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Dictators came to power because previous governments failed to

solve the problems facing their countries. Do you agree with this
statement? Argue your case in relation to the dictator you have
studied.
Dictators often rise to power because of previous governments have failed to solve
problems facing their nation. In this case Hitler rose up to power after the Weimar
Government failed to solve the economic failure of Germany because of the Great
Depression. Hitler was a very tactical man politician and manipulated and used
propaganda to sway the views of the German working class.
Paragraph 1: Great depression and how the Weimar Government responded and
why. Bruening, number of unemployed, voting percentage over 1929 1934 for
Weimar democratic parties.
The Great Depression had a large contribution towards the downfall of the Weimar
Government and Hitlers rise to absolute dictator power. The Weimar government
had started to gain economic stability by receiving loans from the United States
until the market crashed, Millions of working class Germans were unemployed
causing dislike towards the Weimar. With Germany in economic failure the Brueining
brought in policies that were unpopular throughout the working class. He reduced
unemployment benefits and raising taxes. In 1928 there was 1,400,000 unemployed
which peaked in 1932 at 5,600,000. (Swinton, 1995) The period of the depression
saw a decline in seats for the Social Democrats who declined from 153 seats in
1928 to 120 seats in 1933. Furthermore, the Nazi party managed to grow their seats
won from 12 in 1928 to 288 seats in 1933. The Nazis made an advance in seats won
and became the biggest party and held the majority of votes in German politics.
(Lacey & Shephard, 1997) The Great Depression had weakened the Weimar
Government and crushed Germanys economy beyond repair. With the failing
economy the working class turned their heads to a new leader to pull them out of
this.
Paragraph 2: How Hitler used the economic situation to his advantage and in what
ways did he accomplish this. (Rallies, scapegoats, promises, discrediting
communists 1933) increasing support of middle class and eventually workiig class
votes increasing.
Hitler used the economic failure of the Weimar government as leverage to acquiring
his power of Germany. Hitler used rallies to spread the goals of the Nazi party for
Germany. The Nazi Party used propaganda to gain support. The Nazis held mass
rallies which gained a lot of support, they also placed posters in well-known to
spread Nazi messages. The Nazi party blamed the Treaty of Versailles for Germanys
problems. Hitler also had a scapegoat; the Jews. He blamed them for association
with the communists and contributed to unemployment. Hitler also made promises
to the working class Germans that he would be able to give jobs to the unemployed

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and save them from economic failure. (Wright & Waugh, 2014) Hitler also discredit
the communist party to gain support for himself. The Nazis started riots and
violence at any communist meeting and used the Storm Troopers to crush
communists. Hitler used these riots to show the Nazis fight against communism
(Lacey & Shephard, 1997)
Paragraph 3: The decreases of von Papen, Von Schleicher and Hindenburg. Hitler
becomes chancellor we can control him. The enabling act suspends parliament.
Hindenburgs de ath Hitler head of state, Fuhrer and presidency discarded.
A contributing factor to Hitler coming to power was Von Papen, Con Schleicher and
Hindenburgs power struggle. Hindenburg was the president of Germany and had the
power to pass or deny any decree discussed in the Reichstag. Initially Hitler wanted
Hinderburg to make him chancellor but was denied each time as Hitler was seen as
a threat and Hindenburg could not have a threat to his leadership in a powerful
political role, chancellor. On the 17th of November 1932 Von Papen resigned as
chancellor. Von Schleicher was made chancellor and tried to form a cross front
brining both left and right wings together. To regain his power, in early January 1933
Von Papen and Hitler made an agreement that if Hitler was sworn in a chancellor
than Von Papen would be named vice-chancellor. Von Papen met with President
Hindenburg and convinced him to make Hitler the chancellor of Germany, Von
Papen was able to convince Hindenburg by saying we can control him. (Wright &
Waugh, 2014, p. 54) On the 30th of January 1933 Adolf Hitler was made the
Chancellor of Germany. Hitler was not finished and wanted absolute power of
Gemany. He required two thirds of seats in order to change constitutions. The Nazi
party had 44.9% of votes but needed more. On the 24 th of March Hitler deceitful
means passed the Enabling Bill, which gave him complete governmental powers for
the next 4 years. (Lacey & Shephard, 1997, p. 68) This saw an end to the Weimar
Government and the end to a democratic rule of Germany. By the end of 1933 the
Nazi party held 95.2% of electoral votes. (Wright & Waugh, 2014)
Include: statistics, avoid generalisations of German people instead use middle or
working class
It is not a simple answer of the Weimar Government, not addressing the needs of
those suffering during the years of the great depression.

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