End of the Weimar Republic - WJECReasons the support of the Nazi Party grew

The Wall Street Crash and withdrawal of American money began a spiral of severe economic depression in Germany. By 1932, 6 million Germans were unemployed and the political system began to crumble as many ordinary Germans turned to the extremes for a solution. How and why did the Weimar Republic collapse between 1929 and 1933?

Part ofHistoryGermany in transition, 1919-1939

Reasons for the growth in support of the Nazi Party

In 1928, the Nazis had only 12 seats in the but by July 1932 they had 230 seats and were the largest party.

Representation of Nazi seat growth, with 12 seats -1928 and 230 seats -1932.

The appeal of Hitler and the Nazis

Three factors that helped the Nazi rise to power: The role of the SA, The Appeal of Hitler and Propaganda.

The Nazis continued to put forward their 25-Point Programme agreed in the early 1920s. They had broader social and geographical appeal than the , who only really appealed to the industrial workers in Germany’s cities. Support came from:

  • wealthy businessmen - frightened by the increase in support for the communists, they began to finance Hitler and the Nazis
  • the middle-class - alarmed by the obvious failure of , they decided that the country needed a strong government and gave their votes to Hitler
  • nationalists - they blamed the legacy of the and for causing the depression and so lent their support to the Nazis
  • rural areas - Nazi support was particularly strong amongst both middle class shopkeepers and artisans, farmers and agricultural labourers