Free Sample Essays > European History
Which reason is most important to why Hitler rose to power?
is relatively less important.
In 1922 Hitler was the undisputed leader of the party. He had a powerful, dominating personality. He was intelligent and decisive. Although he was a small man he had great physical preference. He has piercing blue eyes, which he would fix on his listeners, and he was a charismatic public speaker.
When giving a speech he would often turn up late at a meeting, then stand silent for several minutes. He would start softly then gradually build up to a furious finish, driving the audience wild with enthusiasm. He rehearsed carefully for important speeches, even practicing his hand gestures and posture.
The stab in the back theory was very important because the Nazis had not done well before 1929. This was because Stresemann had calmed down German resentment against the Allies. By reviving the demands for revenge the Nazis undermined the moderate feeling that Stresemann had helped to create.
Hitler exploited the Great Depression and the suffering it has caused. He blamed the polices of the Republic for bringing it about and put across the Nazi Party as Germany’s last hope. In doing this, he emphasized that, under his leadership, the Nazi Party would unite the German people in this time of crisis, whereas the other Parties would only divide them.
He continued to accuse the Jews of being responsible for all of Germany’s problems. He managed to associate them with the extremes with communism and capitalism. In this way he aimed to direct the anger of German’s of all social classes against a vulnerable minority or scapegoat.
The working class. The very name of Hitler’s movement, the National Socialists German Workers Party shows how important Hitler considered the working class. After all, if was the largest single sector of German people. Hitler promised to reform the economy so as to end exploitation by capitalists. He also guaranteed measures to tackle unemployment. At the same time, he made it clear that solutions to the workers problems could be found only through the discipline of the Nazi Party, and not through trade unions and other workers organizations.
The middle class. There were really 2 layers in them middle class what historian called old and new. The old mittelstand consisted of small-scale farmers, artisans and shopkeepers. The new mittelstands was composed of office workers, civil servant and teachers. Both groups feared that they would be trapped between capitalists on one side of them and the communists on the other. Hitler therefore addressed a special appeal to them, promising to rescue them from their position.
The upper classes. These had always despised Hitler as a vulgar upstart. Former aristracrats, estate owners and wealthy businessmen proffered the move conservative policies of the National Party. But Hitler played skillfully upon on their fears of the working class and communism. He also stole the main policy of the DNVP, which was to end the negative impact of the Treaty of Versailles.
Women. Women formed slightly over half electorate. Many would vote accordingly to their class [next page]