H5: The Rise of the Nazis
The Wall Street Crash, Nazi electoral breakthrough, Hitler's appeal, Goebbels' propaganda, the SA, and the political manoeuvring that made Hitler Chancellor.
📉 The Wall Street Crash and Its Impact
Key Fact: On 29 October 1929, the American stock market crashed (Wall Street Crash). American banks recalled loans from Germany, causing economic collapse. By 1932, 6 million Germans were unemployed (over 30% of the workforce), and industrial production fell by 58% from its 1929 level.
The Chain of Disaster
Wall Street Crash → American banks recall loans → German businesses collapse → Mass unemployment → Government cuts welfare → People lose faith in democracy → Turn to extremist parties (Nazis and Communists)
- American banks had lent Germany 25 billion marks between 1924-1929
- After the Crash, American banks demanded repayment
- German businesses could not repay; thousands went bankrupt
- By 1930: 3 million unemployed; by 1931: 4.3 million; by 1932: 6 million+
- The government cut unemployment benefits in December 1929, causing hardship
- Chancellor Brüning governed by Article 48 decree from 1930, further undermining democracy
- The Grand Coalition collapsed in March 1930 - no democratic government could agree on how to handle the crisis
🗳️ Nazi Electoral Breakthrough
Key Fact: In the 1928 election, the Nazis won just 2.6% of the vote (12 seats). By July 1932, they were the largest party with 37.3% of the vote (230 seats). This extraordinary rise was driven by the economic crisis and the failure of mainstream parties to solve it.
| Election | Nazi Vote % | Nazi Seats | Key Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1928 | 2.6% | 12 | Prosperity; Germans didn't need extremism |
| September 1930 | 18.3% | 107 | Economic crisis; mass unemployment; Brüning governing by decree |
| July 1932 | 37.3% | 230 | Peak Nazi vote; largest party; but Hitler demanded Chancellorship and was refused |
| November 1932 | 33.1% | 196 | Vote declined slightly; Nazis running out of funds; but still largest party |
Example: The September 1930 Election
The 1930 election was the turning point. The Nazi vote jumped from 2.6% to 18.3% - an increase of over 600%. They went from 12 seats to 107 seats. This was not just a protest vote; it represented a fundamental shift in German politics. The middle class, devastated by hyperinflation in 1923 and now facing another economic crisis, abandoned the moderate parties and turned to the Nazis as their best hope for stability.
🎯 Why Did People Support the Nazis?
Hitler's Appeal
- Strong leadership: After years of weak coalition governments, Hitler offered decisive leadership. He promised to "make Germany great again"
- Nationalism: Hitler promised to tear up the Treaty of Versailles, restore German territory, and rebuild national pride
- Anti-Communism: Middle-class voters feared the Communists (KPD won 16.9% in November 1932); the Nazis seemed the only party able to stop them
- Economic promises: Hitler promised "Bread and Work" - jobs for the unemployed and prosperity for business
- Scapegoats: Hitler blamed Germany's problems on the Treaty of Versailles, the Weimar politicians ("November Criminals"), and the Jews
- Hitler's speaking ability: He was a charismatic orator who could hold massive audiences spellbound; he practised gestures and timing carefully
Who Voted Nazi?
| Group | Why They Supported the Nazis |
|---|---|
| Middle class | Feared communism; wanted stability; lost savings in hyperinflation; blamed the Republic for economic chaos |
| Business leaders | Feared Communist nationalisation; wanted an end to trade union power; saw Nazis as pro-business |
| Farmers | Struggling with debt and low prices; Nazis promised higher food prices and debt relief |
| Young people | Attracted by Nazi dynamism, uniforms, and promise of a new Germany |
| Unemployed workers | Hitler promised "Work and Bread"; the SA gave unemployed men purpose and comradeship |
| Nationalists | Wanted to reverse the Treaty of Versailles; restore German military power and territory |
Key Fact: The Nazis were NOT primarily a working-class party. Their strongest support came from the Protestant middle class, farmers, and small-town voters. The working class largely continued to support the SPD or KPD. However, the Nazis did make some inroads into the working class through the SA, which offered unemployed men food, comradeship and a sense of purpose.
📢 Nazi Propaganda
Key Fact: Joseph Goebbels was appointed Nazi Party propaganda leader in 1929. He controlled the Nazi message with extraordinary skill, using every available medium to reach the German people. He said: "The essence of propaganda consists in winning people over to an idea so sincerely, so vitally, that in the end they succumb to it and can never escape."
Goebbels' Methods
- Rallies: Massive Nuremberg rallies with uniforms, flags, torchlight processions, and Hitler's speeches created a sense of power and unity
- Posters and leaflets: Simple, repetitive messages targeting specific groups - "Bread and Work" for the unemployed, "Save Germany from Communism" for the middle class
- Newspapers: The Nazis published their own paper, Der Völkischer Beobachter, with a circulation of 120,000 by 1930
- Radio: Goebbels recognised radio's potential early; the Nazis bought radio time and distributed cheap radios (Volksempfänger)
- Film: The Nazis used film for propaganda, most famously Leni Riefenstahl's "Triumph of the Will" (1934)
- Simple messages: Goebbels focused on a few key themes: Germany was betrayed by the "November Criminals," the Jews were responsible for Germany's problems, only Hitler could save Germany
Example: The Hitler Myth
Goebbels carefully crafted the "Hitler Myth" - presenting Hitler as a superhuman leader who worked tirelessly for Germany, lived simply, and had been chosen by providence to save the nation. Photos showed Hitler with children and animals; stories emphasised his bravery in WWI (he won the Iron Cross First Class). In reality, Hitler was lazy, indecisive on many matters, and surrounded by chaos - but the myth was powerful and convincing.
👊 The SA (Sturmabteilung)
Key Fact: The SA (Brownshirts or Stormtroopers) was the Nazi paramilitary force, founded in 1921 and led by Ernst Röhm. By 1932, the SA had over 400,000 members - many of them unemployed men attracted by the uniform, comradeship, and regular meals.
Role of the SA
- Violence and intimidation: The SA disrupted opposition meetings, beat up Communists and Social Democrats, and terrorised voters - especially in working-class areas
- Protection: The SA protected Nazi speakers from attack at rallies and meetings
- Marches and parades: SA demonstrations showed Nazi strength and attracted media attention
- Recruitment: The SA gave unemployed men a purpose, food, and a sense of belonging - "the SA fed me" was a common refrain
- Street fighting: SA-Communist violence created an atmosphere of chaos that made the Weimar government look weak and the Nazis look like the solution
The SA's Impact:
1. Created disorder → made Weimar democracy look incapable of maintaining order
2. Intimidated opponents → reduced opposition party activity and voter turnout in some areas
3. Attracted support → young unemployed men joined the SA for comradeship and purpose
4. Made Nazis seem strong → the SA's discipline and uniforms suggested the Nazis could restore order
1. Created disorder → made Weimar democracy look incapable of maintaining order
2. Intimidated opponents → reduced opposition party activity and voter turnout in some areas
3. Attracted support → young unemployed men joined the SA for comradeship and purpose
4. Made Nazis seem strong → the SA's discipline and uniforms suggested the Nazis could restore order
🤝 The Backroom Deal: Hitler Becomes Chancellor
Key Fact: Hitler was appointed Chancellor on 30 January 1933 by President Hindenburg, not because he won a majority but because a group of conservative politicians believed they could control him. Franz von Papen famously claimed: "We've hired him" and "In two months, we'll have pushed Hitler so far into a corner that he'll squeak."
How Hitler Became Chancellor
- July 1932 election: Nazis won 230 seats (37.3%) - largest party. Hitler demanded the Chancellorship; Hindenburg refused, calling him a "Bohemian corporal"
- November 1932 election: Nazi vote dropped to 33.1% (196 seats). Some thought the Nazis were declining
- December 1932: General Schleicher became Chancellor but could not build a stable coalition
- January 1933: Von Papen and conservative elites (including industrialists and media magnate Hugenberg) persuaded Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as Chancellor in a coalition government. They believed they could control Hitler through a conservative-dominated cabinet - only 3 of 12 ministers were Nazis
| Key Conspirator | Motivation |
|---|---|
| Franz von Papen | Wanted revenge on Schleicher who had replaced him as Chancellor; believed he could control Hitler as Vice-Chancellor |
| Alfred Hugenberg | Media magnate and DNVP leader; wanted to use the Nazis' popularity for nationalist goals |
| Industrialists | Feared communism; wanted a strong government that would crush trade unions and restore profits |
| Oskar von Hindenburg | The President's son; influenced his father to accept the deal |
Example: Why the Deal Was Made
The conservative elites made the deal because: (1) no democratic government could command a Reichstag majority; (2) they feared civil war between Nazis and Communists; (3) they wanted to use Hitler's popularity to push through their own agenda; (4) they believed the office of Chancellor would tame Hitler; (5) Schleicher's government had collapsed and Hindenburg wanted an alternative. They catastrophically underestimated Hitler's determination and ability to seize total power.
📊 Why Did the Nazis Rise? Summary
| Factor | Detail | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Wall Street Crash | Destroyed the Weimar recovery; mass unemployment | Essential trigger - without the economic crisis, the Nazis would have remained marginal |
| Weakness of Weimar | Coalition failures; Article 48; loss of confidence | Very important - democratic failure drove people to extremism |
| Hitler's leadership | Charisma; speaking ability; strategic thinking | Important - Hitler was uniquely able to exploit the crisis |
| Propaganda | Goebbels' sophisticated messaging | Important - made the Nazi message compelling and accessible |
| SA violence | Intimidation; street disorder; sense of strength | Contributory - created chaos and made Nazis look decisive |
| Backroom deal | Conservative elites underestimated Hitler | Final step - without the deal, Hitler might never have gained power legally |
❓ Practice Questions
Q1: Explain why the Wall Street Crash helped the Nazis. (4 marks)
Q2: How important was propaganda in the rise of the Nazis? (8 marks)
Q3: "The Nazis rose to power because of the economic crisis." How far do you agree? (12 marks)
Q4: Explain why Hitler was appointed Chancellor in January 1933. (8 marks)
Q5: "The conservative elites were most responsible for Hitler's appointment as Chancellor." How far do you agree? (16 marks)
✅ Answers
- The Wall Street Crash caused American banks to recall loans from Germany, triggering economic collapse. By 1932, 6 million were unemployed. The Weimar government could not solve the crisis, and Brüning governed by decree, undermining democracy. Desperate Germans turned to extremist parties - the Nazis promised "Bread and Work" and someone to blame (Versailles, Jews, Communists).
- Propaganda was very important: Goebbels used rallies, posters, newspapers and radio to create the Hitler Myth and target different groups with tailored messages ("Bread and Work" for the unemployed, anti-Communism for the middle class). The Nuremberg rallies showed power and discipline. However, propaganda alone could not have succeeded without the economic crisis creating the conditions for extremism. Propaganda was most effective because it gave people already desperate for solutions a compelling narrative and a strong leader to believe in.
- The economic crisis was the essential trigger: unemployment rose to 6 million by 1932, the government cut welfare, and democratic politicians seemed incapable of solving the crisis. The Nazi vote rose from 2.6% (1928) to 37.3% (July 1932) directly because of economic collapse. However, other factors were also important: the weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution (Article 48, PR) meant democratic government had already failed; Hitler's personal charisma and Goebbels' propaganda made the Nazi message compelling; the SA created disorder that made democracy look weak; and the conservative elites' backroom deal was necessary for Hitler to actually gain power. The economic crisis was the most important factor but it was not sufficient on its own.
- Hitler was appointed Chancellor because: the Nazis were the largest party in the Reichstag (196 seats after November 1932); no stable democratic government could be formed; conservative elites (von Papen, Hugenberg) believed they could control Hitler in a coalition where only 3 of 12 ministers were Nazis; they feared civil war between Nazis and Communists; industrialists supported the deal; and Hindenburg was persuaded by his son Oskar and von Papen. Schleicher's government had collapsed, leaving no alternative.
- The conservative elites were crucial because without their deal, Hitler could never have become Chancellor legally - the Nazis never won a majority and Hitler had already been refused the Chancellorship in August 1932. Von Papen's machinations, Hugenberg's media support, and Oskar von Hindenburg's influence on his father were all essential. However, the elites only made the deal because of broader circumstances: the economic crisis had made the Nazis the largest party; democratic government had failed; and Hitler's leadership, propaganda and the SA had built Nazi strength. The elites' miscalculation was the final step, but it depended on all the factors that had made the Nazis powerful enough to be worth including in government. The elites' failure was not creating the Nazis but underestimating them.
🎯 Exam Tips
- Know the election statistics: 2.6% (1928) → 18.3% (1930) → 37.3% (July 1932) → 33.1% (November 1932)
- Always distinguish between WHY the Nazis became popular and WHY Hitler became Chancellor - they are different questions
- The Nazis never won a majority in a free election - Hitler became Chancellor through a political deal, not a democratic mandate
- For "why did people support the Nazis" questions, use specific groups (middle class, farmers, unemployed, business leaders)
- Remember von Papen's quote: "We've hired him" - it shows how catastrophically the elites underestimated Hitler
- The Wall Street Crash (29 October 1929) was the turning point - Stresemann died on 3 October 1929, just weeks before
- Link the SA to both support (comradeship for the unemployed) and intimidation (violence against opponents)
📝 Exam Technique
History Exam Tips — The Rise of the Nazis:
1. For The Rise of the Nazis, include specific factual detail: dates, names, events and statistics where relevant
2. For source questions, analyse provenance (who, when, why, audience) before using the content
3. In evaluation questions, discuss multiple factors and weigh their relative significance
4. Always link back to the question focus — don't just narrate what happened with The Rise of the Nazis
5. Use phrases like 'the most significant factor was... because...' to show analytical judgement
1. For The Rise of the Nazis, include specific factual detail: dates, names, events and statistics where relevant
2. For source questions, analyse provenance (who, when, why, audience) before using the content
3. In evaluation questions, discuss multiple factors and weigh their relative significance
4. Always link back to the question focus — don't just narrate what happened with The Rise of the Nazis
5. Use phrases like 'the most significant factor was... because...' to show analytical judgement
⚠️ Common Errors
Watch Out!
Students often think hyperinflation meant everyone suffered equally. Wrong: Hyperinflation meant everyone suffered equally Correct: People with savings and fixed incomes suffered most, but those with debts or land actually benefited. Foreign tourists could buy goods very cheaply.
Students often think the nazis won a majority in a free election. Wrong: The Nazis won a majority in a free election Correct: The Nazis never won over 50% in a free election — their best result was 37.3% in July 1932. Hitler became Chancellor through backroom politics, not a majority vote.
Students often think all germans supported the nazis. Wrong: All Germans supported the Nazis Correct: There was significant opposition including the White Rose group, Edelweiss Pirates, and the 20 July Plot. Many Germans were passive rather than active supporters.
✍️ Model Answer
Full-Mark Response
12 marks: Explain why the Nazis gained power by 1933.
The Wall Street Crash of 29 October 1929 was the essential trigger. American banks recalled loans from Germany, causing economic collapse. By 1932, 6 million Germans were unemployed — over 30% of the workforce — and industrial production fell by 58% from its 1929 level. The Weimar government could not solve the crisis: the Grand Coalition collapsed in March 1930, and Chancellor Brüning governed by Article 48 decree, cutting unemployment benefits and undermining democracy. The Nazi vote surged from 2.6% (12 seats) in May 1928 to 18.3% (107 seats) in September 1930, and peaked at 37.3% (230 seats) in July 1932.
Goebbels' propaganda and Hitler's oratory were crucial in exploiting the crisis. Goebbels, appointed propaganda leader in 1929, used rallies, posters, radio, and film to craft the "Hitler Myth" — presenting Hitler as a superhuman leader chosen by providence. Simple, repetitive messages targeted different groups: "Bread and Work" for the unemployed, "Save Germany from Communism" for the middle class. Hitler's charismatic speaking — carefully practised gestures and timing — held massive audiences spellbound. The SA, over 400,000 strong by 1932, provided violence and intimidation that made democracy look weak and the Nazis look like the solution.
However, Hitler became Chancellor not through a majority but through a backroom deal. The Nazis never won over 50% in a free election; their vote actually fell to 33.1% in November 1932. On 30 January 1933, President Hindenburg appointed Hitler Chancellor because conservative elites — Franz von Papen, media magnate Alfred Hugenberg, and industrialists — believed they could control him in a coalition where only 3 of 12 ministers were Nazis. Von Papen boasted: "We've hired him." In conclusion, the economic crisis was the essential precondition, propaganda exploited it, but the backroom deal was the final step without which Hitler could never have gained power legally.
Mark scheme: 3-4 marks per explained factor with specific evidence, conclusion for top level
📊 AO Deep Dive
Assessment Objective Analysis
AQA History tests three AOs: AO1 (Knowledge, 35%) requires recall of specific facts, dates and details about The Rise of the Nazis; AO2 (Explanation, 35%) requires explaining causes, consequences and changes using detailed knowledge; AO3 (Sources and Interpretations, 30%) requires analysing provenance, content and usefulness of sources, and evaluating different historical interpretations. For grade 9, you need precise knowledge (specific dates, statistics and named individuals), sophisticated explanation showing how factors interrelate, and nuanced source analysis considering purpose, audience and context. The key difference between grade 5 and grade 9 is DETAIL and ANALYSIS — top answers support every point with specific evidence and reach substantiated conclusions.
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