Historical Background - Rise of the Nazis

CONDITIONS IN GERMANY AND THE RISE OF THE NAZIS

After World War I, the monarchy and the old Germany founded by Bismarck in the 1870s collapsed.  The country was in chaos.  Conditions were abhorrent.  People were starving.  Violent clashes between left and right wing groups caused chaos in the streets.  A Munich Soviet Republic was established then put down by volunteers of the Freikorps – German “volunteers” opposed to Communism in any form.  Rumors abounded that it was the Jews along with the new Weimar government which had stabbed the German army in the back, the armistice having been signed while still in enemy territory.  Early on, Nazi leaders used the idea of the “November Criminals” to stir up anti-democratic feeling among the German populace.  But it was not until the economic collapse in 1929 that their message found willing listeners.

Although the Weimar government teetered on the edge of disaster from the very beginning, it had managed to stop the rampant inflation of the early 20s by collecting loans from the Americans to pay reparations to the European victors as provided for in the Treaty of Versailles.  Even so, the Nazis continued to hammer home the message that the treaty was not only unfair but that it was hurting everyday Germans.  And in many cases this was true.  By 1931, 5 ½ million Germans were unemployed.  The five major banks had closed and more than 20,000 businesses had folded.  In October, 1929, unemployment was 1.6 million.  By February, that figure had grown to 6.12 million.   The unemployed spent their days smoking, reading newspapers, fighting at benefit offices or loitering.  People tried to keep warm in waiting rooms and found food by going through trash.   Many lined up at dole offices to receive five Reichmarks.  Some carried a spoon with them because they could get a meal for a ration stamp.  These conditions: violence, starvation and fear along with general anger and resentment fed the growing Nazi momentum and by July 1932 the party held the largest percentage of seats in the German Parliament (Reichstag). The Nazis did not just play on fears.  They offered hope as well – an economy reorganized to serve German interests rather than foreign interests, repatriation of foreign workers and an end to the disaster of inflation, unemployment and economic ruin.

ELECTIONS IN WEIMAR GERMANY IN WHICH NSDAP GAINED SEATS IN PARLIAMENT

Hitler was appointed Chancellor on January 30, 1933 after a deal was struck with President von Hindenburg.  The day of Hindenburg’s death, August 2, 1934, a plebiscite was scheduled for the German people to approve Hitler’s “dictatorship.”  On August 19th, 89.9% of German voters approved.  Consolidation followed quickly.  First the Reichstag passed the “Enabling Act,” a provision within the Weimar constitution for situations of emergency wherein legislative powers were transferred to the Cabinet.  Hitler used these powers to combine the offices of President and Chancellor into one.  Political opposition had effectively been defeated.  All that stood between Hitler and complete control was the military.  The Nazis, however, knew how to co-opt the Reichswehr.  Honor, loyalty, duty:  this was the essence of the German officer corps.  They were mainly conservative and proud, and they did not like the brutish tactics of the SA, but they had remained relatively silent because Hitler was rearming Germany and providing the military with the strength it felt it needed to defend German citizens and interests both at home and abroad.  The day after Hindenburg’s death, the cabinet enacted a law that changed the Oath the German officer corps took to the state.  Instead the Oath was now to be given to Hitler himself.  On the evening of August 2, 1934, German men of arms all over the country raised their hand and repeated the new oath.  The Fuhrer was now President, Chancellor and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces; Hitler had become the state.