Weimar and Nazi Germany

Give four political points of Pre-War germany

The King of Prussia was the Kaiser of Germany

Had a parliament called the Reichtag

Criticism of the government wasn't allowed

All the other major European powers had an overseas empire

Give four economic points of the Pre-war Germany

Soon dominated Europe with its industrial and military power

Had fertile farming land and rich natural resources, after Russia it was the second largest population

In some areas there were big cities and flourishing industry, in the mountainous south there were many small farms

As a result of their country's great economic success most Germans had good jobs

Wht

People in Germany were proud of their country's achievements, they were proud of all the great German writers, they were happy that Germany was so economically successful and had such a strong army

Criticism of the government wasn't allowed
Volksgemeinchsft - unity

What was Germany like politically by November 1918?

Germany had political problems before the war. The Reichstag was weak

Working-class and even middle class people had little say in the way Germany was run

What was Germany like economically by November 1918?

Every month the US was sending fresh soldiers and equipment to build up the Allied forces

The german soliders were poorly supplied after years of the British naval blockade of its ports

What was Germany like socially by November 1918?

Most Germans couldn't accept losing the war

Before the war the Germans had been proud and ambitious for their country. The experiences of war made many Germans bitter and angry

What was the Dolchtoss myth?

Ludendorf told them that Germany never lost and they were backstabbed by traitors, strikers and jews

What happened on 25 October 1918?

Munity ( rising against the leader) at Kiel (navy base)

What happened on 26 October-5 November 1918?

Strikes, munity and demonstrations spread

What happened on 7 November 1918?

SD'S ( Social Democrats) sent an ultimatum to the Kaiser: abdicate or they would join the revolution

What happened on 9 November 1918?

SD's announced the abdication ( to renounce- give up) of the Kaiser, with Ebert as Chancellor, and elections to be held in January for a new government

What happened on 10 November 1918?

Kaiser fled to Holland

What was the strengths of the weimaraner constitution? ( four details)

Women were able to vote
Voting age reduced from 25-21
Proportional representation made sure small parties had a fair share of seats
Not one group or person could have too much power

What were the weaknesses of the weimar constitution?

1) Proportional representation meant that even parties with a very small number of votes were guaranteed to get into the Reichstag. This meant it was difficult to make decisions because there were so many parties, and they all had different points of view.

2) Article 48 let the President make laws on his own " in an emergency"

3) It wasn't the choice of the people so wasn't popular

Who was the Spartacist League led by?

Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht

When was the Germn communist party formed?

December 1918

What happened on 6 January 1919?

The spartacists began their attempted overthrow of the government, capturing railways and a newspaper building

What did Ebert do?

He made a deal with the army, and was able to use the Reichswehr and the Freikorps to put down the revolt. The leaders were captured and killed

Why did the Spartacist Revolt fail?

The rising was badly organised
The spartacists weren't well suported ( they made up only a minority of the left wing support and were regarded by many Germans as extreme and indeed a grave danger to Germany

They faced a determined opposition- Ebert's provisional SPD Government had worked with the right wing, Conservative forces of the army and Freikorps to defeat the rising

Who were the Freikorps?

Tough groups of mostly formed soldiers who were right wing and united by their hatred of communism and determination to destroy it

What was the Ebert Groner Agreement?

It saw the new democratic socialist president Ebert create a deal with the Conservative army command under general Groner

How was the failure of the Spartacist rising important to Germany psychologically?

Despite its lack of support many Germans deeply fear the perceived threat of communism

What did Ebert Groner fear?

Communism

What was the result of the spartacist rising?

Was an ignominious (humiliating) failure and was easily defeated . It was poorly organised and represented the weakness of the extreme left in Germany rather than its threat

Consequences of the Spartacist Revolt

Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg were arrested and brutally murdered by the Freikorps

The communists and many of Germany's working class developed a hatred of the Socialist Democrats

The Weimar Government had serious repercussions when its power was threatened by a growing Nazi Party, the Communist and Social Democrat parties could not set aside their differences

Treaty of Versailles impact on Germany

Germany lost
13% of its land
48% of its iron production
more than 6 million citizens were absorbed into other countries

What was Article 231

War Guilt Clause - Germany had to accept blame for starting the war in 1914

How did the Weimar Republic get its name?

They met in Weimar but Berlin was too dangerous

What was the Kapp putsch

- the freikorps led by dr Kapp marched to Berlin
- weimar ministers fled
- government told trade unions to strike and cause chaos
- kapp couldn't keep control
- kapp fled berlin and ministers returned

left-wing

Spartacists

Right wing

Freikorps

Negatives of hyperinflation

Some people couldn't afford essentials like bread
Wages rose, but not as quickly as prices
Some businesses went bankrupt

Positives of hyperinflation

Farmers benefited, as they were paid more for food
Some people and businesses could pay off loans and mortgages

Why was there hyperinflation

- 1914-18: govt printed more money to pay reparations, but didn't have the gold (bankrupt)
- 1918-22: govt printed more for post-war shortages, asked for longer reparations terms
- January 1923: invasion of Ruhr by French troops for reparations payments in goods. workers went on strike. 80% of German coal and steel reserves were in Ruhr
- printed more money to pay strikers and make up for loss of steel, iron and coal production
- november 1923: the mark was worthless

What was the invasion of the Fuhr?

French Belgian troops entered to make the Germans pay the reparations. They took goods and attempted to take them hostage

Who suffered most from the hyperinflation

People with savings
Pensioners
Middle class - fixed wages

Who did OK with the hyperinflation?

Rich people with assets(property)
Foreigners

What was the Munich Putsch?

Hitler and 600 SA burst into a speech by von Kahr, the leader of Bavaria, and forced him to support them.

Rohm and the SA took over the local police and army headquarters. Crucially, however, the main army barracks remained in the hands of army officers to the legal government. Ludendorff released Kahr, Seisser and Lossow. At 5.am. the next morning, 9 November, as Hitler and his supporters gathered to launch their attack on the streets of Munich, it became clear that the three Bavarian leaders had withdrawn their support and had decided to put down any uprising. Hitler had the support of almost 1,000 SA and they were bolstered (support) by about 2,000 "volunteer" supporters. Together Ludendorff, Hitler and Göring and their followers marched to the town centre to declare Hitler the President of Germany. Hitler assumed there would be support from the local people and officials. However, most remained indifferent and the army stayed loyal to the state government. Hitler lost. Ludendorff, Röhm and Streicher were all arrested. Göring went into hiding abroad. Hitler fled the scene in a car, then hid at the house of a friend, Ernst Hanfstaengl. He was later found in his wardrobe and arrested on 11 November.

What were the long term reasons for the Munich Putsch?

- "Stab in the back"
- Reparations
- Loss of Germany's colonies
- Resentment of the Weimar government, particularly by Bavarian government

What were the medium term reasons for the Munich Putsch?

Hitler was influenced by Mussolini's right-wing party In Italy - the Fascists. Mussolini marched on Rome in 1922, forcing the democratic government to accept him as a leader

What were the short term reasons for the Munich Putsch?

- hyperinflation
- French troops entered Ruhr 1923 and took over German businesses
- Hitler thought that he had support

Consequences of the Putsch

He was in prison and the NSDAP was banned, and the Putsch had failed miserably because of lack of support.
Positive consequences:
• Hitler used his trial to publicise his views.
• He used his time in prison to write Mein Kampf. This book became a bestseller when published - it outlined his political ideas and in particular his views
on Jews.
• The events of the Putsch made Hitler realise that the party needed to rethink its tactics and be more organised in order to win support nationally, using violence and force wasn't enough

Who was Gustav Stresemann?

Chancellor of Germany in 1923

Foreign Secretary : November 1923-October 1929

What were the measures to deal with hyperinflation?

Temporary currency: The Rentemark issued in limited amounts, restored the faith of the German people in the currency

When was the Rentenmark converted?

1924, into the Reichsmark, backed by gold reserves

What was the Dawes Plan?

a new system of war reparations for Germany, intended to ease the financial strain

What was the Young Plan?

Reduced reparations to 2.2 billion and gave Germany more time to pay them

What were the positives of the Young Plan?

Reduced reparations to 2.2 billion
Gave Germany more time to pay them
Lower reparations meant lower taxes for German people

Negatives of the Young Plan

There was a lot of opposition, especially from the extreme political parties, like the Nazis, who felt it was extending the burden for future generations

When did Germany join the League of Nations?

8th September 1926

How did German economy fair by 1928?

The industry had returned to pre-war levels

Germany signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact, along with 64 nations, agreeing to use "peaceful means" to solve disputes

Fall in support for extreme parties went from?

Nazi vote fell from 32 seats in May 1924 to 12 in May 1928

Unemployment increased by how much?

Reaching a peak of 10% in 1926

What did Stresseman say about Germany in 1929

The economic position is only flourishing on the surface. Germany is in fact dancing on a volcano"

Farmers experienced problems caused by what?

Debt and lack of investment

When did Germay sign the Locarno Pact?

1925

What was the Lorcano Pact?

Agreed the borders between France, Belgium and Germany and began a period of cooperation described as the "Lorcano honeymoon"

What class didn't fully recover from hyperinflation?

The lower middle class

What did Gustav Stresseman do?

Strengthened the confidence of the German people in the Weimar Republic

Reduced the support for extremist political parties ( Nazis and communists)

Increased support for moderate parties

Reduced the economic hardships of the German people

Why was the Lorcano Pact a success for Germany?

It improved relations with France with the border agreement

Increased the status and popularity of the Weimar Republic

Helped boost confidence in more moderate political parties

Why was the Kellogg- Briand Pact a success for Germany?

- it showed that Germany was once again a major power
- it showed that moderate political parties could build Germany's strength internationally
- it increased public confidence in how Germany was being led

Why was the League of Nations a success for Germany?

- showed that Germany's views counted
- boosted confidence in weimar government

Why did the Weimar Republic recover in the years 1924-9?

Politically -
Talented politician as chancellor foreign secretary
Had Hindenburg as president
Fall in support for Extremists

Economically-
End of hyperinflation
Negotiated Dawes Plan
Young Plan

Foreign Relations-
Locarno Treaty 1925
League of Nations 1926
Kellogg-Briand Act 1928

What were the three social changes in 1924-9?

Standard of living
Women
Culture

How did the standard of living change from 1924-9?

Increase in real wages of over 10%, making Germany's workers some of the best paid in Europe

Some of the middle classes were still struggling with the aftermath of hyperinflation. Unemployment remained high among professionals. In April 1928 almost 184,000 middle class workers were unemployed

Between 1924 and 1931 more than 2 million new homes were built. By 1929 the state was spending 33x more on housing than in 1913.

By 1928 homelessness had been reduced by more than 60%

How did the culture change from 1924-29?

Art changed ' Neue sauchlichkeit' (new objectivity)
'Bachaus' art and technology

Cinema introduced the first sci-fi film called metropolis (had an anti-war message)

Literature had writers from both the right and left

Critical of problems of government, including the defeat and hyperinflation
Night clubs in Berlin ( nudity, transvestism etc.)

How did the status of women change from 1924-9?

Employment of women didn't rise as a proportion, but growing numbers worked in the civil service, teaching or social work.

All women over 20 had the vote

By 1926 there were 32 women deputies in the Reichstag

Equality in education, civil service appointments ; equal pay in professions

Married women who worked continued to face criticism for neglecting their homes

Had social freedoms such as shorter hair or clothes

What were the racial purity points of the Twenty-Five Point Programme

The union of all Germans to form a Greater Germany

Citizenship of the state to be granted only to people of German blood. Therefore, no Jews was to be a citizen of the nation.

The right to vote in elections were only allowed to German citizens

Foreign nationals to be deported if it became impossible to feed the entire population

All non-Germans who entered the county after 1914 to leave

What were the key features of the Nazi Party by 1921?

Had its own newspaper : The people's observer
Fuhrerprinzip: The leader had absolute power and authority in the party

The SA ( Sturmabteilung), led by Ernst Rohm, became the private army of the Nazi Party

What was the SA used for?

To disrupt meetings of political opponents and to control crowds and any opposition to Hitler - often violently

What were the upper class afraid of by 1921?

The communists taking their money

When did Hitler join the DAP ( German Worker's Party)

September 1919

Who were the SA made up of?

Unemployed ex-soldiers

Why did the Munich Putsch take place in 1923?

Example of Italy: Hitler saw that Mussolini had the support of the regular army and knew that he would have to win over the Reichswehr if a march on Berlin took place.

Anger at the government- Hitler detested the Weimar Republic

Hitler believed he had support

What is a nationalist?

A person who wants their country to be stronger than ever

What was the plan for the Munich Putsch?

To stage a show of force at a political meeting held in a Munich beer Hall on 8 Nov 1923

Why did the Munich Putsch fail?

Kahr told the police about Hitler's plan and they were there in the day to meet him at the location in Munich and he and Ludendorff were arrested.


A lot of the people stayed loyal to the state government and didn't support Hitler

The three Bavarian leaders (Hess, Goering and Rohm) had withdrawn their support and had decided to put down any uprising

What were the good consequences of the Putsch for Hitler?

Used his trial to publicise his views

Wrote 'Mein Kampf'

Made him rethink his tactics of the Party and he became more organised

The ban on the Party was ineffective

The Nazi made a propaganda painting showing their victory against the army even though they had suffered a humiliating defeat

How did the Lean Years affect leadership?

1926- Bamberg Conference ; Hitler reasserted his authority

In Southern Germany, Nazi activists tended to focus on the nationalist aspects of policies, attacking Weimar and the Versailles Treaty as well as Jewish people

Ernst Röhm ( the leader of the SA) was opposed to Hitler's strategy of gaining power by legal means. In 1925, Hitler forced Röhm to resign and replaced him with Pfeffer Von Salomon, who was completely loyal to Hitler. He then created the new force SS. By 1930 there were around 3,000 troopers

How did the Lean Years affect ideologies?

Racism- The Aryans were the master race ( all other races were inferior)

'Mein Kampf' published in 1925 & 25 point programme

National Socialism ( Standing up for Germany)

How did the Lean Years affect supporters?

Anti-communist - Attracted some wealthy businessmen, who financed the party and help it fight elections

How did the Lean Years affect the Performance in elections?

May 1924: 32 Seats in Reichstag

May 1928: 12 Seats - due to the economy & political recovery under Stresseman

They had less than 30% of the vote

How did the Lean Years affect the Organisation?

They created branches all over Germany each ruled by a 'Gauleiter' ( Josef Goebbels and Strasser) ( especially important in the northen industrialised areas)

The party headquarters was based in Munich with Phillip Bouhler in charge of party organisation

How did the Depression affect Germany?

1.America's stock market collapsed in October 1929 ( Wall Street crash)

2. US banks recalled their loans from Germany- Banks failed. International trade began to contract, Germany's exports fell rapidly and businesses began to fail

3. Unemployment and poverty rose

4. More businesses failed

By 1932, unemployment stood at around 6 million, 40% of German workers

Who suffered from the Depression?

Businessmen

Young People ( In 1933 over half of all Germans between the ages of 16 and 30 were unemployed, 60% of new university graduates couldn't get a job)

Farmers

Factory Workers ( 40% of all factory workers were unemployed by 1932)

What was the social impact of the Depression?

Homelessness
Misery
Malnutrition
Poor health
Poor mental health
Rise in crime

What were the political impacts of the depression?

Divisions about how to deal with unemployment - Chancellor Muller resigned in March 1930 overputting up contributions to pay for unemployment benefit

Chancellor Bruning's policies were unpopular because he focused on raising taxes. He became known as the 'Hunger Chancellor'

What was the growth of the Communist party?

The largest Communist Party in Europe, gained 100 deputies in the November 1932 elections

Middle Class fear of the communists led many to turn to the Nazis instead

What was the growth in supports for the Nazis ( election results)?

May 1928: 12 Seats
September 1930 : 107 Setas
Presidential elections Spring 1932: Hitler came second to Hindenburg
July 1932: 230 Seats
November 1932: 196 Seats

What was the Propaganda techniques that Hitler used?

He told:
business people that he could solve the economic crisis

Working class people that he could give them work and food

Middle class people that he could protect them from the communists and return Germany to traditional values.

Young people to join him by providing something exciting for them to be part of

What was Hitler uber Deutschland?

A campaign to fly Hitler to rallies all over Germany during the presidential election

How did the depression help Hitler?

Hitler helped bring people out of Depression and with the Chancellor Muller resigning and the Chancellor Bruning's policies being unpopular people had to look at Hitler for hope

How did Hitler become Chancellor, 1932-33?

Brüning's loss of support

Hindrnburg replaced him with Papen

Political violence increased after Papen lifted ban on SA and SS

July 1932 elections ( 230 seats)

Hindenburg refused to appoint Hitler

No workable coalition (temporary alliance) government

New elections in November 1932 ( 196 seats, Nazi is starting to run out of money)

Papen replaced by Schleicher, who hoped to form a majority from both left- and right- wing parties

Papen plotted with Hitler, with powerful supporters, to thwart Schleicher

Papen convinced Hindenburg to make Hitler Chancellor so that they could control him and make Germany stable

(Hitler was easily able to persuade Papen)
(Papen and Hindenburg majorly underestimated Hitler)

Hitler became Chancellor of Germany on January 30 1933

What prevented Hitler from having total power influence?

Other politicians/ political parties (Reichstag)
Hindenburg
The church
Trade Unions (Protects the workers)
Newspapers
SA + Rohm

27 Feb 1933

Reichstag Fire

January 1933

March elections arrested Communist 'Emergency The Reichstag Hindenburg'

A communist called _____________________________________ was found inside

Marius Van der Lubbe

What did Hitler ask Hindenburg?

He convinced Hindenburg that the Communists were trying to take over, and to pass the 'Emergency Degree'

What did the Emergency Decree allow Hitler to do, and how did it later help him?

Banned freedoms of the press and speech and meant 4000 Communists were arrested. This helped Hitler to get more votes in the March elections as the opposition parties couldn't campaign properly, and the Communists were banned. Hitler then bullied and persuaded other politicians in the Centre and National Parties into passing the ENABLING ACT by 444 votes to 94

March 1933

Enabling Act passed