What were the factors responsible for the sudden growth of Nazism?

1. Hitler’s Promise for the Revival of Old Glory.

The humiliating treatment meted out to Germany under the Treaty of Versailles was greatly resented by the German people and army and they wanted to see Germany rise to the glory which it once enjoyed.

No doubt, during the Republican rule, Germany’s terrible amount of war indemnity was re­duced, reparation was divided into 58 instalments, and the allies withdrew their armies from the Rhine land, yet the Germans nourished a feeling of resentment against the humiliating and insulting behaviour meted out to them by the Allied, and eagerly looked for an opportunity to avenge the same.

These sentiments were fully exploited by Hitler, who in the words of Benns was “an adept psychologist, a clever damagogue and a master showman, he was a resourceful agitator, a tireless worker and an able organizer.” He openly encouraged the Germans “to consign the Treaty of Versailles into the waste-paper basket after tearing it into so many bits, they had to rebuild the empire of Germany, and to recapture the lost colonies.”

2. Growing Danger of Communism.

The growing strength of the Communists in Germany was also exploited by the Nazis to strengthen their position. After the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, the Communist influence in Germany considerably increased.

The Communists organized themselves effectively and succeeded in capturing a number of seats in the Reichstag. Hitler expressed grave concern over these developments and warned the people that the communists of Germany on getting power shall become the orderlies of the Russian masters and Germany shall be clouded by pernicious doctrines of communists. He impressed on the people that Nazism alone could keep the growing influence of Commu­nism under check.

He asserted, “if the National Socialist Party collapses there will be another ten million Communists in Germany.” By taking an open anti-communist stance, the Nazi Party succeeded in securing the support of the industrialists and wealthy people who were greatly secured of the Bloshevik ideals.

Highlighting this point Schuman says, “Industri­alists and Junkers subsidized the brown shirt Nazi storm troopers hoping to make use of them against communists, socialists, the trade unions and other threats, real or imaginary, to prosperity and privilege.”

3. Economic Crisis and growing Unemployment.

The economic crisis which confronted Germany in the post-World War I period and the grow­ing unemployment which accompanied it also considerably contributed to the rise of Nazism in Germany.

No doubt as result of the Treaty of Versailles Germany was forced to suffer in agricultural production, colo­nies, foreign investments, merchant marine and foreign trade contracts, but after 1923 Germany staged a remarkable recovery and made consider­able industrial progress.

By 1929 as a result of commercial boom the standard of living of the German people rose very high. However, this position did not last long and after middle of 1929 the country witnessed steep economic decline. The reparation quarrels continued and the coun­try was not able to secure any foreign loans.

The foreign countries raised tariff walls against German goods. As a result there was considerable increase in the number of unemployed. During the depression years following 1930 the unemployment figures reached all time high record. In a population of 64,000,000 there were 6,500,000 unemployed people.

Even the condition of the farmers and shopkeepers became miserable. The Nazi Party fully exploited this and asserted that all it would see that no one walked without a job in Germany. Hitler said that the day the entire German race happened to abide by Nazi ideology, she would recapture her lost glory, power and prosperity. This greatly appealed the German people and they extended full support to the Nazi Party.

4. Resurgence of Militant German Nationalism.

The Germans by temperament have weakness for prestige and glory. They could not recon­cile with the weak democratic parliamentary system prevailing in the coun­try and still remembered with pride the days when order and discipline prevailed in Reichstag.

They felt that only a strong man could restore the past prosperity and prestige of Germany. When they found such a strong man in Hitler, he promised them all glory, they welcomed him with open arms. The Germans felt the need of a strong man also to check the growing popularity of Communism in the country, due to swelling ranks of the discontended workers.

5. Anti-Semitic Propaganda.

The anti-semitic propaganda carried on by the Nazi Party also contributed to its popularity. The Nazi Party described the Jews as traitors who conspired with the Allies during the war and could again commit treason against Germany.

It impressed on the people that their hardship was due to the exploitation by the Jews, who dominated the German economy. It called upon the people to settle the accounts with the Jew. In view of this anti-semitic propaganda, all the anti-Jew people thronged behind the Nazi Party.

6. Absence of unity among Opposition Parties.

The rise of Nazi Party in German was also facilitated due to lack of any strong opposition party or unity among the opposition parties. As a result the Nazi Pa; iv did not encounter any effective resistance and gained smooth popularity.

7. Establishment of Volunteer Corps.

Finally, the development of Nazism in Germany was greatly facilitated by the establishment of the volunteer corps. Under the peace settlement the number of forces of Germany was considerably curtailed and a large number of German soldiers were thrown out of employment.

The Nazi Party roped in all these soldiers and organized volunteer corps, which served as party army. The party army was divided into two wings. One wing wore brown shirts and red batch on the left arm with swastika sign.

The other wing which consisted of the chosen members of the party wore black shirts. These party army members propagated the programme of the Nazi Party and worked for safeguarding its interests. These cops rendered great service to the popularization of the Nazi Party.