Adolf HitlerThe Rise of Evil

Inquiry Question

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

Recap

CircumstancesO There was early O to the Weimar GovernmentC The Weimar Government was a C Government

D During its time in power, the Weimar Government made a few Bad D

C The WR also lost a C Leader in Gustav Stresemann

D The WR was badly affected by the Great D

PPOSITION

OALITION

EPRESSION

APABLE

ECISIONS

Lesson Objectives

Rise of Hitler

(1) Favourable Circumstances

WR was a coalition government

Opposition from left and right wings

WR made bad decisions

Lost a capable leader/ Great Depression

(2) Hitler’s own abilities

Excellent speaker & charismatic leader

Exploiting Fear of Communism

Reorganised the Nazi Party

Made deals with politicians

Nazi Ideology

National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP), a.k.a. Nazi Party

Hitler’s work Mein Kampf (My Struggle) Written while he was imprisoned Outlined his beliefs

Nazi Ideology

ARYAN

Nazi Ideology

Othersi) Efficient organisation of all aspects

of the lives of the masses under the central government – Familiar?

ii) Greatness achieved through war

Nazi Ideology

Promised to solve unemployment problem

Nazi Appeal

Anti-communist views appealed to the RIGHT

Talk of equality, state control and creation of jobs appealed to the LEFT

Position on TOV, Aryan Race, Lebensraum appealed to Nationalists

Promised something for everyone!

Watch this clip!

Think about the way Hitler speaks:

Take note of - his voice - his body language

Charismatic Speaker

Brilliant speaker with great charisma Master at gauging the audience’s mood Great energy

Beer hall speeches Why? People at ease and were receptive

Addressed people’s concerns Familiar with people’s concerns Used ‘November criminals’, communists and Jews

as scapegoats

Exploiting Fears of Communism

Farmers feared a communist victory Why?

Businessmen too Why?

Hitler promised farmers and businessmen that he would help them if in power

Exploiting Fears of Communism

Alfred Hugenberg Newspaper and film studio owner Allowed Nazis to use his studio to make

propaganda films

Exploiting Fears of Communism

Need to restore Stability Unrest in 1930s due to unemployment Communists fought police in streets of

Germany Hitler used his armed forces (SA) to fight

communists and break up meetings People looked to the Nazis to

restore order

Reorganisation of the Nazi Party

Nazis began with limited support Failed Munich rising in 1923

Imprisonment Only 3% of votes before Great

DepressionOther

political parties

The Nazi Party

Reorganisation of the Nazi Party

Increase Party

Membership

Est. local Nazi parties

Youth Organisatio

ns

Reorganisation of the Nazi Party

Est. SA and SS

SA: paramilitary organisatio

n- Break up strikes and Communist

meetingsSS: Hitler’s

personal bodyguard

Himmler

Reorganisation of the Nazi Party

Propaganda

Appeal to emotions rather

than intellect

Portray Nazis as a strong party united under ONE leader

Election results1928 1932

Other political parties

Other political parties

The Nazi Party

The Nazi Party

Dealings with Politicians

In 1932, the Nazi party had the most seats (37%) in the Parliament (Reichstag)

President von Hindenburg was pressurised to agree to Hitler’s demand for chancellorship. Persuaded by Franz von Papen who thought

that the conservatives could channel their support for Hitler into support for the policies of the cabinet.

Dealings with Politicians

Furthermore, it was hoped that Hitler could help the government to control the Communists.

On 30 January 1933, Hitler was appointed Chancellor.

Within months, he ended Weimar Germany and started the Third Reich. More on this later on.

Inquiry Question

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