(S3) 1928-33 Collapse of Democracy Flashcards
Nazi Party origins
- started in 1919 as National socialist German workers party (NSDAP)
- manifesto, developed by Hitler, included reversing TOV, stop reperations, create national community and antisemitism
- Hitler chairman with SA who fought against communism
Hitler’s imprisonment
- after ‘beer hall’ putsch in 1923
- wrote Mein Kampf, his view of the world
Reorganisation and expansion of the Nazi party
- started low in 1924
- in 1926 Hitler’s programme to accept him as a Fuhrer and set up youth programmes
- 1928 low votes but created professional body
- 1930s electoral success through propaganda ext
What was the Wall Street crash in 1929?
- American economy collapsed
- stopped foreign lending and recalled loans
- directly effected Germany as they replied on American capital
Social impact of the Wall Street Crash in 1929
- unemployment high, overwhelming welfare budget
- increase gangs and crime
- increased extremist support
- right wing campaign to prevent female ‘double earning’
Economic impact of the Wall Street Crash
- 5 banks collapsed
- wages fell 20-30%
- export trade fell 61% and industry production fell 58%
- Ruhr was effected
Political impact of the Wall Street Crash
- pressure in gov finances
- Grand Coalition couldn’t agree on a strategy
- dispute between right (decrease unemployment) but SPD left wanted to protect workers and increased taxes
Who was Brüning and what did he signify?
- authoritarian chancellor
- clear change from parliamentary government to presidential government
Brüning’s policies towards the economic crisis
- policy of deflation that reduced price of goods/ services to reduce gov spending
Brüning’s use of article 48 to manage the economic crisis
- after failure to get majority in July 1930
- introduces wage cuts, rent cuts and tax rises
Who was Von Papen?
- chancellor who replaced Brüning in 1932
Von Papen’s policies to help deal with the economic crisis
- introduces some tax discounts and subsides (financial support)
Problems with the government under Von Papen
- too much political turmoil to pass policies
Appeal of extremism: Nazi ideology
Themes:
- power of will
- strength in military
- aryan community
- national socialism
- fuhrerprinzip
- aggressive nationalism
Appeal of extremism: Nazi anti semi time
- saw as root of problems for communism, TOV and decrease in power
- conspiracy to have dominance
- Jews scapegoats, emphases through SA
Appeal of extremism: Nazi propaganda
- Joseph Goebbels
- focus on Weimar causing eco depression and humiliation
- Hitler’s speeches, influence in newspaper, films ext
Appeal of extremism: Role of Hitler for the Nazi party
- leadership culture around him
- charisma and speaking skills
- convinces to people that they were the answer
Appeal of extremism: Nazi support in votes (1932)
- ever increasing
- 37.3%
Appeal of extremism: Communist change in votes (1932)
- increasing
- 14.3% in 1932
Appeal of extremism: appeal of Communism
- growing large industrial areas
- after 1929 focus on unemployment
- red front runner who clashed with SA
Appeal of extremism: communist ideology
- abolish land property
- heavy taxes
- centralised bank, transport and communication
- increase state finance
- equal distribution of labour
- free education in public schools
Role of Backstairs intrigue, Hindenburgs ‘inner circle’: Brüning gov 1930-32
- went against the Nazi, where Schleicher saw as valuable
- Hitler refused to join government
Role of Backstairs intrigue, Hindenburgs ‘inner circle’: Von Papen gov May- Nov 1932
- ‘cabinet of barons’ people in for their titles, eg. Land elites
- lifted ban on SA and curbed left wing press
- eventually lost army and credibility
Role of Backstairs intrigue, Hindenburgs ‘inner circle’: Schleicher Gov Dec 1932- July 1932
- social polices to increase support from trade unions
- eventually Hitler became chancellor: Von Papen and Hindenburg believed they could control him
- political head of army, worked with the Nazis
Role of Backstairs intrigue, Hindenburgs ‘inner circle’: Oskar Von Hindenburg
- army officer with links to Schleicher
- opinion respect as presidents son
Role of Backstairs intrigue, Hindenburgs ‘inner circle’: Dr Otto Meissner
- ran presidential office
- go between for Hitler and Hindenburg
- tried to prevent Hitler becoming chancellor
Why Weimar collapsed: political intrigue
- Hindenburg only ran for president to keep Hitler out
- no support from Reichstag
- Hindenburg was persuaded by Von Papen to make Hitler chancellor to control him
Why Weimar collapsed: underlying problems
- TOV
- economic and political tension
Why Weimar collapsed: Depression
- fatal for economy
- extremist parties used it to their advantage to undermine Weimar
Why Weimar collapsed: rise of extremism
- conspiracy theories: ‘Nov criminals’
- Dolchstosse myth, which undermined Weimar and kept militarism alive
- Empire romanticised
- communist and Nazi hate
- Hiter’s political adaptation to win boyes I
Why Weimar collapsed: coalition problems
- president all power with article 48
- proportional representation meant problems
- structure weak, not handling times of political crisis
Why Weimar collapsed: economic problems
- burden of TOV
- Ruhr occupation
- hyperinflation
- collapse of 2 coalition governments
When did Hitler become chancellor?
- Jan 30th 1933
How did Hitler initially get support after becoming chancellor?
- met with large capitalist enterprises to ensure support and funding
How to Hitler exert more control in late Feb 1933
- SA legal
- Nazi control of police
- revolution from below, assault on trade unions and left wing opposition
When and what happened in the Reichstag Fire?
- Feb 27th 1933
- Dutch communists blamed
- triggered Hitler launching decree today limit freedom of press, so speech and property
March 5th 1933 election
- Nazi 64% of votes
- SA ensured control and Nazi propaganda
When was the first concentration camp?
- March 8th 1933
How Hitler showed his early antisemitism after becoming chancellor?
- boycott Jewish ships for one day
- limited by Hindenburg
- propaganda against Jewish intellectuals
How did the Nazis control the workers?
- Took over trade unions through SA and SS
- new German labour front
How Hitler exerted political control?
- banned other parties
- looked like they had no opposition
When and why was the Concordat with the Pope?
- July 20th 1933
- stop Catholic opposition
Nov 12th 1933 vote
- 88%
- support due to refusal of TOV
When and what was the Enabling Act?
- March 24th 1933
- stopped distress of people in reichstag
- decisions without president
- focused on communism
When and what was the night of the long knives?
- June 30th to 2nd July 1934
- SA members arrested and executed
- political assassinations
- SS murder Schleicher
- fall of SA, SS took over
How did Hitler eventually become Fuhrer?
- law of reconstruction, local Lander centralised
- Hindenburg’s death
- Army swore oath to Hitler
