A presentation by Dylan Gardham, 6MW

The American Stock Exchange collapsed in 1929, and caused an economic depression. America took back all its foreign loans, which left Weimar Germany poor, causing unemployment in Germany to rise to 6 million.

In July 1930 Chancellor Brüning, not knowing what to do cut government expenditure, wages and unemployment pay - the worst thing to do during a depression. He had to use article 48 to get this official though, because he could not get the Reichstag to agree to his actions.

• The Nazis gained money from wealthy businessmen who were frightened by workers who turned to communism (a view where everyone is equal).

• Alarmed by the obvious failure of democracy, Many middle-class people decided that the country needed a strong government and Hitler was seen as the obvious choice.

• The Treaty of Versailles was blamed for this uproar by nationalists and racists and again they supported Hitler as he didn’t like the treaty either.

In 1928, the Nazis had only 12 seats in the Reichstag; by July 1932 they had 230 seats and were the largest party.

The government was in chaos. Brüning was dismissed in 1932 by President Hindenburg. His replacement -Papen - lasted six months, and the next chancellor -Schleicher - only lasted two months. Hindenburg had to use Article 48 to pass almost every law.

Hindenburg and Papen came up with a plan to get the Nazis on their side in January 1933, by offering to make Hitler vice chancellor. He refused and demanded to be made chancellor. Thinking they could control him, they agreed.

In January 1933, Hitler became chancellor, and immediately set about making himself absolute ruler of Germany using Article 48.

Government expenditure: government spending

Economic depression: a time when there are many bankruptcies and little trade.

Reichstag: a building in Germany where the parliament met