Frontsheet 3 Flashcards
Impact of Wall Street Crash
World demand fell
Germany exported fewer goods
US banks demand return of short-term loans
Many banks/businesses went bankrupt
Businesses/customers lost confidence
Wages/hours cut
Unemployment & poverty increased
Confidence in Weimar fell
increased support for extremists
Economic Impact of the Depression
Banks
1931 5 major banks collapsed
Sector lost influence
Fewer loans issued
Economic Impact of the Depression
Trade
Worldwide demand fell 61%
Goods demand fell
eg. steel & chemicals
Economic Impact of the Depression
Industrial Output
Fell 58% 1929-1932
Only 11% in Britain
Economic Impact of the Depression
Unemployment
1.8 million registered 1929
5.6 million registered 1933 (1/3 workers)
(under 3 million in Britain)
Considered closer 8 million
many especially women not officially registered
60% new graduates unemployed
Economic Impact of the Depression
Government Expenditure
Tax revenue decreased
Reduced spending transport/housing/education
Thousands civil servants made redundant
Salaries fell 25%
Economic Impact of the Depression
Agriculture
Demand, prices & profits fell sharply
Farms sold
Rural unemployment increased
Production in 1929 3/4 1913 level
Social Impact of the Depression
Welfare
After 1930 access to welfare limited
eg. unemployed only entitled to state benefits
for 2 years
then reliant on local authorities
less generous & strictly means tested
Women/young people received less welfare than men
Town dependent on single industry hit hard
eg. Brand-Erbisdorrff (glass making)
nearly 1/2 population received welfare
Social Impact of the Depression
Health
Increased TB, rickets & malnutrition
Social Impact of the Depression
Shanty Towns
Evictions increased & benefits restricted
Increased need of shanty towns
No access to running water/electricity
Social Impact of the Depression
Young People
Unemployment particularly high
39% men & 35% women 14-25
Increased gangs of young men in public spaces
concerns of increasing crime
Juvenile convictions (14-25) didn’t increase
but accusations did
(eg. theft, assault & threatening behaviour & crimes against the state)
Young men increasingly involved in political extremism
KPD recruited from ‘wild cliques’ & took part in demonstrations & street fighting
NSDAP offered food, shelter & purpose to young men who joined SA
Social Impact of the Depression
Women
Set back employment equality
Female proportion of workforce increased cheaper to employ
More accusations of ‘double earners’
1932 law allowed married women in civil service to be dismissed
Reich Postal Service sacked 1000 women
Political impact of depression
‘Grand Coalition’
deeply split
Led by Muller - broadest coalition
Muller’s policy for depression
Laissze-Faire approach
Very little inital action because:
1. afraid to repeat hyperinflation
- restiction imposed by currency stablisation
eg. couldn’t print more money
difficult to borrow money - lacked confidence in finances & ability to repay
1929-32 reduced expenditure
to cope with fall taxation
1928-33 budget war victim’s pension cut 1/3
Muller’s steps to alleviate depression crisis [5]
1931 repayments suspended 1 yr
international agreement to postpone all debt
1932 Lausanne conference
reparations reduced to 3B marks
paid off in one payment 1935
Unused land given to homeless farmers & workers
Compulsory emergency labour schemes
gave young people basic wage
for unskilled manual labour
unpopular - striked twice for better pay
Voluntary schemes sent young men to
residencial work camps
for 6 months
priority getting off streets
to provide meaningful training & help
Collapse of Grand Coalition
Division made appear weak
public began blame for crisis
Muller resigns March 1930
Brunning appointed - favoured authoritiarian gov
Hindenburg influenced by
Gen. Groener & Gen. Schleicher
both opposed parliamentary democracy
Hindenburg shows contempt for democracy
respected constitution
Coalition all biggest parties except SPD
SPD deputies oppose laws in Reichstag
gov couldn’t pass laws
Hinenburg increasingly rule by Article 48
effective end to democracy
Growth of support of extremists
SPD won support for decree
calling for Article 48 to be withdrawn
Instead Bruning dissolved Reichstag
& call Sept 1930 election
September 1930 election results
SPD 143 seats
KPD 77 seats
NSDAP 107 seats
2/5 votes anti-democratic parties
NSDAP disruption of Reichstag
Disrupt regularly
became unmanageable
Undermine Weimar system
couldn’t form stable coalition
extended crisis & increased distrust in Weimar
Reichstag increasingly irrelevant
did not meet Feb-Oct 1931
Power shifted from Reichstag to
Presidents/advisors/extremists on streets
Cause for increased support of extremists
KPD & NSDAP propaganda
offered more secure future
to workers facing unemployment & poverty
Nationalists despair weakness of gov
& continued humiliation
NSDAP promised removal of
responsible socialists
& rip up ToV
Political turmoil led to belief
Weimar democracy cause of problems
Political violence
NSDAP & communists
attempt to break up
meeting of opponents
Marches & counter-marches clashed
turned into full scale riots
↳KPD paramilitary group
Red Front Fighters’ League
had over 120,000 members
End 1931 Brüning issued decree
banning wearing political uniforms
did not stop SA
1932 Hindenburg outlawed SA
failed to stop activity (incompetency of gov)
SA had 400,000 members
52KPD killed 1931
First 6 months 1932
82 Nazi supporters & 75 communists
died from political violence
Nazi ideology
Power of the Will
Hitler & Nazis having
power, strength & determination
to achieve goals & better Germany
Propaganda, SA & image of unit
portrayed to this
Nazi ideology
Militarism
Hitler heavily influence by
‘survival of the fittest’
thought life was struggle between races
social darwinism
Armed conflict necessary
for conquest of non-German races
Propaganda emphasised
courage, loyalty & self-sacrifice
Nazi ideology
Volksgemeinschaft
Nation work together
with no social classes
& change for everyone to achieve potential
Work for good of the nation
& receive employment/welfare rights
Only Aryans considered members of state
other races excluded
“subject” with no influence
Nazi ideology
Blood and soil
Ensured survival of German race
by creating purer/fitter nation
of people obedient to idea of
working for common good
Looked back on romanticised & mythical past
before country ‘polluted’
& industrialisation divided into social classes
Nazi ideology
National socialism
State provided work/welfare for all
unearned income abolished
Used to win working class votes
Hitler not fully committed
changed message based on audience
eg. after 1929 sought support/donations
from businessmen (eg. Fritz Thyssen)
reassured businesses/profits not under threat
Nazi ideology
Führerprinzip
Republic & democracy
weak/ineffective/alien
form Germany
success built on strong/authoritarian gov
Weimar replaced by
one party state & dictatorship
done w/ Gleischaltung once in power
Nazi ideology
Nationalism & Lebensraum
Reverse ToV
Establish Greater German Reich
all Germans live in border
Secure Lebensraum
provide land
& resources needed to be great power
expand east
Justified by racial theory
of superiority of German race
Nazi ideology
Anti-Semitism
Blamed Jews for problems
portrayed as greedy/cunning/money motivated
Blamed for communism & greed of capitalism
responsible for WW1 defeat/ToV/political instability/decline as great power
Talked of worldwide Jewish conspiracy
to dominate all other races
Nazi ideology
Aryanisation & racial hygiene
Aryans were Herrenvolk
& needed to be ‘purified’
by eliminating inner-racial marriages
w/ ‘degenerates’
Presented Jews as deadly threat to German Volk
& claimed ‘germs’ needed to be eradicated
↳justified later killing of Jewish women/children
‘Racial hygiene’ justified
sterilisation of
disabled, LGBTQ, the Roma, pacifists & Jehovah’s Witnesses
Impact of depression on political views
Polarised views
looked to extreme parties
to solve problems
NSDAP more successful than KPD
in broadening appeal
NSDAP key supporters
Before 1929
lower middle class
After depression broadened:
Farmers
↳promised high prices for products & protection against imports
Broader Mittlestand
↳disillusioned to DVP & DNVP
afraid of communism threat
Nationalists & industrialists
Change in support for KPD
Largely gained votes
urban working class
at expense SPD
1932 Presidential election
Candidates
Hindenburg
Thälmann (KPD)
Duesterberg (right)
Hitler (NSDAP)
Hindenburg fell short 50%
to outright win first ballot
Won 53% second
↳Duesterberg did not stand
↳Hitler won greater percentage in
some rural areas
Appeal of communism
KPD Membership
117,000 -> 360,000 (1928-32)
1920s strong presence in factors/workshops
where trade union established
After 1930s needed to appeal to unemployed
↳set up ‘committees of the unemployed’
↳staged hunger marches
↳campaigned against benefits cuts
↳appealed to ‘wild cliques’ to encourage working class men
Frequent fights/riots with NSDAP & police
styled themselves as protector against NSDAP
some areas (eg. Berlin’s Wedding district)
effectively under their control
Strengths of communism
Effective propagada
↳posters inc. slogans like ‘bread & freedom’
↳Thälmann’s speeches stressed class struggle
& aim to destroy capitalism
(especially post 1929)
Improved organisation
& support at neighbourhood/street level
in big cities especially Berlin
Messages popular among members
& some unemployed post 1929
Weaknesses of communism
Perceived threat of revolution
↳frightened many middle class into
supporting NSDAP
Hitler used fear to encourage
businessmen to donate to NSDAP
↳NSDAP & SA seen as only group
big enough to prevent revolution
50% new members 1932 left within few months
Limited support of
women/outside industrial areas
Short on money
many members unemployed
Focussed on fighting SPD not NSDAP
Josef Goebbels
Appointed Reich Propaganda Chief 1928
Propaganda
Money
Backed by rich businessmen
eg. Thyssen & Schacht
3M marks donated by 1933
Propaganda methods
Speeches
Speakers well trained in oratorial techniques
& party’s ideology
Hitler travelled to make passionate speeches
Propaganda methods
New technology
Used private plane in
‘Hitler Over Germany’ initiative
Used radio broadcasts
Wanted as many people as possible
to hear Hitler’s speeches
Propaganda methods
Nazi flag
Used heavily
to convey identity & beliefs of party
Colours of old imperial flag
Striking design
to convey strength & power
Propaganda methods
Newspapers
Owned
‘Völkischer Beobachter’
“Der Strürmer’
Propaganda methods
Marches & rallies
Banners/songs/bands/speeches/no. people
convey impression of party
unity/discipline/strength/popularity
Propaganda methods
Posters
Tailored to specific audiences
Propaganda messages
Failure of Weimar
Strongest message
Nazis return to former glory
Propaganda messages
Anti-Semitism
Only used for some audiences
Shop keepers/small business owners
receptive to ‘Jewish Conspiracy’
Blamed for economic problems
SA encouraged radical belief & violence
People voted NSDAP despite
1932 Hitler speech
to 650 businessmen
not mention Jews
Propaganda messages
Anti-communism
Portrayed as only party strong enough
to deal with threat
Propaganda messages
Unemployment
Jan 1932
organised 16 mass meetings
about unemployment
Key election slogan
‘Work and Bread’
Posters/speeches 1931-32
had overwhelming focus
on economic problems
Brüning as Chancellor
Made Chancellor 30 March 1930
On advice Groener & Schleicher
only rule if had their support
Known as ‘Hunger Chancellor’
harsh economic policies
eg. cutting welfare & wages
↳worsened impact of depression
increased KDP & NSDAP support
April 1932 banned SA
Schleicher withdrew support
convinced gov could only operated
with NSDAP support
Hitler not oppose
if election called & ban lifted
May 1932 Hindenburg withdrew support
on Schleicher’s advice
30 May forced to resign
Von Papen as Chancellor
Appointed 1 June 1932
Aristocratic army officer & anti-democratic
Created ‘cabinet of barons’
↳aristocratic landowners & only 2 deputies
No Reichstag support
relied on Article 48
June lifted SA ban
sympathised with Nazi aims
saw as allies against communists
Street violence & election intimidation increased
July
1. Clash SA & communists in Hamburg
declared state of emergency in Prussia
dismissed SPD gov
- NSDAP largest party
invited join gov
refused - only participate if Hitler Chancellor
Sept vote of no confidence in gov
Hindenburg dissolve Reichstag & call election
Nov elections NSDAP still largest party
Von Papen resigns 17 Nov
forms caretaker gov
Dec considered ban KPD & NSDAP
& rule with army
Schleicher informs army not support
Schleicher as Chancellor
Appointed 3 Dec 1932
Lost for trust for conspiracy
against Von Papen
Believed best chance pursued NSDAP join gov
negotiate w/ Strasser not Hitler
↳Strasser failed divide party - Hitler removes
Looks for support in Reichstag
believed cancel cut wages/benefits
win trade union support
↳failed persuade
Suggested breaking up large estates
& giving to smaller farmers
horrified Junkers (backbone gov)
Jan 1933 asked Hindenburg
suspend constitution
dissolve Reichstag
& give dictatorial powers
Hindenburg refused
Schleicher resigns 28 Jan
Appointment of Hitler
Hitler & Von Papen
negotiate possibility of coalition
during Schleicher’s term
Talks between
Hitler, Von Papen, Hindenburg’s advisors (eg. Meissner)
Made deal
Hitler lead coalition
w/ Von Papen Vice Chancellor
& only 2 Nazis in cabinet
Von Papen & Oskar Von Hindenburg
convince Pres. Hindenburg
Hitler uneducated & inexperience
easily controllable
Known as Backstairs Intrigue
Hitler appointed 30 Jan 1933
Hitler’s first cabinet
2 NSDAP members
Göring & Frick
as per agreement
Aristocratic, anti-democratic & right members
Actions to strengthen power
Jan 30
100,000 NSDAP members
torchlight procession
show Hitler not puppet of gov
Persuaded Hindenburg dissolve Reichstag
& call election
Jan 31 gave speech
downplayed anti-Semitism/aggressive foreign policy
emphasised economic hardship
& need for ‘national uprising’
to restore pride & unity
Feb 5
Nazi members killed SPD mayor in Prussia
SPD newspaper condemned
& immediately banned
Feb 20
received 3M marks from
20 industrialists for propaganda
Election campaign
Jan 1933
500,000 SA - within year reached 3M
↳Broke up socialist & communist meetings
merged w/ paramilitary Stahlhelm
↳official recognised by state as auxiliary police
regular police told not interfere
Goering recruited extra 50,000 men
into Prussia local police
virtually all SA
69 people died in 5 week campaign
SA attacked trade unions/KPD offices/left politician’s homes
Centre party newspaper banned
after criticised SA attack
on Centre Party meeting
Reichstag fire
27 Feb 1933
Marinus van der Lubbe
(communist activist)
arrested & found guilty
Hitler claimed part of communist plot
to start revolution
used to justify
introduction of repressive measures
Impact of Reichstag fire
28 Feb 1933
Decree for the Protection of the State and the People issued
Immediately signed by Hindenburg
gave Hitler emergency powers
to suspend civil liberties
guaranteed under constitution
Power to search & detain people w/out trial
Power to search private premises
Power to censor post/telephone calls
Power to restrict freedom of assembly/expression
Gave power to remove opposition before elections
↳10,000 communists arrested
↳Communist/socialist newspapers banned
↳Most KPD leaders imprisoned
↳Distribution of communist leaflets/posters
liable to arrest
most sent to concentration camps
March elections
NSDAP not gain 2/3 majority
needed to change constitution
Concentration camps
8 Mar 1933
Goering announced
established 1st permanent camp
in Dachau
By July 789 political prisoners
held in ‘protective custody’
in 70 different camps
Enabling Act
Passed 23 Mar 1933
Allowed Hitler pass laws
w/out approval of
Reichstag/Pres.
for 4 yrs
Majority vote 441 to 91
only SPD voted against
How Hitler passed Enabling Act
81 KPD & 26 SPD refused entry
Nazis promised respect
Catholic Church
for Centre Party support
Kroll Opera house
surrounded by SA & SS
lined meeting room & issued threats
Appeared temporary
emergency measures
