Nazi Germany: Rise to Power Lesson

Lesson Overview

• Nazi Germany and the Reichstag Fire
• Nazi Germany and the 1928 Election Results
• Nazi Germany and the 1930 Election Surge
• Nazi Germany and the 1932 Presidential Election
• Nazi Germany and Aryanism
• Fact-Based Q/A
• Related Topics
• Conclusion

Hitler rose to power in Nazi Germany through propaganda, elections, violence, and fear, using events like the Reichstag fire and Aryanism to shift public opinion and gain political control.

Nazi Germany and the Reichstag Fire

The Reichstag fire happened on February 27, 1933. The German parliament building was set ablaze, and the Nazis blamed communists. Hitler used the event to justify emergency powers, silencing political rivals and restricting civil liberties.

(Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum)

Worked Example

Hitler blamed a Dutch communist for the fire and passed the Reichstag Fire Decree the next day. It suspended rights like free speech and allowed police to detain people without trial.

Quick Tip

Dictators often use fear during a crisis to expand their control.

Mini-Quiz

What happened on February 27, 1933?

A) Hitler became Chancellor
B) The Reichstag building was set on fire
C) World War II started
D) The Nazi Party was banned

Correct answer: B

If wrong: The Reichstag fire happened before Hitler took full control, not during wartime.

What caused Nazi Germany to change after the Reichstag fire?

The fire led to emergency laws that gave Hitler sweeping power.

Nazi Germany and the 1928 Election Results

In the 1928 national election, the Nazi Party won only 2% of the vote. They were still considered a small, radical group with limited appeal to the general public (Source: German Federal Archives).

Worked Example

The Nazis earned about 800,000 votes in 1928 while other parties like the Social Democrats held most seats. Their low result showed that few people took Hitler seriously before the economy collapsed.

Quick Tip

Focus on how small 2% is to understand the surprise of their later rise.

Mini-Quiz

What percent of votes did the Nazis get in 1928?

A) 10%
B) 2%
C) 25%
D) 15%

Correct answer: B

If wrong: In 1928, the Nazis were still a fringe party without broad support.

Why did Nazi Germany support remaining low in 1928?

Because most voters saw the Nazis as extreme and untrustworthy.

Nazi Germany and the 1930 Election Surge

In September 1930, the Nazis won 107 seats in the Reichstag, up from just 12 in 1928. This gain reflected widespread fear, poverty, and frustration during the Great Depression (Source: German Bundestag Records).

Worked Example

Germany had over 3 million unemployed by 1930. The Nazis promised jobs, national pride, and stability, which appealed to voters who had lost trust in traditional parties.

Quick Tip

More seats mean more influence - the Nazis became a political force.

Mini-Quiz

How many Reichstag seats did the Nazis win in 1930?

A) 54
B) 107
C) 78
D) 22

Correct answer: B

If wrong: The jump from 12 to 107 seats made the Nazis impossible to ignore.

How did Nazi Germany gain political power so quickly by 1930?

The economic crisis pushed voters toward extreme solutions like Nazism.

Nazi Germany and the 1932 Presidential Election

Hitler lost the 1932 presidential race to Hindenburg but still earned over 13 million votes. This strong performance showed his popularity and opened doors to political negotiations (Source: Encyclopedia Britannica).

Worked Example

Although Hindenburg won with 53%, Hitler's 36% made him the second most popular leader in Germany. Powerful conservatives then urged Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as Chancellor in 1933.

Quick Tip

Losing an election doesn't always mean losing influence.

Mini-Quiz

What did Hitler's loss in the 1932 presidential election show?

A) Germans disliked him
B) He had become very popular
C) He planned to quit politics
D) He would run again in 1934

Correct answer: B

If wrong: Hitler didn't win, but his strong showing made him a national figure.

Why did Nazi Germany move closer to dictatorship after the 1932 election?

Because Hitler's vote count showed he had major public support.

Nazi Germany and Aryanism

Aryanism was a racist belief promoted by the Nazis. It claimed that "pure" Germans, called Aryans, were biologically superior and deserved to rule over others, especially Jews, Roma, and Slavs (Source: Yad Vashem).

Worked Example

The Nazis banned Jews from jobs and public life, saying Aryans were the master race. This belief wasn't based on real science - it was propaganda used to justify hate and violence.

Quick Tip

Aryanism used fake science to excuse racism and control.

Mini-Quiz

What idea claimed Germans were a "master race"?

A) Communism
B) Aryanism
C) Socialism
D) Capitalism

Correct answer: B

If wrong: Aryanism was the term Nazis used to support their racist ideology.

What was Aryanism in Nazi Germany?

It was the belief that "pure" Germans were better than other groups.

Fact-Based Q/A

1. What happened directly after the Reichstag fire?

A) Hitler quit politics
B) Emergency laws were passed
C) World War I ended
D) Hindenburg died

Correct: B

Feedback: The fire gave Hitler an excuse to pass emergency laws.

2. How many votes did the Nazi Party get in 1928?

A) 25%
B) 2%
C) 12%
D) 0.5%

Correct: B

Feedback: Their support was still tiny in 1928.

3. What was the Nazi seat count in 1930?

A) 22
B) 107
C) 50
D) 70

Correct: B

Feedback: Their leap from 12 to 107 seats shocked the country.

4. Who won the 1932 presidential election?

A) Hitler
B) Hindenburg
C) Goebbels
D) Himmler

Correct: B

Feedback: Hindenburg won but later appointed Hitler as Chancellor.

5. What does Aryanism teach?

A) That all races are equal
B) That Germans are the superior race
C) That the economy comes first
D) That religion is key

Correct: B

Feedback: Aryanism was the core racial belief of the Nazis.

6. Why did Hitler gain support after 1929?

A) Germany was prospering
B) He promised strong leadership in a crisis
C) He wanted peace
D) He supported communism

Correct: B

Feedback: His promises looked appealing during the depression.

Related Topics

• The Enabling Act and its legal impact
• Nazi propaganda techniques
• Role of the SA and SS in Hitler's rise

Conclusion

Understanding how Hitler gained power in Nazi Germany shows how fear, lies, and economic crisis can turn democracy into dictatorship. Each event - from the Reichstag fire to Aryanism - helped him gain control quickly and dangerously.