Collapse of the Republic Flashcards
What was the Wall street crash?
Occurred in October 1929
It was the collapse of share prices on the NY stock exchange
Due to poor investments, farmers in debt and consumers buying too much on credit
Why was Germany effected so badly by the WSC?
Linked to America financially through Dawes and Young
Fall in national income almost level with the US, which was double that of the UK
How many people were unemployed?
1/3 of the population
Compared with US (1/4) and UK (1/5)
Increased from 1.4 mil 1928 to 5.6 mil in 1932
What happened to banks and businesses?
5 major banks collapsed and 50,000 businesses went bankrupt
What happened to agriculture?
Only 77% of 1913 level, even during 1928 slump were at 138%
What happened to industrial production?
Decreased 1929-32 from 114% to 66% of 1913 level
Fell by 42% 1928-32
What happened to wages?
In 1929 had been 169% of 1913 level, by 1932 it had fallen to 113%
What were the social effects of the depression?
Hunger Homelessness crime Middle classes lost pride; shame Lack of warmth Evictions of tenant farmers
What did Stresemann say to the LoN in 1929?
‘Germany is in fact dancing on a volcano’
How did extremist parties do in elections after the WSC?
NSDAP rose from 12 seats to 230, 1928-32
1 mil to 11mil
KDP rose from 54 to 89
3.2 mil to 6 mil
What happened to Nazis in 1932 elections?
In July got 38% of vote, but fell in November to 33%
What could be linked to NSDAP’s success?
When unemployment was highest was when they did their best
What happened to the moderate parties?
They all lost seats, excluding Z
Why did people vote for extremist parties?
Lack of welfare and benefits available
Poverty, debt and homelessness increased
Less money for housing and education
Lost confidence in gov who looked powerless
Why were Germany effected afterwards?
It was impossible to borrow money, couldn’t print more as that led to inflation and Germany had very few foreign investors
How did the government try to cope?
They cut funding on transport, housing and education
Increased money to welfare services
Reparations payments were suspended in 1931
What happened to the SPD gov?
It collapsed in 1930 because they could not agree on welfare cuts
What did prioritising domestic goods do to the economy?
Helped companies to retain staff, but meant Germans had to pay higher prices for their goods
Who was Muller?
He became chancellor in 1928 as leader of SPD
Formed the grand coalition and got the young plan through the Reichstag
Resigned March 1930 when Hindenburg refused to support him- last gov with working majority was ended
Who was chancellor Bruning?
In July 1930 to get Reichstag support, called elections where extremists made major gains
Had to force a finance bill through the Reichstag using article 48
Had a centre right gov- tolerated by SPD
How many seats did every party gain in July 1930?
SPD= 143 seats KPD= 77 seats NSDAP= 107 seats
What did foreigners do in response to the elections?
Frightened, withdrew 800 mil marks
How many laws and emergency decrees were passed 1930-32?
1930= 98 laws and 5 emergency decrees 1932= 5 laws and 66 emergency decrees
What were some of Bruning’s economic actions?
Pressed for international disarmament- not successful
Used deflationary policies to stop reparations- gov expenditure cuts, tax increases, cut civil servant’s wages- real income fell
Did try to give the peasants land and work
What was Bruning’s nickname?
the ‘hunger chancellor’
What happened during Bruning’s chancellorship?
The last of the allies left the Rhineland
Reparations were suspended July 1931
What did Bruning do to the SA?
Banned them in April 1932 in order to reduce street violence
How many days were the Reichstag sitting for?
1930- 94
1931- 42
1932- 13
What happened in the fall of Bruning?
General Schneider (who had supported his appointment) turned against him- he felt like Bruning should co-operate with the Nazis Bruning lost a no confidence vote and Hindenbrug replaced him
Who was Von Papen?
A Z party member, chairman of the conservative newspaper Germania
Monarchist at heart
Friend of Hindenburg, limited political experience, asked to be chancellor
His gov consisted of elite, not the Reichstag members
What were Papen’s actions?
Lifted the ban on the SA
In July 1932 used emergency powers to dispose socialist gov in Prussia
Called elections in July 1932- extremists won over half the seats
What happened in Papen’s downfall?
In September a vote of no confidence was passed against him, 512:42
Hindenburg dissolved the Reichstag
In December, Schleider persuaded Hindenburg to dissmiss him
What happened between Hitler and Hindenburg in August 1932?
They met together and Hitler asked to be chancellor
Hindenburg said no but he could be vice, but Hitler refused to enter into a coalition or be vice chancellor
What did major industrials do to help Hitler?
Bosch, Thyssen and Krupp wrote to Hindenburg asking him to let Hitler become chancellor
What actions did Von Schliecher take in 1932?
He convinced Hindenburg to remove Papen from the role of chancellor and appoint himself- wanted Gregor Strasser as vice chancellor
This made Hitler furious and he demanded Stasser declined the position
(Gregor was frustrated Hitler had refused vice-chancellorship and did enter talks but was stopped by Hitler)
What was the headline of the SPD vorwarts newspaper on 1st Jan 1933?
‘The rise and fall of Hitler’
What is the evidence that Hitler coming to power was not inevitable?
Lost 2 million votes in 1934 elections
Running out of money
Did not have a Reichstag majority
What role did Oskar Hindenburg have in Hitler coming to power?
He fell out with Schliecher at the end of 1932
He was either convinced or blackmailed by Hitler into supporting him
What role did Papen have in Hitler coming to power?
He wanted revenge on Schliecher, convinced Hindenburg Hitler could be chancellor if he was vice
Both Hindenburg and Papen thought they could control Hitler- ‘we’ve hired him for out act’
How did Schleicher not stop Hitler?
He wrongly thought Papen would be made chancellor so put his energy into stopping him
He failed to win the support of the left or the elite
How did Hitler come to power?
Schleicher failed to win around his cabinet on the 23th Jan and resigns
On the 30th January, Hitler is formally appointed as chancellor in a low profile ceremony in Hindenburg’s office
New government only had a further two Nazis
What did Hindenburg call the moment he appointed Hitler?
‘His unpleasant duty’
How did the SA and SS celebrate?
Held torchlight parades in Berlin
What did Mommsen say about this period?
Democracy was an ‘empty shell’
What did Feuchtwanger say about Weimar?
It’s thin thread for survival was snapped by political errors
What did Evans say about Weimar?
The absence of any serious resistance from the LW was decisive
Why could the left-wing not stop Hitler?
The TU’s were powerless- no strikes due to massive unemployment levels
SPD linked to Weimar and Young, and also depression
Inability to work together
What did Kershaw say about Weimar?
Tragic miscalculations were a major factor in bringing Hitler to power- there was nothing inevitable about Hilter’s triumph
What does Carr say about Hitler?
It is inconceivable Hitler could have come to power without the WSC
What did Peukert say about Weimar?
The fall was not down to one cause and it did nit happen overnight
What did Lee say about the depression?
The depression was a catalyst or accelerator into the decline of Weimar
What did Taylor say about Hitler?
Only the depression put wind into Hitler’s sails
What did Rosenburg believe about Bruning?
He brought about the death of the Weimar Republic
What did Meinecke say about Bruning?
It was after Bruning’s fall that Germany began the ‘path to the abyss’
What duid Weitz believe about Weimar?
The effects of war, Versailles, hyperinflation and depression left Germany desperate for a solution by 1932
What did Layton say about Bruning?
He accustomed the public to ruling by decree”
What happened to the number of emergency decrees?
5 in 1930
66 in 1932
Who was Von Schliecher?
An elite General, no political experience, friend of Hindenburg
His gov was made out of elite
How many meetings did. Hindenburg and Hitler have in January 1933?
5
What happened to real incomes under Bruning?
Real incomes fell
In what area did Hitler do better than Hindenburg in the elections?
Pomerania
