Hitler promised jobs, strength and unity; Nazi propaganda spread the message, while the SA used violence against opponents.
Hitler presented himself as the leader who would bring back jobs, national strength and unity. Propaganda is communication designed to shape what people believe and do. Nazi posters, speeches, rallies and local campaigners repeated these promises. They stressed jobs to people facing hardship, and fighting communism to people afraid of revolution. The Nazis also promoted militarism, making military strength and preparing for war central to national life.
The Nazis used scapegoating: falsely blaming a group for wider problems. Their antisemitism, hatred of Jews, wrongly blamed Jewish people for Germany's troubles. These claims explain how the party sought support. They must never be repeated as true explanations of Germany's problems.
In November 1923, Hitler tried to seize power by force in Munich. This failed attempt is called the Beer Hall Putsch; a putsch is an attempted coup. Afterwards, the Nazis rebuilt their party and competed in elections. They used elections to gain power, while planning to destroy the democracy that let rival parties compete.
The SA was the Nazi Party's uniformed fighting group. Its members threatened and attacked political opponents and broke up their meetings. This made it harder for rivals to campaign and added to the disorder that Hitler claimed he could end. Campaigning won people over; violence frightened opponents into silence. Both mattered, but in different ways.
- Propaganda
- Messages designed to shape what people believe.
- Beer Hall Putsch, 1923
- Hitler's failed attempt to seize power in Munich.
- SA
- Nazi fighting group that attacked opponents.
Worked example: One campaign, different reasons
A Nazi campaign promises jobs, national revival and action against communism.
- A jobless worker is drawn by the promise of work.
- A property owner is drawn by the promise to fight communism.
- Both back the same party for different reasons.
Watch out for this
Taking part in elections proves the Nazis supported democracy.
The Nazis used elections to gain power, but aimed to destroy democracy once in office.
Check your understanding
What was the SA's role in the Nazis' rise?
- It ran the Nazi election posters and radio.
- It was the army that defended the Weimar Republic.
- It intimidated and attacked political opponents.