c. The Great Depression and years of crisis (1929–1933)
Although the long-term weaknesses of the Weimar Republic, established in 1919, are important for explaining the rise of Hitler and the development of Germany as an authoritarian state, it was the impact of the Great Depression that provided the Nazi Party with the opportunity to gain electoral support for their ideas. Nevertheless, despite rising electoral popularity, it was the 'backstairs' intrigue by the leading...