Weimar Republic 1929 - 1933 (Democracy in crisis) Flashcards
Wall Street
The location of the U.S. stock market.
Stock Market / stock exchange.
A place where individuals / companies can buy and sell stock ( shares) in a company.
A healthy stock market is a symbol of ‘stable’ capitalism.
Wall Street Crash
October 1929.
US markets collapsed - caused financial panic
A ‘symbol’ that not all was well with the U.S. economy.
Global Depression
‘When the U.S. sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold.’
Global slump in trade - business collapse - high unemployment.
How was the Weimar Republic affected by the global depression?
US called in short term loans under the Dawes Plan.
German banking crashes - (banks invest heavily in stocks & shares - 25% of banks failed!)
Young Plan - unfulfilled.
High unemployment - 6 million by 1932. (30% of the working population)
Reduced government revenue (lower tax revenue, higher welfare costs)
How did the Nazis benefit from economic turmoil?
The crisis created a new and wider audience for Nazi ideas.
Growth of Nazi support (1929-1932)
May 1928 elections: 12 seats
September 1930 elections: 107 seats
July 1932 elections: 230 seats
Nazi Propaganda
The Nazis used propaganda more effectively than their rivals.
They used leaflets, posters, SA parades, Nazi newspapers, etc.
Hitler over Germany campaign - 20 cities in 7 days!
All this served to effectively spread Nazi ideas and to weaken support (by discrediting) their rivals - e.g promote a fear of communism.
Messages were clear and simple - ‘work and bread’ (Arbeit und Brot) / ‘Hitler - our last Hope’.
Political Crisis :- 1930 - 33
Bruning government - no support in Reichstag. Limps along between ‘30 - ‘32 using A48. Fails in ‘32
Replaced by von Papen (May ‘32) unable to gain a political consensus.
Kurt von Schleicher convinces President Hindenburg to appoint him Chancellor. (December) - fails to find a political consensus.
von Papen ‘advises’ Hindenburg to appoint Hitler Chancellor - with von Papen as Vice Chancellor. Hindenburg agrees - (Jan 1933)
Why did Hindenburg agree to appoint Hitler as Chancellor in January 1933?
The Nazis were the largest party in the Reichstag by 1932. Political fact.
No working coalition could be established amongst the ‘moderate’ parties. They had relied too much on Article 48.
von Papen was a friend of Hindenburg’s - he convinced him to appoint Hitler on the basis that Hitler ‘could be controlled.’
