Nazi Germany

How did the Nazi party transform from a small minority fringe party in 1924 to become the largest party in the Reichstag in 1933?

• Hitlers Image: Hitler was a gifted speaker who persuaded all classes that he alone was the answer to the German people's needs.
• Party Programme: This was flexible and vague, standing for "Making Germany Great Again...", few could argue with ideas as such.
• Party's Promises: The Nazi's gave the people promises which were appealing.
• Propaganda: The Nazi party was skilled in this area, and used posters, films, parades, news papers, mass rallies and radio to brain wash the masses into thinking that the Nazi party was superior and powerful.
• Party's Organisation: The Nazi's were very organised in their military, political and public ways and relied on discipline and order.
• Weak Opposition: The government was trying to crerate an oposition to the Nazi party by creating coalitions between different parties, however, the partie's did nothing but argue and the Nazi party therefore won. Another factor adding to a weak opposition was the fact that Germnay had been thrown into a depression thanks to the Wall St. Crash.

Just remember, HPPPPW - and you'll do fine.

On January the 30th 1933, Adolf Hitler was made Chancellor of Germany by Hindenburg - Hitler was now the highest political office after the president (Hindenburg). Hitler now had power, but not too much power; what ever Hitler advised could be ignored by the president.

On the 2cd of August 1934, Hindenburg died. At this, Hitler immediately declared he was president as well as chancellor and head of the army. Hitler blended these titles into one - "Fuhrer".

Hitler had now managed to make himself a dictator legally and through the system.

Like a medieval king, Hitler surrounded himself with Nazi officials or 'barons' who could take care of each part of the country under Hitlers control.

• Ernst Rohm: Ran the ** or brown shirts
• Herman Goring: Ran the police and air force
• Josef Goebbels: Was the minister of propaganda
• Rudolf Hess: Was Hitlers deputy
• Heinrich Himmler: Was in charge of the **
• Albert Speer: Was Hitlers chief architect

Each of Hitlers officials hated each other and fought for power.

• The SA was a Nazi organisation of men who were ordered to destroy opposition and smash things up - organised hooligans. This damaged Hitlers look of discipline and order.
• Ernst Rohm controlled the SA and in 1934 it was 4.5 million men strong. This posed a serious threat to Hitler, for Rohm was powerful enough to over throw Hitler and also wanted to dissolve the German army into the SA.
• Hitler planned to assassinated Rohm and after much debating from Himmler and Goring he planned to assassinate all of the leaders of the SA
• Hitler sent the leaders of the SA to Bad Wisse - a hotel in Germany. On the 30th of June Hitler and the ** went to the hotel and arrested the main leaders of the SA, including Rohm (who was allegedly found in bed with a young gay storm trooper.) The leaders of the SA were told they were going to be interrogated in Munich, however, some where shot on the spot. Over the next 24 hours, over 200 SA officers were arrested over Germany.
• On July the 13th 1934, Hitler announced that the night of the long knives had occurred - this was taken into account and not seen as murder (surprisingly) by the German population, some of Hitlers 'Barons' even thanked him for it.