Hitler and the Nazi’s were able to rise to a single party ruler after World War I because the conditions in Germany were ripe for an opposition group to take control. After WWI the Weimar Republic was in power, but their failures and weaknesses would eventually lead to Hitler rising to power. Hitler’s methods advanced in the eyes of the people due to the conditions in Germany created by the failure of the Weimar Republic.
The Spartacists Uprising was a major event that took place shortly after World War I that created the first ripe condition in Germany for the Nazis to gain support. After the Weimar Government gained control of Germany, other opposition groups such as left and right wing radicals were trying to gain support in the government. The Spartacists, a left wing group, led an uprising in an attempt to install communism in Germany. Being such an infant government, the Weimar Republic had to turn to the Freikorps, a right wing military group for help. Hitler used this as an opportunity to gain support. With speeches and propaganda, Hitler accused the Weimar Republic as being weak because they had to turn to a right wing group for support. Hitler persuaded the people into believing that the only way to insure the survival of Germany was to elect a strong and dominant right wing group, the Nazi Party. I believe that Hitler using the Spartacists Uprising against the Weimar Republic was a very successful political step for the Nazis. Hitler using propaganda opened the German people’s eyes to how weak and powerless the Weimar Republic actually was without any military support.
Another event that took place in Germany that made conditions ripe for the Nazis to gain support was the collapse of the German economy. After the Weimar Government agreed to the terms in the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was forced to pay a substantial war debt that was nearly impossible to fulfill. In an attempt to repay the debt, the Weimar Republic set up the Dawes Plan in 1925 and the Young Plan in 1929 with the United States. These plans consisted of the US loaning Germany money and cutting down their amount of debt by paying it in increments. While the US was lending Germany money, the German economy was booming. However when the US went into the Great Depression, Germany’s economy collapsed. Hitler again saw this as an opportunity to persuade the vote of the people toward Nazism. Hitler used propaganda and speeches again to blame the Weimar Government for the country’s failure. Hitler turning the collapse of the German economy on the Weimar Republic was another successful step for Nazi support. Hitler was able to persuade the people by offering them a way out of their depression. His speeches were an effort to show the people how German life would be restored if the Nazis were in power. I think this was successful because Hitler spoke in the perfect conditions, when the country was suffering from a depression and over five and half million people were unemployed. The method of Hitler’s speeches, propaganda, and perfect timing helped the Nazis rise to power.
Conditions in Germany were ripe for an opposition group like the Nazis to take control of the government. The Weimar Republic’s failures and the legal methods of Adolf Hitler is what allowed the Nazi Party to come to power. Hitler’s persuasive speeches and propaganda campaigns were enough for him and the Nazis to receive 32% of the vote in 1932 and Hitler named Chancellor of Germany in 1933.
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This is a really good essay, and id score it as a 15-16. The organization is awesome and Brad does a great job of using conclusions to reiterate his thesis. Also there is an equal amount of analysis to balance out the facts. And not only is there a good amount of analysis, but it makes since and corresponds well with the evidence provided. One final positive is that this essay stays focused and never really deviates from the original thesis.
ReplyDeleteThis essay is very focused! It refers back to the thesis after new evidence is presented, and there is critical analysis throughout that provides support for the thesis as well. It is very clear what is being said, and all events/treaties/whatnot are explained so that the reader knows what is going on, and can believe what is being said. I give it a 15. I'm sure that if you also provide different approaches/interpretations of the historical events, you will move up a markband!
ReplyDeleteThis post has a good introduction that gives a good backgroud as to what is going to be discussed within the post. There is good usage of examples and for the most part the examples are explicit, although within the first example there could have been usage of dates and specific examples of the seecehes Hitler gave or the propaganda that was used by Hitler. The conclusion was a good sumation of the entire post although I do feel it does end abruptly. I would give this post a 14 because it has good organazation and structure framework, it has generally develpoed ideas, and an awareness of issues of causation.
ReplyDeleteThis essay was definitely a very good one! It showed a deep understanding of the causes and effects of the events and how they led to Hitler's rise to power. It was a very focused essay with clear analysis and reminded us, the readers, of your thesis many times. I agree with Jeannine that you should also try to explain different approaches/interpretations of the events in your essay. Great essay otherwise. I would give it either a 16 or 17.
ReplyDeleteI would score this essay as an 17. It is very focused and has clear thesis. Brad stays focused on his thesis throughout his evidence and gives good analysis as well. In his conclusion he he restates his thesis which bring the paper back to his main focus and does a great job of summing up the overall points of his paper.
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