Collapse of Democracy (1928-33) Flashcards
Why did the grand coalition fail?
Reached deadlock on how to deal with welfare issue and coalition dissolved
Who replace Muller?
Bruning
How many times did Bruning use presidential decree?
66 laws passed by decree
Why did Bruning use presidential decree?
SPD was excluded meaning nobody has a majority and government had to reply on Presidental decree
What did an increase in Nazi support lead too?
Disturbances in Reichstag
What did street violence increasing led to?
Bruning banning SA
Was any SA ban effective?
Didn’t stop membership or activity
How did the welfare system fair over depression?
Heights of unemployment meant system couldn’t cope and reforms were implemented to restrict amount paid to individuals
Describe effect on youth
High levels of unemployment and little prospects lead to gangs forming, Juvenile crime began to rise as well as extremism, extreme politics tried to involved youth buy failed. Government intervention was largely methods of getting youths off street
Describe effect on women
Employed women became unpopular and cross-party belief that right to work should be revoked. Law made in May 1932 enable civil servants to be dismissed however overall percentage of women in work increased
What happened in October 1929?
Wall Street Crash
What happened in March 1930?
Collapse of Muller grand coalition and Bruining becomes chancellor
What happened in September 1930?
Reichstag elections where Nazi’s and Communist made gains
What happened in May 1931?
Collapse of Austrian Bank
What happened in July 1931?
Financial crisis in Germany
What happened in April 1932?
Ban on Nazi SA
What happened in April 1932?
Hindenburg reelected as President
What happened in May 1932?
Bruning resigns and replaced by Papen as Chancellor
What happened in July 1932?
Reichstag elections
Who was Germany’s main exporter?
USA
How much did exports drop by?
61%
How much did industrial production fall by?
58%
What happened to companies?
Many went bankrupt and other made cuts
When and why did the Banks close?
2 days in July 1931 for break
How many Germans were registered unemployed by 1932?
1/3
What groups were hit badly?
Industrial areas and white collar workers
How did farming fare?
Decrease in exports and domestic prices forced further into difficulty
How many votes did KPD gain between 1928 and 1930?
2 million votes
How did the support for KPD change
From unions to working class and after 1929 moved to unemployment
What did KPD aim to do?
End unemployment cuts, legalise abortion and have close relations with USSR
What was the KPD’s long run goal?
Repace SPD
What was the peak of KPD support?
16.9%
What were the issues with membership for KPD?
High turnover meant no sustainable financial support
What did Hitler do in 1929?
Established undisputed control of Nazi Party and had leadership cult
Who did Nazi’s use as their scapegoat?
Jewish were ‘responsible for economic and political problems
Were Anti-Semitic views open?
Yes but ordinary people still less open
How did the Nazi reach people?
Owned newspapers and published many poster and conducted marches
How was propaganda so successful?
Hitler was charismatic and changed his messaged depending on audience
When was 25 point programme first proposed?
1920
Who didn’t agree with all points?
Hitler
What did SA show?
Discipline and unity
What ideas were the heart of Nazi thinking?
Struggle, violence and war
What was Volksgeimeinschaft?
Romanised idea of German that only allow citizenship for Aryans
Why did change the name to NSDAP?
Attempt to gain worker class support
What did Hitler set out to do?
Destroy parliamentary democracy
What was Furerprinzip?
Hitler has supreme control
What were 3 consistent aims?
Reverse humiliation, establish greater Reich and secure materials for sustaining greater Germany
How did Hitler see Jews?
Saw them as responsible and used propaganda to deem them to be cunnig, greedy and selfish
How did Nazis fare in 1928 election?
0.8 million votes and 12 seats, smallest party
How did Nazis fare in 1930 election?
6.4 million votes and 107 seats, second largest
How did Nazis fare in 1932 presidential election?
11.3 million votes in first round and 13.4 million votes in second, Hindenburg only got 19 million
How did Nazis fare in 1932 elections?
13.8 million votes and 230 seats
How did Nazis fare in the second 1932 election?
11.2 million votes, support declined after back communist-led strike
How did Nazis fare in 1933 election?
17.3 million votes and 288 seats, first of undemocratic elections
What happened on 30th January 1933?
Hiter was invited to join coalition
Who was Hitler invited to join a coalition with?
DNVP and Papen
Why did Hindenburg come round to the idea of Hitler becoming Chancellor?
Hugneburg and Papen though Hitler would be easy to manipulate
Why did Bruning become Chancellor despite not having a majority?
Schleicher influenced Hindenburg into making the decisions
How did Bruning govern?
By presidential decree because he didn’t have a majority
What happened to Nazi following when depression worsened?
It grew
What deal did Hitler make with Schleicher?
Hitler would support a government if new elections were called and ban on SA was lifted
Who replaced Bruning?
Papen
What was the issue with Papen’s background?
No political affiliations
How did Papen govern?
By presidential decree because he didn’t have a majority
Who did Papen ally himself with?
Nazis
How did Hitler break his deal with Schleicher?
Passed a vote of no confidence in Papen and forced Hindenburg to dissolve Reichstag
Why had Nazis lost support in November 1932 election?
Middle class alienated by attacks on Papen, support of communist-led strikes damaged the party in the eyes of those fearing revolution and close elections had drained funds
How did Papen’s government fall?
Faced hostility in Reichstag, considered banning extreme parties with force but Schleicher removed army backing
Who made up Hindenburg’s inner circle?
Schleicher, Hindenburg and Missow
Who followed Papen?
Schleicher
What task was Schleicher faced with?
Constructing stability
How did Schleicher first approach Nazi’s?
Reached out to Strasser but Hitler removed him and reestablished rulership
What change in direction did Schleicher take?
Adopted a socially progressive policy
What impact did Schleicher’s change in direction have?
Lost backbone support from conservatives
What did Schleicher ask Hindenburg for but was refused?
Dictatorial powers
Who did talks begin with over new coalition?
Hitler and Hindenburg’s inner circle
What was Hitler still adamant on?
Being Chancellor
Why did the agree to let Hitler become Chancellor?
Through Hitler could be controlled
How many posts did Nazi’s hold in the first cabinet?
3 - Hitler was Chancellor, Frick was Security and Goering was Security in Prussia
What happened on evening of appointment?
Candlelight procession to make change from the past
What did Hitler persuade Hindenburg to do?
Dissolve Reichstag and call new elections
Why did Hitler call new elections?
He believed he would win
When was Reichstag fire?
27 February
Who was claimed to have started the fire?
Marius Vander Lubbe who had links to communists
What did Hitler use the fire to justify?
Suspension of rights
What played a big part in Hitler’s rise to power?
Violence of SA
What did Nazi’s do in the run up to the elections?
Unleashed a rain of terror using state resources
What was Dachau and where was it?
First concentration camp, outside of Munich
How many political prisoners were there by July 1933?
26789
What emergency powers did Hitler gain after the fire?
Decree suspended civil and political rights
What powers did the police now have?
Increasing powers to detain without charge, enter and search property
How did the police treat SA violence?
Ability to commit violence untouched and gained legal authority
What happened to KPD before elections?
Allowed to stand but party membership was considered treason
What backdrop were the elections held under?
Fear and intimidation banned opponents campaign of bombarded with propaganda
What was the outcome of the March 1933 election?
43.9 % and 288 seats for Nazi’s - formed with allies DNVP to get majority
What was the Enabling Act?
Gave Hitler dictatorial powers
What happened on March 23, 1933?
First meeting in new Reichstag to propose enabling act
What happened on March 24, 1933?
Law passed and Hitler got powers to make treaties too
How did Hitler achieve his 2/3 majority to pass enabling act?
Removal of communists seats, ZP gave support after Hitler promised not to use it without consulting Hindenburg
What was the Gleichschaltung?
Nazi’s attempted to control all aspects of Germany
How did Hitler relationship with army and industrialists affect Gleichschaltung?
They were only two institutions that could remove him and they weren’t playing ball so Hitler left them alone
