Analyse the methods used and the conditions which helped in the rise to power of one ruler of a single-party state. One of the most well-known Single Party States in history is Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler. There are various themes of single party states in his rise to power in the 1930s. The conditions in Germany then enabled Hitler to take advantage of a crisis, and, using a variety of methods, consolidate his power. Hitler used propaganda, elimination of the opposition, and a cult of personality to gain the support and trust of the German people in a time of economic crisis to his benefit and the rest of the world's loss.
However, despite clear use of his ability as an ideologue, Hitler’s rise to power and popularity is inversely proportional to the economic collapse, unemployment, instability and skepticism over the capacity of democracy to save Germany that did not bear his fingerprints. This clear instability of democratic Germany paved the way for an image of propaganda to be created, promoting the leftist, anti democratic and nationalistic views of the Nazi party that would perhaps solve the burdens placed upon Germany by democracy and ultimately, capture the imagination of millions. , The most important factor that allowed for Hitler’s rise to power was the evident instability of the Weimar republic. The political and economical fracturing of the Weimar republic was not influenced by the appeal of Hitler, instead it reassured understanding in Germany that there was a need to change. A clear economic issue was the inflation the Weimar economy witnessed.
Hitler’s While there was a brief “Golden Age” of economic upturn, the death of Gustav Stresemann and especially the Wall Street Crash put a quick end of this. The Great Depression, caused by the Wall Street Crash, was the greatest factor that allowed Hitler to rise to power. Many historians believe in this theory, and call it “Nazism as a response to a crisis.” The Great Depression also caused an array of other factors that are commonly enabling Hitler’s rise. These include failure of democracy,
Hitler’s rise to power in January of 1933 was not something which suddenly occurred overnight. Despite a rapid turn of events which lead to Hitler’s appointment of Chancellor (subsequently leading to the Nazi dictatorship), there were multiple turning points which enabled Hitler to gain power through clever manipulation of situations he was not responsible for and the use of his associates to his advantage. By 1929 Germany stumbled upon a calamity when the Wall Street crash occurred, affecting global economies. As most of the German loans were from America disaster struck when these were cut. Unemployment hurtled upwards from 1.5 million to 4.3 million in just one year and had risen to 6 million by 1932.
To what extent was Hitler crucial to the rise of the Nazi Party from 1923-1933? The Wall Street Crash that occurred in October 1929 would prove to be the largest stock market crash to ever occur up until this present day and would lead to the Great Depression that lasted 10 years effecting many countries but hitting Germany hardest due to their already unfavorable economic situation. With many of the worlds Western industrialized nations thrown into poverty including Germany, nations such as Germany and Italy turned to extremists such as Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler’s along with his Nazi Party who offered a differing opinion to the parties in power and a new way forward for the future. Adolf Hitler addressed all the problems that the people of Germany believed were not being addressed by the democracy of the Weimar Republic. Hitler’s firm stance against communism, his belief that a party should not represent a single class, his nationalistic appeal along with his aims for future Germany all added to the rise of the Nazi Party and consequently Hitler played a pivotal role in this uprising being the figure head for Germany’s apparent bright future.
Why did a dictatorship emerge in Germany in 1933 and not before? The Weimar Republic was bound to fail sooner or later given its weakness at birth and the values it was associated with however as to why Hitler was able to take power in 1933 and not before is an interesting question that requires much thought and attention. It has being proven throughout history that for extreme parties such as the NSDAP or the Communist party to gain mass support there has to be an economic crisis. The Nazi party was the one which eventually turned out ahead of the others, partly because of their leader, Adolf Hitler and partly because of their wider appeal and superior organisation. After it was proven that to rise to power through revolutions and coups (Spartacist revolt, Munich Beer Cellar putsch) was not practicable, economic crises offered these groups their only means to rise to power.
During the 20th century, the Germans faced an appalling economic depression and during that time, the people lost trust in their government, and taking advantage of this opportunity, Hitler rose to power. Germany became secluded, and to the German people, Hitler was their ultimate savior. In a matter of years, Hitler rapidly rose to power and boosted the economy. Hitler and his Nazi party rise to power was one of chance and circumstance. His alternative views struck chord with the people; he was able to channel Germany’s disgust for the Weimar Republic, Treaty of Versailles and minority groups into support for his National socialist Party.
When the Wall Street Crash happened in America in the October of 1929, the German economy heavily reliant on the USA was hit hard, and was one of the reasons why support for the central migrated to either left or right wing parties, however a number of different factors also have to be to blame for the arrival of Hitler becoming Chancellor. The American loans from the Young and Dawes plan were recalled, and American bank investment dried out, causing businesses to shut down, and therefore the number of unemployed and homeless rising, and so trade slumped, and the German people relied on charity. The inadequacy of the government was highlighted at the time because of the economic downfall; the government, headed by Hindenburg, decided to: raise taxes, reduce the wages of public officials, and reduced the unemployment benefits, and although for the long term these were good moves, the German people were not happy. The Germans were interested in having a strong leader, Stresemann after the abolishion of the monarchy fitted that role, however after his death in 1929, the people were not satisfied by who Hindenburg’s choices of Chancellors. Hindenburg first appointed Karl von Papen as Chancellor, but then replaced him with Schleicher, the two Chancellors had relative short stays, and did not have a lot of support from the people.
He was also under threat from other groups especially the Communist Party. After the Wall Street Crash ( October 1929) many people looked to extremist groups such as the Nazi and Communist Parties. People blamed the Social Democrats who were linked to the Weimar Republic for the economic failure and this is why popularity grew for the Nazi Party. It was essential to gain a two thirds majority in the Reichstag if Hitler hoped to pass any laws of his own. So one of the first things Hitler did after becoming Chancellor was to dissolve the Reichstag and call for a fresh election on the 5th March 1933.
How Nazis influenced Germany from 1934 Before 1934, Germany was in turmoil. Unemployment was up at about 6,000,000; inflation caused money to be worthless, the goverment was at disarray, and Germany was at the mercy of the Treaty of Versailles. Once Hitler and the Nazis came to power though, all of this changed. They gave Germany a sense of hope, discipline and leadership. Together they changed Germany from a country that was on the brink of anarchy; to a country with a sense of direction.