History - Causes and Consequences External

When was Hitler appointed Chancellor?

January 30, 1933

Who was the previous Chancellor?

Franz von Papen

Why was Hitler appointed Chancellor?

• Weimar Weakness: Economic crisis (Great Depression), unstable coalitions, Article 48

• Nazi Appeal: Jobs, nationalism, anti-Versailles; strong propaganda & Hitler’s charisma

• Elite Miscalculation: Hindenburg and von Papen thought they could control him

When was the Treaty of Versailles signed and by whom?

June 28, 1919 by Germany’s Weimar government (written by the Big Three: Wilson, Lloyd George, Clemenceau)

Why did Germans call the Treaty of Versailles a “diktat”?

Because they considered it to be a dictated peace, signed under threat of war with no real choice

Name three key terms of the Treaty of Versailles

• Territorial loss (12% population, Alsace-Lorraine, colonies)

• Military restrictions (100,000 troops, no air force, 6 battleships, demilitarized Rhineland)

• Reparations (132 billion gold marks) and War Guilt Cause (Article 231)

What is the War Guilt Clause (Article 231)?

Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles, which forced Germany to accept full responsibility for starting WWI

Why was the War Guilt Cause significant?

• Humiliated Germany

• Increased resentment toward the Weimar Government, in turn fueling support for extremist parties like the Nazi’s

How did Hitler use the Treaty of Versailles to gain support?

Promised to undo treaty, rebuild army and restore pride

Called the treaty a national humiliation

Fed off the German’s distrust of the Government

How did Hitler’s electoral success grow?

• 1928: <3%

• July 1932: 37%

• Nov 1932: 33%

What speech did Hitler give to denounce reparations?

“Future or Ruin” speech at Circus Krone rally (6000 attendees)

What happened to Kaiser Wilhelm II after WWI?

He abdicated and fled to the Netherlands

When was the Weimar Constitution drawn up?

February 1919

What were two major weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution?

Too many small parties (weak coalitions) and proportional representation (no clear majourity)

What was Article 48?

Allowed the President to rule by decree (suspend democracy)

What crisis hit Germany between 1930 - 1933?

Political and economic crisis due to the Great Depression

How many national elections were held in just 8 months?

Four

How many seats did the Nazi’s win at their peak before 1933?

230 seats in the Reichstag

Why did many Germans support Hitler?

He appeared strong, decisive, and offered solutions unlike the weak democracy

Why did Hindenburg finally appoint Hitler as Chancellor?

Fear of revolution is he refused + belief that Hitler could be controlled

What was the significance of Hitler becoming Chancellor?

It ended Weimar democracy and led to Nazi dictatorship and persecution