Historical Debate:

  1. In Germany, as elsewhere in Europe, war and the Depression created dictatorship
  2. Hitler's rise was an emotional response to a crisis

I believe the first view is the best supported, due to Germany being constantly exposed to economic troubles after WWI. The Weimar Republic, a government that was imposed on Germany afterwards, exasperated the situation. This combination led to the rise of dictatorship across Europe, including Hitler.


Thesis:
Hitler's rise to power was due to the economic troubles of Germany and the weakness of the republic, allowing the Nazi party to capitalize and spread their marketing and propaganda over the country.

Nazi Marketing and Propaganda

Hitler was a genuine World War one hero who won the Iron Cross twice for bravery

The failure of the Munich Beer Hall Putsch forced Hitler to rethink his strategy

Hitler described as ‘Unsere Letzte Hoffnung’ (‘Our Last Hope’)

The ‘Hitler over Germany’ (1932) campaign allowed Hitler to campaign in many cities in the same day

The 24- Point programme had a number of appealing ideas (confiscation of war profits; free education for all

Goebbels was a propaganda genius

Hitler adopted the slogan ‘Work, Freedom, Bread’

Hitler offered ‘Arbeit, Freiheit Brot’ (Work, Freedom, Bread) to the working classes

Hitler was a fantastic charismatic orator who promised to restore German honor and overthrow Versailles

Hitler appealed to farmers, saying their ‘Blood and Soil’ (Blut and Buden) was the bedrock of Germany

Hitler used his time in prison to write the bible of the Nazi Party: “Mein Kampf”

The “Nazi” brand combined the appeal of both Nationalism and Socialism

Weakness of the Republic

By Summer 1932, Hitler was leader of the largest party in the Reichstag (230 seats)

The ‘Fuhrer principle’ established that Germany needed one clear leader to lead it to prosperity

The decision of Hindenburg and von Papen to appoint Hitler was called the ‘Backstairs Intrigue’

Many rich people gave valuable donations to the Nazi party

The Nazi party purchased a plan to help Hitler’s election campaigns

Article 48 was abused by Hindenburg during the Depression to force unpopular chancellors upon Germany

Hitler used his treason trial in 1924 to promote his ideas widely

By 1932, there were 30 parties in parliament. Hitler promised to sweep them all away.

The Freikorps and Spartakist rebellions had very early on exposed the weaknesses of the Republic

In 1930, Hitler ran for election as a president, and came a close second to Hindenburg

Proportional Representation led to a series of weak and indecisive coalition governments

The ‘Reichstag Principle’ established that the Nazis would gain power through elections, not insurrection

Whilst in jail in 1924, Hitler developed the ‘Reichstag Principle’ and the ‘Fuhrer Principle’

Hitler was appointed Chancellor in 1933 in a coalition government with von Papen as Vice Chancellor

The Weimar politicians were widely despised for being ‘November Criminals’ who ‘stabbed Germany in the back’

Many Weimar artists such as George Grosz were highly critical of the Republic (“Ebert: The Champagne Socialist”)

Hindenburg was persuaded that Hitler needed to be appointed Chancellor to prevent any further unrest

Germany's Economic Troubles

Many middle class people supported Hitler because he promised to contain communism

At the time of his appointment, Hitler's support was starting to decline as the depression faded.

Hitler stated in his book ‘Mein Kampf’ that ‘we must hold our noses and enter the Reichstag’

Working-class people bitterly saw their savings wiped out during the hyperinflation crisis

The Dawes Plan of 1924 stabilised the German economy in the short term but left it dependent on American loans

By 1932, one quarter of all Germans were unemployed due to the devestating impact of the Depression

Hindenburg, fearing another hyperinflation crisis, froze unemployment during the Depression

The ruhr invasion and the resulting hyperinflation crisis of 1923 damaged the reputation of the Republic

Stressman said in 1925 that, “Germany is dancing on a volcano”

In 1925 Ebert died; in 1929 Stressman died. This robbed Weimar of its two most talented politicians

Goering was a WW1 fighter ace who had fought with the Red Baron

Himmler established the Hitler Youth and SS

Many former soldiers joined the SA, the Nazi private army

The SA got involved with street fights against the communists

By 1932 Hindenburg was 84 years old and in declining health