The rise of the Nazi Party 1919–1933

In 1919 Hitler joined a tiny political party with seven members. By 30 January 1933 he was Chancellor of Germany. To explain this transformation you need to combine long-term factors (Weimar's structural weaknesses, Versailles, hyperinflation memory), medium-term factors (the Depression, mass unemployment) and short-term factors (intrigue between conservatives in 1932–33).

Founding the Nazis 1919–1924

Hitler was a frustrated Austrian-born ex-corporal sent in September 1919 to spy on the German Workers' Party (DAP). He liked their nationalist, antisemitic, anti-Marxist mix and joined as member 555. By 1920 it had become the NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers' Party):

• The 25-Point Programme (Feb 1920) — combining nationalism (annul Versailles, expand Lebensraum), antisemitism (no Jews allowed citizenship) and "socialism" (nationalise trusts, end interest exploitation).
• Hitler becomes leader (1921) — formal Führer principle.
• The SA (Sturmabteilung) — paramilitary brownshirts under Ernst Röhm; intimidated opponents.

The Munich Putsch (Nov 1923) was Hitler's first attempt to seize power, modelled on Mussolini's March on Rome. It failed but his trial gave him a national platform; he served 9 months in Landsberg prison and wrote Mein Kampf.

The "lean years" 1924–28

After 1924 Hitler decided to win power legally. The Nazis polled badly in the Stresemann era — only 12 seats from 2.6% of the vote in 1928 — but Hitler used these years to:

• Reorganise the party with a Gauleiter in every region.
• Build the Hitler Youth and the SS (1925, under Himmler from 1929).
• Refine propaganda under Joseph Goebbels.
• Cultivate big-business links via Hjalmar Schacht and Fritz Thyssen.

The Depression and Nazi breakthrough 1929–32

The Wall Street Crash of October 1929 triggered the worst depression in modern history. By 1932 Germany had:

• 6 million unemployed — one in three workers.
• Banks closing, exports collapsed.
• Three million homeless.
• Coalition governments paralysed; Chancellor Brüning ruled by Article 48.

The Depression destroyed Weimar's middle ground. Voters fled to extremes:

Year	NSDAP votes	NSDAP seats	KPD seats
1928	0.8 m	12	54
1930	6.4 m	107	77
Jul 1932	13.7 m	230	89
Nov 1932	11.7 m	196	100

In July 1932 the Nazis became the largest party in the Reichstag.

Why did people vote Nazi?

• Fear of communism. A vote for the KPD scared the middle class. Nazi marches and rallies promised order.
• Promises of work. "Work and bread" appealed to the unemployed; Hitler promised to tear up Versailles.
• Personality of Hitler. His oratory in beer halls, sports stadiums, even from aeroplanes (the Hitler Over Germany tour of 1932) reached millions.
• Goebbels's propaganda. Posters, newspapers, films targeted different groups: women as mothers, farmers as rural backbone, soldiers as defenders.
• SA presence on the streets — provided protection against communists and a sense of action.
• Conservative elite endorsement. Industrialists wanted firm hands; aristocrats like Hindenburg's adviser Papen thought Hitler could be controlled.

How Hitler became Chancellor — January 1933

The collapse of trust in the Weimar parties produced government by intrigue. Schleicher and Papen, both former Chancellors, plotted with President Hindenburg to keep the Reichstag at bay. Each thought he could use Hitler:

• 30 May 1932 — Brüning sacked.
• June–Nov 1932 — Papen as Chancellor; the Reichstag Fire Decree of 14 June lifted the SA ban.
• Dec 1932 — Schleicher Chancellor; failed to split the Nazis.
• 30 Jan 1933 — Papen persuaded the 85-year-old Hindenburg to appoint Hitler Chancellor, with Papen as Vice-Chancellor and only two other Nazis in cabinet. "We have hired him," Papen boasted.

The miscalculation was historic. Within six months Hitler had used the Reichstag Fire (27 Feb) and the Enabling Act (23 March) to dismantle democracy.

Long, medium and short-term factors

Examiners reward students who can weigh these together:

• Long term — Versailles bitterness, weak Weimar political culture, antisemitism in German society.
• Medium term — Depression, mass unemployment, weak coalition governments.
• Short term — Hindenburg's fear of communism, Papen's intrigue, refusal of SPD/KPD to ally against Nazis.

A great answer concludes that Hitler did not simply win power — it was handed to him by conservative elites who underestimated him.