1 BECOMING CHANCELLOR,
1918–33

Overview
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician who led the National Socialist German
Workers’ Party, more commonly known as the Nazi Party. He was Chancellor of Germany
(1933–45) and Führer of Germany (1934–45). To understand how the Nazi Party gained power, we must understand the social, political and economic context of Germany after the
First World War. Politically, Germany was humiliated by its loss of the war and the subsequent
Treaty of Versailles. Economically, the devastation from the war and the heavy taxation repayments demanded by the treaty were exacerbated by the massive inflation of the Great
Depression. Germany and its people lacked a sense of hope. The new Weimar Republic, led by Kaiser Wilhelm, struggled to restore Germany to its former glory. It was in this context that the minor Nazi Party gained influence and became a major political force by the early 1930s.
This chapter outlines how Adolf Hitler went from lying in a hospital bed in 1918 to becoming the Chancellor of Germany in 1933.

Flow of chapter
Politics

End of First World War

Versailles Treaty

Routine
Oratory

Hitler becomes spokesperson of the new Nazi Party

Relevance
Repetition

Workers

Nazi Party politics

Economics

Economic problems of the 1920s

Inflation
Unemployment

Role of violence
Recruited

Hitler is appointed Chancellor

Political donations
Election results

© Richard Malone 2009
ISBN: 978-0-521-71913-1
Photocopying is restricted under law and this material must not be transferred to another party.

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HITLER AND THE HOLOCAUST
Key issues s s s s

Politics – What was the impact of the First World War and the Treaty of Versailles?
Oratory – What was the effect of Hitler’s public speaking skills?
Workers – What were the Nazi Party policies?
Economics – How did the problems of inflation and unemployment advantage the
Nazi Party? s Recruited – How did Hitler gain promotion to the position of Chancellor?

Key websites www.historylearningsite.co.uk/treaty_of_versailles.htm – discusses which conditions of the
Treaty of Versailles were enforced and which were not

Key events
1918

The First World War ends

1919

Germany signs the Treaty of Versailles

1923

Hitler’s failed Munich Beer Hall Putsch

1925

Hitler writes Mein Kampf and is released from prison

1928

Election

1929

Great Depression begins worldwide

1932

Elections

1933

Hitler appointed Chancellor by President Hindenburg

HITLER’S STORY
This is an engaging chapter focusing on interesting social aspects of Hitler’s life, from his Austrian birth to his suicide in the Berlin bunker. It explores varied topics such as his childhood, teenage years, artistic skills, First World War injuries, Munich putsch and imprisonment, love life, leadership and death!

USING POWER
History contains lots of facts for analysis and interpretation. Learning some tricks to remember this information is important. This section uses an acrostic in which each letter of the key word forms the first letter of another word or phrase. The key word used here is POWER to help you remember how and why Hitler gained influence from 1918 until his appointment as Chancellor in 1933. A summary of POWER is provided on the next page, followed by a detailed explanation of each reason.
© Richard Malone 2009
ISBN: 978-0-521-71913-1
Photocopying is restricted under law and this material must not be transferred to another party.

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6

ANALYSING MODERN HISTORY

P FOR POLITICS
The end of the First
World War, 1918

P

R

Recruited

Politics

Image 0101 to come

O

Oratory

It is estimated that 8.5 million people were killed during the First World War and 21 million were wounded. Germany lost two million soldiers. Given the
E Economics
W Workers fervour of his patriotism, Adolf Hitler was devastated when he heard the news of
How Hitler rose to power