The rise to power of Hitler and the Nazis is a fascinating and extremely popular issue. Indeed, it appears on exam papers with an almost monotonous regularity. Hence, it is worth studying thoroughly. Clearly you have, first, to decide when the rise began and, then, when it was complete. Then you will know the period on which to focus. You also need to consider a wide variety of factors to explain it.

First, you must grapple with the question of when Hitler’s rise to power began. Its roots can be traced a long way into the past. Be aware of the vital importance of the First World War. Germany’s defeat was a watershed in Hitler’s life, and it also produced fundamental political change in Germany. The Treaty of Versailles was also immensely important. You also need to know about the beer-hall putsch in 1923. But these are background factors. Hitler was not rising to power in these years - he was heading for prison! Hence, do not get bogged down in the complex post-war period. Hitler himself soon saw the fundamental need for a reappraisal: we must ‘hold our noses,’ he said, and enter the Reichstag. His rise was most rapid between 1928 and 1933.

When did Hitler achieve power? Do not stop at 30 January 1933. Hitler certainly became Chancellor on this date; but, of course, his predecessors in 1930-3 had little real ‘power’. You must look ahead to the passage of the Enabling Bill on 23 March 1933 (and perhaps bring in later events such as the death of Hindenburg and Hitler’s elimination of rivals).

a. How stable and effective was the Weimar Republic? Examine the constitutional system itself and also the weaknesses of German governments after 1919. Did the Republic survive its first years because of its strengths or because its enemies cancelled each other out? How popular was it during the period of prosperity in 1925-28? And why, from March 1930 onwards, was no government able to secure a majority in the Reichstag? Is there a case for saying that Weimar simply collapsed in 1933?

b. How did Versailles affect Germany? Do not neglect the psychological effects. Which provisions of the treaty had not been revised by the time Hitler came to power?

c. How severe was the Depression which began at the end of 1929, and how significant was it in producing the overthrow of democracy?

d. How great was the communist threat at this time? Here you will need some facts about membership and the numbers who voted for the KPD.

e. Wherein lay the strength of Hitler and the Nazis? Was it in their message and their propaganda, in the sheer confidence Hitler exuded, or in their organisation? Or in their use of violence? Or in the weakness of their rivals?

f. What events led to i) Hitler becoming Chancellor and ii) to the passage of the Enabling Bill? Pay particular attention to the elections from 1928 to 1933, to the intrigues of von Papen and to the Reichstag fire.

Once you’ve grasped the basic issues, you can ask the sort of awkward questions which test out, and add to, historical knowledge. These include the following:

a. What were the basic components of Hitler’s ideology? And did this ideology really matter in 1928-33? For instance, did he downplay his anti-Semitism during election campaigns?

b. Who voted for Hitler? How did geography, class, religion, gender and age affect voting patterns? Remember that much depends on which election we consider. Also, how likely were the unemployed to vote Nazi?

c. Were the Nazis a ‘people’s party’ or a ‘class party’? (Remember, in answering this question, the vital importance of defining the terms.) Or were they a front for big business?

d. Why did the Nazis lose 2 million votes between July and November 1933? What was the significance of this decline? Did it, paradoxically, facilitate Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor?

e. How important was Hitler personally? Might Weimar have collapsed even if he had not existed? Also, did other individuals play key roles?

f. Was Nazism an aberration or the product of German history and traditions?