Topic 2 Weimar Republic Failure Flashcards
Result of depression
Prices and wages fell
Bankruptcies increased 50,000 1930-1932
Unemployment rose to 6.5m in 1933
1931 5 major banks closed down
World economic crisis
German economy dependant on loans from USA which dried up
Demands made for repayment
Decline in food and raw materials prices
Market for german goods slumped
Figures for unemployment don’t give full picture as
Many never registered
Some jobs were part time
1/3 of population were on the dole
Rural as well as urban
To many ordinary Germans
It looked as though society was breaking up and was out of control
Therefore it is not so surprising they lost faith in republic and looked for extremes
However USA was comparable- DE 1 in 3 unemployed USA 1 in 4 unemployed but in USA the democratic system was never in danger
In Germany economic crisis became
Political crisis because of lack of faith
Therefore depression may have accelerated end of republic
