Transcript Gathering the middle class vote 1932 year of elections and

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Hindenburg was elected President in March/April 1932
with 49.6% and 53% in consecutive ballots.
Hitler managed 30.1% and 36.8%, although defeated
had doubled from the Reichstag elections
However the SA and SS were banned by emergency
decree due to increasing violence giving evidence
towards the fact that Hitler was planning to stage a
coup if he won
General von Schliecher however wanted to tame the
Nazi’s and use the SA to create a military dictatorship,
and as a result met Hitler. Hitler agreeda position in the
new presidential cabinet in return for the removal of
Brunig and the lifting on the ban of the SA/SS.
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General Groener resigned after being shouted
down by Nazi deputies in the Reichstag and
on May 29th Hindenberg demanded the
resignation of Brunig.
A new government was formed with Franz
von Papen as Chancellor, Schliecher as
Minister of Defence.
New Reichstag elections were called for the
end of July.
The ban on the SA was lifted and in the run
up to elections over 100 were left dead and
7000 injured.
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Political establishment wanted a return to a more
authoritian form of government
◦ Deconstruction of the democratic system was started by
von Papen in his coup against the Prussian governments
in July 1932.
◦ The political violence in the run up to elections saw von
Papen dismiss the SPD dominated Prussian government
as it had failed to keep the peace. He did this legally
through article 48
◦ When the leader of the SPD Otto Braun questioned this
Hindenberg ordered the army to seize control and
appointed a commissioner to govern Prussia.
◦ The SPD and trade unions did not resist
 A political police were founded who had no allegiance to the
Weimar Republic but only obeyed the Reich Commissioner
and von Papen.
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The use of legality to seize power set a new
precedent. The emergency powers had effectively
been used to destroy the constitution.
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In July the Nazi’s had 37.3% of the Reichstag
vote which meant 230 seats- the largest
party in the Reichstag.
They now had a mandate to be involved in
any government. Von Schleicher and von
Papen were prepared to embrace Nazi
support and ignore the violence as it helped
suppress the left.
◦ The NSDAP was an attractive ally due to its mass
support and broad base.
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Traditional view is that The Middle classes (middletstad)
voted Nazi- civil servants, officials and others affected by
economic unstability
They did not attract substantial votes from the industrial
working classes, but they did cut across class lines more
than the SPD and KPD, due to their presentation as a
national party.
This is backed by the ill thought out but attractive idea of
VOLKSGEMEINSHAFT
◦ The ideal of national community based on racial identity
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Many voted Nazi as they were fed up with the failure of
Weimar democracy and the vote Nazi was a protest vote
Style was more important that political substance and
although they had many vague policies- this is what made
them unique and attractive.
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Von Papen refused to hand over Chancellorship
to Hitler- he had no majority
Despite negotiations VP and AH could not agree a
position of the Nazi’s in government so guess
what- an election in November
The Nazis lost 4% of votes but were still the
largest party in the Reichstag
Statement
◦ Hindenburg would not appoint AH without a majority
◦ The NSDAP could vote down any government with the
support of one other group.
Only option- to rule without the Reichstag and
supress all opposition
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Hindenburg sacked von Papen as Chancellor
and appointed Schleicher, who tried to tempt
the Nazis into the government but failed
Von Papen then concentrated on getting
Hitler to support his bid for power thus
getting back at Schleicher
Big business- determined to see a more
authoritarian rule and for big financiers
arranged for Hitler to meet with von Papen to
discuss forming a government
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VP and AH held talks about forming a government based on
broad nationalist coalition, similar to Harzburg Front.
◦ Support came from Agrarian League, and industry
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Hindenberg turned to VP to form a viable government especially
as Schleicher could not form a government without support from
the Reichstag
As negotiations proceeded VPwas persuaded not to be
Chancellor but have a very heavily right sided Cabinet with AH as
chancellor
However Hindenburg was persuaded to appoint Hitler as
Chancellor as
◦ Once the Weimar republic had been undermined a new more authoritarian
government could be installed. This could only happen if it had popular
support – only the NSDAP could provide this
◦ Hindenberg believed he could control Hitler if VP was vice chancellor
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On January 30th Hitler was appointed Chancellor
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Read pages 122- 129
Take notes
Complete skills builder on page 127
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Answer focus route question
Complete activity box
“Nazi consolidation of power in 1933 was
primarily due to the use of terror and
violence”
How far do you agree with this judgement?
◦ 30 mark essay due next week.
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Who killed Weimar democracy
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Read and vote.