The Growth of the Nazi Party

Organisation.

Hitler appointed two efficient organisers of the party.

• Bouhler- secretary
• Schwarz- treasurer

He divided the party into regions and selected Gauleiters, who only answered to Hitler. They controlled the party in different regions.

He also imrpoved Fianance. 

He befriended very wealthy businessmen who had a common interest in hatred for communism and weakness of trade unions. By the early 1930s, the NSDAP were recieving huge donations from busness giants such as Bosch

Why?

The Lean Years. Germany was getting better off.

In 1923, Inflation had eased and employment had rose. The public were better off and there was little need to turn to extremist parties. Stresemann was also improving Germany's appearence on an internaitonal scale. In 1925, Hindenberg became president. His reputation increased popularity for the Wemar Government.

Results?

People were supporting moderate parties as exteme parties weren't needed. They only won 12 seats in the Reichstag, and got 2.6% of the national vote.

They only increased in support when the Wall Street Crash came in 1929.

Bruning-Von Papen- Von Schleicher- Hitler

• Bruning tried to govern by decree and ban the SA and **. He thought this would calm unrest and control of the Nazis. Von Schleicher organised a coaliton of angered right-wing parties, and convinced Hindenberg that he had the majority of the Reichstag, so Bruning was sacked. Von Schleicher was controlling from behind the scenes.
• Schleicher chose a wealthy politican to be the new figurehead of the coalition- Von Papen. He made Hindenberg make him chancellor in May 1932. Schleicher offered the Nazis a place in the government, thinking he could control them, this was accepted. They were in the government for the first time. Papen's coalition was weak and the Nazis were by now the largest party. Hitler demanded to Hindenberg that he should be chancellor but Hindenberg distrusted Hitler so refused. Papen called another election, hoping that the Nazi vote would fall but it didn't, and without Hitlers support he could no longer be chancellor.
• Hindenberg appointed Schleicher chancellor. Schleicher was convinced Hitler's support was fading. He told Hindenberg that Hitler and Von Papen were plotting against him (which they were). He said that Hindenberg needed to suspend the constitution and declare Schleicher as head of military, this was refused. Schleichers plan had leaked out and he lost all support in the Reichstag. On Janurary 1933, Hitler was appointed chancellor.