GCSE · History · AQA · Spec 8145

Failure of Weimar democracy and Hitler's appointment

The Nazis were Germany's biggest party by July 1932, yet Hitler wasn't chancellor. So who handed him the job six months later?

History · Germany and the Depression

How did we get from Wall Street to a chancellor Hitler?

Seven things pushed Germany towards January 1933. Draw the arrows you think are real: which factor fed into which? Then compare your web with the lesson's.

  1. Wall Street Crash and loss of American loans
  2. Mass unemployment
  3. Reichstag deadlock and rule by Article 48
  4. Communist (KPD) support and fear of communism
  5. Growing Nazi support (propaganda and Hitler's appeal)
  6. Conservative elites' plan to control Hitler
  7. Hitler appointed chancellor, January 1933 (outcome)
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Exam line: Link the factors in a sentence: 'The Depression caused mass unemployment, which the Nazis exploited to gain support.'

History · The Depression hits Germany

How big was the despair?

By 1932, roughly how many Germans were out of work?

Your estimate

5 million

0 million10 million

The two extremes: KPD vs Nazis

Tap each topic. Look for what's different, then for what they share.

Communist Party (KPD)

Many unemployed workers. The KPD did well in the Reichstag elections of 1930 and 1932, and its membership grew by 1932.

Nazi Party

Many Germans, especially the middle class, business owners and conservatives. Nazi propaganda also targeted workers, farmers and the middle class.

Shared ground

Both gained ground as the Depression bit and Weimar democracy failed.

History · The road to January 1933

Put the road to power in order

Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.

1 · Earliest7 · Latest

  1. Hindenburg and Papen make Hitler chancellor (January 1933)

  2. Hitler loses the presidential election to Hindenburg but wins 37% of the vote (April 1932)

  3. Hitler plans new elections for March 1933, hoping to win a majority

  4. Brüning becomes chancellor (March 1930)

  5. The Nazis are the largest party, but Hindenburg refuses to make Hitler chancellor (by July 1932)

  6. The Nazis surge to 107 seats and become the second largest party (September 1930)

  7. Papen and Schleicher, Hindenburg's conservative allies, both fail as the Nazis refuse to cooperate

History · Hitler's appointment

Which one sounds like you?

It's January 1933 and Hitler has just become chancellor of Germany.

How did that happen? Pick the idea closest to what you think, then say how sure you are.
How sure are you?

History · Your turn

Write it, then mark it

Explain why Hitler was appointed chancellor in January 1933. [4 marks]

0 words · your answer stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

Exam line: Join the points with words like 'which meant' and 'so', so your answer explains rather than lists.

WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED

A quick recap of today's lesson.

Despair and deadlock opened the door. Conservative elites, thinking they could control him, let him through.

What you need to know

  • The Wall Street Crash of 1929 triggered the Great Depression, and it quickly devastated Germany's economy.
  • Germany relied on short-term American loans. When they were called in, businesses, factories and banks collapsed and mass unemployment followed.
  • Have a goA classmate says the Wall Street Crash was America's problem and German factories carried on fine. Using what you just read, how would you put them right?

    Germany relied on short-term American loans. When they were called in, German businesses, factories and banks collapsed.

    The Crash reached Germany through the loans: Germany's economy depended on them, and short-term loans can be demanded back quickly.

  • Brüning became chancellor in March 1930. His cuts to spending, wages and benefits, and his tax rises, made the crisis worse.
  • Deadlock means no party or group has a clear majority, so nothing can get passed or decided.
  • The Reichstag was deadlocked, so Brüning used Hindenburg's emergency powers under Article 48 to pass laws, which weakened trust in democracy.
  • As unemployment soared, the Nazis gained support by exploiting economic despair and the failures of Weimar democracy.
  • Many unemployed workers turned to the KPD. Many middle-class Germans, business owners and conservatives feared communism and backed the Nazis instead.
  • Have a goHerr Weber owns a small factory and lies awake worrying about a violent revolution. Who is he more likely to back: the KPD or the Nazis?

    The Nazis, as a defence against communism.

    The KPD drew many unemployed workers. Business owners and the middle class were the ones more likely to fear communism and back the Nazis.

  • The Nazis did not rise through fear alone: propaganda, Hitler's appeal and democratic failures mattered too, and many voted for them willingly.
  • By July 1932 the Nazis were the largest party, but Hindenburg refused to make Hitler chancellor. Papen, then Schleicher, tried and failed.
  • In January 1933 Hindenburg and Papen appointed Hitler, thinking a conservative-dominant cabinet could control him.
  • Have a goThe Nazis became the largest party in July 1932 and Hitler was appointed in January 1933. About how many months did he wait, and what happened in between?

    About six months. Papen and then Schleicher tried and failed, then Hindenburg and Papen appointed Hitler.

    The Nazis' strength alone did not give Hitler the job: Hindenburg refused until his conservative allies had failed.

The big picture

The Depression wrecked Germany's economy and pushed millions towards the extremes, while a deadlocked Reichstag lost people's trust in democracy. Hitler was not elected chancellor. Hindenburg and Papen appointed him in January 1933, thinking a conservative-dominant cabinet could control him.

Key points

1Hitler was appointed chancellor by Hindenburg and Papen in January 1933. He was not elected to the job.
2The Depression devastated Germany's economy, and mass unemployment pushed support towards both the KPD and the Nazis.
3Deadlock in the Reichstag and rule by Article 48 weakened trust in democracy.
4The Nazis rose through economic despair, propaganda, Hitler's appeal and democratic failures, not fear alone, and many voted for them willingly.
5The Nazis were the largest party by July 1932, but Hindenburg only appointed Hitler after Papen and Schleicher failed, thinking a conservative-dominant cabinet could control him.

Worked example

Problem

Explain how the deadlock in the Reichstag helped the Nazis.

⚠ Watch out

Writing that Hitler was elected chancellor, or that the Nazis took power through fear and violence alone. He was appointed by Hindenburg and Papen, and the Nazis also rose through economic despair, propaganda, Hitler's appeal and democratic failures.

🧠

Memory hook

Despair built the crowd, deadlock jammed the system, and the elites opened the door. Appointed, not elected.

✓

Check yourself

In your own words: why does it matter that the Nazis were already the largest party months before Hitler was appointed chancellor?

Flashcards

(15)
Why did the Wall Street Crash hit Germany so hard?
Germany relied on short-term American loans. American banks demanded immediate repayment, and the fragile Weimar economy had no way to pay.
How many Germans were unemployed by 1932?
About 6 million, nearly one in three workers.
Who became chancellor in March 1930, and what did his policies do?
Heinrich Brüning. Cutting spending, wages and benefits and raising taxes made the crisis worse.
What is a deadlock in politics?
No party or group has a clear majority, so nothing can get passed or decided.
What was Article 48?
A part of the constitution giving the president emergency powers. Brüning used Hindenburg's powers to pass laws without the Reichstag's approval, which weakened trust in democracy.
Why did many unemployed workers turn to the KPD?
It promised them control over the economy: control of the state and industries, and a redistribution of power to the working class.
Why did many middle-class Germans, business owners and conservatives back the Nazis?
They feared communism and a violent revolution, and saw the Nazis as a defence against it.
Who led Nazi propaganda, and who did it target?
Goebbels. It used rallies, posters and media to target workers, farmers and the middle class.
What did the SA do, and who often favoured the Nazis?
The SA used violence and intimidation to silence opponents. The police and courts often favoured the Nazis.
What made Hitler appeal to so many Germans?
His charisma and modern campaign tactics made him seem Germany's only hope for stability. He presented himself as a strong leader who could restore Germany's greatness.
What were the Nazis' two big election results in 1930 and 1932?
September 1930: 107 seats, second largest party. April 1932: Hitler lost the presidential election to Hindenburg but won 37% of the vote.
What did Hindenburg do in July 1932, when the Nazis were the largest party?
He refused to make Hitler chancellor, fearing extremism.
Who were Papen and Schleicher, and what happened to them?
Conservative allies Hindenburg turned to. Papen was a wealthy aristocrat and former army officer with little popular support. Schleicher was a senior army officer who worked behind the scenes. Both failed as the Nazis refused to cooperate.
Who appointed Hitler chancellor, and why?
President Hindenburg and Papen, in January 1933. They thought a conservative-dominant cabinet could control him.
How much power did Hitler have as chancellor in January 1933?
Limited. He led a fragile coalition without a Reichstag majority, and Hindenburg still had real authority. He planned new elections for March 1933 hoping to secure a majority.

Tap any card to flip it, or use Study as deck to go through them one at a time. In the full lesson these run as a spaced-repetition deck — you rate each card Hard, Good or Easy and the tricky ones keep coming back until they stick.

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