PLAN

Hitler offered to repudiate the effects of Versailles and gain back lost German territory. Hitler won
the Iron Cross medal in WW1, which compensated for his lack of education and success in life. Hitler
never got over Germany’s loss of WW1, campaigned to rectify that defeat, and many supported his
efforts to regain German strength. ‘’I will make Germany great’’

"Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit." "Unity and Justice and Freedom."
Promised to make Germany great again.
Hitler used all of this to his advantage; built up his party; and after winning the elections; formed the
government. He persuaded von Hindenburg; the President to issue an emergency decree after a
mysterious Reichstag(German parliament) fire; and within a year became the supreme leader of the
Third Reich.

1. Humiliation.

2. Versailles Treaty.

3. Dowes and Young Plan

Argument

1. Hitler as an individual
- Manipulative.

2. Hitler’s Nazi Philosophy

- Popular
-
3. Nazi Propaganda
-Symbolism. Swastika. ‘
-films

Won the hearts and mind of people.

Conclusion.

Hitler making use of the people grievances of their sufferings had contributed to the. However, the main
reason to why Hitler raised to power is still considered inclusive. Other reasons such as his manipulative
trait, his popularity and usage of propaganda should also be taken into account for the reason to why
Hitler gained power.
‘’The most important reason why Hitler gained power was the impact of World War 1.’’
Assess the claim about Germany up to 1934.

The horrendous impact of World War 1 had brought to several social and economic effects to
Germany This had resulted sufferings among the German population who blamed their Kaiser,
William II who had made unwise decisions, including the main reason for their suffering;
initiating World War 1. Hitler had made use of the These reasons have indirectly caused the
Rise of Hitler’s Popularity and resulted in him gaining power. This essay aims to assess the
impact of World War 1 as the most important reason why Hitler gained power.
The drastic loss and defeat of Germany during World War 1 was seen as one of the vital reason
to why Hitler gained power. Rather than a honourable defeat, the Germans have considered
their loss in World War 1 as humiliating as the reasons for their loss was avoidable. Poor
military strategy was considered as one of the reasons for their defeat. The activation of
Schlieffen Plan was undeniably seen as a mistake, where their plan to invade Belgium had
resulted the involvement of British and France to join the war campaign by declaring war against
Germany. The involvement of Britain has also resulted in several internal crisis that indirectly
caused the sufferings of the German population, including the inflation and economic sanction
and the crisis on Germany’s political situation, where the Kaiser was losing his popularity. Hitler
took this as an opportunity to win the hearts and mind of the people and campaigned to rectify
that defeat, and many supported his efforts to regain German strength. Hence, Hitler was able
to gain his power due to the impact of World War 1.
The defeat of Germany during World War 1 had also resulted in the signing of the Versailles
settlement, and had caused further sufferings for the German Population. The signing of the
War Guilt Clause, Article 231 in 1919, states that Germany was to be responsible for the
outbreak of World War and was forced to pay a lump sum of 600 million as war repression. The
large amount of war repression had put Germany into an ‘economic stand still’. One evidence of
Germany’s declining economy was the unstable currency value, where 1 USD was equivalent to
4 billion marks. Hitler had made us of the people’s grievance due to the effect of the Versailles
settlement and has promised the abolishment of Versailles Treaty if he were to rule Germany,
and had earned massive support from the people. Hence, the massive support earned from the
Germans had indirectly resulted Hitler to gain power.
The signing of the Versailles treaty after the loss of Germany during World War 1 had led to the
introduction of Dawes and Young Plan. To reduce the burden and suffering of the German
population, Chancellor of Weimar Republic, Gustav Stresemann introduced the Dawes and
Young Plan to recover Germany’s failing economy. However, the heavy reliance on foreign
loans from USA as stated in the Dawes and Young Plan has brought severe drawbacks to
Germany. This can be seen during the Great Depression in 1929 where there was a huge drop
in production and a decline in export trade, leading to unemployment. In 1929, rate of
unemployment was 2 million and by 1932, 6 million people in Germany were unemployed. The
people blamed Weimar Republic for the cause of their sufferings and resorted to Hitler as their
only hoped. Hitler took this opportunity and promised to abolish democratic view, including the
Weimar republic and to be replaced by Nazi. Hence, he was able to gain in power.
However, other reasons besides the impact of World War 1 should also be taken into account
for Hitler’s gain in power. The well-known Nazi Philosophy was seen as one of the important
element for Hitler to gain power. Part of the contents include the introduction of the Aryans
(Germans) as the master race and the Non-Aryans as the slaves, exercising the self-sufficient
economy and the extermination of Jews. The well-written content of the philosophy had
attracted Hitler’s large supporters in a short period of time where by 1922, there were already
60,000 members of the Nazi Party. Hence, Hitler was able to gain in power due to the rising
popularity of his Nazi Philosophy.
Usage of propaganda to transmit Nazi ideology was also seen as a key element to why Hitler
was able to gain in power. It was conducted under two important institutions namely the Ministry
of Education and the Minister of People’s Enlightenment and Propaganda 1933. Radio was one
of the important the important tool of Hitler’s propaganda. It aimed to increase positive
impression of personal contact between the people and the Fuhrer. As a result, Reich
Broadcasting Corporations was established and there was an increase access to radio. Another
tool for Hitler’s propaganda was films. The three well-accomplished films were the Triumph of
the Will, The Eternal Jew and Jud Suss. These films had successfully portrayed Hitler’s Nazi
ideology and Nazi victory and won the support of the people. Hence, the use of propaganda had
further increased Hitler’s popularity and support and eventually led to his gain in power.
Hitler’s manipulative and opportunist trait was also seen as the reason to why he was able to
gain in power. He had made use of all the opportunity that was given and had manipulated them
into situations that would benefit him. One of the coincidental event was the Fire at Reichstag
on the 27th of February 1933, where a communist Marinus Van der Lubbe was charged guilty for
the incident. Hitler made use of this event and had convinced the President to declare an
emergency decree. He took the opportunity of the emergency decree and organized a mass
arrest on the communist and empty their seats. The seats would be then given to his loyal
supporters in the Nazi Party. Another major coincidental event that had happened was the
death of the death of President Hindenburg on 2nd August 1934. Hitler seized this opportunity
and merged the position of Chancellor and President into one new position, the Fuhrer. Hence,
this shows how Hitler’s manipulative and opportunist trait had resulted him to gain in power.
In conclusion, the impact of World War 1 where Hitler had made use of the people grievances of
their sufferings had contributed to his rise of power. However, the main reason to why Hitler
raised to power is still far from conclusive as the other reasons to his gain in power such as his
manipulative and opportunist trait, the popularity of his Nazi Philosophy and usage of
propaganda should also be taken into account for the reason to why Hitler gained power.