The rise of Nazism marked the collapse of democratic Germany and the Weimar Republic, paving the way for Hitler’s totalitarian dictatorship by 1933.
The Appeal of Nazism
Nazi Ideology
Nazism presented a compelling ideology that promised to restore Germany’s former greatness after the perceived humiliation of the First World War and the Treaty of Versailles. Its main tenets included:
Ultranationalism: Advocated for the unification of all German-speaking peoples and the rejection of Versailles restrictions.
Anti-Semitism: Blamed Jews for Germany’s economic woes and social decline, promoting racist policies as a ‘solution’.
Anti-communism: Strongly opposed communism, which attracted support from industrialists and conservatives who feared a leftist revolution.
Führerprinzip: Promoted a strong, charismatic leader — Hitler — as the embodiment of the nation’s will and a saviour from chaos.
This clear, emotive ideology offered scapegoats and simple solutions to Germany’s complex crises.
Anti-Communism and Nationalism
The fear of communism gripped many sections of German society, especially after the Russian Revolution of 1917 and Germany’s own left-wing uprisings. The Nazis:
Portrayed themselves as the last bulwark against a communist takeover.
Won the backing of the middle classes, industrialists, and rural landowners anxious about land seizure or class warfare.
Capitalised on nationalist resentment against the ‘November Criminals’ who signed the Armistice in 1918 and accepted the Treaty of Versailles.
This strong nationalist and anti-communist rhetoric resonated deeply with a population longing for stability and revived pride.
Hitler’s Personal Leadership
Central to Nazi success was Adolf Hitler’s charisma and oratory skills. He was perceived as:
A dynamic leader who could inspire and unite fractured political factions.
A war hero, which lent him credibility among veterans and nationalists.
A persuasive speaker capable of drawing massive crowds with passionate speeches.
His personal appeal gave the Nazi Party a clear figurehead around whom disillusioned voters could rally.
Nazi Propaganda, SA Intimidation and Electoral Strategy
Mastery of Propaganda
Under Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda machine skilfully manipulated public opinion. Strategies included:
Striking posters and slogans that connected with ordinary Germans.
Large rallies and parades designed to demonstrate unity and power.
Use of modern media — radio broadcasts and cinema newsreels — to spread Hitler’s message widely.
Propaganda adapted its tone depending on the audience, emphasising different aspects (national unity, fear of communism, economic recovery) to appeal to varied voter groups.
Role of the SA
The Sturmabteilung (SA), or Brownshirts, played a vital role in creating an atmosphere of fear and suppressing opposition. They:
Disrupted rival political meetings through violence and intimidation.
Clashed with communist paramilitary groups, presenting the Nazis as protectors of order.
Paraded through streets, projecting an image of discipline and strength.
This aggressive street presence intimidated voters and gave the impression that the Nazis were a force to be reckoned with.
Electoral Tactics
From the late 1920s, the Nazis refined their approach to elections:
They formed coalitions with other right-wing groups when advantageous.
Targeted propaganda at specific demographics: farmers, workers disillusioned with socialism, and conservative elites.
Exploited economic crises — especially during the Great Depression — promising jobs, bread, and national revival.
By appearing both radical and respectable, they broadened their support base across classes and regions.
Failure of Democracy: Papen, Schleicher and Hindenburg
Political Instability
The late Weimar years saw increasing reliance on presidential decrees under Article 48 due to a deadlocked Reichstag. Chancellors depended more on President Hindenburg than on parliamentary support.
Franz von Papen and Kurt von Schleicher
Papen, a conservative aristocrat, was appointed Chancellor in 1932 despite minimal support in the Reichstag. He attempted to rule by decree but failed to control the Reichstag majority.
Schleicher, Papen’s successor, tried to divide the Nazi Party by negotiating with its ‘left wing’ (e.g., Gregor Strasser). This failed, weakening Schleicher’s authority.
Both men underestimated Hitler, believing they could manipulate him for their own ends.
Hindenburg’s Role
President Paul von Hindenburg, aged and politically conservative, distrusted Hitler personally but was persuaded by Papen and other elites to appoint him Chancellor in January 1933. They assumed:
Hitler could be controlled within a coalition dominated by traditional conservatives.
The Nazi mass movement could be harnessed to suppress leftist threats and stabilise government.
This fatal miscalculation effectively destroyed Germany’s last democratic defences.
Events of 1933: Securing Nazi Power
Reichstag Fire
On 27 February 1933, the Reichstag building was set ablaze. A Dutch communist, Marinus van der Lubbe, was arrested, giving the Nazis a pretext to:
Claim a communist conspiracy to overthrow the state.
Persuade Hindenburg to sign the Reichstag Fire Decree, suspending civil liberties and allowing mass arrests of communists and political opponents.
This decree silenced much of the opposition ahead of crucial elections.
Enabling Act
With communist deputies barred and many intimidated, the Nazis secured enough votes to pass the Enabling Act on 23 March 1933. This Act:
Gave Hitler’s government the power to enact laws without Reichstag approval.
Effectively dismantled parliamentary democracy.
Laid the legal foundation for Hitler’s dictatorship.
Banning Political Parties and Suppressing Opposition
Following the Enabling Act:
Trade unions were dissolved and replaced with the German Labour Front, removing a key base of socialist resistance.
The Social Democratic Party (SPD) was banned in June 1933; other parties were coerced into dissolution.
By July 1933, Germany had become a one-party state, with the Nazi Party declared the only legal political organisation.
Dissenters faced arrest, intimidation, or worse, ensuring total political control.
Germany by March 1933
By the end of March 1933, the Weimar Republic no longer functioned as a democracy:
Political pluralism was eradicated, with opposition parties dissolved and independent unions banned.
Civil liberties, including freedom of speech and assembly, were suspended indefinitely under the Reichstag Fire Decree.
Nazi terror, orchestrated by the SA and newly empowered SS, kept critics silent through intimidation and violence.
The judiciary and civil service were swiftly purged of non-Nazi elements, ensuring state institutions aligned with Hitler’s regime.
While Hitler was not yet an absolute dictator in the legal sense, the foundations of totalitarian rule were firmly in place, marking the definitive end of the Weimar Republic.
FAQ
The Great Depression devastated Germany’s economy, leading to mass unemployment, business failures, and severe poverty. By 1932, over six million Germans were jobless, creating widespread desperation and disillusionment with traditional parties that seemed incapable of relief. The Nazis exploited this crisis by presenting themselves as a dynamic alternative promising work, bread, and national revival. Their promises resonated with all social classes: unemployed workers saw hope for jobs, middle-class shopkeepers feared bankruptcy and viewed the Nazis as protectors against communism, and industrialists saw them as a bulwark against strikes and socialist policies. Nazi slogans and propaganda powerfully linked economic hardship to the failures of the Weimar system and the threat of leftist revolution. Hitler’s rallies addressed economic grievances directly, pledging to dismantle reparations, boost industry, and expand the military to generate jobs. As economic desperation deepened, the Nazis capitalised effectively, transforming suffering into votes and positioning themselves as Germany’s only hope for recovery and stability.
Nazi propaganda was highly sophisticated and tailored to appeal to various sections of German society, maximising electoral gains. For rural farmers, the Nazis promised protection against falling agricultural prices and debts, portraying themselves as defenders of traditional values and rural livelihoods. Among urban workers disenchanted with the communists and socialists, the Nazis spoke of restoring national pride, creating employment, and protecting wages, carefully avoiding overtly anti-worker rhetoric. The middle classes, fearful of social unrest and moral decline, were reassured by Nazi vows to uphold order, discipline, and moral regeneration. For industrialists and business owners, propaganda stressed anti-communism, economic stability, and suppression of strikes. Youth-focused campaigns portrayed the Nazis as a fresh, energetic movement offering purpose and adventure. Women were targeted with messages about family, motherhood, and safeguarding future generations. By skilfully adjusting slogans, leaflets, and speeches to each audience, Nazi propagandists ensured that different social groups saw Hitler’s party as aligned with their distinct interests and hopes.
Many conservative elites, including influential politicians, industrialists, and military leaders, underestimated Hitler, viewing him more as a tool than an independent force. They believed that once in power, Hitler’s radical populist tendencies could be restrained by experienced statesmen in the cabinet and President Hindenburg’s authority. Franz von Papen, in particular, was convinced that surrounding Hitler with conservative ministers would neutralise Nazi extremism while allowing conservatives to benefit from Nazi popularity to stabilise government and marginalise the left. Elites imagined Hitler as a mouthpiece to rally the masses, while real power would remain with traditional figures like Papen and Hindenburg. Additionally, they shared some ideological common ground with the Nazis, especially anti-communism and nationalism, which made cooperation appear practical. This gross miscalculation ignored Hitler’s cunning, determination, and the loyalty of the Nazi movement. Once Chancellor, Hitler rapidly outmanoeuvred them, marginalising conservative allies, consolidating power, and transforming Germany into a totalitarian state beyond their control.
Before Hitler’s rise to power, the SA (Sturmabteilung) was central to Nazi street politics, disrupting opponents’ rallies, intimidating voters, and projecting Nazi strength. Their uniformed presence and violent tactics made them feared and gave an impression of unstoppable momentum. However, once Hitler became Chancellor in January 1933, the SA’s role began to shift. Initially, they continued suppressing political opponents, especially communists and trade unionists, consolidating Nazi dominance through terror and street violence. Yet, the SA leadership, under Ernst Röhm, aimed to transform the SA into Germany’s new national army, challenging the existing Reichswehr. Röhm’s radical ambitions for a ‘second revolution’ worried conservative elites, the military, and Hitler himself, who now needed the army’s support to solidify power. Tensions rose as the SA’s unruly actions threatened Hitler’s alliance with the army and conservative backers. This conflict culminated in the Night of the Long Knives in 1934, where Röhm and other SA leaders were purged to reassure the army and cement Hitler’s total control.
The Reichstag Fire Decree, issued on 28 February 1933, had a profound impact on civil liberties and everyday life in Germany. Officially titled the Decree for the Protection of People and State, it suspended key constitutional rights, including freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and privacy of postal and telephone communications. This legal basis allowed the Nazis to arrest political opponents, especially communists and socialists, without due process. Newspapers critical of the regime were banned or heavily censored, silencing dissenting voices. Public meetings and rallies of opposition groups were forbidden, dismantling organised resistance. Ordinary citizens faced increased surveillance; the Gestapo and police could search homes and detain people indefinitely. Fear permeated daily life, as neighbours, co-workers, or even family members could be informants. While presented as a necessary measure against a supposed communist uprising, the decree effectively destroyed the rule of law and civil freedoms, paving the way for the Nazis to eliminate pluralism and rule through intimidation and control.
Practice Questions
To what extent was the appeal of Nazism based on fear rather than genuine support?
While fear undeniably amplified the Nazi rise, genuine support played an equally significant role. Fear emerged from SA intimidation, street violence, and the threat of communist revolution, persuading many to favour Hitler as a stabilising force. However, Nazi ideology, promises of national revival, and Hitler’s charismatic leadership inspired authentic enthusiasm. Effective propaganda convinced voters of economic recovery and restored pride. Many Germans willingly embraced Nazi nationalism and anti-communism, not solely out of fear but out of belief in radical change. Thus, both fear and genuine support were crucial in equal measure for Nazi success.
Explain how the events of 1933 contributed to the dismantling of the Weimar Republic.
The events of 1933 were pivotal in destroying Germany’s fragile democracy. The Reichstag Fire allowed the Nazis to crush communist opposition through the Fire Decree, suspending civil rights. Exploiting this, Hitler manipulated elections and intimidation to secure the Enabling Act, giving him dictatorial powers. Banning political parties and independent unions removed any organised resistance, ensuring Nazi political monopoly. Simultaneously, the SA and SS terrorised dissenters, consolidating control over society. By purging opponents and aligning state institutions with Nazi ideology, Hitler eradicated democratic governance. Collectively, these actions dismantled the Weimar Republic and replaced it with authoritarian rule.
