The Rise of the Nazi Party and Hitler in Germany and the Collapse of the Weimar Republic

Question 1

stab in the back legend

Answer 1

stab in the back legend blamed scapegoats and became used as propaganda for anti-democratic, right wing politicians

Question 2

Weimar assasinations

Answer 2

between 1920 and 1923, there were 250 political assassinations including Matthias Erzberger, who signed the ToV on behalf of Germany

Question 3

reasons for the failure of Weimar Republic

Answer 3

Stab in the Back Legend
Conservative elites maintained power
violent opposition to democracy from both sides of the political spectrum

Question 4

structure (kinda) of the Weimar Republic

Answer 4

Friedrich Ebert was the Republic’s first president and Scheidemann was chancellor.
Weimar Constitution guaranteed basic political liberties and gave all men and women over the age of 20 the right to vote
president was the head of state and was elected every seven years
reichstag members were elected by proportional representation which made it nearly impossible for any one party to form a majority

Question 5

Article 25

Answer 5

the president could close the Reichstag and call elections and gave them the power to appoint or dismiss the Chancellor

Question 6

Article 48

Answer 6

gave the president emergency powers in time of crisis, the right to close parliament and issue decrees

Question 7

Kapp Putsch

Answer 7

1920
attempted right-wing takeover of the government
led by Wolfgang Kapp
attempt was a failure due to the strike action of Berlin workers

Question 8

Beer Hall Putsch

Answer 8

November 1923
Hitler
Hitler was arrested but received a very lenient prison sentence from a judge who was sympathetic towards his right-wing nationalist views

Question 9

First Economic Turning Point for Weimar Collapse

Answer 9

Missed reparation payment in 1923
weimar government printed more money leading to hyperinflation
French and belgian troops occupied Rhineland in attempts to enforce reparation payments

Question 10

impacts of hyperinflation

Answer 10

led to fear and uncertainty, and linked the weimar government with economic mismanagement.
workers in the Ruhr region went on strike, pursuing a policy of “passive resistance and non-cooperation”
government continued to pay striking workers wages

Question 11

1920s position of weimar

Answer 11

better economic position due to introduction of Dawes Plan and the Rentenmark
extremist parties got few votes
Hindenburg became president in 1925
strong welfare system
democracy remained fragile
heavily reliant on US loans
agriculture in depression
unemployment at 10% in 1926
1925 election showed enduring support for Kaiser's authoritarian regime

Question 12

evans historiography - political situation in Weimar

Answer 12

“Even in the mid-1920s, therefore, the political situation was looking extremely fragile… the brutal fact was that, even in 1928, the republic was as far away from achieving legitimacy as ever” (Evans, 2003)

Question 13

Important points (kinda timeline) in the rise of the Nazis

Answer 13

by 1920, party membership had reached 3000
in 1921, the party newspaper the Volkischer Beobachter is launched
In July 1921, Hitler becomes leader of the party and is deemed the Fuhrer
In September 1921, Hitler sets up the SA with the purpose to protect party leaders and meetings
By mid 1923, the party had 70,000 members and 15,000 SA members

Question 14

result of the munich putsch

Answer 14

convinced Hitler that he had to gain power legally and power by force would not be achieved. he would need support from the army. Trial brought him to national prominence

membership fell and the party was banned in Bavaria

Ideological division in the party. Strasser promoted support of industrial workers and supported more socialist aims. Hitler overpowered him and his racist, nationalist, conservative agenda became party agenda

Question 15

1928 elections - Nazi results

Answer 15

gained only 12 seats and 2.6% of votes

Question 16

september 1930 - Nazi election results

Answer 16

gained 18.3% of votes and 107 seats

Question 17

July 1932 - Nazi election results

Answer 17

37.3% of the vote and 230 seats

Question 18

effects of Depression on Germany

Answer 18

us funds were withdrawn resulting in the collapse of many small businesses and high unemployment
by 1932, 6 million people were unemployed
tariffs increased, which hurt germany who were heavily reliant on international trade
German chancellor, Heinrich Bruning undertook policy of deflation by increasing tax and decreasing government expenditure - contractionary stance
July 1931, the Danat goes bankrupt

Question 19

Shirer Hitler quote

Answer 19

“Like most great revolutionaries he could thrive only in evil times… when the masses were unemployed, hungry and desperate… (the people’s suffering he would) transform cold bloodedly and immediately, into political support for his own ambitions.” (Shirer 1964)

Question 20

Ultimate collapse of Weimar

Answer 20

March 1930 - the Muller grand coalition collapses and Muller resigns
Bruning is appointed Chancellor and governs on the basis of Article 48
September 1930 - Bruning calls elections - Nazis become the 2nd biggest party in the Reichstag
March 1932 - Hindenburg, Hitler, Duesterbuerg and Thalmann contest the presidential election
May 1932 - Franz Von Papen is appointed Chancellor
July 1932 - Nazis become the biggest party in the Reichstag
Hindenburg refuses to make Hitler Chancellor but offers to make him VC. Hitler refuses
December 1932 - Von Schleicher replaces von Papen.
30 January 1933 - Hitler is appointed Chancellor with Von Papen as VC

Question 21

Results of 2nd 1930 Presidential electio

Answer 21

Hindenburg gains 53% of the votes and Hitler gains 37%