How and why did Hitler become Chancellor in 1933

How did Hitler become Prime Minister (Chancellor) in January 1933?​

*Since the elections of 1930 it had been really difficult for the Chancellor, Bruning, to persuade enough MPs to vote for his laws. By 1932 he was relying on President Hindenburg to allow him to use an emergency power to pass laws without asking the MPs in Parliament. President Hindenburg then decided to have an election to try to get a government who most MPs would support.* *In the election of July 1932 N​azi party won 230 MPs and became the biggest party. Hitler then demanded that he should be made Chancellor (Prime Minister). Hindenburg disliked Hitler and saw him as too extreme so he refused. Instead, he made a friend called v​on Papen* ​the Chancellor. Von Papen, though, had very little support among MPs. In November 1932 he persuaded President Hindenburg to call a new election, hoping that Nazi support would drop. In the November 1932 election, Nazi support did drop, but only slightly. The Nazi were still the largest party (196 MPs instead of 230). Von Papen resigned and Hitler demanded the job of Chancellor. Hindenburg again said no. In December 1932, Hindenburg appointed an army General called Von Schleicher a​s new chancellor ​​but Von Schleicher could not get a majority of MPs to support him either, because Von Papen and Hitler were conspiring against him. Von Papen was now plotting to make Hitler chancellor, and himself vice-chancellor. V​on Papen thought he and Hindenburg could control Hitler - BIG MISTAKE!​ So Hindenburg reluctantly agreed to appoint Hitler as chancellor 30 Jan 1933 - H​itler appointed as chancellor

Growing support for the Communists

Many poorer Germans, such as the unemployed and factory workers, now began to support the Communists. The Communists promised jobs, a place to live, and an equal society where wealth would be taken off the rich and shared among the poor. The factories and businesses would be owned by a communist government. In 1928, the Communists had just 50 MPs in the Parliament but by 1932 this had doubled to about 100. T​he g​rowth of the Communists terrified better off and middle class​Germans who feared losing all their wealth.​T​his gave the Nazis their big chance

Did Hitler become leader of Germany because he was elected?

NO​- most Germans never voted for the Nazis. At most he got about 40% of the vote in the July 1932 election. He got most of his support from the middle classes, business owners, and farming areas. He never got big support from the cities where factory workers and most of the unemployed lived.

Why did many people start to support the Nazis 1929-33: Propaganda

Nazi Propaganda ​made sure that the Nazi message was heard all over Germany, using posters, billboards, radio, films, massive meetings (known as rallies). The main focus was on Hitler, the leader or Fuhrer who would save Germany. He travelled all round the country - often by aeroplane - making speeches, and these were reported in 120 newspapers. These papers were read by hundreds of thousands of Germans.

Growing support for the Nazis

Now that the democratic government was so unpopular and many people feared the Communists, Hitler was able to present himself as an attractive alternative.

Why did many people start to support the Nazis 1929-33?

In 1928 the Nazis had only 12 MPs but by July 1932 they had 230 and were the biggest political party in Germany

Growth of the Nazi party during 1924-1929

Before the Depression the growth of the Nazi party had been slow. It had tried to seize power in 1923 in the M​unich Putsch b​ut this failed. But it had three important consequences for the Nazi Party: ● Hitler's trial gave lots of publicity to his views ● Whilst in prison Hitler wrote 'Mein Kampf'-a rambling, autobiography, which nevertheless became a Nazi bible ● Realisation that violently grabbing power wouldn't work. Instead the Nazis decided that power could only be achieved through elections. In the early years the Nazi party did not do very well in elections, gaining only 12 MPs in 1928,​ with party membership totalling only 100,000. However, it did get lots more money- ​ ● Rich business men, who like Hitler hated and feared communism a​nd t​rade unions began supporting his party. Leading industrialists such as Thyssen, Krupp and Bosch became generous donors ● The extra money raised was used to finance expansion of the S​A which had 400,000 members by 1930. The SA beat up communists and other opponents

The Economic Depression 1929-33

Things had been getting better in Germany since 1923 and people had been getting better off. As a result support for the democratic government went up and support for extreme parties like the Nazis and Communists went down. The Depression from 1929 changed all this. The Depression made the democratic government very unpopular because- ● Many Germans blamed the new democratic government for losing the war and for agreeing to the Treaty of Versailles ● Many people blamed the democratic government for the Hyperinflation of 1923 which made people poor ● Some political parties such as the Communists and the Nazis hated democracy and wanted to destroy it ● Unemployment went up to 6 million people ● Thousands of businesses and shops went bust ● The government cut the amount of money the unemployed got ● The government put up taxes ● The political parties in the government were always arguing and usually couldn't agree on what to do ● The Nazis and Communists started fighting in the streets, and the government couldn't keep law and order

The Democratic government in Germany had never been massively popular

When Germany lost WW1 in 1918, the King (known as the Kaiser) left the country and Germany became a Democracy where people voted for the political party they wanted to be in government. But... ● Many Germans blamed the new democratic government for losing the war and for agreeing to the Treaty of Versailles ● Many people blamed the democratic government for the Hyperinflation of 1923 which made people poor ● Some political parties such as the Communists and the Nazis hated democracy and wanted to destroy it However, the democratic government would have survived had it not been for the Wall Street Crash in 1929 and the Depression

Why did Hitler become Chancellor?

● By 1932 the Nazis were the biggest political party, with the support of about 40% of Germans ● The democratic political parties were unpopular due to the Depression, and because they couldn't agree on what to do ● President Hindenburg and his adviser, von Papen, did NOT want to make Hitler Chancellor but nobody else could get a majority of MPs to support them ● By Jan 1933, Hindenburg thought there was no alternative to Hitler. BUT he thought he could control him for a few months and then sack him as Chancellor. Hindenburg never expected total Nazi power

Why did many people start to support the Nazis 1929-33: Image

● Hitler created a new and attractive image for the Nazi party. They looked very different from normal politicians, older men in suits, in offices. Instead, they were younger, uniformed, disciplined marching in the streets. Many younger Germans were impressed

Why did many people start to support the Nazis 1929-33: Gave people someone to b​lame

● Hitler gave people someone to blame ​for all Germany's problems. He claimed that the Jews h​ad caused the loss of WW1, the hyperinflation, and the depression, while the democratic government was responsible for the Treaty of Versailles and for failing to sort out the depression

Why did many people start to support the Nazis 1929-33: Appeal

● Hitler made promises designed to appeal to different types of Germans: -He appealed to b​etter off, middle class​ Germans by promising to crush the communists, and restore law and order. -He appealed to ​farmers ​by promising that they would not be thrown off their land even if they couldn't pay their debts. He tried to appeal to y​ounger, poorer and unemployed Germans but promising to create jobs, and by offering them a chance to join the SA and earn some money.

Why did many people start to support the Nazis 1929-33: Public speaker

● Hitler was a ​brilliant public speaker​ who offered a vision of a new, s​trong Germany.​ He would t​ear up the Treaty of Versailles,​ rebuild the economy and the armed forces