part 2: impact of the depression Flashcards
when was the wall street crash?
october 1929
why did the wall street crash occur?
the american stock market collapsed
why did the wall street crash affect germany?
- they relied on loans from america through the dawes plan to pay their reparations and maintain their own economy
- america couldn’t loan them anything now and asked for some money back
- germany couldn’t pay it
- so germany’s economy collapsed
what was germany’s economic recovery built on and why?
unstable foundations as it relied on american money
what was the impact of the great depression on the whole world?
sparked an international economic crisis
direct impacts of germany’s economy collapsing on the economy
-factories closed
- banks went out of business
- industrial production into a decline
social impact of economy collapsing
mass unemployment
give the unemployment statistic
1.6 million people unemployed in october 1929, 6 million by february 1932
what did the government do to tackle unemployment (trick question) and why?
- nothing to help
- they cut unemployment benefits as they couldn’t afford to support the large number of germans out of work
political impact of great depression
rise in support for extremist parties
give the increase/decrease in support for each 3 party?
from 1928 to july 1932:
- nazis 3% of seats to 37%
- KPD 11% to 17%
- SPD 30% to 20%
why did extremist parties rise?
lack of support for weimar (tax raise, chaos, benefits cut) combined with economic instability: the extremists were promising what the germans wanted, radical solutions to their problems
when was the KDP founded, what was it, what was the aims/why did the get support?
- 1918
- communist party
- wanted a worker’s revolution, promised to represent workers’ needs
- so gained support from the unemployed
how did the great depression lead to unemployment?
- industries told to pay back money lent to them by banks
- could not then pay workers so jobs were lost
- other countries were suffering from the depression so couldn’t trade with germany so factories lost even more money so couldn’t pay workers
- unemployed germans couldn’t afford to buy german goods leading to even more unemployment
why did the weimar government not help, what did they do and effect?
- raised taxes
- chancellor heinrich bruning had to use 44 emergency decrees to get things done
- government couldn’t make decisions and just argued
- chaos made germany look weak
why did the SA look appealing?
they wore smart uniforms so they looked wealthy, organised, aggressive, powerful
why did the unemployed support hitler?
- he promised ‘bread and work’ for all
- promised ‘law and order’ in the streets to tackle crime
why did the working class support hitler?
- had wages cut during depression, and job losses
- promise of ‘break and work’
- term ‘socialist’ in NSDAP
why did the middle class support hitler?
- saw hitler as strong, he could return their wealth they had lost in depression
- hated communism as they wanted to be richer than the poor, not equal
- liked traditional values promised by hitler
why did business owners and the rich support hitler?
- promised it was the only party to protect them from communism
- promised to increase factory production
why did the young support hitler?
- nazis were exciting, new, colourful and used modern technology
- exciting speeches with passion and hope for future
why did women support hitler?
- promised women that a vote for nazis was a vote for their family
- made traditional life look attractive
why did support for the nazis increase (4 main reasons + explanations)?
- fear of communism: middle and upper class germans voted nazi as they promised to rid communism
- hitler’s change in tactics: recruited more loyal followers, better use of propaganda, hitler took part in parades, new technology, made them look organised, modern and disciplined
- appeal of hitler: magnetic personality, powerful and inspiring speaker
- unhappiness with weimar: weimar politicians couldn’t agree, constantly argued, chaos, raised taxes, cut benefits
describe the nazi’s use of propaganda
- josef goebbels was in charge
- held mass rallies, placed posters in prominent places and placed banners wherever: nazis were everywhere
- by early 1930s, nazis owned over 120 newspapers
