The Nazis in the wilderness, 1924–29 Cambridge IGCSE History revision
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In plain words
When Hitler came out of prison, his party was banned and Germany was getting richer. For five years almost nobody was listening to him. He used the time to build a machine that would be ready when they did.
9 things to know
- The Nazi Party was refounded in 1925. Hitler made sure that he had complete control of it.
- He reorganised the party to fight elections. Germany was divided into regions, each with a Nazi leader. The party set up groups for different sections of society, such as the Hitler Youth, students and teachers.
- The SS was formed in 1925 as Hitler's personal bodyguard. It was small, and fanatically loyal.
- Joseph Goebbels took charge of propaganda. The party learned to use posters, rallies and simple slogans, and to aim different promises at different groups.
- Membership grew, to over 100 000 by 1929.
- Yet the Nazis had little success in elections. In 1928 they won only 12 seats, less than 3% of the vote.
- Why: Germany was prosperous and stable under Stresemann, so people saw no reason to vote for extremists. The Republic seemed to be working, and the respected Hindenburg was president.
- The violence of the SA put many voters off, and Hitler was banned from speaking in public in much of Germany for some years.
- The Nazis found some support among farmers and shopkeepers, who had not shared in the recovery. It was a hint of what would follow.
Worked example
Explain why the Nazis had little success in elections before 1930. This is a 6-mark question.
- Prosperity: with American loans, jobs and rising wages, most Germans were content and had no wish for radical change.
- Stability: Stresemann's successes abroad, and the presence of Hindenburg, made the Republic look secure.
- The Nazis themselves: their extreme ideas and the violence of the SA frightened many voters.
Tips and tricks
- The key idea is that extremists need a crisis. The Nazis did badly when times were good and well when times were bad. Use the figure of 12 seats in 1928.
- These years were not wasted. The organisation built from 1925 to 1929 is the reason the Nazis could take advantage of the Depression.
It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.
The Nazis in the wilderness, 1924–29: 5 questions and answers
These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.
What percentage of the vote did the Nazis win in 1928?
They won 12 seats.
Who was put in charge of Nazi propaganda?
He became a master of posters, rallies and slogans.
What was the SS originally?
It was formed in 1925.
Why did most Germans not vote for extremists in the late 1920s?
People content with their lives do not want radical change.
Which groups gave the Nazis some support even in the 1920s?Stretch
Their discontent showed where future votes would come from.
Quiz
5 questions
Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.
Worksheet
3 questions, 14 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.
The Nazis in the wilderness, 1924–29
Cambridge IGCSE History 0470 · 14 marks · papermunch.org
Name ______________________________ Date ______________
How did Hitler reorganise the Nazi Party after 1925?[4]
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Any four: he took complete control as leader; the party was organised into regions, each under a Nazi leader; groups such as the Hitler Youth were set up; the SS was formed as his bodyguard; Goebbels was put in charge of propaganda; the party prepared to fight elections.
Why did the Nazis change their methods after the Munich Putsch?[6]
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The putsch had shown that power could not be seized by force, because the army and the police stayed loyal to the state. Hitler decided that the Nazis must win power legally, by winning votes. This meant building a national party organisation, and using propaganda to appeal to as many groups of voters as possible.
What was the SS?[4]
Show answerHide answer
It was formed in 1925 as Hitler's personal bodyguard. Its members were chosen for their loyalty to Hitler. They wore black uniforms. It was small at first, and later, under Himmler, became the most powerful organisation in Nazi Germany.
Answers: The Nazis in the wilderness, 1924–29
- 1. Any four: he took complete control as leader; the party was organised into regions, each under a Nazi leader; groups such as the Hitler Youth were set up; the SS was formed as his bodyguard; Goebbels was put in charge of propaganda; the party prepared to fight elections.
- 2. The putsch had shown that power could not be seized by force, because the army and the police stayed loyal to the state. Hitler decided that the Nazis must win power legally, by winning votes. This meant building a national party organisation, and using propaganda to appeal to as many groups of voters as possible.
- 3. It was formed in 1925 as Hitler's personal bodyguard. Its members were chosen for their loyalty to Hitler. They wore black uniforms. It was small at first, and later, under Himmler, became the most powerful organisation in Nazi Germany.