Nazi rise to power 4) The impact of the depression Flashcards
1
Q
- The impact of the depression (3)
A
a. Gen (3)
b. The impact on the Weimar government (3)
c. Specifically the German communist party (5)
2
Q
- The impact of the depression (3)
a. Gen (3)
A
i. Before set up (4)
ii. What specifically makes it/ how is it bad: (6)
iii. Why is this politically relevant (4)
3
Q
- The impact of the depression (3)
a. Gen (3)
i. Before set up (4)
A
- By 1929 much of Germany had experienced 5 years of prosperity
- The US loans had helped remove inflation and there was much investment in industry.
- Because prosperity depended on the USA the wall street crash really negatively impacted it.
- Stresemann also died which is bad because many people thought that he was the only person who could steer Germany out through troubled times again.
4
Q
- The impact of the depression (3)
a. Gen (3)
ii. What specifically makes it/ how is it bad: (6)
A
- Bankers and financiers in the USA now withdrew the loans made under the Dawes Plan
- International trade began to contract- German exports fell rapidly
- Unemployment rose as employers sacked workers and factories closed.
- German farmers had already been experiencing problems and the continued fall in prices made it worse.
- As some unable to pay rent the number of homeless also increased.
- By 1932 there were more than 6 million Germans unemployed. (4/10 workers without jobs)
5
Q
- The impact of the depression (3)
a. Gen (3)
iii. Why is this politically relevant (4)
A
- The government financed unemployment relief but as it’s revenue began to shrink, the threat of benefit cuts loomed large.
- If a party could offer clear and simple solutions it would win votes (the extreme parties including communists)
- The workers wanted jobs
- The middleclass feared a communist revolution
6
Q
- The impact of the depression (3)
b. The impact on the Weimar government (3)
A
i. There was little agreement about how to tackle unemployment and poverty
ii. Bruning moves? (7)
iii. The general situation (6)
7
Q
- The impact of the depression (3)
b. The impact on the Weimar government (3)
ii. Bruning moves? (7)
A
- In 29 March 1930 Chancellor Muller was replaced by Heinrich Bruning of the Centre Party
- Bruning did not have a majority so he had to rely on Hindenburg using article 48.
- From this point on the Reischtag is used less frequently (many historians think end of democracy)
- Because Bruning no have majority he calls an election on 14 September 1930 to try and get one.
- In this election Nazis get 107 seats and become second biggest party in Reichstag after social democrats.
- Bruning still cant rely on Reichstag so has to do so on Hindenburg.
- In 1930 there were 5 presidential decrees but in 1932 there were 66 presidential decrees.
8
Q
- The impact of the depression (3)
b. The impact on the Weimar government (3)
iii. The general situation (6)
A
- Brunings reduction of government spending only served to lose him the unemployed and led to him being nicknamed “the hunger chancellor”.
- For the Germans this was the 3rd food shortage in 16 years.
- In 1931 there was a suspension of the reparation payments.
- Bruning was unable to find support and so resigned on 30 May 1932
- During the next 8 months there was political and economic turmoil which made the extreme parties more violent
- Some of Brunings changes made things a little better but Hitler still ended up as chancellor on 30 January 1933
9
Q
- The impact of the depression (3)
c. Specifically the German communist party (5)
A
i. One of the reasons of the popularity of the nazi party was the fear of a communist takeover
ii. The german communist party (KPD) slowly recovered after the failure of the sparticist uprising
iii. From 1924 they contested in Reischtag elections with some success
iv. During Weimar government KPD is largest communist party in Europe
v. In 1932 elections KPD got 13.2% of vote and Nazi’s got 30.1%
