The Impact of the Great Depression Flashcards
When was the Wall Street Crash?
29 October 1929 share prices fell rapidly
Why did the Great Depression affect Germany so badly?
They were heavily reliant on American loans. When these were demanded back, their economy was ruined and entered a deep depression
How many Germans were unemployed by 1933?
6 million
What fraction of German people were on the dole (unemployment benefits)
1/3
What made it difficult for the government to act decisively?
The Weimar Constitution - coalitions, created by proportional representation, were unable to act with the necessary speed and conviction
What percentage of the work force was unemployed by 1932?
30%
By 1932, how much had industrial production dropped by (compared with 1928 levels)?
58%
How did the Great Depression impact young people?
- High rate of unemployment (40% males and 25% females)
- Little employment led to youth involvement in gangs, extermist political organisations and crime
How did the Great Depression impact women?
- Female proportion of the total workforce actually increased
- Campaigns against employed married women who were classed as double earners
- Reich postal service dismissed 1,000 married women
- Case for equal rights suffered a serious setback
Collapse of the Grand Coalition
- The GC represented 5 parties
- The state budget was in a serious deficit by the end of 1929 due to all the benfits and falling tax revenues causing the GC to split
- Muller resigned and Hindenburg appointed Bruning
- Brunings new coalition excluded the SPD
How did Bruning try and deal with the Depression?
He cut spending and raised taxed
Who tried to stop Bruning cutting spending and raising taxes?
The Reichstag but were later dissolved 1930
How was Bruning nonetheless able to cut spending and raise taxes?
He asked Hindenburg to use Article 48 to give him the powers to do so
Why slogan did the Nazis use to exploit the misery of the Great Depression?
‘Work and Bread’
Why were the Nazis’ parades effective propaganda during the Great Depression?
The Nazis looked organised and strong - a welcome contrast to the chaos of Weimar Germany during the Depression
Who did Hitler and the Nazis blame for the Depression?
Jews, the November Criminals, the Allies
Which points of the 25 Point Programme were particularly appealing during this time?
- Abolish the ToV (reparation were exacerbating the Depression)
- Rearm to create jobs (linked to abolishing the ToV)
How many seats did the Nazis win in 1928 (before the Wall Street Crash)?
12 seats
How many seats did the extremist parties win in 1930?
NSDAP 107
KPD 77
Shows how depression led to people turning to more radical solutions
Political Violence 1930-3
After lull of political violence during the golden age, it increased dramatically.
Clashes between communists and SA in the streets
SA membership 1932
400,000
