Unit 3 essay questions/judgement Flashcards
most significant impact of the depression?
Political as this caused the end of democracy through the collapse of the grand coalition,providing and opportunity for the extreme left and right to gain support and intensified political violence
evidence that the most significant impact of the depression was political?
- DVP wanted to reduce unemployment benefit but SPD wanted to protect level of benefit and instead raise taxes which caused the govt to be deadlocked and in - - March 1930 Muller resigned
- Sept 1930 election communists got 77 seats and Nazis got 107 seats (from 12 in 28)
SA + red front fighters took their political struggle to the street,each attempting to break up political meetings of their rivals (so intense in 1932 Bruning banned SA)
explanation for political being impacted most ?
Most significant as had far-reaching detrimental consequence of ending democracy in Germany as the depression forced more moderate voters to extremes due to desperation after feeling they had been failed by the weimar.Political power in Germany had shifted from the Reichstag to the president and his circle of advisors,but also to the streets.
depression effect on society?
Another extremely significant impact was on society, having a detrimental impact on everyone but most notably young men.More significantly, the fact that so many individuals had poor living conditions affected their voting conduct,resulting in more extreme voter turnout which led to increased violence.
depression effect on society? ev
- Benefit system only designed to help 800,000 ,amount paid out having to be reduced as the system could not cope
- June 1933 Hamburg youth unemployment 39% ➡️ gangs of young men congregated causing fears they were being drawn into extremist political organisation + crime, no youth accused of crime increased
- KPD + Nazi attracted young men ➡️ food,uniforms,shelter + excitement of street fighting
depression effect on society? ex
Important as the mass unemployment had a highly corrosive effect on German society as this created difficult living conditions for many and ultimately led people to extremist parties.Also being at the forefront of government issues due to the benefit system that had to be tried and upheld.
depression effect on political?
The least important but still notably important impact of the depression was with the German economy.Although the economic issues were a catalyst for other more significant issues they themselves were not the most significant to German citizens.However the already stagnant economy did suffer more comparatively to other countries in Europe
depression effect on political? ev
- Between 1929 + 1932 Germany’s level of export trade declined by 61% and industrial production fell by 58% of its 1928 level (greater than any European countries)
- Companies forced to declare themselves as bankrupt and make workers redundant
- Banks began to get into difficulty and following the collapse of an Austrian bank in May 1931 German banking system was plunged into crisis
- By 1932 ⅓ of Germans unemployed, Jan 1933 true employment 8 million
- Depression pushed farmers into serious difficulties with many forced to give up their farms as banks demanded repayment of loans
depression effect on political? ex
Industrial areas suffered most economically but it caused everyone to be worse off.Whilst the economic issues were the starting point of the depression the challenges they caused were much more severe than the economy itself.Although it still played a significant role in the collapse of democracy as after the previous hyperinflation it seemed to be more evidence of the weimar not being able to create a stable economy in Germany.
How did the Great Depression magnify political problems of the republic ?
- magnified the instability of the coalition governments
- lack of control of the Weimar
- turning support towards more extreme parties
which political problem was most magnified?
Most notably the great depression magnified the instability of the coalition governments,with no coalition lasting longer than 2 years, as it was able to split the grand coalition which ultimately seemed to be Germany’s last option.
evidence of the unstable coalition govt ?
- DVP wanted to reduce the unemployment benefit whilst the SPD wanted to protect the level of benefit and raise taxes (the govt was deadlocked on the issue) and resulted in Muller resigning in March 1930
- Bruning was the longest continuously serving chancellor of the weimar republic (severity of depression)
- Hindenburg was convinced to appoint Bruning who was opposed to parliamentary democracy ➡️ excluded SPD so didn’t have enough support resulting in having to rule by presidential decree
evidence of the unstable coalition govt? ex
Ultimately the depression was strong enough to destroy the weimar democracy due to the collapse of the grand coalition.Resulting in the severe new authoritarianism that would cause Hitler to be able to gain so much popularity and power as a lot of German viewed this change positively.The scope and longevity this had on the next few years of Germany’s politics must be acknowledged when assessing the effect of the depression.
lack of control? P
The depression also magnified the lack of control of the Weimar.With an increase in political violence that was never completely rectified highlighting the lack of control and respect the Weimar had over its citizens.
lack of control? ev
- SA + red-front fighter league attempted to break up each others political meetings with rival marchings often degenerated into full-scale riots
- Bruning banned SA in 1932 but this failed to curb the stormtroopers as their membership continued to grow
- By 1932 SA had 400,000 members
1932 first half - deaths from political violence Nazis 84 Communists 75
lack of control? ex
The depression made people angry towards the government and towards each other, pushing more people into extreme parties consequently pushed those already apart to more extreme ends.People felt they were not being heard through the democratic system,feeling they had no other choice than to become violent.Clearly this highlights one of the fundamental issues surrounding the weimar, a lack of trust,respect and hope.
turning support extreme parties? P
Another aspect of politics that was magnified by the depression was the turning support towards more extreme parties.The depression caused moderate voters to turn their backs,believing that a more extreme party would fulfil their promises to act in a time where people needed action.
turning support extreme parties? ev
- In sept 1930 election the Nazis gained nearly 6.5 million votes and their representation in the reichstag went from 12 to 107 seats
- In the 1930 election the SPD gained over a million votes and 77 seats in the reichstag
- Out of the sept 1930 election ⅖ of voters gave their support to anti-democratic parties
turning support extreme parties? ex
Before the depression the support for anti-democratic and extreme parties was no were near the threat it had became.Now moderate voters felt abandoned by the democratic system,desperate to get out of the depression.As the weimar seemed unable to do this voters were forced into more extremes.
Reasons for the rise of the Nazis from 1928?
- Nazis projected an image of decisiveness and energy
- obvious change from the current system.
rise of Nazis?
As the economic crisis in Germany deepened, society became more polarised and the political system failed to provide a government equal to the situation.The Nazis projected an image of decisiveness and energy offering the prospect of change.Most significantly the Nazis were able to gain power due to the emotional appeal they had.With a charismatic leader they offered direction and security.The prospect of firm action to take Germany out of its turmoil attracted millions of Germans (regardless of class)
Nazis projected an image of decisiveness and energy ev?
- Hitler had the plan of a peoples community/Volksgemeinschaft in which the state would only consists of Aryans and there would be no social classes,all Germans would have equal chances to find their own level in society
- Wanted to destroy democracy ‘democracy is fundamentally not German;it’s Jewish’ and replace with a dictatorship
- Fuelled by propaganda that would be modified for different audiences eg after 1929 Hitler reassured Hugenberg (businessman) that Nazis would not threaten his interests
Nazis projected an image of decisiveness and energy ex?
Hitler was able to successfully draw in a variety of voters due to his easily interchangeable aims within which he knew which would appeal to certain groups.Alongside this and his clear aims for Germany he gave people hope within a time where hope was limited.
ev as nazi being an obvious change?
- the national socialism presented (nationalising monopoly industries,confiscation of war profits and confiscation of land from the large estates without compensation to land owners)
- Aggressive nationalism aiming to : reverse the humiliation of the treaty of versailles,establish a ‘Greater German Reich’ in which all Germans would live within the borders of the state and to secure for Germany’s its Lebensraum - to settle its people and provide the food and materials needed to sustain a great power
