How did the Depression Help the Nazis?

1a. Source 37:
This source could be used to support either view; it could support that the people supported the Nazis because they were against the issue of unemployment, or it could support that people thought the Nazis were best fit to solve that problem and as it grew, so did their support.

1b. Source 38:

This source clearly supports Goebbels' position, because it was about someone gaining support for the Nazis by seeing the storm troopers' parade. That wasn't about a mutual fear or hatred with the Nazis, but about a positive quality the Nazis had.

1c. Source 39:

This source supports Craig's point of view, because it shows the Nazis opposition to the Treaty of Versailles. This was a dislike that probably all of Germany shared with the Nazis.

1d. Source 40:

This supports Goebbels' position because it shows the size of the Nazi rallies and how much support the Nazis had. It showed a positive trait of the Nazis.

1e. Source 41:

This supports Craig's argument, because it shows the evils of the Communist Party, who were the Nazis' enemies. The Communist Party was a mutual fear and hatred between the Nazis and many people.

1f. Source 43:
This source can easily support both arguments, because it shows both positives about the Nazis and negatives about its opponents. It shows the good things that the Nazi party is promising, while it shows that the other parties are bad and corrupt.

2.
A large part reason for the Nazis' gaining support was opposing the things that the German people also opposed.

• They opposed the Treaty of Versailles, which was the main cause of Germany's crisis apart from the Great Depression
• They attacked the violent Communist Party and its evils, as in source 41
• Also attacked the Weimar system and the democratic leaders for not getting anything done in improving the country
• They feared that traditional German values were in danger

Scale of 1-5 with 5 being you agree fully.
3a. Score: 4 Very few people fully supported the Nazis.
Explain your score:

Although the Nazis had gained a lot of support, that was only after the country fell into the Great Depression, and when the people realized that the system they had hoped for before wasn't working. The people supported the Nazis because they promised to solve the country's problems and they opposed many of the right things.

3b. Score: 5 The key factor was the economic depression. Without it, the Nazis would have remained a minority fringe party.
Explain your score:
The Great Depression is how the Nazis got people to support them, because it's what got people thinking that the democratic Weimar system wasn't working, and they needed a stronger force to take control and bring the country back to prosperity. The Nazis promised to provide this strong leadership and save Germany from its depression.

3c. Score: 2 The politicians of the Weimar Republic were mainly responsible for the rise of the Nazis.
Explain your score:

The politicians of the Weimar Republic were largely responsible for the rise of the Nazis because they were unable to support the country by democratic means, which made the people turn to a more radical solution and support the Nazis, and they also appointed Hitler as chancellor, thinking that would make him adapt their ideals. They were horribly wrong, of course, and once Hitler was chancellor, he was set to take power of Germany. However, many other factors were equally, or even more important than the Weimar Republic politicians. The Great Depression was used to the Nazis advantage to gain support, and Hitler had good leadership qualities. Plus, the Nazis promised to save the country, which is what the people wanted. Naturally, the Nazis' support grew as the people turned to a more radical solution when the democratic alternative failed.

Jan. '33: Hitler is Appointed Chancellor

1. Why did Hinderburg's advisers agree to the appointment of Hitler1933 as chancellor in January 1933?

Hindenburg's advisors agreed to the appointment of Hitler as chancellor in January 1933 because they believed that he was declining in power, and that made him seem like a passing figure. They thought that appointing him as chancellor would surround him with responsible conservative ministers, who would tame him. They believed that Hitler would come to support them, and his followers would do the same after him.

2. Why is the term "totalitarianism" used to describe Nazi Germany?

The term "totalitarianism" is used to describe Nazi Germany because the Nazis took control of every single aspect of German society.

3. Why did the Enabling Law allow Hitler to overcome the constitutional restraints of the Weimar system?
The Enabling Law allowed Hitler to create laws that went against the Weimar Constitution, and since he could create laws without passing them through the president, he had the power to change the Weimar system however he wanted.

4. What was the goal of Goebbels' Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda?

The goal of Goebbels' Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda was to turn the people of Germany against the Weimar system and in favor of Hitler and the Nazis.

5. How did Hitler destroy potential sources of opposition?

Hitler destroyed potential sources of opposition by outlawing opposing parties and passing laws that restricted the power of any potential opposition, and granting that power to him. He also restricted people's rights and citizenship.

6. Which laws served as the first steps in Hitler's plan to eliminate Germany's Jewish community?

The Law for the Protection of German Blood and Honor, which made marriage between Germans and Jews illegal, and the Supplementary Decree on Citizenship, which made Jews unable to be German citizens