A summery of unit 2 including the Munich Putsch, how Hitler became the chancellor, what lead Hitler to become a dictator, life in Hitler's Germany, who benefited from Nazi ruling and the opposition to a Nazi ruling.
How did the Munich Putsch help Hitler?
On 9 November 1923, Hitler, Ludendorff and 3000 SA men marched on Munich's army
headquarters. On the way they met a police barricade which opened fire, killing sixteen Nazis.
Hitler was arrested and sentenced to five years imprisonment. Ludendorff was found not
guilty. At the trial Hitler gained enormous publicity with Hitler's every word was reported in
the newspapers. Hitler turned into a bit of a celebrity which no doubt helped him into power in
1932.
As a result of the Munich Putsch, Hitler spent nine months in the Landsberg Prison and he was
banned from speaking publicly. The Nazi party was also banned. However, whilst in prison
Hitler learnt many lessons.
1. Firstly, he learnt that the only way to get power was to stand in elections and once in power,
destroy the system from within. This is how he eventually became Fuhrer of Germany when he
became chancellor and then passed the Enabling Act.
2. Secondly, he realised that he needed the support of the army and the business community.
The army had refused to support Hitler in the Munich Putsch, resulting in its failure. When he
was released from prison he won the support of the army by reassuring them that he would
not ignite a future war in Germany if he got into power and he promised to deal with
Communists and expand the army. He won the support of the business community by saying he
would reduce the power of workers and weaken trade unions.
3. Finally, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf, which allowed him to work out his own beliefs. It also
provided a 'Bible' for the Nazi party and he provided himself as a martyr. These acted like
corner stones for the Nazi party.
Hitler had become a politician due to the time he spent in prison thinking about why he failed
in the Munich Putsch. All of these things helped Hitler gain power in 1932 and had he not been
sent to prison in 1923, he would have probably failed in another Putsch and been sent to
prison for the rest of his life.
Trial
Hitler turned his trial into a publicity opportunity, giving long speeches. Before the Munich
Putsch, Hitler was an unknown Bavarian politician. After his trial he was a national right-wing
hero.
Even the judge said he agreed with Hitler, and gave him only a short prison sentence.
Mein Kampf
While he was in prison, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf, in which he set out his life-story and beliefs.
The book sold in millions, and made Hitler the leader of the right-wing opponents of Weimar.
Strategy
Hitler realised that he would not gain power by rebellion. He began a new strategy – to gain
power by being elected.
, Germany 1919-1939
What led to and how did Hitler become
Chancellor?
Weak Weimar Government
The 1923 crisis began when Germany missed a reparations payment. This situation spiralled out of
control and once again the German people were unhappy and in financial difficulty, so uprisings
occurred throughout the country.
Hyperinflation
The sudden flood of paper money into the economy, on top of the general strike - which meant that no
goods were manufactured, so there was more money, chasing fewer goods - combined with a weak
economy ruined by the war, all resulted in hyperinflation. Prices ran out of control - eg a loaf of bread,
which cost 250 marks in January 1923 had risen to 200,000 million marks in November 1923.
German's currency became worthless.
Anger towards the League of Nations
After Germany were forced to accept they started war an pay reparations after WW1 many angered the
League. This then causing them to turn to extremist parties like communists and the Nazis as they
offered someone to blame for their depression. This gave Hitler added votes in elections.
Nazi Propaganda
Hitler appointed Goebbels as head of propaganda. Goebbels propaganda was very effective as he
painted the point the only way for Germany to succeed was for ‘Hitler over Germany’ a quote used
regularly in his propaganda. He forced German citizens to believe the only way out of a depression
was by backing Hitler. He additionally set up rallies in order to obtain votes for Hitler.
Depression and unemployment
After as many as 6 million became unemployed in Germany in 1932, Hitler promised the German
people that he would abolish unemployment if he came to power, many people believed in this and he
gained more supporters.
SA (Storm troopers)
The Storm troopers attacked Jews and people who opposed Hitler. Many opponents kept quiet simply
because they were scared of being murdered – and, if they were, the judges simply let the Storm
troopers go free.
Support of Big Businesses and Rich industrialists
As many rich businessmen feared communists many to supported Hitler as they shared the same
view. These big businesses were the main contributors to Nazi party funds, thus allowing them to set
up the campaigns they did.
The Nazis were the biggest party in Reichstag, and Hitler demanded to become
Chancellor. However Hindenburg disliked Hitler and appointed Von Papen, however
both Papen and Hindenburg decided to appoint Hitler eventually as Papen didn’t have
the support of the Reichstag and they believed if Hitler was chancellor they would be
able to control him easier.
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