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Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39

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 Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1)

History
Weimar and Nazi Germany,
1918–39

Revision Guide & Workbook + App

Series Consultant: Harry Smith

Author: Victoria Payne

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 Contents
SUBJECT CONTENT Life in Nazi Germany, 1933–39
The Weimar Republic, 1918–29 21 Women and the family
   1 The legacy of the First World War 22 Nazi youth organisations
2 Strengths and weaknesses of the 23 Nazi education
Weimar Constitution 24 Policies to reduce unemployment
3 Why the Republic was unpopular 25 The standard of living
4 Challenges from left and right 26 Racial beliefs and policies
5 The challenges of 1923 27 Jewish persecution 1
6 Reasons for recovery, 1923–29 28 Jewish persecution 2
7 Stresemann’s success at home and abroad
SKILLS
8 Changes for workers and women
29 Exam overview
9 Cultural changes, 1924–29
30 Sources and interpretations
Hitler’s rise to power, 1919–33 31 Question 1: Making inferences
10 Hitler and the early growth of the party 32 Question 2: Explaining causes
11 The Munich Putsch and its aftermath 33 Question 3(a): Evaluating usefulness
12 Growth in support, 1929–32 34 Question 3(b): Identifying and
13 Political developments in 1932 explaining differences
35 Question 3(c): Suggesting reasons for
Nazi control and dictatorship, 1933–39 different views
14 The Reichstag Fire and the Enabling 36 Question 3(d): Evaluating interpretations
Act, 1933 37 Sources/Interpretations Booklet
15 Hitler becomes Führer
16 A police state 38 PRACTICE
17 Policies towards the churches
52 ANSWERS
18 Propaganda and censorship
19 Church opposition
20 Youth opposition
A small bit of small print
Pearson Edexcel publishes Sample Assessment
Material and the Specification on its website.
This is the official content and this book should be
used in conjunction with it. The questions in
Now try this have been written to help you
practise every topic in the book. Remember:
the real exam questions may not look like this.
 Weimar
Republic,
Had a look Nearly there Nailed it! 1918–29

The legacy of the First World War

The First World War ended in 1918 and left Germany scarred and crumbling, having been defeated
by the combined force of Britain, France, Russia, Italy and the USA. Friedrich Ebert, leader of the
Social Democratic Party, became the first German president and declared Germany a republic.

What was the impact of the First The abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II
World War on Germany? (the Emperor)
• Two million German troops died and over
four million were wounded (11 million in Timeline 9 November 1918
The Kaiser visited army headquarters
total fought in the war).
in Spa.
• Government debts increased from
Ministers tried to persuade the Kaiser
50 billion marks to 150 billion marks. to abdicate.
• More than 750 000 Germans died The Kaiser refused.
because of food shortages. Army officers refused to support
The devastating effects of the war left many the Kaiser.
people with no option other than to revolt The Kaiser had no option but
by striking and rioting. to abdicate.
10 November 1918
The Kaiser fled
to Holland.

Revolution and the declaration of the republic

Once the Kaiser had abdicated, the German Republic was declared on 9 November 1918.
Philipp Scheidemann, of the
On 10 November, Friedrich Social Democratic Party (SDP),
Ebert suspended the old the largest party in the German
Reichstag and formed government (Reichstag),
the Council of People’s declared the new Republic to
Representatives as a the crowds. He was fearful that
temporary measure. armed rioters were preparing
to declare a communist
government in Berlin, and, keen
The Berlin streets were crowded. to prevent this, he promoted a
Some people were armed, hoping peaceful transition.
to take over parts of the city.

The revolutionary perio

d
continued until August
the crowds from a
1919,
Scheidemann talking to 18. when the Weimar Repu
Berlin, 9 November 19 blic
window of a house in was finally established.

The armistice – the peace agreement between

Germany and the Allies War leaders
outside the railway
• It was signed on 11 November. carriage where
• It was the first major decision of Ebert’s new Republic. the armistice
was signed on
• The terms of the peace, the Treaty of Versailles, 11 November 1918.
became a very big burden for the country.

Now try this

Why did the end of the First World War lead to economic and political problems for Germany?

1
 Weimar
Republic,
1918–29 Had a look Nearly there Nailed it!

Strengths and weaknesses of the

Weimar Constitution
Democratic government was established in the drawing up of a new constitution. This was done on
31 July 1919 in the town of Weimar, rather than in Berlin where there was still unrest.
The Weimar Constitution
Head of State The Government
President Chancellor Cabinet
• Head of the Weimar Republic. • Head of the government • The main decision-making
• Elected by the people every in the Weimar Republic. body of the government.
seven years. • Chose all government
• Had some important political ministers.
powers. For example, the
president chose the chancellor.
• Could suspend the constitution The Parliament
and pass laws by decree. • Made up of two houses: the Reichstag and the Reichsrat.
• Normally, all laws had to pass through both houses.
• Proportional representation.
Reichstag Reichsrat
• The more powerful of the • Also elected every four years.
two houses. • However, it represented the regions
• Controlled taxation. of Germany.
• Directly elected by the people • Each region sent a certain number of
at least once every four years. representatives depending on its size.

Electorate
• Consisted of all men and women of 21 years old and over.

Strengths and weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution

Strengths Weaknesses
• Proportional representation made • Proportional representation
sure small parties had a fair share led to coalition governments
of seats. that were unstable, or found
• Women able to vote as well it difficult to have strong
as men. policies and often fell apart.
• Lack of strong government led
• Voting age reduced from 25 to 21.
to weakness in a crisis that
• No one group or person could ended up with the president
have too much power. passing laws without the prior
• There was an election for consent of the Reichstag.
president every seven years. Article 48 of the constitution
• Central government was more enabled the president to
powerful than before, but local do this. A poster encouraging
government still retained power in • It was not the choice of women to vote
the people so was not for the SDP and
the regions.
proclaiming equal
• The Reichsrat could regulate that popular. rights and obligations.
the power of the Reichstag by
delaying new laws.

Now try this

Describe the key strengths and the key weaknesses of the new constitution.

2
 Weimar
Republic,
Had a look Nearly there Nailed it! 1918–29

Why the Republic was unpopular

The Treaty of Versailles damaged Germany’s economy making the Weimar Republic weak from
the start. People blamed the leaders of the new German republic for signing it. They were labelled
the ‘November Criminals’ because they surrendered in November 1918 and were seen as traitors
to their country.
The treaty and reparations
As the war guilt clause made Germany accept
the blame for the war, the Allies said they were
entitled to reparations (compensation).
£6600 million was to be paid in yearly
instalments to the Allies to repair damage in
their countries.

The treaty and military forces

Army limited to 100 000.
 Navy limited to six battleships, six
cruisers, 12 destroyers and 12 torpedo
Article 231 of the Tre
was guilty of starting
aty of Versailles said
that Germany boats (and no submarines).
the war. Ordinary Germ  All planes were destroyed and no air
hated this blame and an people
felt very resentful be
They believed they fou cause of it. force was allowed.
ght the war in self-defe
that other countries nce and  No military was allowed in the land
were to blame. These
demonstrating in Leipzi people are
g against the treaty. bordering France (the Rhineland).

The treaty and land losses

Baltic
North Sea Memel was lost to
Northern Schleswig Sea
Lithuania in 1923.
Denmark Danzig
voted to become (free city)
Northern
part of Denmark. Schleswig Kiel East
The Hamburg West Prussia
Berlin Prussia
Holland Ruhr Polish corridor (Posen
Posen Poland
Eupen and Malmedy
Eupen and Hanover
Germany and West Prussia) was
Malmédy
Weimar lost to Poland.
were lost to Belgium. Belgium Rhineland Upper Silesia
Paris Saar Stuttgart Czechoslovakia
Versailles
Munich
France Upper Silesia voted to
Alsace and Lorraine become part of Poland.
Key
were lost to France. Areas Germany ceded to other countries N
Areas which left under plebiscite 0 200 Germany also lost
Germany lost 13% of
its European territory.
Demilitarised zone km 11 of its colonies.
International city

The ‘stab in the back’ theory

Many German people never believed their army had been defeated in the war. Those who criticised
the treaty said that the army had been betrayed by politicians – that they were ‘stabbed in the
back’ and forced to surrender when they could have won.

Now try this Remember, an

acrostic poem
Write an acrostic poem to sum up why the Treaty of Versailles was so unpopular is when the first
with the German people. Try using the word ‘Versailles’ as your base word. letters of each line
spell out a phrase.

3
 Weimar
Republic,
1918–29 Had a look Nearly there Nailed it!

Challenges from left and right

The new Weimar Republic government faced opposition from groups inside and outside the
Reichstag, and from both the left and right wings.

The Spartacists The Freikorps

Left-wing Right-wing
 Came from the Independent Socialist Party  Made up of ex-soldiers who had kept
Had backing from the Soviet Union their weapons
Led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht Had 250 000 men in March 1919
Based in Berlin Organised by regular army

Challenge from the left – the Challenge from the right – the
Spartacist Revolt Kapp Putsch
In January 1919, the Spartacists took over the In March 1920, Freikorps troops, fearing
government’s newspaper and telegraph bureau, unemployment, decided to march on Berlin.
and tried to organise a general strike in Berlin. Ebert asked the head of the army to resist
The Weimar government sent Freikorps units to the Freikorps but he refused. A nationalist
put down the revolt. politician, Dr Wolfgang Kapp, was put in charge
by the rebels and the Weimar government fled
Berlin seeking safety. In order to put down the
ng rebels, or Kapp Putsch as it became known, the
There was street fighti
se ver al da ys government organised the trade unions to go
in Berlin for
e the rev olt en de d
befor on strike. This they did and the national strike
and Spartacist lea de rs
caused such chaos that Kapp could not rule
were shot.
Germany and was forced to flee. The Weimar
ministers returned.

Political attacks on the Political assassinations

Weimar Republic • From 1919–1923 politicians in
the Weimar Republic were worried
Right-wing parties
in the Reichstag
about assassinations.
The Kapp
Putsch • In the early years of the republic, 376
Left-wing
parties in the
political assassinations took place.
Reichstag • Some right‑wing extremists used the
murders to weaken the new republic.
The Weimar
Republic
Right-wing • Conservative judges were sympathetic
bias in the to the conservative cause and gave
The Spartacist courts
Revolt them light punishments.

Left-wing and Political

right-wing political assassinations
armies

Now try this

Describe the role of the Freikorps in the Kapp Putsch and the Spartacist Revolt.

4
 Weimar
Republic,
Had a look Nearly there Nailed it! 1918–29

The challenges of 1923

In 1923 the German people faced a terrible economic crisis. There was hyperinflation that made
the German currency worthless.

Hyperinflation Why there was hyperinflation

When the price of goods increases it is called
inflation; when it increases spectacularly, it is 1914–18
The government printed more money to
called hyperinflation. pay for the First World War, but it didn’t
have more gold – it was bankrupt.
1 mark 100 marks

1919 1922 1918–22

The Weimar government printed more money
200 000 billion marks for post-war shortages and asked for longer
to pay the first reparations instalment.
1923

January 1923
French troops invaded the Ruhr to take
reparations payments in goods and raw
materials. German workers went on strike.
80% of German coal, iron and steel
reserves were in the Ruhr and many of
its factories. The occupation was a
disaster for Germany’s economy.
Men pile useless
banknotes into
a press. The Weimar government printed more
money to pay strikers and make up for
loss of coal, steel and iron production.

November 1923
The German mark was worthless.

The effects of hyperinflation

Negative effects Positive effects
 Some people could not afford essentials like bread.  Farmers benefited, as they were paid
 Wages rose, but not as quickly as prices. more for food.
 Some businesses went bankrupt. (Those that  Some people and businesses could
made money took over the struggling ones.) pay off loans and mortgages.
 People with fixed or monthly incomes, such as  Fixed rents for rooms or shops
pensioners, suffered most. became very cheap.
 Savings became worthless. This affected the  Foreign visitors could buy more for
middle classes most. their money.
 People blamed the Weimar government, which
made it even more unpopular.

tion on Germany are

Now try this The effects of hyperinfla
ding various topics, so
important for understan
em.
Make a list of all the ways in which Germany make sure you revise th
le-class people were
was affected by hyperinflation. • Remember that midd
Include the groups or types of person worst affected.
negative effects of
most affected. • Include positive and
t.
hyperinflation in your lis
5
 Weimar
Republic,
1918–29 Had a look Nearly there Nailed it!

Reasons for recovery, 1923–29

From 1923–29 Germany managed to recover from the immediate crisis of 1923, but there were
still significant weaknesses in its economy. Gustav Stresemann, the new chancellor, played an
important role.
International loans after the First
Rentenmark World War
In November 1923, Stresemann set loans made under Dawes
up the Rentenbank and issued the new Plan and Young Plan
currency called the Rentenmark.
Supply of these notes was
USA Germany
tightly controlled. Their value was tied
to the price of gold so it had real value.
This encouraged more public confidence. war loans reparations
In August 1924 the Reichsbank was paid back payments made
given control of this new currency.
It was renamed the Reichsmark. Britain and France
Hyperinflation was over.
s and businesses,
mu ch st ro ng er ba sis for the recovery of job
da
The Reichsmark provide se s ex perienced in the hyperin
flation crisis.
ba ck th e los
but it could not bring
The Dawes Plan, 1924
In 1924, Charles Dawes, an American
banker, designed a plan so Germany could
pay its reparations.
• Instalments were temporarily reduced to
£50 million a year.
• US banks agreed to make loans to
German industry. The Allies felt more
Gustav Stresemann (fa
confident that they would get their r left) at the London
in 1924, where the Da conference
wes Plan was agreed.
reparations payments.

Young Plan, 1929 Improvements in the economy

In August 1929, a committee, set up by the The Weimar Republic’s economy
Allies and led by an American banker called improved because:
Owen Young, proposed a plan.  industrial output doubled by 1928 and finally
 The Young Plan reduced the total reparations passed pre-First World War levels
debt from £6.6 billion to £2 billion.  employment and trade increased.
 The payments could be made over a longer
time, up until 1988. However, there were still problems.
 Lower reparations meant lower taxes for  The extreme political parties were
German people. completely against Germany paying the
 There was a lot of opposition, especially reparations at all.
from the extreme political parties, like the  The economic recovery depended on
Nazis, who felt it was extending the burden American loans, so it remained fragile.
for future generations.

Now try this

Write a paragraph to explain how the German economy was still vulnerable, despite improvements.

6
 Weimar
Republic,
Had a look Nearly there Nailed it! 1918–29

Stresemann’s success at
home and abroad
Stresemann’s most important achievements were in economic and foreign policy. However, his main
aim was to stabilise the political situation in Germany.
Locarno Pact 1925
Stresemann’s success
This was an agreement between Germany,
Gustav Stresemann resigned the Britain, France, Italy and Belgium. In it:
chancellorship in November 1923, but
• Germany agreed to its new border with
stayed as foreign secretary until 1929.
France improving relations with the French
His work in foreign affairs:
• the Allies and Germany agreed to the
 strengthened the confidence of the
permanent demilitarisation of the Rhineland
German people in the Weimar Republic
• German membership of the League of Nations
 reduced the support for extremist
was up for discussion.
political parties like the Nazis and
the communists Why was it a success
increased support for moderate parties for Ger many?
• It improved relation
s with France with the
 reduced the economic hardships of the border agreement.
German people. • The Locarno Pact wa
s not imposed on
Germany, unlike the Tre
aty of Versailles.
mental in making • It increased the statu
Stresemann was instru s and popularity of
mber of three the Weimar Republic.
sure Germany was a me
pacts or agreements:
important international • It helped boost confi
dence in more
League of Nations and
The Locarno Pact, the moderate political parti
es.
.
the Kellogg-Briand Pact

League of Nations Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928

This was a new international body that hoped to This was an agreement between 62 nations.
discuss world problems in order to avoid war. It committed countries to avoiding the use of
It was set up in 1920 but Germany was war to achieve foreign policy objectives.
initially excluded. In 1926, they were invited
to join and they became a member of Why was it a succes
the council. s for Ger many?
• It showed that Germ
any was once again a
s for Ger many?
Why was it a succes major power.
any’s views counted. • It showed that mode
• It showed that Germ could build Germany’s
rate political parties
dence held by most strength internationally
• It boosted the confi • It increased public co .
government.
Germans in the Weimar Germany was being led
nfidence in how
.

It wasn’t all a success

’s position, his
There were still some areas of discontent in spite Think about Stresemann
results.
of Stresemann’s work. achievements and their
 The hated terms of the Treaty of Versailles
were still in place.
 The League of Nations was, for some, a symbol Now try this
of the unpopular Treaty of Versailles.
 Some didn’t like the confirmation of the new Explain how Stresemann’s foreign policy helped
border with France. to stabilise Germany.
 There were still extremist parties around.

7
 Weimar
Republic,
1918–29 Had a look Nearly there Nailed it!

Changes for workers and women

The period 1924–29 saw some important improvements for workers and women in Germany, but
there were still underlying problems in German society.
Changes in living standards
Living standards improved after 1924, brought about by government funding and policies.
Unemployment insurance
Wages and work 3% of workers’ earnings were deducted
Working hours reduced. Standard to be put towards insurance that would give
them a basic amount of benefits if they
Wages rose. of living became unemployed or sick.
Working conditions improved.
Hyperinflation made employment insecure.
Well-off Germans resented seeing Housing
workers benefiting. 15% rent tax was introduced to fund building associations.
Between 1925 and 1929, 101 000 homes were built.
There was still a housing shortage but things had improved.

Women at work Women at leisure Women in politics

• Some of the gains in equality • Greater earning power led • Women earned the vote
brought about by the war to more independence for in 1918 and could stand
were lost. younger, single women. for elections.
• Most women gave up • Women were less interested • 90% turned out
work after they married. in marriage and family and at elections.
There was a drop in women more interested in having a
working from 75% in 1918 to • Article 109 of the
‘good time’. constitution stated that
36% in 1925.
• Few women secured high • The behaviour of ‘new women had equal rights
status jobs. women’ was not liked by with men and could
some men and women who enter professions on an
• There was an increase in
part-time work. felt traditional values were equal basis.
being eroded. • Marriage was an
• Some professions, like
teaching and medicine, equal partnership.
offered new opportunities
to women.
• Women were encouraged to
go to university.

Now try this

For each of the following groups in Germany between 1924 and 1929, give one example of progress
and one example of lack of progress: a) workers b) women.

8
 Weimar
Republic,
Had a look Nearly there Nailed it! 1918–29

Cultural changes, 1924–29

A variety of factors led to a rise in cultural changes and experimentation in Germany between
1924 and 1929. The main driving force in art and cinema was the movement called Expressionism.
Art Cinema
Weimar artists painted everyday life Films became popular all over the world in the 1920s.
so that everyone could have access Expressionism flourished in film-making, particularly in
to their art. They wanted to make Weimar Germany due to fewer restrictions. Some German
art that commented on problems films were very new and exciting in how they challenged
in German society, or to make traditional cinema.
people think. Their style of work
was called Expressionism, which
was concerned with raw emotion,
the seedier side of everyday life
and confronting the disaster of
the First World War. Artists like
Otto Dix and George Grosz were
influential to the movement, as was
Paul Klee.

rked by dark
All these films were ma
dra ma tic ligh tin g and
shadows,
gro tes qu e cha rac ter s.

A famous and very po

pular German
actress of the time wa
s Marlene Dietrich.
Klee, 1926. Here she is in the film
Cave Flowers by Paul Longs For, directed by
The Woman One
the Ba uha us school.
Klee taught at in 1929.
Curtis Bernhardt

Architecture
New designers and architects challenged traditional ideas and practices in building and interiors.
The school attracted
The Bauhaus school
many talented artists
was set up in Weimar, in
and designers.
1919, by the architect
Walter Gropius.
Their ideas challenged
traditional styles that
Gropius wanted to bring had been popular
together all the disciplines before the war.
(art, architecture, design,
typography, sculpture, etc).
Their approaches looked
radical compared to what
The Bauhaus School in had come before.
Dessau designed
by Gropius, 1925–26.

Now try this

How did the new Weimar culture challenge traditional attitudes and values in Germany?

9
 Hitler’s rise,
1919–33 Had a look Nearly there Nailed it!

Hitler and the early growth

of the party
Adolf Hitler was born in Austria in 1889. He moved to Munich in 1913 and became obsessed with
all things German. He fought in the First World War and his experience confirmed his views that
Germany had a special destiny. He was shocked by Germany’s defeat and the outcome of the
Treaty of Versailles.

Hitler and the early DAP/NSDAP Hitler’s early political career

1 The German Workers’ Party (DAP) was set
Timeline up by Anton Drexler in February 1919, in
1919 Hitler joined Munich; Hitler joined in September 1919.
the DAP.
1920 Hitler was
2 The DAP set up permanent headquarters,
Hitler became second in command.
second in command 1920 In August the
of the DAP. DAP changed its 3 Hitler suggested a new name for the
name to the National party – the National Socialist German Workers’
Socialist German Party (NSDAP) or NAZI Party for short.
Workers’ Party.
1921 Hitler took over
4 In July 1921, Hitler became leader of the
control of the Nazi
Nazi Party.
Party from Drexler.
5 Hess, Goering, Streicher and Röhm were
selected as some of his party supporters.

The 25-point programme The Sturmabteilung (SA)

The Nazi programme, written by Hitler and The Sturmabteilung (or stormtroopers)
Drexler in 1920, included the following points. were a paramilitary force, made up of
• Increase pensions for the elderly. unemployed ex-soldiers. They were formed
in August 1921 by Hitler and put under the
• Nationalise industries.
command of Ernst Röhm. They wore brown
• Get rid of the Treaty of Versailles. uniforms and were nicknamed 'Brownshirts'.
• Everybody should have a job. They were used to disrupt opposition meetings
• Build up Germany’s armed forces. and to control crowds and any opposition to
• Only German races may be members of Hitler – often violently.
the nation. No Jew may be a citizen.
• Expand Germany across new territory to
feed the people and to settle surplus
population (known as Lebensraum).
• All citizens should have equal rights
and duties.
• Every hard‑working German to have the
chance of higher education.
• State must protect mothers and infants, The Sturmabteilung
stop children working; make laws for
compulsory sports.
d: the Weimar Now try this
The programme oppose
to the Treaty
politicians who agreed
y, which they Choose three Nazi policies from the 25-point
of Versailles; democrac programme and explain to whom they would
Jews, who they
thought was weak; and have appealed and why.
rman economy.
felt undermined the Ge

10
 Hitler’s rise,
Had a look Nearly there Nailed it! 1919–33

The Munich Putsch

and its aftermath
Hitler attempted to overthrow the Weimar government in November 1923. This was known as the
Munich Putsch. After this date, and up to 1928, the Nazi Party struggled to get support.
Reasons for the Munich Putsch
Long term Medium term Short term
• ‘Stab in the back’ Hitler was influenced by • Hyperinflation
• Reparations Mussolini’s right-wing party • French troops entered
in Italy – the Fascists. Ruhr in 1923 and took over
• The loss of Germany's
Mussolini marched on Rome in German businesses.
colonies.
1922, forcing the democratic
• Resentment of Weimar • Hitler thought that he
government to accept him
government, particularly by had support.
as leader.
the Bavarian government.

The events of the Putsch Consequences of the Putsch

In the short term, the Putsch was not good
Timeline 8 November 1923
for Hitler. He was in prison and the NSDAP
was banned, and the Putsch had failed
Hitler with 600 SA entered a
9 November 1923
miserably because of lack of support.
beer hall in Munich where
Hitler gathered with In the long term, however, the consequences
the Bavarian government
1000 SA and 2000 were meeting. were more positive for Hitler and the NSDAP.
volunteer supporters At gunpoint, Hitler forced • Hitler used his trial to publicise his views.
and marched on government leaders to • He used his time in prison to write Mein
Munich town centre to support him. Kampf (My Struggle). This book became a
declare himself Röhm took over local police
President of Germany.
bestseller when published – it outlined his
and army headquarters.
The group was met by political ideas and in particular his views
Ludendorff, behind Hitler’s
state police. back, let the government on Jews.
Someone opened fire leaders go. • The events of the Putsch made Hitler
and there was chaos. realise that the party needed to rethink
Ludendorff, Röhm and its tactics and be more organised in order
Streicher were arrested. 11 November 1923 to win support nationally, using violence
Hitler was found hiding at and force wasn't enough.
a friend’s house and was
arrested.

Hitler was released fro

m prison after only
nine months. The ban on
SA storming Munich the NSDAP was lifted
town centre
by 1925.

Bamberg Conference 1926

Hitler organised this conference to address splits between the socialist and nationalist wings of
the Nazi movement. Hitler’s power as leader was secured and his vision of Nazism taken forward.

Now try this

Design two mind maps to sum up the reasons for and consequences of the Munich Putsch.

11
 Hitler’s rise,
1919–33 Had a look Nearly there Nailed it!

Growth in support, 1929–32

In this period, the Nazis reorganised to benefit from the Weimar Republic’s weaknesses and
economic problems. Hitler’s appeal as a leader also benefited them.
Wall Street Crash, USA, October 1929
US companies lost billions of dollars in value
overnight. Many banks and businesses were
ruined, and worldwide depression resulted.

US stopped lending money to Germany

and demanded all loans be repaid. Food distribution, Be
rlin 1931
1931
Bank panic, Germany
German government
German businesses • Couldn’t borrow money from the US.
• Had to pay back loans. • Refused to print more money.
• Received no more investment from the US. • Increased taxes.
• Had to pay increased taxes to government. • Made cuts in unemployment benefit.
• Government workers had wages cut
and some lost their jobs.

German people
• Businesses reduced staff or closed.
• Millions of workers and farm labourers lost their jobs.
• Young people were badly affected by job losses.
• With no work, and benefits slashed, families suffered terrible poverty.

The Hitler appeal 3 He travelled

1 He was a around the country
giving speeches and
Hitler's propaganda
strong leader.
talking on the radio. Using propaganda techniques,
2 His image Hitler persuaded:
appeared on most 4 The party  usiness people that he could
b
publicity material. adopted modern
technology, e.g. solve the economic crisis
used aeroplanes. working-class people that he
could give them work and food
middle-class people that he
s of the ever-growing
The intimidation tactic could protect them from the
ers ) helped to increase
SA (stormtroop
communists, solve the economic
support for the Nazis.
crisis and return Germany to
How the depression benefited Hitler traditional values
Support for the Commun rural communities that he
Economic problems ist
Party grew during this could protect them from the
period but the Nazi Party communists, who might seize
Unemployment their land
grew faster. Support for
young people to join him by
the Communist Party wa
Dissatisfaction with weak Weimar s providing something exciting for
mainly from the working them to be part of
government
classes living in cities women that the Nazis were the
Increased membership of extreme who wanted a party tha best party to save the nation
t
left and right wing parties could protect their job and their families.
s
and wages.

Now try this Remember that, until

s
the economic problem
Complete a table listing the reasons for the rise of the Nazis in one after 1929, the Na zis
column and the problems of the Weimar Republic in the other. had very little success
in elections.
12
 Hitler’s rise,
Had a look Nearly there Nailed it! 1919–33

Political developments in 1932

The actions of four key people resulted in Hitler becoming Chancellor. You will need to know who
these people were and the sequence of political events.
The four key players
Paul von Hindenburg – hero of the
First World War and President of
the Weimar Republic.
Heinrich Brüning – the Chancellor.
General Franz von Papen – the
politician and friend of Hindenburg.
Kurt von Schleicher – the
army general. Paul von Heinrich Kurt von General Franz
Hindenburg Brüning Schleicher von Papen
Hitler's road to power

Timeline April 1932

May 1932 Hindenburg stands for re-election as President.
Election with Hindenburg being re-elected as President. No one party has 50% of the vote.
Hitler increases his share of the vote. Chancellor Brüning bans the SA.
Chancellor Brüning's plan to buy up land from
landowners and use it to house the unemployed is
opposed by Hindenburg. Brüning resigns.
Brüning is replaced by von Papen – he is put forward by
von Schleicher.
Von Schleicher had been planning a coalition between
right-wing supporters and the Nazis.
Hitler agrees to the coalition if the ban on the SA July 1932
is removed. Further elections take place – there is widespread
The coalition takes power. fighting between the communists and the Nazis.
The Nazi share of the vote increases from 18% in 1930
to 38%.
November 1932 Hitler demands that he be made Chancellor –
Further election. Hindenburg refuses.
Von Schleicher warns Hindenburg that if
von Papen stays as Chancellor there will be civil war.
Von Papen goes.

December 1932
January 1933 Von Schleicher becomes Chancellor.
Von Schleicher does not have the support of the public
or the Nazis.
He persuades Hindenburg that he could be the head of
a military dictatorship.
Hindenburg refuses.
Von Papen persuades Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as
Chancellor to avoid von Schleicher’s military dictatorship.
He also suggests that he should become Vice-Chancellor
so that he can keep a check on Hitler.
Hitler becomes Chancellor.

Now try this

Causes that are more
1 Write down the reasons why Hitler was able to become Chancellor. important often have an
2 Number them in order of importance, from least to most important. effect on other causes
.

13
 Nazi
dictatorship,
1933–39 Had a look Nearly there Nailed it!

The Reichstag Fire and the

Enabling Act, 1933
Now the Nazis and Hitler were in power, they used every opportunity, legal and illegal, to remove
any opposition and secure a dictatorship.
The Reichstag Fire
1 A lone Dutch communist was executed
for starting the fire but Hitler seized the
opportunity to accuse the Communist Party
of a conspiracy against the government.
Four thousand communists were arrested.
2 It gave Hitler an excuse to issue a Decree
for the Protection of the People and the
State, giving him powers to imprison political
opponents and ban opposition newspapers.
3 He persuaded Hindenburg to call an election
in March 1933 to secure more Nazi seats.
4 The Nazi Party managed to secure two-thirds 27 February 1933.
The Reichstag Fire of
was arrested and killed
of the seats by using the emergency powers Marinus van der Lubbe
some people believed
to prevent the communists from taking up for starting the fire –
the fire deliberately.
their 81 seats. the Nazis had started
5 Hitler was now able to change the constitution.

The Enabling Act, 1933

Hitler proposed the Enabling Act in order to
destroy the power of the Reichstag and give
himself total power to make laws. It stated that: Hitler expected resistan
ce to the
the Reich Cabinet could pass new laws act and so used the SA
to intimidate
the opposition. The vo
te was won by
the laws could overrule the constitution the Nazis 444 to 94.
Hitler would propose the laws.
Result: Germany would no longer be a democracy.

The effect the Enabling Act had on trade unions and political parties
The Enabling Act allowed Hitler to
get rid of opposition to the Nazis.

Local Government: this Trade unions: these were Other political parties: in May
was closed down on replaced with the German 1933, the SDP and Communist
31 March 1933 and Labour Front. Many union Party offices and funds were
reorganised with Nazi officials were arrested on taken by the Nazis. In July 1933,
majorities. It was completely 2 May 1933. other political parties
abolished in January 1934. were banned.

Now try this

Summarise the events of the Reichstag Fire and what followed.

14
 Nazi
dictatorship,
Had a look Nearly there Nailed it! 1933–39

Hitler becomes Führer

Hitler continued to assert his authority and power. Key events occurred in 1934 which led to
Hitler declaring himself Führer.
Röhm, Hitler and the SA
Röhm did not like Hitler’s policies.

The leaders of the Schutzstaffel Why Röhm and Many of the SA were bitter because
(SS) wanted to reduce the they felt undervalued and angry
size of the SA in order to
the SA were a because many were still unemployed,
increase their own power. threat to Hitler but they were loyal to Röhm.

The SA was much bigger than the army and the

army feared Röhm wanted to replace them.
The ‘SS'
The SS was set up by
Hitler in 1925 to act
as his bodyguards. They
were a select group
run firstly by Schreck
and then by Himmler.
They appeared menacin
g in their black uniforms.

ler as he
SS troops guarding Hit
ee ch, Ma y 19 34.
makes a sp

The Night of the Long Knives

Death of Hindenburg
Hitler decided to rid himself of the threat
of Röhm and the SA. He did this by inviting President Hindenburg was the only person
Röhm and 100 SA leaders to a meeting in the senior to Hitler. In August 1934, he died.
town of Bad Wiessee on 30 June 1934. Within hours, a Law Concerning the Head of
It was a ruse – when the leaders arrived they State merged the offices of Chancellor and
were arrested by the SS, taken to Munich President to create a new office of Führer.
and shot.
After the arrests, von Papen’s staff were Führer means ‘leader’ an
arrested and his home surrounded. Von Papen d Hitler used propagand
to ensure that he looke a
was no longer able to watch what Hitler was d all powerful. The ‘Heil
Hitler!’ Nazi salute made
up to. Further killings occurred, including that people swear loyalty to
him personally, and he wa
of von Schleicher. s portrayed as having
superhuman, heroic qualit
ies.

t many people fully

It was thought that no Army oath of allegiance
le were being killed –
realised how many peop
the power of the SA The day Hindenburg died, Hitler announced
many were relieved that the army should swear an oath of allegiance
had been curtailed. to him, not to Germany.

Now try this

Write a paragraph to explain the steps Hitler took in 1934 to secure his power in Germany.

15
 Nazi
dictatorship,
1933–39 Had a look Nearly there Nailed it!

A police state
A police state is when a government uses the police to control everyone’s lives. The Nazis used
the SS, SD and the Gestapo to do this. Anyone the Nazis were suspicious of could disappear, at
any time. They could be killed or taken to concentration camps.
Policing
SS (Protection Squad)
Hitler set up his own security
• Set up by Heinrich Himmler in 1925.
forces as he realised not all • They were led by Himmler.
the existing German police • They wore black uniforms.
supported him. These forces • They controlled all Germany’s police and security forces.
were run by the Nazi Party, • They acted outside the law.
not by the government. • Members had to marry ‘racially pure’ wives.
• They ran the concentration camps.
Their main weapon was fear.

SD (Security Service) Gestapo (Secret State Police)

• Set up by Heinrich Himmler in 1931. • Set up by Hermann Goering in 1933.
• They were led by Reinhard Heydrich. • They were led by Reinhard Heydrich.
• They wore uniforms. • They wore plain clothes.
• Spied on all opponents of the Nazi Party, • They spied on people.
both at home and abroad. • Prosecuted people for speaking out against the Nazis.
• Sent people to concentration camps and used torture.

The legal system

Hitler controlled the legal system so that meant it was very difficult for anyone to oppose him.
He did this by controlling the judges.
• All judges had to belong to the National Socialist League for the Maintenance of the Law.
• All judges had to favour the Nazi Party in any decision.
He also did this by controlling the law courts.
• He abolished trial by jury – only judges were able to decide whether someone was innocent
or guilty.
• He set up a People’s Court to hear all treason cases. Trials were held in secret and judges
were hand-picked.

Concentration camps up to 1939

The first camp was built at Inmates were made up of:
Dachau in 1933 to house • political prisoners
the growing number of • undesirables, such
people being arrested. as prostitutes and
homosexuals, and
minority groups
like Jews.

Camps were built in isolated

areas so no one could see Inmates were treated
what was going on. very badly and forced
Many more were built. to do hard labour.
camp in 1933.
Dachau concentration

Now try this

Jot down three ways in which the SS was used to Any answer about how
the Nazis controlled
control the German people. Germany should featur
e the SS.

16
 Nazi
dictatorship,
Had a look Nearly there Nailed it! 1933–39

Policies towards the churches

The Nazis wanted total loyalty to Hitler and his beliefs. The churches were potentially a threat to
his power and therefore Hitler needed to control the churches’ influence.
Nazi vs Christian beliefs
Nazi beliefs Christian beliefs
Hitler as all-powerful leader. God as the ultimate authority.
Aryan racial superiority. Everyone equal in the eyes of God.
War, military discipline and violence important. Peace is what everyone should strive for.
Dominance of the strong over the weak. The strong should look after the weak.

The Catholic Church The Protestant churches

Hitler worried that the Catholic Church would Two Protestant churches were formed during
oppose him because Catholics: the 1930s.
• were loyal to the pope 1 The Reich Church:
• usually supported the Catholic Centre Party • was founded in 1933
• was made up of about 2000
• sent their children to Catholic schools and
Protestant churches
the Catholic youth organisation.
• supported the Nazis
The Concordat • was led by Ludwig Müller
• had some members that wore Nazi uniform
In July 1933, Hitler agreed with the pope in a and called themselves German Christians.
Concordat that Catholics were free to worship
and run their own schools in return for staying
out of politics. However, Hitler broke his
promise and:
• priests opposing the Nazis were harassed
and/or sent to concentration camps
• Catholic schools had to remove Christian
symbols and were later closed
• Catholic youth organisations were banned.
By 1937, the pope spoke out against Hitler in
his statement known as ‘With Burning Anxiety’,
which criticised Nazi policies. SA troops outside a
pro-Nazi church
service, July 1933.
solidate his
Hitler’s strategy was to try and con
influence and
power before openly attacking the 2 The Confessing Church:
y. His ultimate
power of the churches in German • was founded in 1934
with a Nazi-
goal was to replace the churches • was made up of about 6000
based religion. Protestant churches
• opposed the Nazis
• was led by Martin Niemöller
For more information on churche
s in the Nazi • was repressed by the Nazis.
period, see page 19.
möller see page 19.
For more on Martin Nie

Now try this

1 List three ways that the churches cooperated with the Nazis.
2 List three ways that the churches resisted the Nazis.

17
 Nazi
dictatorship,
1933–39 Had a look Nearly there Nailed it!

Propaganda and censorship

Hitler wanted to use propaganda (information to spread ideas) and censorship (government
control over what people see, hear and read) to create a generation of people loyal to the Nazi
regime and its values.
Goebbels played a Methods of censorship
central role as Nazi
t  Public burning of books by Jewish writers
Minister of Enlightenmen
wa s or others who disagreed with Nazi views.
and Propaganda. He
Radio producers, playwrights, filmmakers
a master at spreading
and newspapers were told what to say.
Nazi ideas in a subtle as
Newspapers opposing the Nazis
well as an unsubtle way.
were closed.
He essentially controlled
Only radios that couldn’t receive foreign
Joseph Goebbels - newspapers, the radio,
stations were made.
Reich Minister of book publishing, film and
Propaganda 1933–19
45 the arts.
Methods of propaganda
Hitler featured in much propaganda, either with a photograph or his name or title.

Huge rallies and milita

ry parades were
held, projecting a po
wer and strength The cinema showed
mainly
that would either make propaganda films, but
Germans proud nm en t film s tha t had
of their country or fill
them with terror entertai
Posters showing depending on their vie subtle Nazi messa ge s.
wpoint.
Nazi beliefs were
displayed everywhere.

Hitler made radio

speeches which
were played through The Nazis
loudspeakers in encouraged artists
factories, cafés and playwrights
and on the streets. to produce work
Entertainment highlighting The Olympic games he
Nazi ideas. ld in Berlin in 1936
programmes was the ideal event to
‘Degenerate’ art, promote Nazi
contained Nazi ideologies such as Ary
such as modern an superiority.
ideas and beliefs. It was also an opportu
art and jazz music, nity to present
Nazi Germany in a good
was banned. light. It was well
organised and a grand
spectacle.

The Reich Chamber of Culture

Set up in 1933 and overseen by Goebbels, this monitored all aspects of culture and made
sure they were consistent with Nazi ideas. The Nazis wanted grand and classical architecture,
particularly the work of Albert Speer; artists to be members of a Reich Chamber of Visual
Arts; to listen to traditional German composers like Beethoven and Bach.

Now try this

Write down one method of propaganda that targeted each of the following groups in Germany:
workers, women and young people.

18
 Nazi
dictatorship,
Had a look Nearly there Nailed it! 1933–39

Church opposition
The extent of support for the Nazi regime differed between groups and individuals. Although Hitler
tried to suppress opposition from the churches, there were still Catholic priests and Protestant
ministers and pastors who preached against Nazi policies.
Pastor Martin Niemöller
How pastors and priests opposed
One of the main church opponents of Hitler was
Martin Niemöller, but he didn't always oppose the Nazis
the Nazis. • 6000 Protestant pastors joined
Pro-Nazi Niemöller’s Confessing Church as a
Niemöller's
changing • Niemöller voted for them in the protest against Nazi policy, only 2000
attitude 1924 and 1933 elections as he remained in the German Christian Church.
to Hitler. felt the Weimar Republic needed a • About 800 pastors were arrested and
strong leader. sent to concentration camps.
• He didn’t oppose Nazi restrictions • 400 Catholic priests spoke out and were
on Jews. arrested and imprisoned in the Priests’
• He wanted to be let out of prison Block at Dachau concentration camp.
to fight on the side of the Nazis in
the Second World War.
Niemöller sermon
Against Nazis Niemöller preached this sermon to remind
• He didn’t like Nazi interference in church leaders of the importance of speaking
the Protestant Church. out against Nazi policies.
• He opposed the Nazi restrictions
on Jews becoming Christians. First they came for the Socialists,
and I did not speak out
• He set up the Confessing Church
in 1934. because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists,
Very against Nazis
and I did not speak out
• Niemöller was arrested many times because I was not a Trade Unionist.
for speaking out against the Nazis
Then they came for the Jews,
and Hitler between 1934 and 1937.
and I did not speak out
• He was sent to a concentration camp
because I was not a Jew.
in 1938 where he stayed until 1945.
Then they came for me
For more on the Confe and there was no one left to speak for me.
ssing Church,
see page 17.
Martin Niemöller

How much opposition was there?

Opposition to the Nazis by church leaders was
difficult because it was so dangerous to speak
out openly. However, attendance at Christian
churches remained high throughout the period, in
spite of the Nazis’ attempt to curtail the churches.

preaching
Pastor Martin Niemöller

Now try this

Why couldn’t Hitler gain complete control of the churches?

19
 Nazi
dictatorship,
1933–39 Had a look Nearly there Nailed it!

Youth opposition
Another group that opposed the Nazis was the young. Some young people set up secret groups
or refused to conform to what the Nazis wanted from them.

The Edelweiss Pirates

They sang ‘Smash the Hitler Youth in The Nazis were not threatened
twain, our song is freedom, love and life’. by their activities.
They were made up
mainly of boys who
By 1939 they had
copied an American
2000 members.
style of clothing
(checked shirts and
white socks).

They went on
hikes and camping
They were formed in
expeditions in the
the late 1930s,
countryside to
possibly as a
get away from
consequence of
Nazi restrictions.
Nazi policies enforcing
Hitler Youth membership.

The Alpine flower, the They taunted the

edelweiss, was used Hitler Youth.
Pirates in 1938.
as their symbol. A group of Edelweiss

They read and listened to banned

They were mainly based in
music and literature and wrote
working-class districts of
anti-Nazi graffiti.
large cities.
For more on the Hitler
Youth, see page 22.

The Swing Youth

Another group of young people similar to the Edelweiss Pirates was the Swing Youth. Like the Pirates,
they chose not to conform to Nazi ideas. They liked wearing American clothes. They listened to
American music and watched American films. They gathered to drink alcohol, smoke and dance.
They organised illegal dances attended by thousands. Unlike the Pirates they were largely made up
of children from wealthy families with the money to buy records and own record players.

How effective was youth opposition up to 1939?

It was limited to:
• writing anti-Nazi graffiti
• telling anti-Nazi jokes
• attacking the Hitler Youth
A 1930s
• listening to banned music portable
• wearing American-style clothing. gramophone on
which records
The motives of the youth opposition groups were cultural would have
rather than political and their numbers were limited. been played.

Now try this

List three ways that young people resisted the Nazis.

20