1. Collapse of the Weimer republic 1929-1933

Question 1

what did the depression create?

Answer 1

created feelings of desperation and psychological disillusionment within German people -> polarisation of German politics and increasing political violence.

Question 2

what did the depression give Hitler and Nazi Party?

Answer 2

opportunity to gain support and made possible the behind the scene manoeuvring by conservative elites which would lead to Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor.

Question 3

changes to Weimer constitution?

Answer 3

Increasing political polarisation and difficulty to form a coalition government, Weimar constitution gave enormous powers to President.

Question 4

After resignation of Muller, what happened to ruling cabinets?

Answer 4

Cabinets became presidential, with the chancellor being chosen by Hindenburg, and the Reichstag became increasingly irrelevant in process of political decision making

Question 5

Who was elected President in 1925 at age 78?

Answer 5

Following successful military career conservative, Paul von Hindenburg was elected President (2nd of weimer Republic)

Question 6

who did Hindenburg rely on advice of?

Answer 6

of small circle of military officers including his son, Oskar, and general Kurt von Schleicher (anti-republicans/democracy

Question 7

what were the ppl that Hindenburg relied objectives?

Answer 7

Their objective to change into authoritarian state government by the political right.

Question 8

what did Hindenburg abandon?

Answer 8

the parliamentary convention that a gov needed support of a majority in Reichstag

Question 9

Who and when did Hindenburg appoint as Chancellor?

Answer 9

March 1930

Heinrich Bruning

Question 10

what did Heinrich Bruning do?

Answer 10

He severely restricted the right of press to criticise gov policies – a significant setback to democratic freedom. Also worsened impact of Depression on unemployed by reducing their small unemployment benefits

Question 11

What does historian describe Bruning’s appointment as chacellor as?

Answer 11

British historian AJP Taylor describe Bruning’s appointment as the end of democracy in Germany

Question 12

Bruning’s aim?

Answer 12

planned to dismantle whatever remained of social welfare system, and eventually to reduce powers of the Reichstag, and introduce a more authoritarian system of gov. to enforce these policies, relied on Hindenburg to use his emergency powers.

Question 13

What did Bruning state that he would do if Reichstag wont support his policies?

Answer 13

would request use of emergency powers under Article 48

Question 14

what happened under Bruning?

Answer 14

During his chancellorship the no. of meeting days of Reichstag fell from 94 in 1930 to 13 in 1932, while no. of emergency decrees under Article 48 rose from five to sixty-six.

Question 15

Although Hindenburg was re-elected, what happened to bruning?

Answer 15

Hindenburg withdrew support from Bruning, resigned on 30 May 1932

Question 16

Who replaced bruning?

Answer 16

replaced by Papen, and Papen was replaced by Schleicher but he was not able to gain a majority in the Reichstag

Question 17

What was Nazi Party like?

Answer 17

While not have majority, Hitler’s Nazi Party was largest party in Reichstag

Question 18

how did Nazi get majority votes?

Answer 18

As consequence of significant sections of population turning to Nazis during Depression, due to fears of middle class, many turned to Nazi in hope that they would prevent communist takeover.

Question 19

Why did political scheming happen?

Answer 19

‘old right’, characterised by aristocrats and army officers around Hindenburg, had own plan to get rid of democracy and return to form of authoritarian gov. to use popularity of Nazis, the ‘new right’, and manipulate Hitler

Question 20

Why did Schleicher want hitler become member of his gov?

Answer 20

Could result in the Army, which had been limited to 100 000 by Treaty, to increased by addition of 400 000 members of Nazi Party’s private army, the SA. However, Schleicher badly miscalculated.

Question 21

What did Hitler say that he would only give support if?

Answer 21

Hitler would only have Nazi Party support a gov if himself was Chancellor.

Question 22

What did Papen set out to do out of revenge from undermining him to be dismissed from chancellorship?

Answer 22

Out of revenge, Papen set to have Schleicher removed and replaced by Hitler

Question 23

What did Hindenburg view Hitler?

Answer 23

opposed Hitler but due to his advisors such as von Papaen and his son, he became convinced that there was no danger in making Hitler chancellor

Question 24

When was Hitler appointed chancellor?

Answer 24

30 January 1933

Question 25

what happened to von Papen with appointment of Hitler as chancellor?

Answer 25

Von Papen would be vice chancellor

Question 26

What did von Papen and his allies boast at the time?

Answer 26

that Hitler would a “chancellor in chains” and that “we have hired him”.

Question 27

Why was this development preferable for conservative politicians, army officers and businesses?

Answer 27

development preferable as democracy allowed despised Social democrats a say in decision making process

Question 28

Did democracy fail? what did it lead to?

Answer 28

Germany’s democracy had failed. By 1930s, key players of Germany no longer wanted parliamentary democracy to work. Led to emergence of authoritarian regime, backed by military – Hitler and Nazi Party

Question 29

What did the depression create - quote?

Answer 29

“The depression created a situation in which the parliamentary system broke down, opening way to presidential government by decree”

– W.H. Simon.

Question 30

What did Mazower state about the political scheming?

Answer 30

“Weimar in the 1920’s was clearly a democracy: Under Chancellor Brüning it was less of one; under von Papen and Schleicher – Hitler’s immediate predecessor – it was already very close to being an authoritarian state”