The Collapse Of Democracy 1928-33 - The Impact Of The 1929 Depression Flashcards
When was ‘Black Thursday’ and what was it?
On the 24th October 1929, the New York stock exchange faced its worst ever fall in stock prices
What happened on the 29th October?
The value of the largest American companies fell by $10bn which led companies to go bankrupt, investors to lose savings, millionaires to lose their fortunes, workers to lose jobs and banks to stop lending
How did the ‘Wall Street crash’ in 1929 impact Germany’s economy?
The American banks that had Kent money to Germany on short term loans demanded immediate repayment and because the USA had been the largest overseas market for German manufactured goods, the Wall Street crash meant Germany and USA’s export trade declined
Between 1929 and 1932, how much did Germany’s export trade and industrial production decrease by?
Their export trade fell by 61% and its industrial production fell by 58% of its 1928 level
How did the depression affect Britain?
Their industrial production between 1928 and 1932 fell by 11%
What was the impact of the depression on unemployment in Germany?
By 1932, one third of all German workers were registered as unemployed however because redundant workers and especially women weren’t counted, it is estimated that by Jan 1933 the true number of unemployed was about 8mn
What groups/places were hit the worst by the depression?
Main industrial areas such as the Ruhr, silesia, port cities such as Hamburg, whit collar workers, civil service workers and farmers after agricultural produce declined and the banks demanded repayments of loans
What were the effects of the depression on Brand-erbisdorff?
By April 1931, local glassworks had closed and almost 50% of people were receiving welfare payments, however those that had been unemployed for 2 years no longer qualified for state benefits
How much did unemployment rise from in 1928-1933
About 600000 to 6,000,000+
What were ‘poverty diets’?
What were the youth unemployment rates like in Hamburg?
In June 1933, in the 14-25 age group amongst males it was 39%, and among females it was 25.2%
What were the consequences of high youth unemployment rates?
Juvenile crime rose, including theft, assault or threats of violence and violent political demonstrations. The involvement of young men in political extremism also rose, as the KPD recruited working class youths, right nationalist recruited unemployed youths to their paramilitary, and Hitler Youth and SA offered unemployed boys/men foods, uniforms and shelter
What schemes were made to help the young unemployed?
Centres were established for young people so they could participate in work related activities and socialise, emergency labour schemes where unemployed youth were required to undertake manual labour with low wages. As well as compulsory schemes there were voluntary labour schemes where they were sent from cities to residential work camps
What were the issues surrounding woman workers during the depression?
There was a debate on whether married women should continue to work whilst males were out of work. This led to the right wing campaign against this and the couples were referred to as ‘double earners which gained success when a law was passed in May 1932 saying women civil servants would be dismissed
What was the political impact of the depression?
It caused the collapse of the grand coalition in march 1930, allowed for the nazi’s and communists to gain significant electoral support and undermine the democratic system (in 1932 the nazi’s became the largest party in the reichstag)
What was the impact of the grand coalition collapse?
Heinrich bruning was appointed as Muller’s successor and he had authoritarian leanings. Bruning’s coalition of 1930 didn’t include the SPD (largest party) which meant the government didn’t have enough support to pass laws
From 1930-1932, how often were laws were passed by decree?
In 1930, only 5 laws were passed by decree, in 1931 44 laws were passed by decree and in 1932 66 laws were passed by decree
Results of the 1930 election:
The Nazi party won 107 seats which was an increase of 12 from 1928, the kdp won 77, and most of this support came from centre right/centre left parties
What was the red front fighters’ league?
The paramilitary arm of the KPD, established in 1924 under Ernst thalmann and they engaged in street battles with the SA, the police and other right wing paramilitary groups
What did bruning and Hindenburg do in response to the violence and were they successful
- Bruning issued a decree in December 1931, banning the wearing of political uniforms however this failed as Nazi’s continued to march with white shirts. Therefore in April 1932, Hindenburg was persuaded to outline a decree outlawing the SA however this failed as their membership continued to grow (40000 by the end of 1932) and violence wasn’t under control
How many Nazi deaths were reported from 1930-32?
In 1930 there were 17, in 1931 there were 42 and in 1932 there were 84
How many communist deaths were reported from 1930-1932?
In 1930 there were 44, in 1931 there were 52 and in 1932 there 75
Who was Kirk Von Schleicher?
He was an aristocratic army officer and part of hindenburg’s inner circle of advisers. Despite not being a nazi, he saw their mass support as a counterweight for the pro kdp and sdp support, hence he worked with hitler
