HISTORY IGCSE REVISION CARDS - 040. RACIAL POLICIES

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‘HITLER’S RACIAL VIEWS WERE THE MAIN REASON
FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE NAZIS BETWEEN 1929 AND
1932.’ HOW FAR DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS
STATEMENT? EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER. (10)
YES, racial views were the main reason for Nazi success (2-3)
Hitler realised that the German people were suffering and
losing their faith in the Weimar Republic. By portraying the
Jews as an inferior race, who were successful at the expense
of hard-working German people, he argued that the Jews
were responsible for Germany’s problems. This gave people a
scapegoat and this increased his support.
NO, other reasons “guilty” for Nazi success (2-3)
The Depression was the main reason for the success of the
Nazis. Germany was in economic chaos and by 1932
unemployment stood at six million. Hitler promised to make
Germany great again and to end unemployment. This meant
that many people turned to the Nazis as the solution to their
problems and a way of ensuring they could feed their families.’
Conclusion and evaluation
Racial discussion was an important component of Hitler’s
discourse as he saw the opportunity to use the Jews as a
scapegoat for all the bad things that happened in the German
economy. However, the Great Depression was another

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important reason, nothing to do with the racial debate. In
conclusion, Hitler ceased the opportunity to advance his racial
views in German society, as the occasion presented itself
during the years of economic hardship.