The Role of The Treaty of Versailles, The Nazi Campaign Election and Wall Street Crash in Hitler’s Rise to Power

“We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries and take away their right to strike.” Hitler, Adolf.

Hitler is known for after he entered the parliament. Hitler is still known as one of the strongest people in parliament to ever live. Having an enormous army and large name he made his way through getting to be Chancellor for Germany. There were some bumps he had hit before getting the position of chancellor such as the big fall of his party not being allowed to enter the parliament The German Government had agreed to sign the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919 to make peace. This movement was very unpopular in Germany. Enemies of the government used the treaty to claim that it had ‘stabbed Germany in the back’ by ending the war. Their territory was taken from Germany - depriving it of valuable industrial and agricultural income. The War Guilt Clause blamed Germany and her allies for starting the war, this led to feelings of humiliation and anger. Germany had to pay reparations of £6.6 billion this ensured that the economy would not recover. Germany's armed forces were greatly reduced. The Weimar Government was associated with failure in World War One since it had signed the Treaty of Versailles that had ended the war. Many nationalists believed the government had sold Germany out to its enemies by ending the war too early. Negotiated between January and June 1919, the treaty was written by the Allies with almost to no involvement by the Germans. The negotiations disclosed a split between the Americans and British, who did not want to take part in false excuses for a new year, and the French, who were known to want to dismember Germany. The concluded treaty involved 15 parts and 440 articles. It has been stated that, although the German government did sign the treaty, it was however signed under protest. “Right-wing German parties attacked it as a betrayal, and terrorists assassinated several politicians whom they considered responsible.” The U.S Senate stood against the treaty and refused to approve it.

The treaty resulted in great confusion in the Weimar Republic, however, Welmar remained until the 1930s. It has been stated and argued against, that the key areas which were connected to the Treaty led to the rise of Adolf Hitler. During the 1920s when Hitler began to rise, “he repeated the claim that the military had been stabbed in the back.” If the surrender terms had been dictated, Hitler would not have been able to be in a position and authority without the massive economic depression, which struck the world in the late 1920s, including Germany. Hitler promised a way out, and a disaffected populace turned to him. It can also be argued Germany’s economic troubles at this time were due to Versailles.

Combined with the actions of the military, this provided rich material Hitler used to gain support on the right. The Treaty also triggered a process by which the German economy was rebuilt based on U.S. loans to satisfy a key point of Versailles, making the nation especially vulnerable when the depression hit.

The Wall Street crash was a big step for Hitler to rise. The reason this is because is when the wall street crash happened in 1929 it made the people of Germany devastated leaving them homeless broke and overall in poverty. The wall street crash occurred in October 1929, when the United state’s stock exchange brought about a global economic depression. Germany was affected the most. Banks were major investors in shares, so they suffered huge losses; they lost a huge sum of money. People rushed to get their money back from the banks, causing some banks to run out of cash. German companies that were dependent on American loans had to either reduce operations or close down. This led to a fall in industrial output (which of course entails inflation) and a rise in unemployment. It was equally bad for companies that sold at home or abroad. Although the worldwide depression was a disaster mainly for export industries, high unemployment also meant that domestic demand for goods fell (domestic spending fell), so domestic industries were not exempted; they too were adversely affected by the Great Depression. Unemployment rose further over the years. The middle classes lost savings, their companies and sometimes even their homes. US and Germany had a deal where the US was helping Germany get back on their feet after the Treaty of Versaille by loaning Germany money. Once the Wall Street crash happened the US was left with no money so they insisted on Germany giving them back the money they own them., of course, Germany had to give the money back leaving them where they started from. Seeking for help Hitler took charge and made sure his voice was heard targeting the people of Germany knowing they all were desperate for leadership. The Wall Street crash created depression among the Germans and these two reasons are faintly familiar by helping Hitler get his role as chancellor.

The Reichstag was going through a series of unpleasantness periods when Hitler was made chancellor, such as devastating economic problems. Which led to the people of Germany not having faith in their own parliament. This is because the people of Germany did not see not even the slightest improvement in their situation. During this time Hitler was gaining the publicity he needed, which was helped by the Reichstag having problems. The Nazi Party certainly achieved substantial support, winning 37%of the total vote in the 1932 election. This made it the largest party in the Reichstag, but it was Franz von Papen and other conservatives who persuaded the German president, Field Marshal von Hindenburg, to appoint Hitler as chancellor in a coalition government. He was the most powerful political leader in the country but was a demagogue with no experience of government and they believed they would be able to bring him under control, while an alliance with the Nazis would bring them the support they needed in the Reichstag.

In conclusion, the Treaty of Versailles, the Nazi campaign election and Wall Street Crash all had contributed in one thing, all these events were responsible for helping Hitler’s voice being heard and name being known by the people of Germany, who was certainly desperate in need of a new parliament and sought for better guidance by their government. Wanting a parliament, not one that would make false problems and try to hide the problems that they were dealing with, a new leader who would fight for their country and make it better than how the Weimar government left them and in their eyes they gave Hitler the power he needed to rise and watched him succeed as their chancellor.