The failure of Weimar Democracy

Question 1

what happened in the september 1930 reichstag election?

Answer 1

• no party was able to win a majority and so a coalition was formed
• nazi party gained 107 seats making them the second largest political party
• heinrich brüning of the centre party was appointed chancellor

Question 2

what did hitler chase after the 1930 election?

Answer 2

the presidential election, march 1932

Question 3

how did hitler prepare the nazi party for the presidential election? (3)

Answer 3

• nazis started putting up posters and flags
• hitler spoke at rallies and mass parades across germany
• hitler sent the SA to beat up communists and disrupt their meetings, making it harder for them to campaign

Question 4

what was the outcome of the 1932 presidential election?

Answer 4

• hitler won 13.4 million votes from the german public whilst hindenburg won 19.3 million votes

Question 5

why was brüning an unpopular chancellor?

Answer 5

• he cut unemployment pay, increased taxes and tried passing laws to be able to seize rich people’s lands

Question 6

when did brüning resign?

Answer 6

july 1932

Question 7

who was appointed after brüning resigned?

Answer 7

• hindenburg appointed another centre party politician, von papen, but he didn’t have much support from the people.
• von papen calls an election

Question 8

what happened in the july 1932 reichstag election?

Answer 8

• nazis came out as the biggest party with 230 seats
• naturally, hitler demanded the chancellor title because it was rightly his
• hindenburg refuses and instead uses article 48 to appoint von papen as chancellor again

Question 9

what does von papen do after becoming chancellor in the 1932 july election?

Answer 9

• calls another election for november of that year

Question 10

what happened in the november 1932 election?

Answer 10

• nazi party lost a few seats but were still the largest party
• von papen’s centre party had even fewer seats than last time
• von papen resigns

Question 11

who is appointed chancellor after von papen?

Answer 11

hindenburg’s old friend, kurt von schleicher, but he didn’t have any support and resigned

Question 12

when did hitler become chancellor?

Answer 12

30th January 1933

Question 13

how did hindenburg try to limit hitler’s power?

Answer 13

• he appointed von papen as vice chancellor
• he only allowed two nazis within hitler’s cabinet