How Did the Nazi's Become the Largest Party in Weimar Germany?

How Did the Nazi's Become the Largest Party in Weimar Germany?

The Nazi party is recognised worldwide as one of the most controversial and destructive political parties ever to form, and yet they managed to become the largest party in Weimar Germany in July 1932, and form a government which ruled for over several years. Historians have argued there were several reasons this was able to occur, including the distinctive leaders the party was groomed by, the ongoing despair of the German public, and the financial and emotional state of the country itself. The reality is however, that all of these reasons applied, and several more, but which were the most important, and why?
One of the most important reasons for Nazi’s sudden nationwide popularity was the membership of Adolf Hitler, a decorated war veteran of World War I who was sent to spy on the German Workers’ Party, but was impressed so much with founder Anton Drexler and his nationalistic views that he became the party’s 55th member, moving quickly up its ranks and even suggesting the new name for the party, the National Socialist German Workers Party. The personality and intelligence of Hitler was a main contributor to the party’s future success, but most of all his qualities as a leader and as a communicator. Hitler’s characteristics as a person were of immense importance to the party; he was hugely charismatic and authoritative, which made him appealing to the public as they trusted him as a potential leader, and also made his position secure within the party itself. He was also very powerful; he acquired the full support of the army by oath in an unprecedented move, as they swore allegiance to him as an individual, rather than the state or the government, and he showed his authority very early on by showing he was not afraid to speak out his controversial beliefs and order the execution of anyone who spoke out against him, such as in the Night of the Long Knives in August 1934.
Hitler also had the added benefit of being an excellent public speaker; he learnt to...

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