Nat 5 History: Weimar/Nazi Germany

Effects on Germany of the end of WW1

- Army refused to support Kaiser Wilhelm, he abdicated and fled fo Holland. 9 November 1918
- Strikes and power cuts were typical, leading to factory closures and transport problems
- Spanish influenza killed 600,000 Germans in less than a year.
- Serious fuel shortages, which affected deliveries of food.
- Serious food shortages, led to rationing of basic foods
- Living conditions worsened due to shortages of basic essentials like soap, washing powder, medicines, clothing and shoes
- Germans suffered from war grief, almost everyone knew someone who had died in the war, and many were supporting those wounded

The Treaty of Versailles and opposition to it

- The Allies did not invade Germany. This made it easier to spread the lie that the army and the country had been betrayed - rather than defeated
- The Allied blockade was still causing shortages, riots and strikes. All over Germany there was chaos.
- Germans were not allowed to take part in the discussions about the treaty.
- German army was reduced to 100,000 men. No tanks, no air forces and no submarines. Germany was left defenceless.
- All German colonies were taken away, Poland was given German territory and Rhineland was demilitarised
- Germany had to accept all blame for the war and pay reparations of £6.6 million
- Germans were very bitter about the treaty. They felt shamed by the war guilt clause.
- Germans called it a 'diktat' as they had no say in the Treaty
- Angry at loss of 13% territory and overseas colonies
- Newspapers demanded vengeance for the 'shameful' treaty

Positive aspects of Weimar Constitution

- All men and women over the age of 20 were able to vote
- German citizens were guaranteed freedom of speech and religion
- All Germans were to be equal
- Germans would elect the parliament and president
- The Reichstag made the laws and appointed the government

Negative aspects of Weimar Constitution

- Proportion Representation allowed small extremist parties like the KPD + Nazis to gain seats. This led to weak, unstable 'coalition' governments, led to disagreements within parties and a lack of decisive action
- President had too much power under Article 48, President could allow the Chancellor to rule by decree, could allow dictatorship to develop
- There was a succession of weak chancellors - 12 between 1919 and 1933
- Left wing of Reichstag - SPD, USPD + KPD - was divided , this allowed right-wing parties to dominate

Spartacist Revolt (1919)

The Spartacists were communists, who wanted Germany to be run by the working classes. They believed that power and wealth should be shared equally among the population.
They were led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg. 50,000 workers went on strike and demonstrated in the centre of Berlin. This demonstration was taken over by the Spartacists leadership. Newspaper and communication buildings were taken over and the demonstrators armed themselves. However, many protestors returned home frustrated at the lack of planning by the Spartacists. The government employed the Freikorps to put down the rising. Over 100 workers were killed. Karl and Rosa were later arrested and executed. They failed at overthrowing the government.
Reasons for failure:
- Wasn't planned well enough
- Karl and Rosa killed in police custody
- Government acted quickly against them
- Spartacists were arguing amongst themselves
- Supporters were bored

Beer Hall Putsch (1923)

The Nazis aimed to overthrow the Bavarian Government. They were supported by General Ludendorff, who they intended to make leader of Germany.
- In 1923, Adolf Hitler made his first bid for power. He led an armed uprising in Bavaria.
- Hitler intended to overthrow the Bavarian government and then organise a March on Berlin. He was convinced that the army and the people would support him.
- At a meeting in Munich's largest Beer Hall Hitler and a group of armed Nazis took members of Bavarian government as hostages.
- The next day Hitler and his supporters marched through Munich on their way to army barracks. Police and troops stopped them. Eleven people were killed.
Hitler was out on trial and sentenced to 5 years. He only served 9 months. He then decided to only use legal methods to gain power. Hitler used this time to write his book Mein Kampf.

Reparations (1919)

By 1919 the German economy was in ruins. The war had cost millions of marks and the allies demanded that Germany pay reparations of 6.6 billion pounds. They lost important industrial areas at Versailles. There was a trade depression after the war, many businesses were forced to close and there was high unemployment.
- In 1922, the Weimar Government stated that it would not be able to pay the next three years' instalments as a result of economic hardship.
- The French thought Weimar was just testing international patience, and in Jan 1923, the French and Belgian armies sent 60,000 soldiers into the Ruhr region of Germany. The French aimed to extract the unpaid reparations and took control of key industries and natural resources.
- Weimar instructed the Ruhr workers to go on strike, instead of helping the French. This worsened the economic crisis in Germany.
- The government started to print more money in order to pay the striking German workers in the Ruhr.

Hyperinflation (1923)

The inflation rate rose so dramatically that the German currency lost virtually all value. Paper money was practically useless (a loaf of bread cost 200,000 million marks by Nov 1923).
- German industry came to a halt and unemployment soared.
- People lost their savings and were forced to sell their valuables to buy food.
- People on monthly salaries suffered as pay could not keep up with price rises.
- Any investments became worthless
- People on fixed incomes faced starvation as they didn't have enough money.
- People who borrowed money found it easy to repay debt.
- Trade with other countries became impossible and Germany was unable to pay for imports of food and other necessary products.
- It came to an end when Americans agreed to lend money to Germany.
- Germany was led by Gustav Stresseman who restored Germany's international reputation. This led to economic recovery 1924-29.
- People lost faith in the Weimar Government, and voted for parties like Nazis or communists.

Wall St Crash (1928-33)

- When the Wall St Crash hit the USA in 1929, the American economy was significantly damaged, and the German economy was pulled down with it.
- The German economy relied on USA for loans and American investors anxious about their financial position, began withdrawing their loans to Germany.
- German banks suffered huge losses as they had been large investors in US companies. This creates a banking crisis in Germany as savers began to fear for their savings.
- Many German industries failed, and unemployment rose to 6 million by 1933.

Discontent with Weimar Government by 1933

Armistice - they thought they could have won the war and Weimar politicians stabbed them in the back

Article 48 - Meant that president could overrule government at any time, although it was only meant for emergencies

Treaty of Versailles - Didn't like that they had to accept the blame of the war and blamed Weimar politicians for signing it. Also blamed Weimar government for reduced military and huge reparation payments which caused economic hardship.

Proportional Representation - Meant that political parties had to work together in coalition governments, while it was democratic, it was seen to lead to weak governments which often fell apart.

Hyperinflation in 1923 - Blamed Weimar politicians for economic chaos of 1923 as they had been in charge and chosen to print more money causing unemployment and starvation

Wall Street Crash - Unhappy as 6 million were unemployed, while Weimar government reduced public spending but increased taxes.

Appeal of the Nazis

Increased popularity by appearing to provide solution to all Germany's problems. Adopted policies that could be supported by many different groups of Germans

Socialists: Promised that farmers would be given land, pensions would improve, public industries like electricity and water would be owned by state

Nationalists: Promised all German-speaking people would be united in one country, Treaty of Versailles would be abandoned and there would be special laws for foreigners

Racists: Promised that Jews would not be German citizens and immigration would be stopped

Fascists: Promised a strong government and control of newspapers

Unemployed and workers: Promised increase in jobs and wages

Rich, army, landowners, businessmen: promised remilitarisation would begin, contracts would be awarded to Germans, protection from Communists

Appeal of Hitler

Hitler was a gifted and effective public speaker who captivated his audiences and projected himself as the saviour who would solve the problems facing Germany. He delivered speeches to mass audiences, offering something to all sections of society and kept his message simple and used short phrases. He came across as energetic and passionate and as if he really cared about Germany.

Use of propaganda

Methods of campaigning used in 1920s included radio, mass rallies, newspapers, Hitler's speeches and posters

The SA

- In 1921, Hitler set up his own private army called the SA (brownshirts). They were mostly young men, some had been members of the Freikorps.
- The SA was meant to protect Nazi meetings, but members often started violence and attacked the meetings of politicial opponents, especially Communists.
- The SA appealed to Germans who were afraid of Communists and were relieved when they acted against them.
- The SA also appealed to young men who wanted action and to wear a uniform.

Simple Message

- Germans were the Aryan Race - the master race
- Jews and Communists were to blame for Germany's defeat in WW1 and all of Germany's problems.
- Democracy was weak and Germany needed one single supreme leader - a Fuhrer
- They promised to rip up the Treaty of Versailles
- A greater Germany was needed to include all German speaking people, The Anschluss

Coming to power of the Nazis, 1933-34

- They were able to fund their campaigns through funding from 'big business', many of Germany's rich industrialists supported the Nazis and wanted to see them in power.
- Many Germans became unemployed due to the Wall St Crash, and Germans were willing to listen to any group who promised work and food.
- In July 1932, the Nazis won more votes than any other party with 37% of the vote. Hitler was offered the position of Vice Chancellor but declined as didn't want to be associated with a failing government.
- In Nov 1932, Hitler refused chancellorship as President Hindenburg limited his powers.
- Hindenburg disliked Hitler and was reluctant to appoint him
- In Jan 1933, Hitler accepted the chancellorship

Reichstag Fire (1933)

On 27 February 1933, the Reichstag building was burned down, The communists were blamed as a Dutch Communist called Marcus Van der Lubbe was found in the building as it burned. Law for the Protection of People & State (Emergency Decree) passed. Things that Hitler did:
- He expelled the Communists from Parliament and imprisoned many Communist leaders. This stopped them campaigning prior to the March elections.
- He announced that the country was in danger from the Communists during the election campaign. This encourged many to vote for the Nazis, who were seen as anti-communist.
- Hindenburg declared a state of emergency using Article 48 of the Weimar constitution. This resulted in newspapers being censored and personal letters and phone calls being checked.
These actions helped the Nazis win more seats in the election of 5 March 1933. The reichstag fire was so beneficial to the Nazis that it has been suggested they started it themselves.

The Enabling Act (1933)

Hitler suggested a new law that give him complete power, this became the law on 23rd March 1933. Restricted freedom, eliminated privacy and the need for warrants, banned all parties but the Nazi Party, and allowed the chancellor to make decisions without the Reichstag's approval.

Consolidation of Power (1933-34)

Jan 1933
- 30th: Hitler becomes Chancellor
- Nazis take control of police system

Feb 1933
- 27th: Reichstag Fire
- 28th: Law for the Protection of People & State (Emergency Decree) passed

Mar 1933
- 23th: Enabling Act allowed Hitler to make his own laws

Apr 1933
- Nazis reorganise and take control of local government
- Hitler set ups Gestapo, secret police

May 1933
- 2th: Trade unions are banned and leaders arrested
- 26th: Communists banned

June 1933
- 22nd: SPD banned
- 30th: The Night of Long Knives

July 1933
- 14th: All political parties banned except Nazis

August 1933
- 2nd: Hindenburg dies, Hitler appointed as fuhrer