Only the Great Depression put the wind into Hitler’s sails

AJP Taylor implies that only the effects of the Great Depression led to Hitler's rise in power.

However, for Hitler a poorly educated, ex corporal to become the leader of one of the strongest countries in Europe, there must have been many factors involved leading to this staggering achievement. The Treaty of Versailles, the Munich Putsch, Hitler's personality, the Weimar Constitution, the invitation to become chancellor and the enabling law all played an integral role to Hitler's rise to power.These factors were all closely interlinked and ultimately led to Germany's demise. The Treaty of Versailles had inspired resentment in Germany; Hitler used this as a tool and promised to overturn the treaty.

The Armistice of 1918 led many people to believe that the German army had been 'stabbed in the back' by the government. They felt that they had not lost the war and shouldn't have had to suffer the consequences. The terms of the Treaty stated that Germany's armed forces were 100,000 men, six battleships, no submarines and no air force.All of Germany's colonies were taken away and became mandates of the League of Nations, and perhaps the most hated by the Germans, they were held responsible for the cause of the war and thus were subject to pay the astronomical reparations.

Hitler blamed the 'November Criminals', Hitler professed that in order for Germany to be the strong nation that it once was, they would have to regain their lost land, especially in Poland, to rearm and, perhaps most importantly put an end to reparations. The Great Depression affected Germany greatly; the German people were starving, homeless and desperate for any solution offered to them.Hitler promised prosperity, security, national renewal and to restore a sense of dignity. The reparations, enforced by the Treaty of Versailles, could not be paid without aid from a country with economic stability - The USA. However, the Wall Street Crash of 1929 meant that the USA had to call in the loans.

Without the money coming from America, Germany struggled to pay their reparations to Britain and France, who were also affected by the depression. With no loans and the lack of interest in Germany goods, the five main banks in Germany closed and businesses went bankrupt. After the collapse of industry many were left unemployed.The Weimar government could not deal with the unemployment and cut spending. This meant that the unemployment benefits were cut and many former workers became homeless. Germany was in a state of desperation.

Many Germans hand lost confidence in the republic and democracy; they were willing to turn to anybody that promised a solution. The German people turned to extremist parties such as Communist and Nazi. Hitler said what people wanted to hear, he promised job opportunities to the unemployed and better benefits to the homeless, his strong leadership was reassuring to a dilapidated Germany.In the 1930 elections the Nazi party gained 107 seats but by 1932 as the depression deepened, they had 200 seats. The Munich Putsch was a turning point for Hitler, he realised that the only way he could control Germany was by taking power legally. His original plan ended disastrously, but it bought a new direction for the Nazi party.

In November 1923 Hitler thought his time had come and attempted to take over the government of Bavaria. Germany was suffering from hyperinflation because of the struggle to repay the money owed to the allies as a result of the treaty of Versailles.Hitler hoped to take advantage of the misery and seize power in Munich. He hoped he would gain plenty of support. He announced during a government meeting that he was taking over Munich. However, the government fought back and Hitler failed.

Fourteen Nazis died. Hitler was tried for treason by a sympathetic judge and was in prison for just 9 months. His trial caused immense media hype; his political views were published and acted as great source of free publicity. Whilst in prison Hitler wrote Mein Kampf, outlining his political objectives. Hitler realised that he must take power legally.

From 1924-29 Hitler and the Nazi party made little progress. Germany was prosperous because of the American loans under the Dawes plan and there was a low level of unemployment. Industry recovered and employment rose. German culture developed - music and cinema flourished.

The signing of the Locarno pact and the eventual joining of the League of Nations improved Germany's foreign relations. There seemed to be little need to turn to the extremist parties like the Nazis and the communists. Hitler was helped, to gain power, by the Weimar Constitution which used proportional representation.This was a fair and democratic system, yet, it allowed small parties to gain seats in the Reichstag, or parliament. The system tended to produce coalition governments. This meant that it was difficult for a strong government to be formed and that it was almost impossible to come to a decision.

This flaw, in the political system, had only perpetuated the effects of the Great Depression; the Reichstag could not decide on the best course of action and left the country in a worsening state of desperation. This system allowed Hitler to gain seats initially, but he never gained the overall majority.However the initial seats got him started so he already featured in parliament when the opportunity arose. When Hitler was invited to be Chancellor he was given the power that without which he would of not risen power and would have had no hold over Germany.

In July Hitler had 230 seats but in November he had only 196. The Nazi party had the most seats, but not the overall majority so he did not become chancellor. However, Hindenberg the president offered Hitler the post of chancellor because he needed someone who had support in the Reichstag. This was a heaven sent opportunity as support for the Nazis was dwindling.There were only three Nazis in the cabinet and, with Von Papen as vice chancellor; Hindenberg thought he could control Hitler. Once Hitler was chancellor he began a large election campaign to gain overall majority.

On 27th February 1933 the Reichstag building burnt down. The communists were blamed and Hitler received emergency powers from Hindenberg to sort out the situation. Many of the communists who would stand against him in the election were arrested and their meetings were broken up. The Enabling Law was passed by Hitler to ensure that he had total control and nobody had the power to take that away from him.

In the March election the Nazi party gained the largest amount of votes ever and joined with the Nationalist party to give them an overall majority. Straight away Hitler passed the Enabling Act which made Hitler the dictator of Germany. In 1934 Hindenberg died and Hitler took over as supreme leader - the Fuhrer. Not only was it Hitler's revolutionary political ideas that appealed to the German people, it was also his personality which helped him to gain power. Hitler was an extraordinary politician, not only of his era; indeed, there has been no one like him since.His ability to inspire a crowd was staggering and is a key factor to his rise to power.

Hitler had an amazing way of communicating, he did not bore an audience with details of how he was going to achieve his objectives, instead, he told them exactly what they wanted to hear, he appealed to German pride and nationalism. His powers of oratory let him put his ideas across in a way in which the people would respond to. No other Nazi leader possessed his speaking skills, nor any other politician. As well as Hitler's speeches, there was a vast amount of Nazi propaganda spreading the Nazi message and coercing the German people.

Dr Goebbels was in charge of the Nazi Party's propaganda. The propaganda was very effective in gaining votes from the public. The Nazis used huge rallies and processions to gain support. Hitler preyed on the different classes using different propaganda. The middle class had an understandable fear of communism; Hitler used this to persuade them that the Nazi party was a better alternative. He made promises to big businesses and they helped to pay for the Nazi party election campaigns.

He dropped his socialist ideals to suit them. One of the most striking images of the party was the swastika.It is easy to remember and copy and is dramatic. Hitler also preyed on the youths of Germany. He set up organisations for the young people giving them something to do and be proud of.

For the boys there was the Hitler Youth and for the girls there was the League of German Maidens. The purpose of these organisations is clear from the activities the children participated in; the boys were preparing for their future role as soldiers, and the girls were being groomed for their positions as wives and mothers. As well as this all young people were indoctrinated to be loyal supporters of Hitler and the Nazi party.Hitler's ascent to power was furthered by his paramilitary organisation called Sturm Arbeitung or Storm troopers.

They fought in the streets with the communists. The storm troopers protected Nazi party meetings and disrupted those of opposing parties. Many young people who were unemployed were drawn to the military element of the storm troopers. The storm troopers were organised and uniformed and gave something for the members to be proud of. If Hitler was ever asked about the violence he blamed the communists claiming the storm troopers were trying to keep the peace.

I think that all the factors have a part to play in Hitler's rise to power. I don't think that you can easily set one factor above the any other as they are closely linked. However, considering that Hitler had only twelve seats in 1928, the great depression is clearly of enormous significance. Hitler first gained attention due to the economic crisis in Germany in 1930, but without his ideas and skills as a party leader he would never have gained power. Hitler was an opportunist and used his all of his skills to make the best of a bad situation and seize power.