Weimar Constitution - Chapter 4 - Crisis of Weimar

Question 1

When does Burning replace Muller as chancellor?

Answer 1

March 1930

Question 2

What happens to banks in July 1931?

Answer 2

5 major German banks failed

Question 3

When does Papen replace Burning?

Answer 3

June 1932

Question 4

When does Schelicher replace Papen?

Answer 4

December 1932

Question 5

When does Hitler replace Schleicher?

Answer 5

January 1933

Question 6

What are the reasons for Weimar crisis?

Answer 6

Great Depression
Burning government,
Roles of Hindenburg, Schliecher and Papen
Rise of the Nazis

Question 6

Why did the Wall Street Crash affect Weimar?

Answer 6

Germany’s reliance on USA’s loans so collapse in USA stock market made Nazi Party more popular

Question 7

What did USA do as a result of the Wall Street Crash?

Answer 7

Curtail loans and recalling loans

Question 8

Unemployment in Germany before Wall Street Crash?

Answer 8

1929 Spring - 2.5 million

Question 9

Weakness of German economy before Wall Street Crash?

Answer 9

Farmers in debt, falling incomes
Balance of trade was in deficit

Question 10

1932 Unemployment?

Answer 10

33% workforce unemployed - 6 million

Question 11

Industrial production after the Great Depression?

Answer 11

Industrial production fell to 42 percent of its 1929 level

Question 12

1932 farmer situation?

Answer 12

By 1932, 18,000 farmers had gone bankrupt

Question 13

How many businesses collapsed between 1930-1932?

Answer 13

50,000

Question 14

What major bank went bankrupt and had a debilitating impact?

Answer 14

Kredit Anstalt, collapsed in 1931 and encouraged other investors to withdraw money from other banks. Banks forced to close

Question 15

What happened in rural/urban areas during the depression?

Answer 15

Rural areas already suffering, spread through urban areas, savings wiped out by inflation, millions could not feed themselves

Question 16

Illnesses during the depression?

Answer 16

Malnutrition, diseases arousing from poverty, poor diet, mental stress

Question 17

Impact of the depression on middle/working class?

Answer 17

Little demand for middle class services - respect lost
Working class could not feed - families/keep house warm on social benefits

Question 18

Why did people turn to political extremism during the depression?

Answer 18

Lost faith in Weimar, collapse in traditional German values, simple solutions offered by extremism

Question 19

How did the depression impact attitudes to weimar?

Answer 19

Created hostility, already lack of confidence in system worsened, failings of democratic system led to despondency

Question 20

Why did Muller coalition government fail?

Answer 20

Lack of faith in system, government which had majority in reichtag at the time collapsed, led to increase in umber of anti democratic deputies,

Question 22

What did collapse of Mullers government lead to?

Answer 22

Start of rule by emergency decree and presidential government
Mullers government from 1928-1930

Question 23

Why did Muller resign?

Answer 23

Hindenburg refused to grant Muller emergency powers to approve his budget which might have created stability, resignation was end of democracy

Question 24

What did Muller's government split over?

Answer 24

SPD did not want to cut benefits for working class while DVP wanted cuts, industrialists argued whole system should be abolished. Compromise failed.

Question 25

What did Burning rely on?

Answer 25

Article 48 - emergency decrees rising to 66 in 1932

Question 26

What was Burning known as and why?

Answer 26

Hunger Chancellor - policies of reducing expenditure worsened economic situation, played unintentional role in Nazi success

Question 27

Opposing theories as to why Burning reduced expenditure?

Answer 27

Hyperinflation Wanted to provoke a crisis so reparations would be cancelled

Question 28

Why was Burning dismissed as a chancellor in May?

Answer 28

Banking crisis, attempts at land reform, political intrigue

Question 29

What was the right wing nationalist alliance and what did it do?

Answer 29

Harzburg Front - tried to force new elections in 1931, bring down government, Burning still had backing of president

Question 30

Why did Hindenburg withdraw support for Burning?

Answer 30

Decree that created allotments for unemployed from land estates in Prussia angered landowners and Hindenburg withdrew his support being a Prussian landowner himself

Question 31

Bruning's relationship with Nazis?

Answer 31

Refused to work with them

Question 32

Who influenced Hindenburg to appoint Papen?

Answer 32

Schleicher - believed he could influence events through him

Question 33

Papen's aims for government?

Answer 33

More authoritarian New government nicknamed "Cabinet of Barons"

Question 34

Who was in "Cabinet of Barons"

Answer 34

Dominated by landowners, industrialists, many not even members of reichtag

Question 35

How did Papen deal with Nazis?

Answer 35

Tried to secure support Nazis agreed not to oppose as long as there was a calling of new elections to reichtag and the end of the ban on SA and SS

Question 36

July 1932 election results for democrats and Nazis?

Answer 36

39.5% secured by democratic parties 37.3% secured by Nazis - making them biggest party

Question 37

How many votes did extremist parties win in 1932 July election?

Answer 37

Over 51% - disaster for democracy

Question 37

Signs of the decline in democracy after July 1932 election?

Answer 37

Lift on ban of SA, SS Removal of socialist coalition government in Prussia Lack of resistance from SPD

Question 38

What did Hitler do after July 1932 elections?

Answer 38

Tried to translate popular support into power Meeting with Papen, Hindenburg and Hitler ended in deadlock

Question 39

Why did Hitler still refuse to join government after November 1932 elections?

Answer 39

Wanted to be appointed chancellor

Question 39

Results of November 1932 election?

Answer 39

Nazis won 33.1 percent of the vote/196 seats Did weaken Nazis position

Question 39

Why was another election called in November 1932?

Answer 39

Papen suffered humiliation of no confidence vote - 512 votes to 42

Question 40

Why did Hindenburg force Papen's resignation?

Answer 40

Schelicher worried by Papen's desperation (martial law) so influenced Hindenburg that army lost confidence in Papen

Question 41

What did Schliecher strive today when he was appointed chancellor?

Answer 41

Appeal to the left through public works programmes Split Nazi Party by appealing to socialist element and offering Strasser vice chancellor

Question 42

Hostility of Germany's vested interests?

Answer 42

Germany's elites had become antagonistic to republic from start Wanted to return to authoritarian rule of Kaiser

Question 43

Ultimate limited support for the republic?

Answer 43

Versailles and reparations caused tension SDP did not join coalitions in 1920's Faith diminished

Question 44

Phases of the republic

Answer 44

1918-1919 : difficult following war 1919-1923 : issues 1924-1929 : golden age but not much achieved 1929-1933 : end to the republic

Question 45

Why did Hindenburg appoint Hitler?

Answer 45

Under pressure of his son and Papen Hindenburg withdrew support from Schliecher and appointed Hitler Thought he could be controlled and would work with interests of elites

Question 46

Potential selfish motive of appointing Hitler?

Answer 46

Hindenburg wanted to avoid investigation into his estate in East Prussia, funds misused - scandal

Question 47

Who thought they could control Hitler?

Answer 47

Papen and Hugenburg "pushed Hitler into a corner so hard that he'll be squeaking"