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- Hitler first became a publicly known figure in 1923, when he was put on trial and sent to prison for treason after the Nazi Party's failed Munich Putsch.
- Between 1924 and 1929 the Nazi Party had little political success, not winning many Reichstag seats. This was because support for the Weimar government increased during the five years of economic and political stability experienced by Germany. Thus the German people felt no need to join extremist parties like the NSDAP (Nazis) or Communist Party in order to sort out their problems.
- The Nazi Party did, however, steadily increase its membership numbers during this time. This was mainly due to an intensive propaganda campaign, with messages filled with hatred of the Party's enemies (Jews, Slavs, Allies, Communists, Weimar government politicians, etc) and promises of regaining Germany's lost pride and power.
- By 1929 Hitler's party had become a haven for the destitute and those who did not fit in anywhere else in society.
- This situation changed drastically in 1929 when Stresemann - the man credited with bringing about political and economic stability in Germany - died and the Great Depression broke out, plummeting the German people into economic despair.
- The desperate people of Germany started looking for a scapegoat and a saviour. Hitler gave them both. Within five years the Nazi Party increased its number of Reichstag seats from 12 to 230. Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany in January 1933 by the president, Hindenburg. This was on the suggestion of Von Papen, who was under the impression that he could use Hitler to his own and his Nationalist Party's advantage.
- Hitler had kept his promise of coming to power in Germany through constitutional means.
- He could now turn his attention to consolidating his power and creating the German Reich that he had promised his followers.
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