The Depression Was More Damaging Politically To Germany Then It Was Economically

Question 1

3 factors

Answer 1

Economic
Political
Social

Question 2

Economic

Answer 2

• large outflow of foreign currency which meant unable to pay reparations
• banks closed, German banking system was in crisis
• industrial production fell by 58%
• companies bankrupt
• germany export trade fell by 61%
• agricultural prices declined
• farmers in debt and lost their farms (impacted crops/food)

However can be seen as a more shorter term of impact in comparison to political impacts of depression as political was long term impact with Hitler in power

Question 3

Political

Answer 3

• faith in parliamentary democracy eroded
• political violence increased
• grand coalition gov collapsed
• led to political intrigue
• Nazis exploit themselves into power

Question 4

Social

Answer 4

• unemployment, by 1932 approximately one third of all German workers registered as unemployed
• poverty, from unemployment, disease, malnutrition
• crime increased in young people
• women labour increased as cheaper

Meant people lost faith in the democracy and wanted change (that the Nazi part provided) and youth most impacted by unemployment meant they joined violent groups such as the SA which = political impact.

Question 5

LOA

Answer 5

The depression was more damaging politically to germany in the long term as it fundamentally led to the collapse of the democracy and the start of a dictatorship with the Nazi party, whereas in comparison the depression can be seen as less damaging economically to germany because many problems were solved once the Nazis were in power for example the reduction of unemployment through Schacht who introduced his ‘New Plan’ hence reduced the overall economic damage towards germany. However we can also not ignore the social impacts of the depression and how that impacted germany as a result from economic depression.