After a long wait, Hitler was firmly in power by the end of 1934.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2024). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] In the presidential election in March 1932, Hindenburg remained president.
2. [1] Hitler showed his popularity in the presidential election despite losing.
3. [1] In May 1932, von Papen was appointed chancellor.
4. [1] In July 1932, the Nazis became the largest party in the Reichstag.
5. [1] Hitler demanded that he should be appointed chancellor.
6. [1] Hindenburg did not want to appoint Hitler as chancellor.
7. [1] In a second election in November the Nazis were still the largest party.
8. [1] Franz von Papen failed to find support as chancellor.
9. [1] In December, Von Schleicher became chancellor but did not have enough support.
10. [1] Von Papen persuaded Hindenburg to appoint Hitler but with him as vice-chancellor so he could control Hitler.
11. [6] (Level 4) The Nazis did not have much success because people were doing well under the Weimar Republic. In fact, there was an economic boom. Industry was doing well and there were jobs with wages going up. Most people were enjoying a higher standard of living. This was all helped by the Dawes Plan. There was also political stability. People therefore had no reason to support the Nazis.
12. [5] (Level 3) The Nazis had little success because of the economic prosperity and political stability of the Weimar Republic, aided by the Dawes Plan, which resulted in rising wages, increased employment, and a higher standard of living, leaving people with no compelling reason to support an extreme party.
13. [1] (Level 2) Stresemann's policies from 1923 to 1929.
14. [1] (Level 2) Economic prosperity in Weimar.
15. [1] (Level 2) Political stability.
16. [1] (Level 2) Cultural revival.
17. [1] (Level 2) Germany's international reputation had recovered.
18. [1] (Level 2) People were put off by the fact that Hitler had been in prison.
19. [1] (Level 2) No reason to vote for an extreme right-wing party.
20. [1] (Level 2) The popularity of the Social Democrats.
21. [1] (Level 1) The Nazis did not have much success before 1930. They fought in many elections but only won small proportions of the vote. It seemed as if they were going to fail.
22. [10] (Level 5) The Night of the Long Knives was most important. By June 1934 Hitler had achieved many extra powers. He was almost a dictator but he had not won over the army which could have overthrown him whenever it wanted. It was very suspicious of the Nazis, especially the SA which it regarded as a rabble and a threat. By dealing with Rohm and the SA, Hitler won the support of the army and soon afterwards everyone in the army swore an oath to Hitler. Only then was Hitler secure.
23. [6] (Level 3) The Night of the Long Knives was very important. For Hitler to be really secure in power he needed the support of the army. However, the army was suspicious of the SA. They thought its leader, Rohm, wanted to turn the SA into a German army. At the same time, Hitler was suspicious of Rohm who wanted more radical socialist policies than Hitler was supporting. Rohm was a dangerous potential threat to Hitler because of the size and strength of the SA. In the Night of the Long Knives, Hitler murdered Rohm and other SA leaders. The SA was now under control, the army was pleased and Hitler was more secure.
24. [6] (Level 3) The Reichstag Fire was the most important factor in Hitler becoming secure. He was able to blame the fire on the Communists and claim it was the beginning of a Communist uprising. This gave him an excuse to ask for special emergency powers. These powers allowed him to arrest Communists and other opponents, attack them and break up their meetings. It also made people afraid of the Communists, and in the election the Nazis won their largest share of the vote and nearly had an overall majority. This made Hitler more secure.
25. [1] (Level 2) Threat from Rohm and the SA.
26. [1] (Level 2) The strength of the SA.
27. [1] (Level 2) Rohm's disagreement with Hitler over policies.
28. [1] (Level 2) The army feared the SA.
29. [1] (Level 2) Hitler was able to take control of the SA.
30. [1] (Level 2) Political opponents lost their lives, such as Schleicher.
31. [1] (Level 2) The Reichstag fire was blamed on the Communists.
32. [1] (Level 2) People became fearful of the Communists.
33. [1] (Level 2) Hitler was able to get special emergency powers from Hindenburg.
34. [1] (Level 2) The Nazis did well in the elections.
35. [1] (Level 2) The Enabling Act of March 1933.
36. [1] (Level 2) Trade unions were abolished in May 1933.
37. [1] (Level 2) The civil service was purged of Jews in May 1933.
38. [1] (Level 2) Political parties were banned in June 1933.
39. [1] (Level 2) Hitler established a police state.
40. [1] (Level 2) The death of Hindenburg in August 1934.
41. [1] (Level 2) The Army Oath in August 1934.
42. [1] (Level 1) This was a very important factor. Hitler turned on Rohm and the SA. Years before, they had been very close. Rohm met a very nasty end.