Rise of HitlerRise of HitlerNick EvansNick Evans

Hitler in IB HistoryHitler in IB History

Paper 2: Paper 2: Rise and Rule of Single Rise and Rule of Single Party Party StatesStates

Paper 3:Paper 3: Option 3: Europe and the Option 3: Europe and the Middle EastMiddle East

Paper 2: Weimar and Paper 2: Weimar and HitlerHitler

Origin and Origin and nature of nature of authoritarian authoritarian and single party and single party statesstates

Conditions that Conditions that produced Hitlerproduced Hitler

Emergence of Hitler: Emergence of Hitler: aims, ideology, aims, ideology, supportsupport

Totalitarianism: the Totalitarianism: the aim and the extent to aim and the extent to which this was which this was achievedachieved

Establishment of Establishment of authoritarian authoritarian and single party and single party statesstates

Methods: force, Methods: force, legallegal

Forms of Forms of government, government, ideologyideology

Nature, extent and Nature, extent and treatment of treatment of oppositionopposition

Domestic Domestic policies and policies and impactimpact

Structure and Structure and organisation of organisation of government and government and administrationadministration

Political, economic, Political, economic, social and religious social and religious policiespolicies

Role of education, Role of education, the arts, media, the arts, media, propagandapropaganda

Status of women, Status of women, treatment of treatment of religious groups and religious groups and minoritiesminorities

Sample Essay QuestionsSample Essay Questions Compare and contrast the conditions Compare and contrast the conditions

which helped the rise to power of two which helped the rise to power of two right wing leaders of single party statesright wing leaders of single party states

““Strong economic policies are the key Strong economic policies are the key reason for a single party state reason for a single party state maintaining power.” With reference to maintaining power.” With reference to either Hitler or Castro, to what extent either Hitler or Castro, to what extent do you agree with the statement?do you agree with the statement?

Evaluate the contributions to the rise to Evaluate the contributions to the rise to power of Hitler of power of Hitler of eacheach of the following: of the following: National Socialist ideology; the use of National Socialist ideology; the use of force; economic crisesforce; economic crises

In what ways, and to what extent, was In what ways, and to what extent, was propaganda important in the rise, and propaganda important in the rise, and rule, of Hitler?rule, of Hitler?

Discuss a) the ideology of, and b) the Discuss a) the ideology of, and b) the support for, one right wing ruler of a support for, one right wing ruler of a single party state.single party state.

Paper 3: Weimar and Paper 3: Weimar and HitlerHitler

Interwar Years: Interwar Years: conflict and conflict and cooperation cooperation 1919 - 19391919 - 1939

Germany 1919 – Germany 1919 – 1933: political, 1933: political, constitutional, constitutional, economic, financial economic, financial and social problemsand social problems

The impact of the The impact of the Great Depression Great Depression (case study of one (case study of one country in Europe)country in Europe)

Hitler’s domestic Hitler’s domestic and foreign policy and foreign policy (1933 – 1939)(1933 – 1939)

Sample Essay QuestionsSample Essay Questions Evaluate the success of Hitler’s Evaluate the success of Hitler’s

domestic policies between 1933 and domestic policies between 1933 and 1939.1939.

Assess the importance of Assess the importance of indoctrination and propaganda in indoctrination and propaganda in maintaining control in Germany under maintaining control in Germany under the Third Reich between 1933 and the Third Reich between 1933 and 1939.1939.

Why was the Weimar Republic so Why was the Weimar Republic so short lived?short lived?

Analyse the reasons for the collapse Analyse the reasons for the collapse of the Weimar Republic and the of the Weimar Republic and the establishment of a Nazi dictatorship establishment of a Nazi dictatorship in the period 1929 to 1934.in the period 1929 to 1934.

Why the Weimar Why the Weimar Republic failed?Republic failed?

OriginsOrigins

Structure of the RepublicStructure of the Republic

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles

Opposition from the startOpposition from the start

Economic problemsEconomic problems

OriginsOrigins

Political structure of the Second Political structure of the Second ReichReich

Economic and social problemsEconomic and social problems

Nationalism and foreign policyNationalism and foreign policy

The Great WarThe Great War

Defeat on the battlefield BUT no widespread Defeat on the battlefield BUT no widespread retreat and no fighting on German soil retreat and no fighting on German soil

Deprivation at home due to naval blockadeDeprivation at home due to naval blockade

General Ludendorff: General Ludendorff: “I have advised His “I have advised His Majesty to bring those groups into Majesty to bring those groups into government whom we have in the main to government whom we have in the main to thank for the fact that we are in this mess…thank for the fact that we are in this mess…Let them conclude the peace that has to be Let them conclude the peace that has to be negotiated. Let them eat the broth they negotiated. Let them eat the broth they have prepared for us.”have prepared for us.”

Economic deprivation and war Economic deprivation and war weariness caused growing unrestweariness caused growing unrest

REVOLUTION!REVOLUTION!

Kaiser overthrown and Republic Kaiser overthrown and Republic declared – two different republics declared – two different republics from two different balconies!from two different balconies!

Two days later – Armistice signedTwo days later – Armistice signed

Republic born in defeat – stab in the back!Republic born in defeat – stab in the back!

““Our repeated requests for strict discipline Our repeated requests for strict discipline and strict laws were never met. Thus our and strict laws were never met. Thus our operations were bound to fail and the operations were bound to fail and the collapse had come: the revolution was only collapse had come: the revolution was only the last straw. An English General quite the last straw. An English General quite rightly said ‘The German army was stabbed rightly said ‘The German army was stabbed in the back’. No blame was to be attached in the back’. No blame was to be attached to the sound core of the army…It is to the sound core of the army…It is perfectly clear on whom the blame rests.”perfectly clear on whom the blame rests.”

General Hindenburg General Hindenburg

““The guilty consciences of those laden The guilty consciences of those laden with guilt later invented the ‘stab in with guilt later invented the ‘stab in the back’. The collapse was not the the back’. The collapse was not the result of revolution; it was the other result of revolution; it was the other way about; without revolution, way about; without revolution, without the collapse, the revolution without the collapse, the revolution that broke out six weeks later would that broke out six weeks later would probably have not occurred.”probably have not occurred.”

Phillip ScheidemannPhillip ScheidemannSocialist Leader and future chancellor Socialist Leader and future chancellor

No tradition of democracy in No tradition of democracy in GermanyGermany

Sources of power in Germany Sources of power in Germany unchanged from before the warunchanged from before the war

Republic born in defeat and Republic born in defeat and revolution - given responsibility for revolution - given responsibility for defeat and no legitimacy as a result defeat and no legitimacy as a result of coming to power in revolutionof coming to power in revolution

““There is still dispute amongst historians as to There is still dispute amongst historians as to whether there was a genuine revolution in whether there was a genuine revolution in November, 1918. In view of the fact that November, 1918. In view of the fact that there was so little real change…it is more there was so little real change…it is more accurate to talk of a revolution that ran away accurate to talk of a revolution that ran away with the sand, rather than the genuine article. with the sand, rather than the genuine article. The republic that emerged contained at once The republic that emerged contained at once too much and too little of the old Germany: too much and too little of the old Germany: powerful institutional centres of the old ruling powerful institutional centres of the old ruling class remained intact and were not subject to class remained intact and were not subject to democratic control while many Germans saw democratic control while many Germans saw the Republic as originating in a revolution the Republic as originating in a revolution and therefore illegitimate.”and therefore illegitimate.”

M. HughesM. Hughes

Structure of Weimar Structure of Weimar Republic Republic

Weimar Constitution - basis for Weimar Constitution - basis for German democracyGerman democracy

The PresidentThe President: elected every 7 years, : elected every 7 years, appoints/dismisses Chancellor, could appoints/dismisses Chancellor, could dissolve the Reichstag, commanded the dissolve the Reichstag, commanded the armyarmy

Article 48 – allowed for rule by Article 48 – allowed for rule by emergency decreeemergency decree

The Chancellor:The Chancellor: had to have the had to have the confidence of the Reichstag; was confidence of the Reichstag; was responsible for policy; appointed by responsible for policy; appointed by the Presidentthe President

The Reichstag: The Reichstag: voted for every 4 voted for every 4 years; universal suffrage over 20; years; universal suffrage over 20; deputies elected using proportional deputies elected using proportional representationrepresentation

Fundamental Rights and duties Fundamental Rights and duties of Germans: of Germans: liberal rights such as liberal rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, assembly, freedom of religion, welfare state and right to nationalize welfare state and right to nationalize industries, equality before the law industries, equality before the law all enshrined in the Constitution.all enshrined in the Constitution.

So what was the problem?So what was the problem?

Article 48:Article 48: undermined power of undermined power of Reichstag and Fundamental Rights Reichstag and Fundamental Rights

Proportional Representation: Proportional Representation: very very democratic but it enabled small parties democratic but it enabled small parties representation AND resulted in coalition representation AND resulted in coalition governmentgovernment

Key structures unchanged: Key structures unchanged: military military hostile, power of landed elites hostile, power of landed elites unchallenged, bureaucracy and judiciary unchallenged, bureaucracy and judiciary unreconciled to new governmentunreconciled to new government

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles Hated by Germans because:Hated by Germans because:

a)a) It was a It was a Diktat Diktat - a dictated peace - a dictated peaceb)b) Germany lost land – 13% of its pre war Germany lost land – 13% of its pre war

borders, and 10% of its populationborders, and 10% of its populationc)c) Germany was disarmed – no air force, no Germany was disarmed – no air force, no

tanks, only 100,000 strong army and small tanks, only 100,000 strong army and small navynavy

d)d) Germany forced to take guilt for warGermany forced to take guilt for ware)e) Germany forced to pay reparationsGermany forced to pay reparations

It was the Weimar It was the Weimar Republic politicians Republic politicians

who signed itwho signed it

OppositionOpposition From the Left: Sparticist Uprising, From the Left: Sparticist Uprising,

1919 – government made deal with 1919 – government made deal with Army to put uprising down – also Army to put uprising down – also used the Freikorps – militia of right used the Freikorps – militia of right wing ex soldierswing ex soldiers

From the Right: the Kapp Putsch From the Right: the Kapp Putsch and series of assassinationsand series of assassinations

Main Pro Main Pro Weimar Weimar PartiesParties

Jan 1919 Jan 1919 %%

June 1920 %June 1920 %

SPDSPD(Social (Social

Democrat Party)Democrat Party)

3838 2121

DDPDDP(German (German

Democratic Democratic PartyParty

1919 88

ZZ(Centre Party)(Centre Party)

2020 1818

Main Anti Main Anti Weimar PartiesWeimar Parties

Jan Jan 1919 %1919 %

June 1920 %June 1920 %

USPD/KPDUSPD/KPD(Independent (Independent

Social Democratic Social Democratic Party/ Communist Party/ Communist

Party)Party)

88 1919

DVPDVP(German People’s (German People’s

Party)Party)

44 1414

DNVPDNVP(German National (German National

People’s Party)People’s Party)

1010 1515

Economic ProblemsEconomic Problems

Inflation – caused by reparations and Inflation – caused by reparations and Ruhr – 1923 Ruhr – 1923

Marks to the $Marks to the $19141914 4.24.219181918 8.98.919201920 39.539.519211921 76.776.71922 January1922 January 191.8191.81922 July1922 July 493.2493.21923 January1923 January 17,79217,7921923 July1923 July 353, 412353, 4121923 4 August1923 4 August 620,455620,4551923 Sept1923 Sept 98,860,00098,860,0001923 October1923 October 260,208,000260,208,0001923 November1923 November 200,000,000,000200,000,000,000

Winners: those who had debt, those Winners: those who had debt, those who had access to cheap credit, who had access to cheap credit, owners of foreign exchangeowners of foreign exchange

Losers: people with savings, especially Losers: people with savings, especially pensioners and the lower middle class pensioners and the lower middle class – workers, whose wage increases did – workers, whose wage increases did not keep pace with price hikesnot keep pace with price hikes

Resulted in an attempt to take power Resulted in an attempt to take power in Munich by the NSDAPin Munich by the NSDAP

The NSDAPThe NSDAP National Socialist German Workers National Socialist German Workers

Party also known as theParty also known as the

Nazi PartyNazi Party

Started as German Workers Party Started as German Workers Party

Hitler joins in 1919 – through Hitler joins in 1919 – through oratory, becomes central to party, oratory, becomes central to party, renamed NSDAPrenamed NSDAP

Writes 25 Point program in 1920Writes 25 Point program in 1920

By 1923, Nazi Party had 70,000 By 1923, Nazi Party had 70,000 members and the members and the Sturm AbteilungSturm Abteilung (SA) 15,000 members(SA) 15,000 members

BUTBUT

Putsch was a failure – Hitler sent to Putsch was a failure – Hitler sent to jailjail

Several important results:Several important results:

a)a) Turned Hitler from obscure provincial radical Turned Hitler from obscure provincial radical into national figureinto national figure

b)b) Taught Hitler that power would not be gained Taught Hitler that power would not be gained by force BUT by use of the Constitutionby force BUT by use of the Constitution

c)c) Made it clear to Hitler that he needed the Made it clear to Hitler that he needed the ArmyArmy

d)d) Hitler used his time in jail to write Hitler used his time in jail to write Mein Mein KampfKampf – to hone his – to hone his weltanschauungweltanschauung – his – his world viewworld view

Hitler’s Hitler’s WeltanschauungWeltanschauung Nationalism:Nationalism: Hitler believed that Germany Hitler believed that Germany

and the German people had lost their and the German people had lost their position of greatness – was determined to position of greatness – was determined to regain it – thought that Germany were regain it – thought that Germany were destined to create a greater Germanydestined to create a greater Germany

Race: Race: he believed that the Aryan race was he believed that the Aryan race was dominant race, the creative force in human dominant race, the creative force in human history – the Jews were the absolute history – the Jews were the absolute contrast, an represented a threat to the contrast, an represented a threat to the Aryan race’s purityAryan race’s purity

Social Darwinism:Social Darwinism: he believed in he believed in eternal struggle – that the weak would be eternal struggle – that the weak would be dominated by the strong, that superior dominated by the strong, that superior races would dominate weaker onesraces would dominate weaker ones

Democracy and the State:Democracy and the State: he had he had contempt for parliamentary democracy – contempt for parliamentary democracy – personal freedom, equality, rights of the personal freedom, equality, rights of the individual played no part in Hitler’s world individual played no part in Hitler’s world view – instead, the individual could only view – instead, the individual could only find fulfilment in submitting to the will of find fulfilment in submitting to the will of the nation.the nation.

FuhrerprinzipFuhrerprinzip: : Germany had to find the Germany had to find the will to renew, and this would take a will to renew, and this would take a strong leader who would emerge strong leader who would emerge unrestrained by democracy and unrestrained by democracy and parliament and who would lead the nation parliament and who would lead the nation to glory – Germany needed a leader who to glory – Germany needed a leader who ruled absolutely and without restraintruled absolutely and without restraint

Propaganda and control: Propaganda and control: he believed he believed propaganda essential to effective propaganda essential to effective leadership – if you repeat your message leadership – if you repeat your message enough with conviction, it will be believedenough with conviction, it will be believed

LebensraumLebensraum: : was the destiny of was the destiny of Germany to carve out a European Germany to carve out a European empire that would dominate Europe empire that would dominate Europe – as the dominant race, they would – as the dominant race, they would need “living space” and would get in need “living space” and would get in in the East – in the East – untermenschenuntermenschen who who lived there would become German lived there would become German slaves – this living space would come slaves – this living space would come from the Soviet Unionfrom the Soviet Union

Economic Recovery 1924 - Economic Recovery 1924 - 19281928

The RentenmarkThe Rentenmark

The Dawes PlanThe Dawes Plan

Some indications of prosperity – Some indications of prosperity – economic growth up, loans coming economic growth up, loans coming in from US gave prosperity to some, in from US gave prosperity to some, brief drop in unemployment, brief drop in unemployment, standard of living improvedstandard of living improved

BUTBUT

Unemployment persistently high, welfare Unemployment persistently high, welfare state cost large sums of money, balance of state cost large sums of money, balance of payments problem, loans that were short payments problem, loans that were short term invested long term or to pay term invested long term or to pay reparations, agriculture prices remained lowreparations, agriculture prices remained low

““Germany is dancing on a volcano. If the short Germany is dancing on a volcano. If the short term credits are called in, a large section of term credits are called in, a large section of our economy would collapse.”our economy would collapse.”

Gustav StresemannGustav Stresemann19281928

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression Depression began in 1928 – loans Depression began in 1928 – loans

dried up dried up

Interest rates rose to counteract this Interest rates rose to counteract this – worsened problem as business – worsened problem as business began to closebegan to close

Unemployment up!Unemployment up!

Government responseGovernment response Deflationary – sought to cut Deflationary – sought to cut

expenditure and balance budgetexpenditure and balance budget

INCREASED IMPACT OF THE INCREASED IMPACT OF THE DEPRESSIONDEPRESSION

Caused political problems – government Caused political problems – government was coalition – disagreement over was coalition – disagreement over welfare payments – Socialists wanted welfare payments – Socialists wanted them and wanted a tax increase – other them and wanted a tax increase – other parties opposed this – Muller parties opposed this – Muller government falls and is replaced by government falls and is replaced by BruningBruning

Bruning continued deflationary policies Bruning continued deflationary policies BUTBUT

Reichstag refused to pass themReichstag refused to pass them

Article 48 used – President Article 48 used – President Hindenburg passed the budget by Hindenburg passed the budget by decreedecree

Authority taken away from elected Authority taken away from elected parliament and placed in hands of parliament and placed in hands of PresidentPresident

Reichstag passed vote of no Reichstag passed vote of no confidence – Bruning called an confidence – Bruning called an electionelection

DISASTERDISASTER

Extremist parties big winners!Extremist parties big winners!

Collapse of WeimarCollapse of Weimar

Presidential Elections, 1932Presidential Elections, 1932

May 1932: May 1932: Bruning betrayed – von Bruning betrayed – von Papen installedPapen installed

July, 1932:July, 1932: electionselections

August, 1932: August, 1932: Hitler refused Hitler refused powerpower

November, 1932:November, 1932: ElectionsElections

Nazi Party seats down! – 230 to 196Nazi Party seats down! – 230 to 196

Communist Party seats up! – 89 to Communist Party seats up! – 89 to 100100

December, 1932:December, 1932: von Papen von Papen removed removed and von and von Schliecher Schliecher appointedappointed

January, 1933:January, 1933: von Papen makes von Papen makes deal deal with Hitler with Hitler and and persuades persuades Hindenburg Hindenburg to appoint to appoint coalition with coalition with Hitler Hitler as Chancelloras Chancellor

Hitler has made it!Hitler has made it!

Who supported the NazisWho supported the Nazis Contentious questionContentious question

Traditional view: petty bourgeoisie Traditional view: petty bourgeoisie (shop keepers, white collar workers) (shop keepers, white collar workers)

More recent view: support broader than More recent view: support broader than thought before – German workers more thought before – German workers more attracted and support came from a attracted and support came from a broader cross section of German societybroader cross section of German society

Jurgen Falter called the Nazi Party a Jurgen Falter called the Nazi Party a “people’s party of protest with a “people’s party of protest with a middle class bulge”middle class bulge”

Why did Hitler take Why did Hitler take power?power?

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles

Great DepressionGreat Depression

Weaknesses of WeimarWeaknesses of Weimar

““No single problem ‘caused’ the No single problem ‘caused’ the downfall of the Weimar Republic… downfall of the Weimar Republic… the integration of … problems, many the integration of … problems, many of which predated the Republic, of which predated the Republic, progressively weakened the German progressively weakened the German state.” state.”

J. HidenJ. Hiden

HistoriographyHistoriography Product of German history: Product of German history: AJP TaylorAJP Taylor

Crisis of capitalism:Crisis of capitalism: Marxist historians Marxist historians

Product of European History: Product of European History: Ritter, Ritter, BlackbournBlackbourn

Chance events and bad luck: Chance events and bad luck: KershawKershaw

From Government to From Government to DictatorshipDictatorship

BibliographyBibliography J.Hite and C. Hinton: J.Hite and C. Hinton: Weimar and Nazi Weimar and Nazi

GermanyGermany, Hodder Education, London, , Hodder Education, London, 20002000

K. J. Mason: K. J. Mason: Republic to Reich: A Republic to Reich: A History of Germany, 1918 – 1945, History of Germany, 1918 – 1945, Mc Mc Graw Hill, 2003 (2Graw Hill, 2003 (2ndnd ed) ed)

R. Evans, R. Evans, The Coming of the Third The Coming of the Third ReichReich, Penguin, London, 2004, Penguin, London, 2004

S. Waugh, S. Waugh, Essential Modern World Essential Modern World HistoryHistory, Nelson Thornes, 2001, Nelson Thornes, 2001