The impact of the Wall Street Crash on German politics

Question 1

Why was the Weimar Republic’s Grand Coalition struggling to function by the end of 1929?

Answer 1

It had been held together by its shared aim of securing the Young Plan - there was now little to hold it together

Question 2

From which point did the Weimar government cease to rule with the support of a majority in the Reichstag?

Answer 2

27 March 1930

Question 3

After the Grand Coalition resigned in March 1930, who did Hindenburg nominate as Chancellor?

Answer 3

Heinrich Brüning

Question 4

What FOUR things did Brüning want to cut in response to the Great Depression?

Answer 4

Government spending

Prices

Wages

Unemployment benefits

Question 5

What ONE thing did Brüning want to raise in response to the Great Depression?

Answer 5

Taxes

Question 6

Apart from cutting them, how else did Brüning affect benefits during the Great Depression?

Answer 6

He restricted the period for which they could be claimed, to make payments more affordable

Question 7

Why did right-wing parties oppose Brüning’s economic plan?

Answer 7

They opposed higher taxes

Question 8

Why did left-wing parties oppose Brüning’s economic plan?

Answer 8

They opposed benefit cuts

Question 9

What happened when Brüning’s economic plan was voted on in the Reichstag in July 1930?

Answer 9

It was rejected by 256 votes to 193

Question 10

Without the support of the Reichstag, how did Brüning put his economic plan into action?

Answer 10

He used Article 48 (asked the President to pass emergency laws)

Question 11

What happened to the number of times Article 48 was used in:

1930
1931
1932

Answer 11

1930: 5 times
1931: 44 times
1932: 66 times

Question 12

What happened to the number of meetings of the Reichstag in:

1930
1931
1932

Answer 12

1930: 94 times
1931: 41 times
1932: 13 times

Question 13

How did the Wall Street Crash lead to increasing support for the Communists (KPD)? Give THREE reasons

Answer 13

1) The KPD was seen as the only party who would defend working-class jobs against employers and landowners

2) Communist agitators recruited unemployed people to their paramilitary organisation, the Red Front-Fighters’ League

3) The KPD organised “rent strikes” in working-class districts, which won over unemployed workers

Question 14

Why did radical young workers support the KPD over the SPD during the Great Depression?

Answer 14

They felt the SPD had betrayed them by murdering Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht after the Spartacist Revolt

Question 15

How many seats did the SPD win in the Reichstag in:

1928
1930
1932

Answer 15

1928: 152 seats
1930: 143 seats
1932: 133 seats

Question 16

How many seats did the Nazi Party win in the Reichstag in:

1928
1930
1932

Answer 16

1928: 12 seats
1930: 107 seats
1932: 230 seats

Question 17

How many seats did the Communists win in the Reichstag in:

1928
1930
1932

Answer 17

1928: 54 seats
1930: 77 seats
1932: 89 seats

Question 18

Give FOUR main reasons why support for the Nazi Party grew during the Great Depression

Answer 18

1) They appeared to be well-organised

2) Their use of violence intimidated voters into supporting them

3) They used propaganda to win over supporters

4) They won support from wealthy businessmen to fund their campaigning

Question 19

What role did the SA play in Reichstag elections in 1930 and 1932?

Answer 19

They tore down opposition posters, intimidated opposition candidates, broke into opposition party offices and disrupted opposition rallies

Question 20

How many members did the following organisations have in 1930:

The SA
The KPD’s Red Front Fighters

Answer 20

SA: 400,000

Red Front Fighters: 130,000

Question 21

What did the Nazis use their funding from industrialists for during elections?

Answer 21

Posters, radio broadcasts and aeroplanes

Question 22

How did Goebbels allow Hitler to address multiple rallies every day across Germany during election campaigns?

Answer 22

He booked planes to fly Hitler all over the country

Question 23

What did the Nazis use for the first time in the 1932 Reichstag elections to increase their support?

Answer 23

Radio broadcasts

Question 24

Explain how the Nazis won support from the WORKING CLASSES during the Great Depression

Answer 24

Promised “work and bread” on their posters in response to unemployment and falling wages

Question 25

Explain how the Nazis won support from the MIDDLE CLASSES during the Great Depression

Answer 25

The Nazis highlighted the Communist desire to abolish private ownership of land and businesses - the Nazis promised to protect savings, pensions and companies

Question 26

Explain how the Nazis won support from the FARMERS during the Great Depression

Answer 26

They changed their policy of confiscating all private land - they now said that they would only confiscate Jewish-held land

Question 27

Explain how the Nazis won support from YOUNG PEOPLE during the Great Depression

Answer 27

Nazi rallies were colourful and full of atmosphere - they seemed more exciting than the traditional parties

Question 28

What percentage of new Nazi members between 1930 and 1933 were aged between 18 and 30?

Answer 28

43%

Question 29

Explain how the Nazis won support from BIG BUSINESS during the Great Depression

Answer 29

Other moderate parties such as the National Party had collapsed - the Nazis were the only major party left promising to protect individual wealth from the Communists

Question 30

Explain how the Nazis won support from WOMEN during the Great Depression

Answer 30

The Nazis used propaganda to argue that voting for them was the best thing for families