Collapse of Weimar Republic

Question 1

Collaps of WR

WSC Impacts

E-4, P-3.

Answer 1

ECONOMIC
1. Exports fell from 13.5bnRM to 4.9bnRM in 1933.
2. Unemployment rose - 1.8 in 1929 to 4.8m in 1933.
3. 1933, Agricultural prices fell by ~1/3 of original 1929 value.
4. Wages fell ~1/3 (1929-33)

POLITICAL
1. SPD vote increased until 1929, then began to fall.
2. Nazi vote increased - 1m-14m
3. Other extremists benefitted - KPD vote up and communists steady.

Question 2

Collapse of WR

Bruning as Chancellor

5, 0H.

Answer 2

1. POLITICAL - included a TU leader in government - wouldn’t cooperate with Nazis and banned SA - used Article 48 a lot.
2. ECONOMIC - enouraged deflation - cut government spending and rose taxes - suspended reparation payments.
3. FOREIGN POLICY - abandoned stresemann’s conciliation plan - allied troops left RL, agreed by S though - pressed for disarmament at International Disarmament Conference 1932.
4. STRENGTHS? - stood up to HB - cut government debt, 38% lower 1932 vs 1928 - inherited impossible position.
5. WEAKNESSES? - ‘Hunger Chancellor’ - public works schemes came to late, didn’t create enough employment - built on Stresemann’s success.

Question 3

Collapse of WR

Intrigue + Chancellors

4 + additional, 2H.

Answer 3

1. INTRIGUE - 1932 elections, first ballot = HDB 49.6%, Hitler 30% // second ballot = HDB 53%, Hitler 37% - in some rural areas, Hitler won.
2. MULLER (1928-30) - Chanc prev briefly after KP - May 1923, formed grand coalition of SPD-DVP - couldn’t handle depression or work with HDB, disagree on funding for unemployment payments.
3. PAPEN (1932) - extended ban on press ton incl democratic papers - ended SA ban - dissolved RS and held new elections, Nazis lost 2m but Hitler still firm - resigned after VS told HDB army had no confidence in Papen.
4. VON SCHLEICHER (1932-33) - negotiated with TUs, later broke this off - industrialists wrote to HDB asking for Hitler to lead Cabinet
   - Jan 1933, plotting with Papen at centre (Hitler asked by HDB to be Chancellor with Papen as VC, only 2 Nazis in cabinet so thought they could control Hitler “hired him for our act”)

H&H - Hitler beginning to look unstoppable.
FISCHER - elites had miscalculated when they ried to control Hitler.

Question 4

Collapse of WR

NSDAP Strength

5, 2H.

Answer 4

1. Volkischer Boebachter - daily newspaper, 26000 copies in circulation 1929.
2. Hitler spoke at 16 small towns prior to elections.
3. Common enemy in Jews - #80% joined due to antisemitism.
4. Goebbels as Head of Propaganda - 6000 Nazi meetings an thousands of leaflets.
5. SA - originall small group of ex-soldiers - 1930-32, street violence between paramilitaries increased and SA as martyrs - disciplined marches = seem ordered and controlled.

H&H - SA played major role in H success.
PIERCE - Goebbels = greatest propagandist of modern times.