The rise of authoritarian regimes (Nazi Germany) Part 1 Flashcards
What weakened the Weimar republican (5 points)
Political:
1. the weimar constitution
2. an unpopular republic
3. terms in the treaty or versailles
4. threats to the republican
economical:
5. the occupation of the Ruhr and hyperinflation
What were the strength of the weimar constitution? (3 points)
- proportional representation allowed any party taking part in the election to gain seats in the Reichstag (parliament) based on the number of votes received. This result in more interest and views in the government.
- laws had to be approved by the Reichstag. Chancellor could not push them through power. (prevented abuse of power)
- women where allowed to vote
What were the weakness of the weimar constitution? (2 points)
- Proportional representation made it hard for one party to gain the majority, made it challenging to pass laws. Government were weak and short lived.
- Article 48 meant that president could rule the country directly in a crisis without having to consult the Reichstag. (weakening democracy, Hitler would exploit this as he became the dictator later on)
why was the weimar republican unpopular?
- People saw the republic as a national disgrace and humiliating as they signed the treaty of versailles putting Germany in full responsibility of ww1
How did the TOV weakened weimar republic?
- germans believe that Ebert and the other weimar politicians were forever to be blame for the treaty. They were called the “November criminals”
What is a Diktat?
a dictated peace
who are the nov criminals?
The people who were resp. for the defeat of germany and were cowards who surrendered to the TOV
Why did germans said that they were stabbed in the back?
they believed the theory that the german army would have won the war if not for people stabbing them in the back. people like socialist, liberal politicians and jews
who were the threats to the weimar republic? (2 points)
the left and right wings group
left: communist, labour, democrats
right: republican, conservative, nationalist
Who were the left wings and what did they attempt to do to overthrow the WR and why were they defeated?
name: spartacists
aims: wanted germany to by ruled by workers’ council/soviets
supported by: rebel soldiers, sailors
methods: setting up soviets in many towns, uprising and rebellion
defeated by: vigilant groups like the freikorps and army after bitter street fightings
consequences: heavy casualties but communists remained a powerful anti-gov force throughout 1920s
Who were the right wings and what did they attempt to do to overthrow the WR and why were they defeated?
names: Freikorps (led by the wolfgang kapp)
aims: wanted to overthrow weimar and return germany to a more authoritarian system similar to the kaiser
supported by: all classes of society from poor workers and farmers to wealthy landowning aristocracy
methods: rebellions and uprising
defeated: trade unions went on a strike and bought the city to a halt with no transport, power or water (civil servants also supported Ebert, member of WR)
consequence: kapp fled, was hunted down and died while awaiting trials. movement did not succeed but rebels went unpunished
How did the occupation of the Ruhr and hyperinflation weakened the WR? (6 points)
- germany struggled to pay the reparations of 6.6 mil pounds
- germany failed to make payment in jan 1923, france and belgian troops occcupied the Ruhr valley (germany’s most important and valuable industrial region)
- germans govt ordered workers to go on strike
- govt printed banknotes, which led to hyperinflation
- govt lost support from middle class gemans as they think the govt favoured workers, industrialists and politicians instead.
- german associated this crisis with the weimar politicians and dreaded TOV. there was deep resentment.
What happened in golden age of weimar? (3 points)
- economic recovery
- cultural renaissance
- backlash
which year did golden age of weimar took place?
1924-1929
Why backlash happened in the golden age of weimar? (3 points)
- Moral degradation
- berlin was seen as sleazy, corrupted, sex-obsessed
- artist was forced to flee germany by nazis
which year did hitler join the German’s work party?
1919
Which year did Munich Putsch happened?
1923
what happened during Munich Putsch? (2points)
- Hitler expected govt, police and troops to support him
- When hitler and the nazis marched into the centre of Munich, they were met by armed police and a battle broke out.
what happened after the Munich Putsch? (2points)
- Hitler was arrested
- The Nazis party was banned
what was the Munich Putsch? (2 points)
- an act of rebellion against the Weimar Republican and establish a Nazi dictatorship
- a humiliating disaster for hitler
What was the approach in rebuilding the Nazi party?
Nazi would not be able to seize power by force, it had to be through a democratic system. Once in power they could destroy that system.
Hitler’s main ideas in Mein Kampf? (5 points)
- Loyalty to führer (hitler)
- Loyalty to Germany
- War and struggles was necessary
- living space needed
- Aryan master race (main race, best race)
How did Hitler win supports for the Nazis Party? (8 points)
- he was persuasive and charming
- Powerful and confident speaker, he had the ability to influence an assembly
- his mannerism and presentation appealed to the masses
- attracted funds from various people like business owners
- targetted the rural areas (peasants framers, middle class shopkeepers) as 35% of population were still rural, not prosperous.
- promise aspect of agriculture would be improved
- praised peasants/ people from rural area as pure Germans
- despise weimar culture in general (nightclub/nightlife) to gain support from conservative people
Impact of Great depression (3 points)
- impact of unemployment
- failure in democracy
- the rise in communism
