Hitler’s attempt to become President in 1932 raised his and the Nazi profile too
Hitler and the Nazis promised a strong Germany with strong leadership
Hitler appeared as a dynamic man of the moment, the leader of a modern party with modern ideas
Hitler was also able to appear to be a man of the people, understanding their problems – Mein Kampf : your struggle is my struggle
They promised to defend the traditional order
They promised to restore traditional values
The Nazis also emphasised family life
As Germany collapsed in chaos, the Nazi party looked organised and disciplined
They would completely revise the Treaty of Versailles
They promised to give pride back to Germany
And they promised to punish those who ‘stabbed Germany in the back
All of which appealed to nationalists
They promised to defeat Communism
The Nazis would restore law and order on German streets
They also promised full employment
They promised a programme of public works
They promised to defend the capitalist system
They promised to support German farmers
The effects of the Great Depression left increasing numbers of Germans feeling that the answer to their problems lay with an extremist party like the Nazis
The coalition government in power at the start of the Depression, led by Müller, and the governments of Bruning, Schleicher and von Papen, with Hindenburg ruling by decree, had all failed Germans
They had raised taxes, cut wages and unemployment benefit, and provided little hope
The Nazis, meanwhile, were organising soup kitchens and hostels for the unemployed, whilst their policies offered hope
The Nazi programme seemed to offer answers to the problems