Part A Controlled Assessment GCSE History

The role of Adolf Hitler in the growth of the Nazi Party in the years 1925-32 By mid- 1929 Germany was prospering once more. Political stability had been resolved and relations with other countries had improved dramatically. But by the 1930s things had began to go wrong. The state that the Wall Street Crash left Germany had led to the Weimar government facing difficulties with dealing with the economic crisis. As the government failed to deal with the economic problems support for the Nazis grew. It can be argued that the fall of the Weimar Republic led to the rise of Nazis party, with the strength of the SA and the Nazis appeal to the different groups of society.

The failure of the Weimar Republic to solve the problems faced by Germany during the 1920's and early 30's is very well documented and the consequences of this failure are well known. The Weimar Republic was faced with a number of problems from the outset. On 29 October 1929 the Wall Street Crash shook the world. Share prices hit rock bottom on the New York stock exchange and businesses went bankrupt overnight and even millionaires became paupers overnight. German industry could not operate, Factories closed and by 1932 there were six million people unemployed. The parties in the grand coalition of the time could not agree on how to tackle the economic depression. They argued about whether unemployment benefit should be reduced or not. The government fell apart and, in 1930, Chancellor resigned and was replaced by Heinrich Bruning. As they were lacking strong leadership, this led to arguments and people quitting within the government which led to the people of Germany losing faith in them. Germany was in a bad state and once again the Weimar government was blamed. The crash was felt all over Europe but more in Germany due to the Treaty of Versailles and Germany's debt obligations. As Europe felt the economic pressure from America's markets drying up they leaned more heavily on Germany for payment of their debt obligations. To meet the payment demands Germany began to print money, which led to a massive devaluation in their currency. As many were affected by this shocking blow to the economy Frieda Wunderlich had spoken about life in Germany during the inter war years and said, As soon as I received my salary I rushed out to buy the daily necessities. My daily salary, as editor of the periodical Soziale Praxis, was just enough to buy one loaf of bread and a small piece of cheese or some oatmeal. An acquaintance of mine, a clergyman, came to Berlin from a suburb with his monthly salary to buy a pair of shoes for his baby; he could only buy a cup of coffee. Here Frieda refers to the sudden change in currency and how monthly salaries were worth nothing for even middle class. The hyperinflation made it hard for families to purchase expensive necessities with devalued money. It was the lack of strength and inability The Weimar government had to unite Germany which led them to their failure and the rise of Adolf Hitler and The Nazis Party.

Germany was in the grip of the Great Depression with a population suffering from poverty, misery, and uncertainty, amid increasing political instability. For Hitler, the master speech maker, the long awaited opportunity to let loose his talents on the German people had arrived. He would find in this downtrodden people, an audience very willing to listen. Hitlers speeches, far from revealing his insanity are examples of his careful, clear sighted planning, intelligent strategies and audience

manipulation. Kurt Ludecke first heard Adolf Hitler speak in 1922- I studied this slight, pale man, his brown hair parted on one side and falling again and again over his sweating brow. Threatening and beseeching, with small pleading hands and flaming steel blue eyes, he had the look of a fanatic. Presently my critical faculty was swept away he was holding the masses, and me with them, under a hypnotic spell by the sheer force of his conviction. Kurt Ludecke underlines his specific qualities that caught the nations heart at that moment by just him giving a speech, showing how his engaging speeches led to the rise of the Nazis party. In his speeches, Hitler offered the Germans what they needed most, encouragement. He gave them heaps of vague promises while avoiding the details. He used simple catchphrases, repeated over and over. Hitler pledged something for every part of the German society: work to the unemployed; prosperity to failed business people; profits to industry; expansion to the Army; social harmony and an end of class distinctions to idealistic young students; and restoration of German glory to those in despair. He promised to bring order amid chaos; a feeling of unity to all and the chance to belong. He would make Germany strong again; end payment of war reparations to the Allies; tear up the treaty of Versailles; stamp out corruption; keep down Marxism; and deal harshly with the Jews. The Nazis party appealed to all groups of society so that they could win their trust and vote them into power. They aimed to satisfy every aspect of German worries and needs. As the Nazis party continued to strive for a better Germany, they had attracted more supporters as their promises for the middle class, working class and young people had started to come into progress. The working class support was attracted by the Nazi support for traditional German values and a strong Germany. They promised workers food and work. on posters which they thought would give the impression that all working people supported the Nazis. The working class were important in politics. They were the biggest group of voters. When times were hard, many workers supported the communists party, so the Nazi working class support was important, but it wasnt enough. One key group in the growth of Nazi support was the middle class, which contained professionals such as teachers, lawyers, business people and small farmers. They often owned land or businesses and had savings. The middle class people supported the Nazis because of several reasons- The Great Depression had hurt the middle classes. Many had lost their companies, their savings or their pensions. They were also afraid of the growing communists Party after 1929. The communists wanted to abolish private

The growth of the Nazi Party could not have been at it's greatest without the leadership of Adolf Hitler and other factors. The Nazi Party was known as the German's Workers Party. Hitler was a founding member of the party but over time became fascinated with the group and began an active participation in the activities of the Nazi Party. This led to him taking on important responsibilities such as propaganda and public speaking. His skills as a political orator and his assertive manner within meetings soon led to him becoming a recognised leader in the party. Hitler's speeches were inspiring, he was a great public speaker who could enthuse the masses and ignite a sense of belief. His policies made sense and were aimed at the areas of politics that the German's were resentful of i.e. the treaty of Versailles and reparations. Hitler's speeches, far from revealing his insanity are examples of his careful, clearsighted planning, intelligent strategies and audience manipulation. Being a gifted public speaker enabled Hitler to become more known more quickly as if he did not have this ability as it put him in the spotlight. His party were highly organised, flexible in their views and made promises that would benefit all sectors of the population. Further to this was the Nazi's open and forceful conflict to communism

and impressive use of discipline. "A source, Max Damarus recorded one of Hitler's speeches in the years 1932-1945. He took the time to interpret the speech into English which stated "Deeply stirred, we stand here again today on this square. It is a reminder of our Movement's first dead, and it is a symbolic act that the swearing-in of the Party's recruits takes place on this square. This square of death thus becomes a place for swearing oaths in life. You shall, I know, be just as loyal, just as brave as our old comrades! And you will have to be fighters! They do not want Germany to be strong. They may not want it, but we want it, and our will defeat them! I am confident in you, confident that you who have already grown up and come into being in the spirit of the new Germany will fulfil this task, and that you will bear in mind our old principle: that it is not important that a single one of us lives, but vital that Germany lives!" This is an example of Hitler's effective speeches that would forcefully make Germans believe in him. This led to a series of weak and hopeless governments of the Weimar Republic. This allowed the Nazis to become proud and great. The government was perceived as being at fault for signing the treaty of Versailles and had lost support on several occasions. The depression of 1929 created poverty and unemployment, which made people angry with the Weimar government. Now, Hitler was tireless. He travelled from city to city by plane, automobile, and railroad. In the final few weeks before the election of 1930, he made as many as three speeches a day. He told the people that they had been betrayed by Jewish bankers and moneylenders; he warned those who would listen that the time had come to rebuild Germany's army and prepare for war against the Communists. People lost confidence in the democratic system and turned towards the extremist political parties such as the Communists and Nazis during the depression.
Hitler offered an achievable solution to each of these faults and so gained support and ultimate power. People supported Hitler because he promised what they wanted and needed to hear. The Weimar Republic appeared to have no idea how to solve the Depression. The Nazi's on the other hand promised to solve the problems. Hitler used the Jews as scapegoats, blaming all the problems on them. At the time Hitler made sense to the Germans, he united the nation be providing explanations for Germany's problems. The people of Germany were tired of their poor quality of life. Hitler vowed that he would make Germany proud again, restore honour- it was exactly what people wanted to hear. Hitler pledged something for every part of the German society such as farmers increase in products and making up for their losses during the depression, for the unemployed workers they would have jobs building stadiums and roads. He promised middle class people that he would restore profits of small businesses, value of savings and end the communist threat. Another reason for the growth of the Nazi Party was the role of Sturm Abteilung or SA (blackshirts, stormtroopers) as they were known in 1920 but Hitler reinstructed the SA in 1924. The SA was ordered to disrupt meetings of political opponents and prevent Hitler from revenge attacks. At the end of the march Hitler would make one of his passionate speeches and encourage supporters to carry out acts of violence against Jews and leftwing political opponents. A source from one of the rallies in 1925 reported that Adolf Hitler had said "the trouble had not begun when my stormtroopers attacked. Like wolves they flung themselves in packs of eight or ten upon the enemy. After only five minutes, I hardly saw one of

them who were not covered in blood. The hall looked as if a shell had struck it. Many of my supporters were being bandaged, others had to be driven away, but we had remained the masters of the situation" This clearly shows that Hitler was present at the time of the attack and was most concerned with ensuring that the Nazi Party remained in control. The SA wore swastika armbands, grey jackets, brownshirts, skicaps and combat boots. With musicians and flags they would parade through the streets of Munich. The Wall Street crash of 1929 brought Germany's economic improvement to a rapid end. All of a sudden the aid form America was withdrawn and Germany found themselves isolated and the economy was in crisis. This resulted in many job losses, a lack of faith in investment opportunities and a decrease of the German currency. The Wall Street Crash occurred and this event led to the 'Great Depression'. The Wall Street stock market crashed. The trading of stocks came to an abrupt halt when the value of the stocks suddenly fell to practically nothing. Millionaires became paupers overnight. The middle class saw its savings and investments disappear. People who had invested in stocks and bonds suddenly had nothing left. Banks failed and companies went bankrupt; people who had placed their money in savings and checking accounts found that they could not draw their money out because the banks were broke and had been shut down. Factories and stores closed. Jobs were scarce.

Hitler offered an achievable solution to each of these faults and so gained support and ultimate power. People supported Hitler because he promised what they wanted and needed to hear. The Weimar Republic appeared to have no idea how to solve the Depression. The Nazi's on the other hand promised to solve the problems. Hitler used the Jews as scapegoats, blaming all the problems on them. At the time Hitler made sense to the Germans, he united the nation be providing explanations for Germany's problems. The people of Germany were tired of their poor quality of life. Hitler vowed that he would make Germany proud again, restore honour- it was exactly what people wanted to hear. Hitler pledged something for every part of the German society such as farmers increase in products and making up for their losses during the depression, for the unemployed workers they would have jobs building stadiums and roads. He promised middle class people that he would restore profits of small businesses, value of savings and end the communist threat. Another reason for the growth of the Nazi Party was the role of Sturm Abteilung or SA (blackshirts, stormtroopers) as they were known in 1920 but Hitler reinstructed the SA in 1924. The SA was ordered to disrupt meetings of political opponents and prevent Hitler from revenge attacks. At the end of the march Hitler would make one of his passionate speeches and encourage supporters to carry out acts of violence against Jews and leftwing political opponents. A source from one of the rallies in 1925 reported that Adolf Hitler had said "the trouble had not begun when my stormtroopers attacked. Like wolves they flung themselves in packs of eight or ten upon the enemy. After only five minutes, I hardly saw one of them who were not covered in blood. The hall looked as if a shell had struck it. Many of my supporters were being bandaged, others had to be driven away, but we had remained the masters of the situation" This clearly shows that Hitler was present at the time of the attack and was most concerned with ensuring that the Nazi Party remained in control. The SA wore swastika armbands, grey jackets, brownshirts, ski-caps and combat boots. With musicians and flags they would parade through the streets of Munich. The Wall Street crash of 1929 brought Germany's economic improvement to a rapid end. All of a sudden the aid form America was withdrawn and Germany found themselves isolated and the economy was in crisis. This resulted in many job losses, a lack of faith in investment opportunities and a decrease of the German currency. The Wall Street Crash occurred and this event led to the 'Great Depression'. The Wall Street stock market crashed. The trading of stocks came to an abrupt halt when the value of the stocks suddenly fell to practically nothing. Millionaires became paupers overnight. The middle class saw its savings and investments disappear. People who had invested in stocks and bonds suddenly had nothing left. Banks failed and companies went bankrupt; people who had placed their money in savings and checking accounts found that they could not draw their money out because the banks were broke and had been shut down. Factories and stores closed. Jobs were scarce.

Busayo Apena

This allowed extremist groups such as communists to take advantage of the situation. The growth of the communist party at this time could have meant a communist takeover. But due to the Nazis extreme skills they were able to gain votes from those who feared a communist state. A historian from Berlin 1931 described the activities as atrocious, "people were cutting up the carcass of horses in the streets". Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community towards a cause or position. Goebbels masterminded the Nazis use of media. The essence of propaganda consists in winning people over to an idea so sincerely, so vitally, that in the end they succumb to it utterly and can never escape from it." (Goebbels). The main task of Goebbels was to ensure nobody in Germany could read or see anything that was hostile or damaging to the Nazi Party. Large, well orchestrated rallies were arranged. Large rallies were also filmed and radio stations were used to spread Hitler's speeches across the nation. These gave the impression that the party was strong, well organised and well supported. Posters were used to convey messages. There were a number of propaganda posters but an important one is Hitler standing in the Blackshirt uniform. He is pictured looking straight ahead which suggests that he is looking into the future and red and black light dimmed in the background. The poster shows Hitler in familiar 'renaissance pose', alongside the propaganda slogan: Bin Volk, ein Reich, ein Fuhrer ('One people, One Nation, One Leader'). The slogan was used to great effect in 1938, with the union, when Germany joined in union with Austria. In my opinion I think the growth of the Nazi Party is owed to Adolf Hitler as he used smart and brilliant ways to rise to success. He took advantage of the difficult circumstances in Germany to gain supporters. He used a range of skills especially his excellent speeches for the fact that he was a talented orator. A source from one of Hitler's speeches described it as being wonderful and stated "his speeches were moving, I was in tears and I just wanted him to carry on forever because he made me feel proud to be German again". Hitler's growth for the Nazi Party can be seen as well as his growth as a man. Therefore the Nazi Party could not have been at his greatest without the Hitler's determination.

Busayo Apena