Rise to Power

Question 1

Political causes in the Weimar Republic

Answer 1

1. The War Guilt Clause
2. Demilitarisation of Rhineland
3. Reduction of army to 100,000 men
4. the Weimar Republic was a revolution from above as Peter Gay wrote: “Germans were not familiar with democracy and were used to an authoritarian state”
5. The president appointed the chancellor who ran the government; Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution states that the president has the power to act in emergencies. The first president, Ebert, used this power responsibly (136 times), but the second–Paul von Hindenburg chose chancellors who could not fulfil their duties and were allowed to pass measures without Reichstag’s approval
6. Spartacus League (left-wing socialists) tried to overthrow the Republic in 1919, communists cause troubles in the Ruhr in March 1920 and in Saxony and Thuringia in 1923
7. Conservative and nationalistic elite remained hostile towards the republic
8. Kapp Putsch of March 1920 and the “White Terror” of 1920-22, when 400 political murders occurred, Freikorps, Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch of November 1923
9. Proportional representation–a lot of parties that have to agree with each other

Question 2

NSDAP rhetoric and action

Answer 2

1. February 1920 25-point programme: scrapping of the ToV = appeal to nationalists and the military; religious freedom = religious groups; land reforms = farmers; creation of middle class, abolition of unearned income / breaking of debt-interest slavery = working class
2. Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch of November 1923 establishing him as a political hero, acting out of self-sacrifice for the nation, wrote “Mein Kampf” while imprisoned

Question 3

Political Division

Answer 3

Between 1928 and 1932 Social Democratic Party and communists KDP refused to work together (KPD referred to SPD as “social fascists”), Catholic Centre Party became more right-wing, moderate liberals with no allies. In July 1932–Nazis with 230 seats are the largest party. On 5th March 1933, the Nazis gained 43.9% of the total vote cast (deal with DNVP and Catholic Centre Party (Hitler assured protection of the Catholic Church approved by the Pope) to obtain two-thirds, majority to change the constitution). Richard Evans suggested that some people were still longing for democracy

Question 4

Nazi regime:

Answer 4

1. Hindenburg + von Papen appointed Hitler chancellor in January 30th 1933 believing that he could be controlled, thinking that his position was too weak to threaten traditional elite rule. Decrease on Nazi vote in Nov 1932 elections, Political Instability (KPD and NSDAP having the majority of votes), business leaders and military officials, saw the Nazis as a force that could counter the perceived threat of communism
2. Propaganda mocking the government’s inaction making wild promises that remained vague, 34,000 Nazi party meetings within 4 weeks of the 1930 election, winning 6.5 million votes and 107 seats in Reichstag.
3. Called for elections to achieve parliamentary majority in March 1933 (lost 2 mil votes in November 1932 elections)
4. Reichstag fire on 27 February 1933 gave Hitler an excuse to blame communists, and ask Hindenburg to issue an emergency decree
5. February 28called the Reichstag’s Fire decree which allowed the imprisonment of anyone who was considered opponents of the Nazis, suppression of anti-Nazi publications, banning KPD only after the March elections because it was used to dilute anti-Nazi (leftist) votes shared with the SPD and to prevent violent uprising.
6. Street violence by SA attacking SPD and KPD members to create the sense of chaos.
7. Enabling Act of March 23 passed by Reichstag and signed by Hindenburg allowed Hitler to pass laws without Reichstag, making his dictatorship legal.
8. Civil service law of April 7 1933 banned political opponents and jews from holding public offices. Massive violence on the streets, concentration camps for socialist and communists. A third way, restore law and order. Bullock: Germans needed someone to take action. Labour Unions banned, instead German Labour Front DAF who could not strike or bargain collectively
9. All parties except for NSDAP banned in July 1933
10. Night of the Long Knives: On 30th June 1934, Röhm (head of SA) and 85 other officers and political rivals were killed as a result of Hitler’s concerns that the violent and uncontrollable behaviour of the more radical part of SA can threaten his rule by calling for the second revolution to establish socialism and because the army was hostile to SA. Goebbels (head of propaganda) helped to portray Hitler as the saviour of the country and allowed Himmler (head of SS) to assume dominance in Germany, while Hitler sought support from the army.
11. Following Hindenburg’s death in August 1934, Hitler established himself as the supreme leader of Germany: the Führer

Question 5

Economic Causes

Answer 5

1. Reparations of 6.6 billion pounds
2. 1/5 of the industry is taken by the Allies, stripped of all overseas colonies, forced to give up 13% of their European territory with over 7 million losing their citizenship
3. Demobilised soldiers could not find work, industrial land was lost, as Weimar Republic was not able to pay reparations–invasion of the Ruhr by the French and Belgian troops in January 1923.
4. Over-printed money–hyperinflation as the result of German and French and Belgian invasion of the Ruhr in 1923-25, left after accepting the Dawes Plan
5. New currency in 1924 hit the middle-class savings
6. US loans–1924 Dawes Plan–dependent economy
7. Not improving agriculture
8. Wall Street Crash of October 1929–withdrawal of loans
9. Lack of technological progress in the economy
10. Fall in food prices leading to accumulation of farmers’ debts even before 1929 crash (the NSDAP promised farmers to take care of them)
11. unemployment: 2 mil in 1929 - 6 mil in 1932. 1/3 Germans with no regular wages

Question 6

Social Causes:

Answer 6

1. The Stab in the Back Myth supported by the military leaders who believed in liberal betrayal by signing ToV “November Criminals”