Why Did the Nazis have Little Success Before 1930? | History for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Why did the Nazi Party Lose Support Between 1924 and 1928? - Summary

• Historians refer to the period from 1924 to 1928 as ‘The Lean Years’ for the Nazi Party. During this time, the German public viewed the NSDAP as a small, extremist group, especially after the Munich Putsch.
• There is a clear connection between the ‘Golden Age’ of the Weimar Republic and the ‘Lean Years’ of the Nazi Party. Extremist parties tend to thrive when a country’s economy or political leadership is failing. The public is more inclined to consider extreme solutions if a moderate government appears ineffective. The Weimar Republic's recovery, facilitated by Stresemann’s policies, reduced the need for the NSDAP, leading to a decline in support for Hitler’s party.
• Despite losing support, Hitler used the years from 1924 to 1928 to reorganize the party. He learned significant lessons from the Munich Putsch and wanted to ensure the NSDAP was prepared to capitalize on any future political or economic crises in Germany. Without these ‘Lean Years’, the Nazi Party would not have been poised to exploit the effects of the Wall Street Crash on Germany starting in 1930.

The Munich Putsch

• Hitler decided in November 1923 that the NSDAP was prepared to govern Germany. Support for the Nazi Party surged as the Weimar government failed to resolve the hyperinflation crisis, leading many to seek answers from extremist factions.
• Hitler had studied past failed putsches by groups like the Freikorps and the Spartacists and understood that military and police backing were crucial for success.
• General Ludendorff, a respected military figure, was included in the putsch to garner army support.
• Police support was also necessary for the success of the putsch.

Why Did the Munich Putsch Fail?

• When Hitler left the beer hall, he entrusted Ludendorff with overseeing the Bavarian officials. Unfortunately, Ludendorff's failure to retain the support of key figures like Kahr, Seisser, and Lossow meant that the putsch lacked official backing. As a result, the German army easily subdued the SA.
• Despite realizing he had lost the backing of Bavarian officials, Hitler persisted with the putsch. However, with only 2,000 guns at their disposal, the NSDAP and its supporters were ill-equipped to resist the German army's counterattack.
• Although General Ludendorff was involved in the putsch, the army remained loyal to the government, further weakening the NSDAP's position.
• Hitler's hasty execution of the Munich Putsch was influenced by the concurrent hyperinflation crisis. Delaying the putsch could have allowed for better planning and increased chances of success.
• For the putsch to succeed, Hitler needed broader support from the Bavarian populace. While many Munich citizens did not actively oppose the uprising, they also refrained from actively endorsing it.

Outcomes Following the Munich Putsch

• Subsequent to their apprehension, Hitler and General Ludendorff faced a trial for engaging in high treason. High treason stands as one of the gravest offenses an individual can commit.
• In February 1924, Hitler opted to represent himself during the trial proceedings. Typically, individuals would enlist legal representation to advocate their innocence before the court. Hitler aimed to leverage his oratory skills in his defense.
• Despite being found guilty, Hitler's strategy during the trial led to some measure of success for him.

The Lean Years of the Nazi Party, 1924-1928

While imprisoned in Landsberg Prison, Hitler penned Mein Kampf ('My Struggle').

• During this time, he contemplated the fundamental principles that should define the Nazi Party.
• Hitler dictated the manuscript to Rudolf Hess, who would later become a deputy in the party.
• Mein Kampf was published in July 1925, marking Hitler's articulation of his political ideology and aspirations for Germany.

Key Beliefs in Mein Kampf

Reorganizing the Nazi Party, 1924-1928

• Following his release from prison, Hitler, having served only nine months of his five-year sentence, encountered a more lenient judicial system, especially towards right-wing offenders.
• In February 1925, the government lifted the ban on the NSDAP, leading to Hitler's relaunch of the party on the 27th of February in the same year.
• The failed Munich Putsch prompted Hitler to reconsider the party's structure and organization for enhanced electability.
• To boost the Nazi Party's appeal to the masses, clearer internal systems were deemed necessary.

• Hitler's Division of Germany into 35 Regions (Gaue):
  • Hitler divided Germany into 35 regions known as gaue, corresponding to those established by the Weimar government.
• Appointment of Gauleiters:
  • Each gau had a gauleiter, a local Nazi Party leader, appointed by Nazi members in the region through competitive means.
  • Hitler endorsed a 'survival of the fittest' ideology, where the most determined individual would secure the position.
  • Example: Strasser's rise as a prominent gauleiter in North Germany.
• Support from Business Owners:
  • Hitler sought funding for the national party from business magnates sharing his nationalist vision for Germany.
  • Major corporations like Thyssen, Krupp, and Bosch financially backed the Nazi Party.
  • Reasoning: Business owners believed Hitler's influence over workers would curb the power of trade unions and prevent unreasonable demands.
  • Concerns over Communism: Trade unions, linked to Communism, posed a threat to profits if allowed to gain strength.

The Creation of the SS

• By 1925, Hitler was losing confidence in the SA, which had grown to 400,000 members under the increased control of Ernst Röhm, particularly during Hitler's imprisonment.
• The SA's unruliness and reputation as violent thugs were problematic, especially to middle- and upper-class Germans, hindering the NSDAP's electability.
• To rectify this, Hitler took two key steps to strengthen his paramilitary forces:
  • He sent Ernst Röhm abroad, only to have him return to the Nazi Party in 1930.
  • Hitler established a new private army called the Schutzstaffel (SS), meaning 'Protection Squad'. Unlike the SA, the SS was much smaller and wore distinctive black uniforms starting in 1932. This intimidating appearance appealed to many but also led others to view them with apprehension.
• The SS distinguished itself from the SA by its more disciplined and less violent behavior. Selected and trusted by Hitler, SS members served as his personal bodyguards. Heinrich Himmler, a highly trusted party member, was appointed head of the SS. Under his leadership, the SS grew to 3,000 members by 1930.

The Bamberg Conference, 1926

• Hitler began to notice a division within the Nazi Party between its ‘nationalist’ and ‘socialist’ factions.
• In North Germany, gauleiters Strasser and Goebbels were gaining workers' support by highlighting the socialist aspects of the NSDAP and criticizing local businessmen.
• In South Germany, where Hitler was based, Nazi leaders focused on the nationalist aspects, advocating for a strong state and promoting anti-Semitism.
• In 1926, Hitler convened a party conference in Bamberg, Bavaria.
• The southern location of the conference meant that most attendees were southern gauleiters.
• Key outcomes of the Bamberg Conference included:
  • Hitler denounced the ‘socialist’ faction of the NSDAP as "Communists," branding them enemies of the party.
  • This declaration weakened the socialist elements of the NSDAP, aligning the party's policies more closely with Hitler's views in Mein Kampf.
  • Hitler convinced Goebbels to shift allegiance to the ‘nationalist’ faction of the party.
  • Strasser felt betrayed by Goebbels, leading to a loss of Hitler's trust in Strasser. In 1934, Strasser was killed during a purge of the Nazi leadership.
  • Hitler promoted Goebbels to gauleiter of Berlin.
• The Bamberg Conference enabled Hitler to develop new policies with a greater emphasis on nationalist themes, such as:
  • Reminding Germans of the ‘dolchstoss’ (stab-in-the-back) by the Weimar government in 1919, campaigning for revenge against the ‘November Criminals’ who ended the First World War and signed the Treaty of Versailles.
  • Accusing Jewish people of being ‘enemies of Germany’ and blaming them for all of Germany's problems.
  • Promoting a return to traditional values.

Why was There Limited Support for the Nazi Party?

• By 1929, the NSDAP had 100,000 members
• Despite this success, historians call this period 'The Lean Years'. In the May 1928 election, the Nazi Party only won 12 seats (roughly 3% of the overall votes). They were the seventh biggest party in the Reichstag