1. The Nazi Party’s Rise to Power: 1928-1933
In 1928 Hitler’s Nazi Party were a small, insignificant party. They enjoyed little success in elections and were viewed as little more than thugs by the political elite. By 1933 however Hitler was the chancellor of Germany. The Nazi’s had risen from obscurity to power, total power.

2. Factors Stresemann’s death The Wall Street Crash Economic instability
Failure of the Weimar Government to cope with problems
Weakness of the constitution
Effective use of Propaganda
Force used against opponents
Wide ranging populist policies
Visible strength at a time of weakness

3. Rise to power Wall Street Crash End of US Aid Economic Collapse
Rising Unemployment
High inflation
Pressure on government
Disillusionment with government
Interest in extreme ideas
Opportunity for Nazi’s
Apparent weakness of Weimar
Show of strength by Hitler
Rise in votes for Nazi’s

4. Rise of Hitler
Factors
Inability of Weimar to cope with economic crisis
Hitler’s manipulation of situation
Public desire for order and strength
Politicians naivety in dealing with Hitler
Fear of communism
Lead to
Rise of National Socialism
Instability of Weimar government

5. But the Nazi’s never had a majority!
The Nazi Party never had an absolute majority in the Weimar government
They did become the largest single party though
Proportional representation allows non majority parliaments in the form of coalitions

6. Why was Hitler made Chancellor?
Public demanded improvements
Nazi Party were largest party in Reichstag
Hindendburg and von Papen thought Hitler could be controlled
Hitler was a national figure after the 1932 Presidential campaign (he came second to Hindendburg but had a large proportion of the vote)

7. How were the Nazi’s able to achieve this so quickly?
The economic situation was very bad
Hitler was a great public speaker
The SA and SS disrupted he work of political opponents
The Nazi’s were funded by industrialists such as Alfred Hugenberg
The other political parties wouldn’t work together
Chancellor’s in the period weren’t widely supported within the Reichstag
Goebbel’s propaganda was effective
People were fed up of ineffective coalition governments and the current situation
The Nazi’s targeted certain groups of the electorate
People didn’t want a return to the hyperinflation of

8. How did Hitler consolidate power?
The Reichstag Fire
Creates a climate that Hitler can manipulate for his on ends
The Enabling Act
Hitler uses Article 48 to create a State of Emergency. The act effectively ends democracy in Germany.
The Night of the Long Knives
Opposition from within the party is removed: violently. The SA is ‘purged’.
Hitler used his position, and the frailties and subsequent death of Hindendburg, to engineer a Nazi take over of government. He makes use of Article 48 to legitimise the end of democracy before radically altering the structure of government. Soon opposition is banned and Germany has a one party state. Pressure groups, such as Trade unions, are also banned. This Nazi ‘Revolution’ is secured as a result of the removal of all possible threats to nazi rule: the SA, the army and political parties are all ‘dealt with’ by the end of 1934.

9. Activities
Using the activity pack you have been given. In pairs put the factors effecting Hitler’s rise to power into order of importance. Think carefully about the order that you have placed them in. You may decide that some of them are of equal significance.
Using the second set of factors from the activity pack. Place the factors into the correct column of the chart. Are these factors strengths of Hitler and the Nazi’s? Weaknesses of other political parties or factors beyond the control of German politicians?
Complete the planning sheet for the question: Why was Hitler able to come to power in 1933?