Impact of the Great Depression

Question 1

When was the Wall Street Crash?

Answer 1

October 1929

Question 2

Why did the Wall Street Crash impact Germany?

Answer 2

• American banks recalled the loans they had given to Germany as part of the Dawes Plan
• The Crash triggered a worldwide depression leading to high unemployment in most developed countries

Question 3

Who died just weeks before the Wall Street Crash?

Answer 3

Gustav Stresemann

Question 4

What were some of the economic impacts of the Great Depression?

Answer 4

• the middle classes lost their savings

- unemployment skyrocketed (Sept. 1929: 1.3m Jan. 1933: 6.0m)

Question 5

What were some of the political consequences of the Great Depression?

Answer 5

• people turned to more extreme parties, such as the German Communist Party (KPD) and the Nazi Party (NSDAP)
• Bruning (Chancellor 1930-32) had to rule through emergency decree
• Bruning eventually resigned in 1932, leaving a dangerous power vacuum

Question 6

How many emergency decrees did Bruning issue in 1930?

Answer 6

5

Question 7

How many emergency decrees did Bruning issue in 1932?

Answer 7

66

Question 8

Why did Bruning have to rely on emergency decrees?

Answer 8

The coalition of parties in Bruning’s government couldn’t agree on how to respond to the economic crisis

Question 9

What were some of the social consequences of the Depression?

Answer 9

• the unemployed roamed the streets
• some of the unemployed joined private armies
• violence became commonplace on the streets of Germany

Question 10

What part of the constitution did Bruning use to issue emergency decrees?

Answer 10

Article 48 (Bruning had to ask the president, Hindenburg, to issue decrees as he couldn’t pass laws through the Reichstag)