Part two, Topic one: The impact of the Depression

Question 1

What impact did the great depression have on the Nazi party?

Answer 1

• In the 1928 German election, the Nazis had only 12 seats in the Reichstag (economy was at pre-war levels)
• 1929: Wall street crash in America meant that they gave Germany 90 days to repay the loans
• So, the German economy collapsed in the early 1930s (e.g. 6 million were unemployed, 5 banks went bust)
• This caused Germans to vote for more extreme parties such as the Nazis and Communists

Question 2

What was the impact of the Great Depression on Germany?

Answer 2

• Economic problems returned
• People lost faith/trust in the Weimar Republic
• One third of workers lost their jobs (unemployment rose to 6 million by 1932)
• Taxes increased by 60%
• Crime grew, gangs = more violence on the streets
• Extremist parties capitalised on the problems advertising strong leadership

Question 3

What factors led to increased support for the Nazi party?

Answer 3

• Hitler was a powerful orator
• Appeal of Nazi policies
• People’s fear of communism
• The great depression
• Propaganda
• SA

Question 4

What were the Nazi policies in ‘Mein Kampf’ ?

Answer 4

• Aryan race was master race, Jews/other races inferior
• One strong leader
• All Germans should be united in one country
• Army must be rebuilt and used to invade land in Eastern Europe for ‘living space’

POLICIES APPEALED TO RIGHT-WING NATIONALISTS

Question 5

What was Hitler’s appeal to the people of Germany?

Answer 5

• Nuremberg rallies since 1923: Hitler said powerful speeches converting people to Nazi ideas
• Gave people a sense of hope
• Always dressed in military uniform
• Portrayed as a saviour figure to make Germany strong and powerful again
• Nazi propaganda portrayed him as a strong, powerful leader