Weimar and Nazi Germany

He promised General Groener of the army that he would leave them alone. He promised the Trade Unions that he would give workers an 8 hour working day. He promised leaders of industry that he wouldn’t confiscate land or factories

The Nazi’s paramilitary force

Hitler now had total control of the party – its nationalist part was strengthened

To attract working class votes the Nazis promised people “Work and Bread” on their posters. However most workers preferred the communists

Heinrich Bruning: 1930- May 1932 Franz Von Papen: May 1932- November 1932 Kurt Von Schleicher: November 1932- January 1933

The Nazis became the largest party but Hindenburg refused to make Hitler chancellor

The Enabling Act changed the constitution and gave Hitler the right to make laws for four years without Reichstag agreement.

The Nazis blamed the communist for the Reichstag Fire. All political parties in Germany were made illegal in July 1933, except for the NSDAP

Any internal opposition to Hitler or supporters of Ernst Rohm.

SD (protection Squad): Wore uniforms and spied on all known opponents and critics of the Nazi party SS (Stormtroopers): Black uniforms. By 1936 the SS controlled all Germany’s police and security forces. Gestapo (Secret State Police): No uniforms. Prosecuted anyone who said or did anything critical of the Nazis

A group of protestants who opposed joining regional churches into one national German Christian Church controlled by the Nazis

By 1939 membership of the Edelweiss Pirates was about 2,000 and membership of the Hitler Youth was 8 million