Summary 6 : 1932-33 The appointment of Hitler as chancellor and the end of weimar democracy Flashcards
effect of the Great Depression on the Weimar?
reduced the chances of the Weimar republics survival to almost nothing (certain the Nazis would take over)
what happened in the March 1932 election?
Hindenburg stood for re-election against Hitler (Nazis) and Thalmann (KPD) ➡️ Hindenburg won wide support as the least extreme of the three candidates
how did the Nazis gain support during the 1932 election?
launching massive campaigns, focusing on Hitler being the man to save Germany
❗️gained 37% of the vote (put pressure for the Nazis to be included in govt.)
Brunings economic policies?
- prepared to worse the effects of the depression to end reparations (saying only deflation could convince the world that Germany could not afford to pay reparations)
- reduce state welfare provisions
➡️ deflationary policies (cut govt expenditure, increase taxes and lower prices) and only in late 1932 after reparations had been suspended did he embark on a programme of public works
what was the main cause of Brunings government to fall?
the depression counted to become worse causing the Nazi vote to increase notably
- many feared the growing violence and rise of extremism
why was Burning fired?
he lost the faith of Hindenburg
- Schleicher convinced Hindenburg that Bruning had to go because the Nazi could not be ignored
- Hitler refused to enter a formal coalition and demanded the SA ban be lifted and a new election called,Hindenburg agreed
was Brunings a sincere struggling political or was he a conservative politician opposed to democracy?
sincere
- no alternative, had to try and avoid any policy that may cause inflation
- no one recognised the depth of the depression until 1931 by which too late
- scared
mean
- hunger chancellor ➡️ chose to make depression worse
- suggested moving away from democracy
- caused nazis to gain vote
- dissolved reichstag
when was Von Papens government in power?
June 1932-Dec 1932
marked the end of Weimar democracy as filled with men who wanted Germany to turn more authoritarian
what did Von paper do in government?
aimed to stop communist threat
- Lifted the ban on SA
- Imposed curbs on left wing press
- Dismissed Prussia’s govt (challenged the idea of Weimar as a federal state)
➡️using article 48 aimed to protect democracy to replace it with authoritarian rule
July 1932 election?
❗️Nazi doubled their vote (37%) but this didn’t give overall majority they were now the largest party in the reichstag
- Hitler demanded the right to form a government as chancellor but Hindenburg refused
what happened in sept 1932?
reichstag voted no confidence in Papen and he was forced to call another election
November 1932 election?
- ❗️Nazi vote fell by 4% (33%)
- KPD made gains
why did the Nazi vote decline in Nov 1932 election?
- lack of money ➡️ couldn’t have dynamic election campaign
- electorate tired or repeat election
➡️ Hitler still refused to join Papens govt,Schleicher warned Hindenburg this could lead to civil war and informed the president that the army no longer had confidence in Papen resulting in Hindenburg appointing Von Scleicher as chancellor
was a more authoritarian govt a likely alternative?
seemed likely that this new system might have been supported that reduced the power of the reichstag,allowing the formation of govt that were less dependent on popular elections
✅ considerable support as majority of Germans rejecting Weimar democracy
❌ unlikely to achieve 2/3rd in reichstag
was it likely that the parliamentary democracy would continue?
no, too much hostility to the regime
❗️ by 1932 more than half voting for anti-weimar parties (lack of commitment from the rich)
more likely if economy had been revived
