Assessment Task 1 Flashcards
Source based exam
The conditions that enabled dictators to rise to power in the interwar period?
1- Pre World War I Developments
2- The Impact of World War I
3- The impact of the 1919 Paris Peace Conference
4- Post War constitutional and political process
5- The role of personalities
6- The impact of economic developments
7- The growth of nationalism
Pre World War I Developments?
Europe became more industrialised, educated and politicised.
The impact of World War I?
Showed governments to be fragile.
War introduced a brutality to the lives of people and normalised violence.
1919 Paris Peace Conference
The 1919 Paris Peace Conference where the treaty of Versailles was signed is said to have a direct correlation to the rise of the Nazi Party.
The role of personalities
The charismatic leaders of this time were all from extremist political ideologies
The impact of the economic developments
Wall St Crash of 1929
The Great Depression
The rise of the Nazi party and Hitler in Germany and the collapse of the Weimar Republic.
1 -Failure to pay reparations 2- Ruhr occupation & its effects 3 - Passive resistance 4 - Hyperinflation 5 - The Munich Beer Hall Putsch
The Treaty of Versailles & Reparations
The treaty of Versailles came with several conditions for Germany. Some people consider the treaty to be unfair and harsh, given that, the provisions placed the blame of the war on Germany as well as leaving the nation in severe debt. germany was to pay reparations to cover damages caused due to the war. These reparations were 33million in USD
Ruhr Occupation
In January of 1923, when Germany failed to pay reparations, French and Belgian troops invaded the Ruhr.
Passive Resistance
Germans were encouraged to adopt a policy of “passive resistance” which essentially meant they weren’t to cooperate with the foreign soldiers. In such fashion, industrial workers went on strike and did not contribute to the production of goods and resources
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic was the democratic government of Germany. Made of a president, a chancellor and a parliament (Reichstag).
The Great Depression
The great depression occurred in 1929 as a result of the Wall St Crash in America. This caused economic unrest and in these years unemployment in Germany rose to a total of 6 million
Hyperinflation
During hyperinflation, and another economic fallout the people of Germany were looking away from the Weimar Republic in need of a government that could turn things around.
Article 48
In 1932, the Nazi Party became the largest political party in Parliament. After a brief struggle for power, Hitler was named Chancellor in January 1933. Within weeks, he invoked Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution to quash many civil rights and suppress members of the Communist party.
The Munich Beer Hall Putsch
The Munich beer hall putsch was an attempt at an overthrow of the Weimar Republic. It was unsuccessful but important in that it propelled Hitler into the national limelight. He was imprisoned and whilst in prison wrote, Mein Kemp, a biography and explanation of Hitler’s ideology. The failure the Putsch made Hitler realise, to come to power he had to do so legally
Hitler’s Rise to Power
1- Germany’s defeat in the war
2- Economic problems
3- Hitler was a powerful rhetorical public speaker who attracted a lot of support from Germans who wanted change
Economic Factors
- The wall street crash of 1929
- Unemployment rose to 6 million
- President Hindenburg used Article 48 to pass legislation by decree
The revolving door of Chancellors
Between the years of 1932-33, Germany saw a revolving door of Chancellors, were as a result of economic and social instability, there was no longer sitting Chancellor
The Government in Chaos - 1933
By the beginning of 1933, President Hindenburg was passing all legislation by decree.
Hiden burg and Von Papen gave Hitler the chancellorship in hope of being able to control him
Reichstag Fire
27th February of 1933 Hitler manipulated the Reichstag Fire to stress the dangers that Germany was in because of communists. Imprisoned all communist leaders. This was good because all communist leaders were imprisoned and weren’t able to speak up for themselves. In March elections were held and the Nazi part won 288 seats.
Enabling Act
In March 1933, Hitler introduced the Enabling Act to allow him to pass laws without the approval of Germany’s Parliament or President.
The enabling act gave Hitler dictatorial powers.
Which groups of Germany allowed Hitler to gain a wider following?
- Lower class workers, angry at the instability of the Weimar. (Some fled to communism)
- Scared wealthy businessmen, the elites and aristocracy to then fund the Nazi campaign
- Middle-class workers who were sick of the Weimar Republic and wanted a stronger government
- Ultra-nationalists, fascists,
The growth of the Nazi Party in the Reichstag
1928 the Nazi Party had only 12 seats in the Reichstag but by 1932 they had secured a total of 230 out of 608 seats
How did Hitler become Fuhrer?
- Hindenburg and Von Papen offer him vice-chancellor which he refuses demanding Chancellor, which they give him, in hopes of being able to control him
What did Hitler do with the Enabling Act?
- Ruled by terror
- Abolished trade unions
- Destroyed democracy by abolishing all other political parties
When was the night of the long knives?
June 30th
What were the 4 different police/military
Paramilitary : (not part of the military)
SA - Stormtroopers wore brown shirts. Thuggish, up to millions
SS - Elite, smaller, more educated, wore black shirts
Military:
Regular Army- 100,00 men (TOV) Disappears after 1935
Gestapo- Secret police
Intimidation and Use of force and the military
Hitler used force and intimidation and the military to instil fear in people. He had four different military groups at his disposal to do so
Elimination of the opposition
- Concentration camps - 1st on established in 1933 called Dachau
- Banning political parties and trade unions
- Night of the long knives
Gleichschaltung: Coordination
- Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, run by Joseph Goebbels
- The Reich Chamber of Culture
- Abolition of the Reichsrat (2nd house in parliament)
Cult of personality
When a nation elevates their political leader to a God-like status. Deifying him and making him a personification of the nation. Propaganda fueled the cult of personality
