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Mistakes and weaknesses of the Nazis’ opponents

Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

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Page 1: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

Mistakes and weaknesses of the Nazis’ opponents

Page 2: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

There were numerous factors which helped the Nazis achieve

power, including mistakes made by groups that could

have otherwise stopped Hitler.

In particular, the SPD/KPD played a role, as did

Chancellors Bruning, Papen and Schleicher, as well as

President Hindenburg.

Page 3: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

KPD/SPD

The 1919 Spartacist Uprising led to a fallout between the two

main left parties in Germany:

• Communist Party (KPD)

• Social Democrats (SPD)

This split meant that the two would never again cooperate,

dividing the German Left.

Page 4: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

Much of Germany’s elite was opposed to Communism,

partly due to its ideologies and also the street violence that

they often engaged in.

The KPD never gained more than 20% of the vote, however it could have worked with the

SPD to form a government, but refused to do so.

Page 5: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

The problems this divide caused were most relevant in

the 1925 presidential election.

Left and Centre groups supported Wilhelm Marx,

whilst the Right backed Paul von Hindenburg. The

Communists stood their own candidate (Ernst Thalmann),

splitting the Left vote.

Page 6: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

In the second run-off ballot Hindenburg won with 48.3% of the vote, narrowly beating Marx with 45.3%. However

Thalmann got 6.4%.

If Marx rather than Hindenburg had been elected,

this may have changed how the government was run, and stopped Hitler taking power.

Page 7: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

The Soviet Union also had a strong influence. Many people that might have voted for the Communists were put off by their USSR

links. In addition the Soviets were also against working with Socialists, who they saw as impeding revolution.

Page 8: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

Heinrich Bruning

Bruning can be accused of inadvertently helping the Nazis

in three ways.

As Chancellor, Bruning struggled to get Reichstag

agreement and so relied on Article 48 decrees. This

created the precedent to allow others to do the same.

Page 9: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

The difficult of dealing with the Reichstag led Bruning to call

early elections, for September 1930. He hoped

this would solidify his position.

Instead however it saw a rise in extremist support – especially

for the Nazis – that made it even harder to govern, again

undermining confidence.

Page 10: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

Bruning's economic policies may also have helped boost

extremist support.

Some historians accuse him of deliberately using the economic crisis to force through his own beliefs (such as ending social

welfare). However this in turn caused anger in Germany, and

helped a Nazi surge.

Page 11: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

Franz von Papen

Papen did not support the idea of genuine democracy.

His government did not feature any members of the Reichstag, and so alienated any possibility

of their support.

His ‘government by decree’ again gave Hitler a future

precedent.

Page 12: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

Papen lifted the ban on the SA, which had limited some of the

Nazis’ work.

Papen also agreed to early elections – following a demand from Hitler – and the July 1932 election saw further Nazi gains, as well as subsequent demands

from Hitler to be made Chancellor.

Page 13: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

Papen’s actions in taking control of the Prussian state

government also boosted Hitler. The Left’s lack of

opposition to this hurt morale.

In addition it meant that Chancellor Hitler also ruled the

Prussian state, and used this precedent to take control of

others.

Page 14: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

Kurt von Schleicher

Schleicher has a major role in the Nazis’ rise to power.

Schleicher played a background role in the removal of Bruning

and Papen from power, by speaking to President

Hindenburg behind the scenes. These changes greatly unsettled

the Weimar regime.

Page 15: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

Schleicher also believed himself to be the strong leader

that Germany needed, but could not unite people behind

his ideas.

He angered the elite with his land reform proposals, and also failed to get the Left to back his views. Hindenburg also refused his request to rule by decree.

Page 16: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

Schleicher also missed a chance to boost his government’s

popularity.

On 20 January 1933, the Nazis’ asked to send the Reichstag into recess until a budget could be

presented (in the early Spring). However Schleicher wanted

only a short recess (ending 31 January).

Page 17: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

Schleicher wanted early elections, which Hindenburg

refused. He planned to resign but did agree a new public

works programme.

Due to influence from others – including Papen – Hindenburg decided to remove Schleicher

from power. This paved the way for Hitler to take power.

Page 18: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

Schleicher's error was in timing. His public works programme

began to have a positive impact in early-Spring, but Hitler got

credit for this.

If Schleicher had agreed to a longer Reichstag recess, it could have lifted some of the pressure

on him, and left him in a stronger position, including

with Hindenburg.

Page 19: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

Paul von Hindenburg

Hindenburg’s increasing use of presidential decrees gave

Hitler the precedent to do this when Chancellor.

However in simpler – and more important – terms,

Hindenburg’s most basic error was that he underestimated

Hitler’s abilities.

Page 20: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

Hindenburg did not respect Hitler – describing him as that

“Bohemian corporal” and regarding him as an “upstart” – but struggled to control him.

As more and more of Germany’s elite wanted Hitler in power, Hindenburg believed

he could do this and still control Hitler.

Page 21: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

Eventually Hindenburg agreed to make Hitler the Chancellor,

with Papen as Vice-Chancellor.

Hindenburg believed that Hitler would have to work with the

German elite, and reign in his extreme instincts. Papen even

said of Hitler that they had “hired him.” Both men were

proven wrong.

Page 22: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

It has also been suggested that Hindenburg appointed Hitler

for his own benefit.

A Reichstag investigation into the misuse of government

funds in the Osthilfe (Help for the East) programme was examining the President’s

estate (Neudeck). Hindenburg may have believed that Hitler would end the investigation.

Page 23: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

In many ways Hindenburg’s problems were caused not by misjudgements but old age.

Hindenburg was well into his 80s when Hitler took power and

had never wanted to stand for election a second time. However when he did so he did not have

the energy to deal with the job’s demands, and some historians

have said he was senile.

Page 24: Collapse of the Weimar Republic - mistakes and weaknesses of nazi opponents

Historians’ views

• Conan Fischer: The success of the Nazis was due to the elites miscalculating the influence and impact of Hitler.

• Mary Fulbrook: By 1933 most members of the elite wanted an authoritarian government and did not see Hitler as a danger.

• Ian Kershaw: Chance events and conservative miscalculation were more important than Hitler in the Nazis achieving power.

• Eugene Anderson: An elite group of Germans put the Nazis into power, wrongly believing that they could control them.