Assessment Task 1

Question 1

The conditions that enabled dictators to rise to power in the interwar period?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Pre World War I Developments?

Answer 2

Europe became more industrialised, educated and politicised.

Question 3

The impact of World War I?

Answer 3

Showed governments to be fragile.

War introduced a brutality to the lives of people and normalised violence.

Question 4

1919 Paris Peace Conference

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

The role of personalities

Answer 5

The charismatic leaders of this time were all from extremist political ideologies

Question 6

The impact of the economic developments

Answer 6

Wall St Crash of 1929

The Great Depression

Question 7

The rise of the Nazi party and Hitler in Germany and the collapse of the Weimar Republic.

Answer 7

1 -Failure to pay reparations 
2- Ruhr occupation & its effects
3 - Passive resistance 
4 - Hyperinflation 
5 - The Munich Beer Hall Putsch

Question 8

The Treaty of Versailles & Reparations

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Ruhr Occupation

Answer 9

In January of 1923, when Germany failed to pay reparations, French and Belgian troops invaded the Ruhr.

Question 10

Passive Resistance

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Weimar Republic

Answer 11

The Weimar Republic was the democratic government of Germany. Made of a president, a chancellor and a parliament (Reichstag).

Question 12

The Great Depression

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Hyperinflation

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Article 48

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

The Munich Beer Hall Putsch

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Hitler’s Rise to Power

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Economic Factors

Answer 17

• The wall street crash of 1929
• Unemployment rose to 6 million
• President Hindenburg used Article 48 to pass legislation by decree

Question 18

The revolving door of Chancellors

Answer 18

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

Question 19

The Government in Chaos - 1933

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Reichstag Fire

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Enabling Act

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Which groups of Germany allowed Hitler to gain a wider following?

Answer 22

• 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,

Question 23

The growth of the Nazi Party in the Reichstag

Answer 23

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

Question 24

How did Hitler become Fuhrer?

Answer 24

• 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

Question 25

What did Hitler do with the Enabling Act?

Answer 25

• Ruled by terror
• Abolished trade unions
• Destroyed democracy by abolishing all other political parties

Question 26

When was the night of the long knives?

Answer 26

June 30th

Question 27

What were the 4 different police/military

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Intimidation and Use of force and the military

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Elimination of the opposition

Answer 29

• Concentration camps - 1st on established in 1933 called Dachau
• Banning political parties and trade unions
• Night of the long knives

Question 30

Gleichschaltung: Coordination

Answer 30

• Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, run by Joseph Goebbels
• The Reich Chamber of Culture
• Abolition of the Reichsrat (2nd house in parliament)

Question 31

Cult of personality

Answer 31

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