Why did the Nazis rise from a fringe party to power between 1929 and 1933?
The impact of the Wall Street Crash and the Depression on Germany, the appeal of the Nazi Party and its propaganda, the failure of the Weimar governments, and the political intrigues that made Hitler Chancellor in January 1933.
A focused answer to the rise of the Nazis in the Eduqas non-British study in depth, covering the Wall Street Crash and Depression, the Nazi appeal and propaganda, the failure of Weimar democracy, and the intrigues that made Hitler Chancellor in January 1933.
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What this dot point is asking
This dot point explains the Nazi seizure of power in Eduqas's Component 1 non-British study in depth. You need to explain the impact of the Wall Street Crash and the Depression on Germany, the appeal of the Nazi Party and its propaganda, the failure of the Weimar governments, and the political intrigues that made Hitler Chancellor in January 1933. Because the depth study uses source and interpretation questions, learn this well enough to weigh the different reasons for the Nazi rise.
The Wall Street Crash and the Depression
The failure of the Weimar governments
The appeal of the Nazis
The intrigues that made Hitler Chancellor
Try this
Q1. How did the Wall Street Crash affect Germany? [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. American loans were recalled, German industry collapsed, and unemployment rose to around 6 million by 1932, discrediting the Weimar Republic and pushing voters to the extremes.
Q2. Explain why Hitler was appointed Chancellor in January 1933 despite the Nazi vote falling in late 1932. [Short explanation]
- Cue. Conservative politicians around Hindenburg, especially von Papen, struck a deal to make Hitler Chancellor of a coalition, wrongly believing that with few Nazis in the cabinet they could control him while using his mass support.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC Eduqas exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Eduqas C100 20194 marksDescribe two features of Nazi support in the years 1929 to 1933.Show worked answer →
The depth-study opener (4 marks, two features, 2 marks each). Reward two distinct, developed features.
Feature one. Nazi support grew rapidly with the Depression: their share of Reichstag seats rose from just 12 in 1928 to 230 in July 1932, making them the largest party.
Feature two. The Nazis drew support across classes by tailoring promises (work for the unemployed, protection for farmers and small businesses, a strong Germany), but were weakest among committed communist and Catholic Centre voters.
Top marks. Two separate features, each with a precise supporting detail.
Eduqas C100 20218 marksExplain why the Nazis became popular in the years 1929 to 1932.Show worked answer →
The depth-study "explain why" question (8 marks, AO1 and AO2). Reward a developed analysis of two or three reasons, each with precise support.
Reason one. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 caused mass unemployment (around 6 million by 1932), and the Weimar government seemed unable to cope, so desperate voters turned to extreme parties offering simple solutions.
Reason two. Nazi propaganda, run by Goebbels, was sophisticated and tireless: rallies, posters, radio and Hitler's flights around Germany projected strength, while tailored promises appealed to different groups.
Reason three. Hitler offered a charismatic, decisive leader and clear scapegoats (the November Criminals, the Treaty of Versailles, communists and Jews), which attracted Germans craving order and pride.
Top band. Connect each reason explicitly to growing Nazi popularity, and finish with the most important factor, usually the Depression.
Related dot points
- The creation of the Weimar Republic in 1919, the impact of the Treaty of Versailles, the early threats from left and right (the Spartacist Revolt, the Kapp Putsch and the Munich Putsch), and the crisis of 1923 with the Ruhr occupation and hyperinflation.
A focused answer to the early Weimar Republic in the Eduqas non-British study in depth, covering the 1919 constitution, the Treaty of Versailles, the threats from left and right (Spartacists, Kapp Putsch, Munich Putsch), and the 1923 crisis of the Ruhr occupation and hyperinflation.
- Gustav Stresemann's role in the recovery, the ending of hyperinflation with the Rentenmark, the Dawes and Young Plans and American loans, the return to the international stage (Locarno and the League of Nations), the cultural flowering of the 1920s, and the limits of the recovery.
A focused answer to the Stresemann era in the Eduqas non-British study in depth, covering the Rentenmark, the Dawes and Young Plans, Locarno and the League of Nations, the cultural flowering of Weimar, and the limits and fragility of the 1920s recovery.
- The steps by which Hitler consolidated power between 1933 and 1934, the Reichstag Fire and the Enabling Act, the creation of a one-party state, the Night of the Long Knives, and Hitler becoming Fuhrer on the death of Hindenburg.
A focused answer to Hitler's consolidation of power in the Eduqas non-British study in depth, covering the Reichstag Fire, the Enabling Act, the one-party state, the Night of the Long Knives, and Hitler becoming Fuhrer on Hindenburg's death in 1934.
- The Nazi police state (the SS, Gestapo, courts and concentration camps), the use of propaganda and censorship under Goebbels, the Nazi control of culture and the churches, and the methods used to enforce conformity and crush opposition.
A focused answer to Nazi control in the Eduqas non-British study in depth, covering the police state (SS, Gestapo, courts, camps), Goebbels's propaganda and censorship, the control of culture and the churches, and how the regime enforced conformity.
- The Nazi vision of the 'national community' (Volksgemeinschaft), the policies towards women, young people and workers, the persecution of Jews and other minorities up to 1939, and the experience of those who did and did not fit the Nazi ideal.
A focused answer to Nazi society and persecution in the Eduqas non-British study in depth, covering the Volksgemeinschaft, policies towards women, youth and workers, and the persecution of Jews and other minorities to 1939.
Sources & how we know this
- WJEC Eduqas GCSE History (C100) specification — WJEC Eduqas (2016)