tableau

Social

Political

Economic

Leadership

WW1

Social Unrest - Families had lost loved ones, veterans returned from war scarred and traumatised. 2 million soldiers had been killed in WW1. The idea of "Dolchstosslegende" took popularity, as many Germans believe they had been 'stabbed in the back' with the signing of the armistice on the 11th of November, 1918.

Class Tensions, in which the working class had been overworked and were uprising. This is seen with the Spartacist Uprising in 1919, in which communists sought to overtake the government. Workers faced lower wages and longer working hours for the war effort.

Prices for products increased by 300% during the war, and so it was harder to have a substantial standard of living.

With the declaration of a democracy, many would express discontent.

With the armistice, democracy would be declared to now rule over Germany. The Kaiser would be forced to flee, and so the SPD would implement democracy and lead Germany into becoming a republic. This, ofcourse, would lead to great changes.

Instability would come forth. The government would face much attacks against them, and were mostly vulnerable to these acts. Communists wanted a Marxist state, extremists still wanted the autocracy that had dominated Germany since its creation, and so political instability would follow the new government until 1933. In the 1920 election, the KPD got 20% of the vote, and the DNVP got 15%.

This did not help with the idea that many saw it as 'illegitimate' and refused its policies.

Lastly, the Treaty of Versailles would be introduced, and Germany would sign it in June of 1919, taking away much of their materials, their power and economic wealth. The army was decreased to 100,000 men, with their navy and air force banned. Territory loss was also prevalent.

During WW1, an extra 1.5 million were employed to manage the war efforts.

By the end of the war, Germany was faced with 400 billion (in today's USD) to pay off in reparations. Germany would crash economically and would lose most of its trading routes/partners with the blocking by the British navy.

Signs that Germany's economy was even weak during WW1 include the rationing between 1914 - 1918. Inflation was up by 400%. By the end of the war, its production levels were only 50% of its pre-war counterpart. This was why Germany had to sign out of the war.

Germany had been one of the world's greatest economic powers, and so its downfall was evident.

Unemployment was also apparent after WW1. 11 million men had been apart of the army, and so faced unemployment when they had returned home.

Leadership during WW1 usually refers to the decisions of Hindenburg and Ludendorff.

Although they would push through most of the battles during the war, they significantly decreased the standard of living for Germans back at home.

They employed a 'total war' strategy. Many civilians would be malnourished as there was severe food shortages.

Their leadership also promoted militarian authority, asserting more control over Germany than the politicians.

Ultimately, their strong and relentless pursuit to win the war only led to social unrest and no way to back out. Unwilling the allow for their weaknesses to shine through to the German peoples after realising their oncoming loss, they would instead shift the blame onto the politicians to uphold the glory of the army. This would commence the "Dolchstosslegende" myth.

TOV / The Weimar Republic

Germany ultimately had no choice whether or not they were to sign the armistice, as Allied Powers threatened them with war if they were to not follow all of Wilson's 14 points.

“Dolchstosslegende”, in which Germans felt ‘stabbed in the back’.

Many grew angry at the Allied Powers for enforcing such strict policies on Germany. The stab-in-the-back myth would correlate to increased anti-semitic, anti-communist and extremist-nationalist views. Most politicians were seen as Jews.

Many were displaced due to land divisions concerning once German territory. Many Germans were now apart of Poland or Czechoslovakia and other new, founded nations. Germany lost 13% of its land.

The Friekorps would be formed after the army was reduced to 100,000 men. Soldiers whom would still be apart of the army, even after the reduction, would refuse to fight their unemployed comrades, and so with the Kapp Putsch in March of 1920, the government would be vulnerable to the attack.

Article 231, the "war-guilt" clause. In which Germany had to accept full responsibility for the war.

Many politicians would be referred to as "November Criminals", and were blamed for signing the armistice for 'no good reason'.

Germany was not allowed to unite with Austria (Anchsluss) to be kept weak. Hurt German pride.

The Treaty of Versailles would be introduced, and Germany would sign it in June of 1919, taking away much of their materials, their power and economic wealth. The army was decreased to 100,000 men, with their navy and air force banned. Territory loss was also prevalent.

With the Treaty of Versailles came the Weimar Republic. Wilson in his 14 points insisted that Germany were to come together to form a democracy. This leaded to great political instability as Germany shifted from an autocracy to being a democratic republic. The SPD would be the first majority to take control of the government.

The government would prove to be weak, and would resort to extremist parties to defend against the other, seen with the Spartacist uprising and the Kapp Putsch.

Concerning the other terms of the treaty, the German army was to be reduced to only 100,000 men. This was a stark contrast to its 11 million men serving during WW1. The navy was also to be declined in power and an airforce was prevented from existing any longer. Territory loss followed. They were prevented from producing any serious warfare weapons as well.

Besides this, foreign relations would be broken due to WW1.

The Weimar Republic would be constructed to follow under the rule of the President, in which he possessed Article 48. Article 48 would allow for the implementation of policies without discussion from the Reichstag or Reichsrat. This would already serve to convey the lack of legitimacy for an actual democracy.

Proportional Representation was also a critical point of operation in the Republic, yet was also one of its flaws. It made it so that decisions were hard to come by.

30 - 40 political parties would have seats in the Reichstag, and so most of the time, the actual Reichstag would be divided. Coalition governments would be formed, but most of the parties that resided within it were of opposite beliefs, and would ultimately clash.

The Treaty of Versailles, ofcourse, took away vast amounts of land, and so Germany would lose most of its industrial sites like the Rhineland.

Due to land loss, Germany would lose 75% of its iron ore and 15% of fertile land for agriculture.

Germany would face debts of $32 billion USD (in monies in 1918).

Due to the restrictions on the army, companies that specialised in warfare production were wiped out or had to change their business ideas. Examples of this were Mercedes and BMV, in which they changed their production from air navigation to cars.

Germany's GDP in 1919 was only 73% of what it was in 1913.
Germany's debt-to-GDP ratio was 300%.

German banks would begin to print excess money in order to stimulate more growth. This did work for awhile, and unemployment fell from one million persons to 500,000 in the summer (June - August) of 1919.

In 1923, when Germany failed to supply the certain reparations needed for that time of the month, French and Belgian troops would invade the Ruhr, the last little area of industrial production occupied by Germany. This would lead to further inflation, as the government had to pay workers whom were not even working, but striking.

Friedrich Ebert, the first president of the Weimar Republic, was seen as more docile than other socialist members, and sought to fully implement democracy.

He would ultimately encourage both radical sides unintentionally, bashing against the Spartacist uprising, then later calling on them to aid him with the Kapp Putsch in 1920. He united himself with both socialists/communists, as well as militarists and nationalists.

It was him who would lead Germany to democracy, first establishing it days before the declaration of the armistice. And he would be a key part of creating the Weimar Constitution in August of 1919, writing the laws and nature of the Weimar Republic.

He would support trade unions form an early age, and so this would be echoed throughout the Republic, and certainly later on when Germany began to receive the financial support they needed to produce a 'welfare state'.

'Law on the organisation fo Labour', in which trade unions were encouraged.

He also reduced work days to 8 hours maximum.

Hyperinflation

Hyperinflation would be caused by the invasion of the Ruhr, and although not specifically a social problem, workers would go on strike for 8 months and refuse to work, which, did work. Support for the working class would begin due to hyperinflation. The protests of workers would lead to the increase in support for the Communist Party in Germany.

Here, the middle class began to suffer, as their savings were dried out / became worthless.

Extremist values would increase, although they had already been previously high.

Pensions would be ultimately worthless as inflation skyrocketed.

Only farmers and businessmen could profit off of hyperinflation: prices rose, businesses could pay off their loans.

Poorer relationships with Allied Powers for the lack of reparations.

The allowance for workers to strike was on the behalf of the government, of which did not want France to get its way with the Ruhr.

The KPD would gain more support. 10.5% to 12.6% in the 1924 elections. The more extremist parties would all see a share in support.

The Munich Putsch would occur on November 8th-9th, 1923, Hitler seizing opportunity to attempt to gain control over the Bavarian Government during the crisis of hyperinflation. He would get away mostly with treason, as the judiciary was mostly right-winged and supportive of Hitler's proposed policies.

What would get Germany out of hyperinflation though, was Gustav Stresemann, whom was Chancellor in 1923, representing the DNVP. He would focus more on foreign affairs (later becoming foreign minister in 1924), and bettering relationships with the Allied Powers.

With Stresemann, he would cease passive resistance in the Ruhr and begin to cooperate with the French authorities. He would scrap the old German currency and introduce the Rentemark, which allowed Germany to restart. Due to this, the Dawes' Plan would be introduced in April of 1924, and although he was no longer in office, he is still highly credited for this revelation. The creation of the Dawes' Plan would signify greater relations with the Allies, especially the United States.

The printing of extra money would lead to hyperinflation, in which workers in the Ruhr were not working (this was a total of 8 months), but getting paid anyway, and so the government was not adequately receiving funds back. Prices for items would rise to such extremities that a piece of bread was worth 250 billion marks, when usually it had only cost 250 marks. A single, US dollar, was worth 4.2 trillion marks.

Germany was unable to pay their reparations on-time, and so this would occur. With the invadement of the Ruhr, one of their last industrial sites would be taken away from them.

Unemployment would increase from 2% to 23%.

With the Dawes' Plan, Germany's financial burdens would finally start to ease. Payments began at only 1 billion marks in 1925, but would rise to 2.5 billion by 1928.

Modernism / German Golden Age / Impacts of the Dawes' Plan

Modernism, culture becoming more experimental.

New art,

music,

film, - 'Nosferatu' and 'Metropolis'.

architecture,

Literature, - 'All Quiet on the Western Front'. Franz Kafka.

and science advancements. Radio invented, motor industry expanded, Graf Zeppelin constructed in 1928.

Most educated population in Europe. 7 Nobel prizes awarded to Germans during Weimar Era.

Censorship would begin to occur in the 1920s though, silencing some expressionist pieces in order to 'preserve the youth' ?

Less extremist views as the republic becomes more favourable and legitimate with the people. By 1928, Nazi votes were only at 2.6%.

Some antisemitism would further arise apart from the 'November Criminals' conspiracy. Many department stores in Germany were owned by Jews. Many shopkeepers, artisans, and small businesses would struggle in supporting themselves due to these department stores.

Women would also excel during the German Golden Age:

35% of the workforce was women. They would have more freedoms. Although, stigma was likely still evident during the Golden Age.

Germany would see the Republic as far more legitimate, as their problems with the government, economy, and society seemed to be improving. But the German peoples would also acquire greater nationalistic values as Hindenburg came to power. He became a symbol of the Republic, which allowed for some to more willingly accept Weimar Germany.

Despite how positive it may have looked in the Golden Age of Germany, many experienced fears of losing their jobs. Job security was a worry due to rising taxes, which promoted businesses to cut workers.

Farmers and the middle class also struggled to support the Republic, as they were not adequately helped.

Germany more willing to support the Republic:

Largest paramilitary group would have 3 million members (SPD), which showed the dedication to protecting the republic and more socialist, democratic views in the nation.

Hindenburg would be elected president in 1925 after the death of Friedrich Ebert. Although he did not like or want to be President, he was elected anyway, and made significant changes (most likely due to influence which he fell victim to due to his old age). He would utilise Article 48 significantly and frequently. His lack of support for democracy would ultimately undermine the Republic.

Support from farmers and the middle class would shift towards the NSDAP, as they were neglected during this time.

Germany would join the League of Nations in 1926, being invited and the Republic ecstatic to join. The german population was not, though. This would further strengthen tensions between Germany and the Allied Powers.

Locarno Treaty in 1925, which guaranteed Germany's western borders.

Germany would become one of the first 'welfare states', in which they prioritised the working class and supporting them. This would, in turn, lead to more support for the parties in coalition, specifically the SPD. In 1928, it gained a vote of 29.8%.

Unemployment Insurance Act - covered / aided 17 million working-class Germans.

Although Germany was being supported by foreign loans, it made them vulnerable.

The Young Plan would further aid in Germany paying its reparations.

Germany's Golden Age was a time of great economic prosperity. This is firstly shown by how the German workforce, even after a time of economic instability, would have the highest wages in Europe. Their incomes would increase by 45%.

By 1924, $25 billion USD had been invested into the economy by foreign figures.
Homelessness would be reduced by 60% in 1928.

And so, Germany's GDP would be 25% higher than it was in 1925, and its production would be greater than it was before the war.

3 million still unemployed in 1925 despite economic growth. This would be due to the introduction of assembly lines, in which less workers were needed for production.

Farmers and the middle class would struggle. Farmer prices would begin to decline, and farmer taxes would increase by 37%, while their incomes had only risen by 4.5%. Many middle-class Germans would become unemployed, losing their savings due to hyperinflation in which made their savings worthless. Around 184,000 middle class Germans would be unemployed during the German Golden Age.

Small businesses would also struggle though, as department stores took most of the consumer response.

Ultimately, all German prosperity came from the foreign loans that it would receive from America. Ofcourse, this was great, but it left Germany vulnerable. As Stresemann stated,

“If a crisis ever hits us and america withdraws their short-term credits we would be bankrupt.”

Great Depression & Brüning's policies

Once the Great Depression had hit, many would face unemployment and restlessness. Jobs became scarce and many were displaced, which led to despair and gravitation towards extremist parties.

As Bruning implemented his (horrific) policies, this worsened.

The working class would revolt against the government with their ideologies and strive to get the KPD or the NSDAP elected. When unemployment benefit was cut, this made matters worse. The KPD would have 5 million supporters by the time of the march, 1933 elections.

Farmers and the middle class had already been disappointed, and so were already supporting either conservative parties or the NSDAP. The NSDAP had taken the time to go out and talk to the people in rural areas, unlike other political parties.

Businesses did not tolerate the increase in taxes.

And so, the KPD and the NSDAP seemed more desirable to many. In 1930, their votes were 13.1% and 18.3% respectively.

31.5% of Nazi supporters were of the working class, and 45.3% of Nazi supporters reigned from the middle class.

Political instability would prevail over the Reichstag. Parties would split with their beliefs. The SPD wanted to continue with the 'welfare state', while other conservative parties would have aimed to increase taxes. In the end, the government, run by Muller in 1930, collapsed, and new elections had to be called.

The beginning of the true decline of democracy in Germany was with the absurd amount of times that Hindenburg would use Article 48.
Hindenburg would appoint Bruning as chancellor, although Bruning did not have majority support. Bruning's economic policies would also lead to further destruction of the nation, and support for the KPD and NSDAP increased significantly.

And so, the KPD and the NSDAP seemed more desirable to many. In 1930, their votes were 13.1% and 18.3% respectively.

It was the Great Depression that pulled the trigger, resulting in the NSDAP's rise to power. Von Papen would be elected as Hindenburg feared Bruning was becoming a 'socialist', as the SPD was the only party willing to get behind Bruning due to fear of the NSDAP.

Another factor was also the political violence that occurred during the July, 1932 elections, all of which were NSDAP doing. 72 deaths would be recorded and 497 injuries, all of SPD or KPD members.

Ultimately, von Papen's chancellorship would convince Hindenburg that it would be safe to give Hitler the chancellor role.

The wall street crash of October, 1929, would prove to be fatal for the German economy. Germany's vulnerable that it had endured with foreign investment would come to light as the United States pulled the plug and discontinued supported Germany financially, resulting in dire economic conditions.

40% of factory workers unemployed by 1933.

Production decrease from 1928 to 1932 was 40%.

15% went without any economic assistance, and 55% received inadequate funds.

At its peak, unemployment would be at 6 million between 1932 and 1933. half of the youth of Germany would be unemployed.

There would be large wage cuts, as well as an increase in taxes with Bruning's policies. Due to this, 50,000 businesses would be wiped out, and Germany's largest bank would be shut down. The cost of living would increase significantly with this.

Despite the reparation payments finally being dismissed in july of 1932, the Republic would still continue to struggle.

Rise of the NSDAP

During the 1930s, society would be changed with the rise of the NSDAP. All of this shit btw contributes to the idea of the Volksgemeinschaft.

Here were the Nazi values/ideas, communicated through Mein Kampf and Hitler's 25 points:

Lebensraum: take back the land and population they lost. Increase 'living space' for the German population.

Fuhrerprinzip: having a strong leader to lead the nation. They encouraged this as decisions could be made and nationalism would increase.

• Hitler would be that leader, having speeches and rallies and propaganda surrounding the German nation at all times.

• The

• With the Enabling Act, all political parties were eliminated, so Hitler could make any decisions he wanted.

Nationalism: their nationalism is shown through their racism and their ideas of invading other countries, all to benefit the German nation and its people. This can also be known as Volksgemeinschaft, working for the community rather for oneself.

• Anti-communism: Hitler believed in a communist conspiracy. He would remove the KPD from elections, and create fear within the German populations of the communists with the Reichstag fire in  Feburary of 1933.

• Social Darwinism / Eugenics - Hitler believed in the Aryan race being the most advanced / superior race. He wanted to eliminate those not 'beneficial' to the regime.

• Antisemitism - Germany already had begun becoming antisemitic, but Hitler allowed for their animosity to fluorish and become public. Concentration camps would begun to be set up, not just for Jews but also Romani peoples, homosexuals, communists and socialists, and those not up-to par with German 'standards'.

• Women's roles - women were sent back to their homes and persuaded not to work. Quotas were put on universities so they couldn't get a higher education than they were given.  Marriage rates would increase by 20% due to marriage incentives and from staying at home. Despite this, women working in Germany would increase by 2.4 million. The Mother's Cross was also an encouragement from the Party to bear many children, but the birth rates would, on average, increase from 1 to 2 children in the household (so, not much). Abortions were also rarely given out, unless the women was not German.

• Indoctrinating the Youth: the Hitler Youth would be introduced before the rise of the party, but would become compulsory by 1936. 77.2% of the youth would be in the Hitler Youth, and became obsessed with being glorified through war.

The Nazi Party wanted all to unite together in the promise of a revolution, which they would see as Germany advocated for invading. And despite the support of the German Peoples, the Germans lived in fear and hatred of others.

There was some backlash though, in which some opposition groups would take a stand against the Nazi Regime.

The rise of the NSDAP led to a plethora of political changes, through laws that they would introduce, all of which linked back to Nazi ideology.

The first of their changes was with the Reichstag fire of Feburary of 1933, in which the "Decree for the Protection of the People" was declared, which restricted the rights and freedoms of the Germans temporarily. 

The "Enabling" Act would come shortly after the day of Potsdam in March of 1933, in which allowed for the Chancellor to act independent of the Reichstag. All political parties would be eliminated, and so in the 1933 elections in November, only the Nazi Party would be able to receive votes. They earned all 661 seats in the Reichstag.

Here is where they introduced a shit ton of laws, that I have generously categorised just for you:

Antisemitism / Nationalism:

• April, 1933. Law for the restoration of the professional civil service. Prevented jewish civil servants from working.

• 1933, law against overcrowding of german schools. 

• September, 1935. Nuremburg laws - Law for the protection of german blood and honour, and Reich citizenship law. 

• 1933, hereditary farm law. 

• Would be banned from driving.

• August, 1938. Law on the alteration of family and personal names.  

• October, 1938. Decree on passports of jews. 

Fuhrerprinzip:

• April, 1933. law for the coordination of the states with the reich. Members of the nazi party in all state parliaments. 

• July, 1933, all political parties abolished. 

Volksgemeinschaft:

• May, 1933, trade unions abolished (German labour front replaced it). 

• October, 1933. the editorial law - journalists had to be registered and follow gov policy. 

• 1933, Reich picture motion law. All filmmakers forced to join.

• June, 1934. Law for the promotion of marriage. 

• 1935, reich labour service. Compulsory labour for six months, aged 15 - 18 (males). 

Eugenics / Social Darwinism:

• July, 1933. the prevention of offspring with hereditary diseases. 

• 1935, Law for the protection of the hereditary health of the german nation.

• 1936, hitler youth becomes compulsory aged 14 - 18. 

BY changing the management of the economic state of Germany was not to increase wages and improve standards of living, but was for the benefit of the state (aka, war shit).

Conditions during the Nazi Regime would improve dramatically, especially within the economy.

Hjalmar Schacht would be an economist that would significantly improve economic conditions within the Regime.

Businesses would profit greatly as trade unions were abolished. Instead, the German labour front would be created.

Wages, though, would drop by 25% between 1933 and 1938.

Law for the Promotion of Marriage in 1933 - supported families by giving them three quarters of a salary if parents were married.

Germany would orchestrate alternatives to some products in which Germany could not provide itself, reducing the amount of imports. This was not so effective though, as shown by how it imported 33% of its raw materials and 20% of food by 1939.

Unemployment would be so low that Germany would experience labour shortages. This was due to the so-called RAD programs, the 'National Labour Service', in which unemployed Germans would be sent out to public works programs, construction areas, or areas in need of agricultural labour. By 1936, two million Germans were working in these works programs. Also, he would expand the army to 550,000 men in 1935.

Lebensraum:

• Four Year Plan: immobilise the army by 1940. Started in 1936.

• 65% of industrial investment poured into war-related efforts, and 55% of spending was on military forces.

Volksgemeinschaft:

• Ways to increase productivity within the Nazi Regime:

  • The Beauty of Labour - 1933. To create better working environments.

  • Strength Through Joy. Leisure activities.

Antisemitism:

• Boycotting of Jewish businesses, April 1933.

• Jewish doctors unable to work on German patients.

• Jewish civil servants and laywers dismissed.

• Jewish businesses had to be registered.

• 1938: Kristallnacht - 7000 Jewish shops and businesses destroyed.

• All Jewish people were excluded from economic life.

Appeasement

The German population would support Hitler's foreign moves and gaining back the Ruhr, uniting with Austria, invading Czechoslovakia. A strong sense of nationalism prevailed.

Germany would leave the League of Nations in 1933, symbolising their distaste

for the Allied Powers due to the Treaty of Versailles.

The Non-Agression Pact between Germany and Poland would be signed in 1934, but would later be disregarded.

Hitler would announce the process of rearmement in 1935.

The Rhineland would be reoccupied by German troops in 1936, and the lack of retaliation proved to the Nazi Party that the Allied Powers were following a policy of appeasement.

In 1938, the Anschluss mentioned in the Treaty of Versailles would occur, and so Germany and Austraia would be united. Germany would also invade Czechoslovakia in 1938, later fully incoporating it past the Sudentenland in 1939.

The Soviet-German non-agression pact would be signed in 1939, and both would agree to invade Poland from both sides.

On September 1st of 1939, Poland would be invaded, and the policy of appeasement would cease as Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later.

As the Allied Powers attempted to please Hitler, would there also be some economic growth in store for Germany.

• Anglo German Naval Treaty - 1935: German navy was finally unbanned, which means exports would become more evident.

• Reoccupation of the Rhineland in 1936.

MEFO bills: is what basically allowed them to rearm, as they could really not afford it.

WW2

Women would be sent back to the workplace environment as men were sent off to war. By WW2, more than 11,500,000 women were employed in the workforce.

Nationalistic views still strong. Helping with the war efforts dominated the German Nation. It, at first, united the German nation, but would later lead to suffering.

Many whom had been invaded and now were apart of the regime were stricken with confusion and a loss of identity.

During WW2, extermination camps would be set up. 6 of the 9 million Jews across Europe would be killed.

200,000 Romanis would also be killed in Europe.

Through the Nazi Regime would the NSDAP finally gain true power and, for awhile, have victory over the war, until they didn't.

Germany's GDP would plummet down between 1944 - 1945. But before this, its GDP was steadily increasing.

Food would become far more scarce.

Slavery was common and was employed by the Nazi Regime, having 7.1 million slave labourers by 1944 (which consisted POWs and racial enemies).

THE PROBLEM

The Reparations that Germany had to pay off due to the war were the main cause. Germany was ultimately making enough profit, yet their profit was hogged by the Allied Powers, which would never allow them to recover during the Weimar Republic, nor the Nazi Regime.