rise of Nazis Flashcards
Weakness of Wiemar
democracy knowledge
- Post-WWI Challenges: Germany faced severe issues after WWI. The Kaiser was forced to abdicate, and the country surrendered, leading to the creation of a new government system.
- Weimar Republic: A democratic government was introduced to replace the monarchy.
- Proportional Representation: The new system allowed fair representation in government, giving smaller parties a voice.
- Article 48: Gave the President emergency powers to suspend the constitution and rule directly in times of crisis.
Weakness of Weimar
democracy analysis
This was important because the system of PR allowed minority parties to be represented in the Reichstag (parliament) and made it difficult to form stable, effective government.
Coalition after coalition led to the belief in Germany that democracy was weak and unstable and the Nazis exploited this to promise voters a return to a strong government.
Furthermore, the inclusion of Article 48 meant in effect that democracy could be turned in to a dictatorship.
Weakness of Weimar
democracy analysis+
however, although PR was supposed to help smaller parties like the Nazis it also helped extremist parties on the left like the Communists into the Reichstag who were the Nazis biggest opposition so it didn’t only help the Nazis
Resentment towards the Treaty of Versailles
knowledge
On 28th June 1919, Germany was forced to sign what is probably considered one of the harshest peace treaties in history – the Treaty of Versailles – which the German government were allowed no say in – it was nicknamed ‘The Diktat’.
Germany lost 13% of her land – to France, Poland and others
Germany had to reduce her army to 100,000 and could have no tanks, submarines or air force
Germany had to pay £6.6 billion in reparations
Germany had to take full responsibility for the war
3 million German-speaking settlers now lived in Czechoslovakia
Germany lost all her colonies
Resentment towards the Treaty of Versailles
analysis
The treaty was important because it was a horrendous blow to Germany as they lost money, their land and their pride and every German held the Weimar government in contempt for signing it and some historians have described the treaty as a ‘dark shadow’ or a ‘curse’ on the Republic.
Destroying the treaty became a central part of the Nazi party’s policy and propaganda and Hitler exploited the treaty to gain support and votes from German people.
Resentment towards the Treaty of Versailles
analysis+
However, some historians have pointed out that the Weimar government survived for more than a decade after the signing of the treaty and that the treaty was more of a ‘blow’ to the government rather than the end of it.
economic difficulties
great depression knowledge
With the collapse of the New York Stock Exchange (The Wall Street Crash) in October 1929, the USA immediately demanded the repayment of their loans to Germany, causing the German economy which was reliant on US loans to collapse
Unemployment rose, businesses collapsed, banks closed. The socialist-led coalition resigned as they couldn’t deal with the problems and the President had to operate under Article 48 The Emergency Decree, giving him extra power.
By 1932, 6 million Germans were unemployed. 30% of the German population had no employment or income. Homelessness and hunger rose.
economic difficulties
great depression analysis
This was important because the Weimar government had now led Germany into financial ruin twice and therefore the Germans blamed them for their inability to manage the economy. Support for democracy collapsed.
Meanwhile Nazi propaganda went in to overdrive during the Depression and they promised jobs to every unemployed German, gaining them support and votes across Germany. The Nazi vote went up to 37.3% in 1932. (1928 = 2.6%)
economic difficulties
great depression analysis +
However, it is also important to remember that the Communist vote rose during times of misery too, and they were also able to exploit the Depression to their advantage; not just the Nazis.
Appeal of Hitler and the Nazis
Knowledge – Party Policies
Despite being Fiercely patriotic, the Nazi Party had policies with a broad appeal which were popular across every sector of society:
They promised jobs for the unemployed
To the conservatives they promised to rip up the Treaty of Versailles and rebuild the German army
They offered farmers higher prices for their goods
They offered businessmen the destruction of Communism & Jewish banks
The young were offered hope and jobs for the future
Appeal of Hitler and the Nazis
Analysis – Party Policies
This was important because the Nazis gained support and votes from every sector of German society – rich and poor, young and old, with their broadly appealing policies whereas other parties focussed on one demographic. For example the Communists only received support from poorer Germans.
Appeal of Hitler and the Nazis
Analysis + - Party Policies
However, the Nazi party policies were clearly contradictory – i.e. better wages for workers but also restricting the power of trade unions – and many Germans were able to see through the Nazi’s unrealistic promises.
Weakness and Mistakes of Opponents
knowledge
The other parties in the Reichstag cannot escape responsibility for the success of Hitler:
The Socialists (SPD) and Communists (KPD) could have joined together to defeat the Nazis as they were both left wing parties. However the Spartacist Uprising in 1919 proved to be an issue as the Socialists wouldn’t forgive the Communists for starting an uprising and the Communists wouldn’t forgive the Socialists for executing the Spartacists.
The Right wing helped Hitler into power. Right wing politicians Von Papen and Von Schleicher convinced Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as chancellor in January 1933 as they were more concerned with setting up a strong anti-Communist government than preserving democracy.
Weakness and Mistakes of Opponents
analysis
This was important because as no German parties were willing to work together to stand against the Nazis, the Nazi Rise to power in the 1930s was virtually unchallenged.
Furthermore, the actions of right wing politicians helped Hitler into power as putting Hitler in the position of German chancellor basically handed him victory on a plate.
Weakness and Mistakes of Opponents
analysis+
However, it is important to remember that Hindenburg’s decision to appoint Hitler as chancellor was a difficult one as there were few real candidates for the job. Therefore it could be argued that Hitler’s opponents were not weak, they just did not have many options left.
