused a great damage to Germany as it dependent on loans and investments from the USA,therefore when USA recalled the loans and deposits from German banks, (American banks to end the new loans that had been funding the repayments under the Dawes Plan and the Young Plan.) Germany suffered an economic crisis which also caused a social crisis.America needed those loans back to assist her faltering economy therefore Germany suffered badly from the Great Depression especially after hyperinflation in 1923.

Effect of the Great Depression

People suffered with poverty, homelessness and starvation. Unemployment was the most noticeable effect of the Depression which put six million men out of work.

Unemployed queuing at an employment office in Hanover in 1930.

September 1928	650,000 unemployed
September 1929	1,320,000 unemployed
September 1930	3,000,000 unemployed
September 1931	4,350,000 unemployed
September 1932	5,102,000 unemployed
January 1933	6,100,000 unemployed

How did Adolf Hitler benefited from the Great Depression?

Public dissatisfaction with the economic conditions and the government led to a dramatic increase in voter support for Hitler and the NSDAP, who became the largest party in the Reichstag. People supported Hitler because he promised them what they wanted to hear. The Weimar Republic appeared to have no idea how to solve the problems brought on by the Great Depression. The Nazis, on the other hand, promised to solve the problems. Hitler told most groups in Germany what they wanted to hear. To many Germans, at the time, Hitler made sense; he united everyone by providing explanations for Germany's problems. Hitler promised to make Germany proud again and this was exactly what people wanted to hear.

sources:

http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/riseofhitler/begins.htm\
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/weimar_depression_1929.htm

http://alphahistory.com/weimarrepublic/great-depression/
http://www.gcsehistory.org.uk/modernworld/germany/depression.htm
http://www.history.com/topics/great-depression
https://isnibhistory1.wikispaces.com/E.++Nazi+Germany+1933-1939

Hyperinflation

What caused hyperinflation?

After World War I, Germany faced a big problem on its economy. Germany faced the problem of poverty and high unemployment. Germany was also asked to pay a huge amount of money for all the damage caused in the war in the Treaty of Versailles . The reparation payments was a burden to the Germans people. The government kept up with the reparation payments by printing more money. However ,the more money was printed ,the more its value decreased. As the result of this, hyperinflation happened in Germany.

Effect of hyperinflation

Everything in Germany had increased its cost and it was a hard hit to the Germans, especially the poor. Many Germans felt very sad as their life-savings were lost virtually overnight. They bought anything, because otherwise their money would lose value immediately. As the price of the things in Germany had increased drastically,  the Germans people cannot afford the cost of the things. As an example, the price (marks) of 1kg loaf of bread in 1913 is only 0.29.However,it increased to a cost of 428,000,000,000 in November 1923.Pensioners who had worked hard for their retirement cannot even afford 1kg loaf of bread during the hyperinflation in Germany. People began to exchange goods (barter) rather than use money and shopkeepers tried to keep their shops closed and avoid selling anything.
Hyperinflation caused the Weimar Government to lose support of the middle and lower middle classes.The biggest beneficiaries of this hyperinflation were feudalistic industrial leaders who distrusted the democracy and who proved willing to deal with Hitler, thinking that they could control him. Business was booming and unemployment virtually vanished until the last stages of the inflation.
The monthly average exchange rate between 1922 and 1923 had increased drastically.

How did hyperinflation resolved?

Hyperinflation was resolve when Gustav Streseman served as Chancellor in the end of 1923.He used the plan which come out from Charles G.Dawes, an American banker. The plan helped Gustav Streseman to stabilise the economy in Germany.He replaced the currency with new Rentenmark.

sources:
http://www.johndclare.net/Weimar1_BBC.htm

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/modern-world-history-1918-to-1980/weimar-germany/hyperinflation-and-weimar-germany/

http://www.usagold.com/germannightmare.html

http://alphahistory.com/weimarrepublic/1923-hyperinflation/

Weaknesses of the Weimar Government

Weakness of the Weimar Government
Constitution and proportional representation

• Proportional representation

It is a system whereby a political party receives the same percentage of seats in a parliament as the percentage of votes it won in the election. For example, if a party won 10% of the vote in an election, its candidates would receive 10%of seats in parliament.

It gives preference to bigger parties. There is a need for election so as to represent the minority opinion. However, it does not allow voters to vote for candidate. Instead, they could only vote for party. As a result, there were too many small competing parties without any party gaining a majority.

• Coalition government

It is a goverment whereby two or more political parties cooperate to form a cabinet.

All parties came together to form a coalition government. The parties had quite a number of ideas but they were not willing to compromise, resulting in break ups.With breakups, it lead to frequent changes in the government. There were 20 different coalition governments from 1919-1933. The longest coalition lasted only two years. It was difficult to pass laws, thus, seen as weak by the German people.

• Article 48 of Weimar Constitution

It allowed the president to make decree for six months in 'times of emergency'. Civil liberties could be suspended.

Weak support

German Freikorps soldiers during the Kapp Putsh.

Weimar government lacked strong support from the people, politicians and soldiers. Kapp Putsch in 1920 occurred when Wolfgang Kapp and General Walther von Luettwitz led soldiers to overthrow the Weimar republic. Wolfgang Kapp was a right wing politician who opposed Friedrich Ebert and the Weimar Government as they got humiliated for signing the Treaty Of Versailles.(TOV) General Walther von Luettwitz led a group of Freikorps soldiers to take over control of Berlin and overthrow the Weimar Government. On 13 March 1920, soldiers took over Berlin and announced that Kapp was the Prime Minister, or Chancellor.

[Video on Kapp Putsh.]

Opposition from the Right and the Left

Right wing: a group that favours the existence of traditional social classes and hierarchy.

Left wing: a group that supports social change to create a more equal society. They favour equal advantages and opportunities as well as the collective good over individualism.

The political spectrum of German political parties.

Left wing opposition:

• Wanted more equality in the society
• Influenced by the Russian Bolsheviks
• Spartacist rebellion in Berlin occurred in January 1919
• Communist Workers' Council took control in many parts of Germany
• An agreement was made with the Freikorps to stop the rebellion

Right wing opposition:

• Felt that Germany should not be totally blamed for World War I
• Disagreed with the terms of Treaty of Versailles, where Germany had to pay unreasonable amount for the damaged caused
• Wanted a government who has complete power over a country
• Wanted territorial expansion, as well as Germany's army and industry to be strong again
• Many were extreme nationalists

Citation for copyright acknowledgements:

http://www.theholocaustexplained.org/ks4/the-nazi-rise-to-power/what-was-the-weimar-republic/political-

http://alphahistory.com/weimarrepublic/why-the-weimar-republic-failed/knesses-of-the-weimar-republic/#.VX0bWvmqqko

https://prezi.com/clflwlm-jkf8/flaws-of-proportional-representation-in-the-weimar-and-elsewhere/