ch6. Flashcards
what coalition was germany run by in 1929
Müller’s grand coalitions
what did german exports fall by in 1928?
55 % - slump in trade - demand for exports fell
what were 2 fundamental weaknesses in the german economy before wall Street Crash?
- balance of trade in red (debt)
- 1.9 million unemployed
although wall street crash contributed to germnay’s problems what is thesis?
it was the occasion not the cause - crisis = final push that brought the economy down
when did unemployment peak and at what
jan 1932 at 6.1 million
how did economic crisis quickly degenerate into a political crisis
- middle classes in law + medicine lost pride + money as no demand for services
- society breaking down uncontrollably - lose faith in Weimar + turn to salvation in solutions by extremists
in Germany 1932 industrial production fell to what fo 1929 level
40%
similar in USA - industrial production fallen by?
46%
why did USA not fall like Germany
-USA - well-established democracy - suggests that the depression hastened the end of the republic only because the democratic basis of government not well established
why did reparations cause issues in germany ?
very time when unity+ firm gov required - republic torn apart by re-emergence emotive issue reparations
who was alfred hugenburg?
leader nationalists + own 150 newspapers + greatest media tycoon
who did Hugenburg generate support against young plan from ?
-pan german league hitler etc
what did the national opposition (hugenbrug’s supporters) put to a referendum?
law against enslavement of german ppl - (denounced payment reparations) - not passed 5.8million / 21 million votes needed
what benefits did hugenburg’s campaign offer hitler?
- party membership 130,000 by 1929
- hitler made influential contacts on right wing + access to media empire
short term cause of muller collapse
- INTERNAL DIVISIONS on welfare
- SPD support trade unions + welfare BUT DVP (w/ big business) reduce benefits –> resigned
who was put into office after muller
bruning
(2) one of reasons why brunings ascension marks a crucial step to end of new gov
-maneuvered into power by political intriguers surrounding president Hindenburg including Von Sleicher
(2) anotehr eason why bruning in power = no democracy
attempted to balance the budget but rejected by 256 votes BUT used A48 to put policy in place + dissolved reichstag to not be challenged
1930 election who saw breakthrough and why?
nazi 810,000 –> 6 million (propoganda directed at rural + middle classes. - saw society breakdown
what did 1930 elections show?
extreme parties made extreme gains against pro-democracy
How is Brunings role as semi-dictator shown through presidential decree from 1930-32?
5 to 44 A48 laws passed
what should bruning be considered?
ultra conservative monarchist = no sympathy for republic
what was brunings two main economic measures
- cut spending
- raise taxes
what did brunings economic policies lead to ?
-worsened slump - low demand
‘Hunger Chancellor’ - decline welfare state
figure to show failure of burnings economic policies in depression
5 leading german banks failed July 1931
argument against Bruning’s failure in economic policy
no other alternative - in depression + fundamental weakness form 1920s
spring 1932 elections - burnings votes compared to hitler
- 53% - hindenburg
- 36% hitler
- hindenburg only chosen as no all to hitler or KPD
what did Hindenburg force bruning to do in 1932 may
resign
what did the collapse of major bank DANAT lead to
unemployment 5 million (fear of financial crisis) - rebirth national opposition in Harzburg front - rally against burning 1931
what was the fundamental reason for burnings fall from grace w/ hindenburg
- emergency decree- turn Junker estates in 600,000 allotments )east Prussia)
- threatened landowners -
- agrarian bolshevism -
agrarian bolshevism - led to what
-Von Sleicher’s right wing intriguers convince Hindenburg to to force burning out
2 positive points for burning
- succeeded in ending reparation
- sympathised w/ reduction democratic powers in reichstag
2 points against bruning
- failed germany in economic crisis
- didn’t realise insecurity in position w/ hindenburg
how did Bruning lead to Nazi rise
- brunings continual upholding of law - abuse of A48 + undermining democracy paved way for Nazis to assume power
- ppl looked to nazis for support in economic chaos
who was von papen?
politically inept/inexperienced aristocrat nationalist views
what did von Papen form as chancellor?
how did papen get to power why?
schleicher recommended him - lack of ability = actions influenced
2 concessions hitler demanded to not oppose new gov?
- dissolution reichstag
- end gov ban on SA+SS
why was the July 1932 reichstag election so significant?
- street violence + bloodshed - 86 ppl dead
- Papen used excuse to abolish Prussia gov (most powerful regional state gov) + put himself in charge July 1932
2 reasons why Papen in charge of Prussia significant?
- -arbitary + unconstituional
- replaced parliament w/ authoritarian preseident
key fact - nazis in 1932 votes
37% NSDAP largest party
key fact - ppl voting democratic
only 39.5% 1932
PPL VOTE TO REJECT DEMOCRACY
kpd 1933 votes
-KPD gain 4.8 million votes – barred from Reichstag 1933(not party banned)
