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Which reason is most important to why Hitler rose to power?
class connections, but Hitler aimed a special appeal on the basis of family and moral values.
There were three parties that lost support to the Nazis:
· The Social Democrats lost support, but did not collapse. Many working class voters switched to the Nazis. But some also turned to the Communists, while most remained with the Social Democrats. Many workers saw through the Nazi promises and were concerned about the treat to their freedom as trade unionists
· The Democrats (DDP) and the People’s Party (DVP) had been supported almost entirely by the middle classes. By 1932 support for both had collapsed. Their votes almost went entirely to the Nazis. This was strange, since liberal people are not usually attracted to the extreme right. Yet the effect of the Depression had been so severe that the normally moderate middle classes turned to extremists.
· The National Party (DNVP) was normally supported by the upper class and part of the middle classes. Many of the votes went to the Nazis. Hitler had obviously been very successful at stealing their policies. There was, however a two-way relationship. The Nazis and the DNVP began to co-operate closely.
In the 1932 election Hitler stood against the aging President Hindenburg for the position of President.
· In his speeches he blamed the ‘November Criminals’ and Jews for the problems Germany was facing
· He Promised to build a better Germany, and many people believed him
Hitler did not win, but he only lost to Hindenburg on a second vote. The Nazis felt they were close to success.
The 1932 general election campaign was very violent. Nazis and Communists fought each other in street battles and nearly 100 people were killed.
The Nazis became the largest party in the Reichstag and Hitler demanded to be made chancellor. However, Hindenburg was suspicious of Hitler and refused. Instead he a moderate, Franz von Papen (leader of the social democrats), as chancellor.
To achieve his aims von Papen needed to increase his support in the Reichstag so he called another election in November 1932. The Nazis lost seats in the election, but still remained the largest party. Von Papen did not get the increase support he needed.
It was becoming increasingly clear that President Hindenburg could not continue to work with a chancellor who did not have support in the Reichstag. He simply could not pass any of the measures he wanted
· Hindenburg and von Papen decided to make Hitler Chancellor
· They believed they could control him once he was in power
· On 30 January 1933 Hitler became Chancellor and Hitler Vice Chancellor
As soon as he was appointed Hitler tired to find a way of increasing the number of Nazi government. He pursued his colleges there should be another general election.
During the election campaign the Reichstag was burnt to the ground. A communist, Marianus van der Lubbe, was [next page]