After a long struggle to get into power, Hitler was quick to consolidate his position.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] Nazi propaganda exploited the economic difficulties of the country.
2. [1] In the July 1932 election the Nazis were the most successful party.
3. [1] Leaders of other parties like von Papen found it impossible to form a stable government.
4. [1] Schleicher found it impossible to get a majority in the Reichstag.
5. [1] In 1933 von Papen persuaded Hindenburg to let Hitler become Chancellor. He hoped he could control and use Hitler.
6. [6] The Nazis failed to gain significant support between 1924 and 1929 because the Weimar Republic was experiencing relative economic stability and recovery. Gustav Stresemann's policies, including ending hyperinflation with a new currency and negotiating the Dawes Plan (which brought US loans), led to economic growth and jobs. With these successes, ordinary Germans had less reason to turn to extremist parties like the Nazis, whose radical policies and recent setback (the Munich Putsch) held little appeal during a period of perceived prosperity.
7. [1] The Weimar Republic had recovered and its economy was doing well.
8. [1] Stresemann managed to end inflation.
9. [1] The Dawes Plan helped Germany recover.
10. [1] The failure of the Munich Putsch was a setback for the Nazis.
11. [1] The Nazis had extreme policies and there was no reason for voters to switch their support to them.
12. [10] The Reichstag Fire was more important to Hitler. It occurred just before an election, allowing the Nazis to blame communists and persuade Hindenburg to pass an emergency decree that suspended civil liberties. This enabled Hitler to arrest political opponents, whip up anti-communist sentiment, and gain nearly 50% of the vote in the subsequent election, significantly strengthening his position and weakening opposition. OR The Night of the Long Knives was more important. It allowed Hitler to neutralize the biggest threat to his power: Rohm and the SA. Rohm, leading over two million SA members, was openly critical of Hitler and sought a more radical revolution. By eliminating Rohm and other SA leaders in June 1933, Hitler brought the SA under control, reassured the army (who then swore an oath of loyalty to him), and consolidated his power, making him far more secure from internal threats.
13. [1] The Reichstag Fire allowed Hitler to discredit the communists.
14. [1] The Reichstag Fire meant Hitler could persuade Hindenburg to pass an emergency decree.
15. [1] The Reichstag Fire helped Hitler do well in the elections.
16. [1] The Reichstag Fire gave Hitler enough confidence to pass the Enabling Act.
17. [1] The Night of the Long Knives reassured the army and meant it would support Hitler.
18. [1] The Night of the Long Knives got rid of Rohm and the threat from the SA.
19. [1] The Night of the Long Knives put the SA firmly under Hitler's control.
20. [1] The Night of the Long Knives meant that Hitler could carry on trying to win over business leaders.