Option 31: Key topic 2: Hitler’s rise to power, 1919–33 - 1 Early development of the Nazi Party, 1920–22 — Edexcel GCSE History
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Option 31: Key topic 2: Hitler’s rise to power, 1919–33 - 1 Early development of the Nazi Party, 1920–22 explained
Hitler’s early career was defined by his transition from a soldier to a political leader between 1919 and 1920.
Read the full explanation
Following the First World War, Hitler remained in the army as an intelligence agent and was assigned to monitor the German Workers’ Party (DAP) in Munich. Impressed by Anton Drexler’s nationalist and anti-Semitic views, Hitler joined the DAP in 1919. He quickly became its leading public speaker, drawing large crowds with his passionate attacks on the Treaty of Versailles. In 1920, Hitler and Drexler co-authored the 25-Point Programme, outlining the party's core beliefs. Shortly after, to broaden its appeal, the party was rebranded as the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP), setting up the Nazi Party.
The Twenty-Five Point Programme. The role of the SA.
The Twenty-Five Point Programme, co-authored by Hitler and Anton Drexler in 1920, outlined the early political manifesto of the Nazi Party. It combined nationalist demands, such as the abolition of the Treaty of Versailles and the creation of a Greater Germany, with socialist ideas like profit-sharing in large industries and old-age pensions. It also introduced anti-Semitic policies, denying citizenship to Jews. To protect party meetings and intimidate political rivals, particularly the communists, Hitler established the Sturmabteilung (SA) in 1921. Known as the 'Brownshirts' and led by Ernst Röhm, the SA provided a paramilitary force that projected strength and order, violently disrupting opposition rallies and attracting ex-soldiers.
Your focus
- Describe the circumstances under which Hitler joined the German Workers' Party.
- Explain the significance of the 25-Point Programme in defining early Nazi ideology.
- Analyse the steps Hitler took to transform the DAP into the NSDAP by 1920.
Show all 6 objectives
- Describe the main nationalist and socialist policies within the Twenty-Five Point Programme.
- Explain the reasons for the formation of the Sturmabteilung (SA) in 1921.
- Analyse the role of the SA in increasing the political influence of the early Nazi Party.
Option 31: Key topic 2: Hitler’s rise to power, 1919–33 - 1 Early development of the Nazi Party, 1920–22 exam tips
Marking Points
- Explain Hitler's initial role as an army spy monitoring the DAP in 1919.
- Describe Hitler's rise within the DAP due to his powerful public speaking and organisational skills.
- Detail the creation of the 25-Point Programme in 1920 and its mix of nationalist and socialist ideas.
- Explain the rebranding of the DAP to the NSDAP (Nazi Party) to increase its appeal.
- Identify key nationalist elements of the 25-Point Programme, such as overturning the Treaty of Versailles.
- Identify key socialist elements, such as nationalising trusts and profit-sharing.
- Explain the SA's primary function in protecting Nazi speakers and disrupting rival political meetings.
- Analyse how the SA's paramilitary appearance appealed to unemployed ex-soldiers and projected an image of discipline.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Clearly distinguish between the DAP and the NSDAP, explaining when and why the name change occurred.
- 💡Use the 25-Point Programme to demonstrate the early ideological foundations of the Nazi Party.
- 💡Highlight Hitler's specific talents, particularly his oratory, in transforming the party's fortunes.
- 💡When explaining the appeal of the early Nazi Party, explicitly link specific points from the 25-Point Programme to the social groups they targeted, such as farmers or ex-soldiers.
- 💡Use the SA as concrete evidence of how the Nazis used violence and intimidation as a deliberate political strategy in the early 1920s.
- 💡Avoid simply listing the 25 points; instead, categorise them into nationalist, socialist, and anti-Semitic themes to demonstrate higher-level analysis.
Common Mistakes
- Error: Stating that Hitler founded the German Workers' Party (DAP). Correction: Clarify that Anton Drexler founded the DAP; Hitler joined it later.
- Error: Confusing the 25-Point Programme with later Nazi policies like the Final Solution. Correction: Focus on the specific demands of 1920, such as overturning the Treaty of Versailles and anti-Semitic citizenship laws.
- Error: Assuming the Nazi Party was immediately successful and large. Correction: Emphasise that in 1919-1920, it was a fringe, regional party based in Munich.
- Error: Confusing the SA with the SS. Correction: The SA (Brownshirts) were the early paramilitary wing led by Röhm, whereas the SS (Blackshirts) were Hitler's personal bodyguards formed later.
- Error: Assuming the 25-Point Programme was purely capitalist or purely socialist. Correction: Acknowledge that the programme deliberately blended extreme nationalism with socialist-sounding policies to attract a broad base of support.
- Error: Stating Hitler wrote the 25-Point Programme alone. Correction: Note that it was co-authored with Anton Drexler, the original founder of the DAP.