The Great Depression and Nazi propaganda (1929-32)
In May 1928 the Nazi Party won 12 seats in the election. By September 1930 they had 107. Why?
What was the Wall Street Crash? (1929)
- In October 1929, the stock market crashed in the USA. Individuals, banks and businesses in America lost huge amounts of money.
- American bankers recalled the loans made to Germany under the Dawes Plan, leaving Germany with no money.
- International trade fell rapidly, so Germany couldn’t earn money from exports.
- German factories didn’t need to produce as much, so they closed and sacked workers, causing high unemployment. Farmers, who were already struggling, were hit too.
How was Germany affected?
| Economic | Social | Political |
|---|---|---|
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Brüning, the "Hunger Chancellor"
Heinrich Brüning was Chancellor from 1930 to 1932. He refused to print more money (remembering 1923), so instead he raised taxes and cut wages and benefits for the poor and unemployed. This increased people’s suffering. He couldn’t get the Reichstag to agree, so President Hindenburg had to run Germany using Article 48, which was unpopular and undermined democracy.
The Depression played into the hands of the Nazis: people were desperate and wanted a saviour. Hitler offered extreme solutions to the extreme problems the crash created.
Nazi election results
| 1928 | September 1930 | July 1932 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 seats | 107 seats | 230 seats - the largest party in the Reichstag |
Propaganda
Propaganda - information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view.
Joseph Goebbels (you MUST know him for the exam) joined the Nazi Party in 1924 and was put in charge of propaganda. In 1933 he became Minister of Enlightenment and Propaganda.
The Nazis used propaganda very well to advertise themselves as the party to solve all of Germany’s problems:
- Posters, newspapers and leaflets
- Huge rallies and meetings
- Radio broadcasts and films
- SA soup kitchens and shelters for the unemployed
- The "Hitler over Germany" campaign, where Hitler flew between cities to speak at several rallies a day
Hitler used his great speaking talents to promote himself as the saviour of Germany. He came across as a dynamic and powerful leader.
Key propaganda messages
- Hitler is a saviour who can solve Germany’s problems and make the country great again - he provides hope
- The Nazis can defend Germany from the threat of communism
- The Nazis will bring change and build a better future, and help the unemployed
- The Weimar Republic has failed and is responsible for all of Germany’s problems
They targeted different groups with different messages, e.g. "work and bread" for the working class, and promising to eliminate communism, which appealed to farmers, the middle classes and businessmen. Hitler also promised to tear up the Treaty of Versailles.
How did the SA help the rise of the Nazis?
- The SA was the Nazis’ private army, set up in 1921, known as the "Brownshirts" because of their uniform, and led by Ernst Röhm
- More than half its members were unemployed, and many were former WWI soldiers. The SA gave them food and sometimes a home.
- They protected Nazi meetings, made the Nazis look strong and organised, and beat up opponents, especially the Communists, who would naturally appeal to workers
Question tip
A common debate: was the Nazis’ rise due more to economic problems (the Wall Street Crash and Depression) or Hitler’s appeal (propaganda, the SA and his speeches)? Think about how effective the propaganda would have been without the crash: the Nazis only had 12 seats in 1928, when the economy was doing well.