RISE OF NAZI PARTY & FALL OF WEIMAR REPUBLIC

Question 1

what were the reasons for the fall of Weimar & rise of Nazism

Answer 1

Impact of WWl & GD, Gov instability - failure of democracy + constitutional issues, Political opposition

Question 2

Impact of WWl & GD for the Weimar gov

Answer 2

WWl foundered the political landscape & led to an unstable gov that was help responsible for G’s failure - severe reparations, rules to adhere to (army restriction, demilitarisation etc)
Seen as ‘November Criminals’ / scapegoats for signing the Treaty
GD exacerbated impacts of WWl through further collapsing the economy (which already suffered hyperinflation)
People lost faith in gov & turned to extreme ends of political spectrum that could offer solutions

Question 3

How WWl helped nazism rise

Answer 3

Hitler described German people as “aflame with a feeling of rage & shame” (Mein Kampf) - Used ToV & inflation to his advantage to stir up nationalist opposition to the Republic
Vowed to tear up the diktat
This appealed to the widespread dissent in G as a result of outcomes of WWl + helped gain him popularity

Question 4

how the GD helped nazism rise

Answer 4

The political/economic turmoil of 1920s-30s helped feed a view that Germany needed a national saviour
Hitler myth fed this idea - Nazi’s seen as a radical solution to another economical crisis that the gov could not resolve
“The Great Depression put the wind into Hitler’s sails” (A.J.P Taylor)
(Seen in the electoral success of nazi’s 37% in July 1932)

Question 5

what was the failure of democracy + constitutional issues in the Weimar

Answer 5

Legitimacy of democracy questioned by public
Could not properly deal w economic issues including hyperinflation which saw the public lose faith in gov ability
proportional representation = diluted leadership
too many parties that could not agree, coalition parliaments & elections that occurred too often for stability to be achieved
Overuse/abuse of Article 48 → use of dictatorial powers over 300 times in this period showed the instability & unreliability of the gov

Question 6

how did gov instability help nazism

Answer 6

added to the disillusionment of society which began to seek other alternatives → the radical nature of Nazi’s & Hitler appealed to many
liberal parliamentary democracy had failed & G had to revive her national will & traditional authoritarian values under a strong leader

Question 7

what was the political opposition against Weimar

Answer 7

Attacks from extreme left & right wings - Beer Hall Putsch 1923, Spartacist Revolt 1919 - saw that the gov couldn’t remain in control

Question 8

What did hitler learn as a political opponent

Answer 8

hitler learnt from the failed Beer Hall Putsch 1923 that using forceful revolutionary methods to gain control were ineffective - Hitler looked to instead overthrow the gov indirectly, through being elected & gaining popularity