Hitler’s Rise to Power

Abstract 

Adolf Hitler's path to power remains a fairy tale that is backed with a host of theories. Although his glory is largely attributed to the interplay of factors, the two most widely debated include the influence of the Nazi ideology and the fall of the Weimer Republic. Many historians believe that the former is the most compelling reason because it vividly describes how he utilized several loopholes created by the chaos and disorder that faced the young German democracy at that time. Hitler used his craft, wit, and anti-democratic tendencies to fight the Weimer democracy. The economic depression also helped in pursuing the agenda that he was the best option for the people. The discussion expounds on the fall of the Weimer Republic and how it lead to his rise to power. 

Introduction 

Many historians have asserted that it is difficult to attribute the rise of Hitler to a single event but rather a mixture of factors, some of which happened outside Germany. However, the focus has largely been on two fundamental aspects including the triumph of the Nazi ideology and the weakness of the Weimer Republic especially in dealing with the political and economic chaos prevalent in Germany during the period. Moeller believes that between the first two World Wars, German underwent several changes in its administration that included shifts from an emperor, to a system of democracy, to the rise of a “Fuhrer” or a dictator. 1 It is through the intervention of Adolf Hitler that Germany participated in the Second World War. Therefore, it is more accurate to assert that the reason behind Hitler's rise to power was the failure of democracy in Germany. Adolf Hitler is consequently regarded as a direct beneficiary of the chaos and eventual fall of the Weimer Republic. As such, this led to a widespread increase in Nazi influence. Following the decline of the Weimer Republic, Hitler rose to power after he exploited the fear, despair, and violence, caused by the political turmoil and the economic depression that affected Germany. 

Although many reasons have been attributed to the rise of Hitler to power, the most convincing factor was the failure of democracy and the chaos that engulfed the Weimer Republic. Hitler used a host of factors to his advantage which assisted him in ascending to the position of the chancellor of Germany legitimately. Other than the chaos in the Weimer Republic, he benefited from the strength of the Nazi Republic and its ideologies. He was also positively impacted by the failure and weaknesses exhibited by other parties in Germany. In 1929, America experienced a fall in its stock exchange, a factor that led to an economic depression. America was not left with an option and resorted to recalling its foreign loans, a factor that contributed to the destruction of the Weimer Germany. As a result, Fulbrook mentions that almost 6 million people in Germany remained unemployed. 2 As a result, the government had no clue what it was supposed to do in the wake of the crisis. As a consequence, the government, led by Chancellor Bruning resorted to cutting the expenditure of the government including the reduction in wages and pay for the workers. Bitterness and anger raged among the Nazi, a factor that helped them in gaining more support. 

Many workers resorted to communism, a factor that frightened some of the affluent businessmen in Germany. As a result, the businessmen decided to support the campaigns of Hitler. On their part, the middle-class people were disappointed with the failure of democracy and demanded to see a strong government. Racists and other nationalists blamed the Treaty of Versailles for their woes. The Nazi Party continued to garner several seats in the Reichstag and by 1932; they were the largest party with a whopping 230 seats as asserted by Fulbrook. 3 By this time, the government was in utter chaos leading to the dismissal of Bruning by President Hindenburg in 1932. His respective replacements including Papen and Schleicher only lasted six and two months respectively. In 1933, Hindenburg and Papen developed a plan that sought to bring the Nazis on their side by appointing Hitler as the vice chancellor. However, Hitler refused the offer and sought to be made the chancellor. Eventually, in 1933, Hitler was made the chancellor and set the center-stage for becoming an absolute ruler of Germany as provided in Article 48. Therefore, it was not the Nazi ideology but rather the chaos and failure of democracy in Weimer that made Hitler rise to power. 

The Weimer Republic was the German government between 1919 and 1933. It was a period that came after the First World War and was characterized by the rise of the Nazi Germans. Before the start of the First World War, the Germans were unified under a monarchy where political parties were not allowed. However, after the fall of the monarchy, Germans became a democracy where leaders were elected into various positions under the guidance of a national constitution. However, democracy eventually failed primarily due to the bad choices taken by the Weimer Germans. Additional factors such as inflation, depression, and the Versailles Treaty made it significantly possible for democracy to fail. It remains fundamental to note that after the First World War, Hitler was significantly bitter and disillusioned. According to him, the war had ended too soon, and the Weimer government was responsible for misguiding the Germans to the Treaty of Versailles. It was in this regard that he joined a political party known as the German Workers' Party in 1919 located in Munich. The name letter changed to the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP) and later became the Nazi party. 

With the rise of the Nazi, there was a political backlash that targeted the Weimer Republic. Hitler personally maintained that the trouble of Germany, including the traitors, communists, and Jews was as a direct influence of the Weimer democracy. It was in this regard he contested for the seat of the president against Hindenburg in 1932. According to Fulbrook, despite getting 37% of the votes, he lost the seat to Hindenburg. 4 Political turmoil continued in the country which led to another Reichstag election four months after the presidential elections. Although the Nazi lost a few seats, the Communist Party gained seats, a factor that increased the number of parties that backed Hitler. President Hindenburg was forced to appoint Hitler as the chancellor. According to Moeller, one political advisor told Hindenburg that, “In two months, we shall have pushed Hitler into a corner so hard that he will be squeaking.” 5 It shows that Hitler’s appointment was a strategy to calm the political turmoil in the country with the hope that Hitler would be a puppet. It is therefore beyond any significant doubt that his ascendance to power was a direct result of the political problems characterized by the failure of democracy in the country. 

With the formation of the Weimer government in 1919, there was hope that democracy would eventually take root in Germany. The constitution formed was expanded and contained a host of human right considerations making it progressive. The form of governance was significantly supported by the middle-class, the educated, professionals, and business owners. Political parties also had the opportunity to compete in free elections. However, political extremists such as Hitler were significantly opposed to democracy and its principles. Therefore, the formation of the Nazi political party was as a way of countering the gains of democracy in the country. With his gaining popularity and the fact that he had many seats in the legislative organ, he was hell-bent on capitalizing on the political chaos that blackmailed the leadership of Germany into appointing him as the chancellor. As a chancellor, he continued to cause more chaos that eventually led to the failure of democracy. For instance, he instituted an “Enabling Act,” that asked the Reichstag to allow him to assume all the lawmaking powers to him as asserted by Bendersky. 6 With his super majority in the Reichstag transferred the lawmaking responsibilities to his docket thus overthrowing the Weimer Constitution. With the end of democracy, the beginning of dictatorship by Hitler started. 

Hitler's rise to power is also strongly associated with the economic problems that the Weimer Republic experienced. The foundations of the Weimer administration were significantly weak and significantly depended on American money. However, with the Great Depression causing significant economic problems in America, there was a need to recall loans from countries such as Germany. Hitler was cognizant of the fact that his opportunity to lead had come once the Great Depression hit following the collapse of the Wall Street market in 1929. The German economy was founded on foreign capital, a factor that made it fragile and vulnerable. Therefore, the events that happened outside the country became so impactful that they ruined the initial economic well-being enjoyed by the citizens. Bergen described how Hitler had previously tried to overthrow the government using extra-constitutional means. Before the economic depression, was based his politics on decrying the injustices of the First World War and consoling the disgruntled veterans who had engaged in the conflict. 7 Therefore, the deteriorating economy provided him with new tactics that would make him appeal to the people as the best option to take over the leadership of the nation. 

The crisis brought about by the Great Depression was directly responsible for the deteriorating democracy in Germany. It contributed to the disunity that was initially witnessed in the Reichstag. By the end of March 1930, the political parties developed into uncompromising and squabbling entities rather than forming an alliance that would create the required laws to deal with the economic depression. Although there was a need to create a program that would empower the people of Germany, Bruning, the then chancellor, experienced immense opposition and stubbornness which eventually led to a stalemate. The economic crisis in Germany was also responsible for the change in public opinion. The president reacted by cutting on the expenditure of the government and by cutting the wages and salaries. The business people were also concerned with the growing economic problems. The people on their part expressed misery, suffering, and were significantly tired of the suffering and the weaknesses demonstrated by the government. Since the government was passing through desperate times, all contributions were welcomed, including those from individuals like Adolf Hitler who had vehemently opposed the democratic government. 

The German people wanted answers to the economic problems and the growing disunity and bumbling in the government. Other than looking for the solutions, Bendersky asserts that they also wanted someone to blame and hold accountable for their problems. 8 Hitler’s rise to power can be attributable to the fact that he provided this option to the people. In addition to the problems, several interpersonal skills helped Hitler in his quest for change. He was not only charismatic but also a good speaker who would move the crowd with his assertions. Part of what he promised people included the restoration of the country’s economy and the betterment of the lives of the citizens. The Nazi party appealed to different demographics including the young, unemployed, and the members from the low socioeconomic group. According to Bergen, the Nazi Party used various propaganda scheme aimed at influencing the people and turning them against their government. 9 Another reason to explain his ascendancy to power was the influence of the rich business people who believed that he represented that true will of the people. As a result, they funded him and made him popular among the people. Therefore, the depression of the country and the desperateness shown by the people were important factors that drove him to power. 

Conclusion 

Following the decline of the Weimer Republic, Hitler rose to power after he exploited the fear, despair, and violence, and the political leaders who had looked down upon him. Although it is normally regarded that the Nazi ideology was responsible for the ascendance of Hitler to power, the reality was that he was a victim of circumstances. He massively benefited from the political upheaval and the economic crisis that affected the Weimer Republic. As regards the political problems, the growth of the Nazi coupled with the lack of faith in the constitutional democracy caused political upheavals. On the economic front, the overdependence on America became calamitous once the Great Depression hit the US. The people were dissatisfied, and many economic problems engulfed the country. It is through these loopholes that Hitler became popular. He offered himself as a viable option that would lead the country to prosperity. This provided him with the much-needed leverage to blackmail the then president who later appointed him as the chancellor based on his growing influence and that of his party. 

References 

Bendersky, J. W. (2013). A concise history of Nazi Germany. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. 

Bergen, D. L. (2016). War and genocide: A concise history of the Holocaust. Rowman & Littlefield. 

Fulbrook, M. (2004). A concise history of Germany. Cambridge concise histories. 

Moeller, R. G. (2018). The Nazi state and German society: a brief history with documents. Macmillan Higher Education. 

1 Moeller, R. G. (2018). The Nazi state and German society: a brief history with documents. Macmillan Higher Education. 

2 Fulbrook, M. (2004). A concise history of Germany. Cambridge concise histories. 

3 Ibid., 43-102. 

4 Ibid., 63-102. 

5 Moeller, R. G. (2018). The Nazi state and German society: a brief history with documents. Macmillan Higher Education. 

6 Bendersky, J. W. (2013). A concise history of Nazi Germany. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.= 

7 Bergen, D. L. (2016). War and genocide: A concise history of the Holocaust. Rowman & Littlefield. 

8 Bendersky, J. W. (2013). A concise history of Nazi Germany. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. 

9 Bergen, D. L. (2016). War and genocide: A concise history of the Holocaust. Rowman & Littlefield.