Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39

The Weimar Republic 1918–29

The origins of the Republic, 1918–19

  • Situation at the end of the War:
    • Political unrest was widespread in Germany.
    • The Kaiser abdicated.
    • An armistice was signed, leading to the establishment of a new republic.
  • Strengths and Weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution:
    • Details regarding the specific strengths and weaknesses would be elaborated upon.

The early challenges to the Weimar Republic, 1919–23

  • Reasons for early unpopularity:
    • The ‘stab in the back’ theory: widespread belief that Germany didn't lose the war militarily, but was betrayed by politicians.
    • Key terms of the Treaty of Versailles: harsh penalties and territorial losses imposed on Germany.
  • Challenges from Left and Right:
    • Spartacists: a left-wing revolutionary group.
    • Freikorps: right-wing paramilitary groups.
    • Kapp Putsch: an attempted right-wing coup.
  • The challenges of 1923:
    • Hyperinflation: extreme and rapid increase in prices.
    • Reasons for and effects of the French occupation of the Ruhr: France occupied the Ruhr region due to Germany's failure to pay reparations, leading to economic disruption.

The ‘Golden Years’: recovery of the Republic, 1924–29

  • Reasons for economic recovery:
    • Work of Stresemann: Gustav Stresemann's policies helped stabilize the economy.
    • Rentenmark: a temporary currency introduced to combat hyperinflation.
    • Dawes and Young Plans: plans to restructure Germany's reparation payments.
    • American loans and investment: influx of capital from the United States.
  • Stresemann’s achievements in gaining international acceptance:
    • Locarno Pact: a series of agreements to secure post-war territorial settlements.
    • Joining the League of Nations: Germany was admitted to the League of Nations, signaling its reintegration into the international community.

Changes in society, 1924–29

  • Changes in the standard of living:
  • Changes in the position of women:
    • In work, politics, and leisure.
  • Cultural changes:
    • Developments in architecture, art, and the cinema.

Hitler’s rise to power, 1919–33

Early development of the Nazi Party, 1920–22

  • Hitler’s early career:
    • Joining the German Workers’ Party and setting up the Nazi Party, 1919–20.
  • The Twenty-Five Point Programme
  • The role of the SA:

The Munich Putsch and the Nazi Party, 1923–28

  • Reasons for, events, and consequences of the Munich Putsch; Mein Kampf.
  • Reasons for limited support for the Nazi Party, 1924–28. Party reorganisation, including the Bamberg Conference of 1926.

The growth in support for the Nazis, 1929–32

  • The growth of unemployment – its causes and impact. The growth of support for the Communist Party.
  • Reasons for the growth in support for the Nazi Party, including the appeal of Hitler and the Nazis, the effects of propaganda, and the work of the SA.

How Hitler became Chancellor, 1932–33

  • The Presidential and Reichstag elections of 1932; reasons for Hitler becoming Chancellor in 1933, including the roles of Hindenburg and von Papen.

Nazi control and dictatorship, 1933–39

The creation of a dictatorship, 1933–34

  • The Reichstag Fire. The Enabling Act and the banning of other parties and trade unions.
  • The threat from Röhm and the SA, the Night of the Long Knives. The death of Hindenburg. Hitler becomes Führer, the army oath of allegiance.

The police state

  • The role of the Gestapo, the SS, and concentration camps.
  • Nazi control of the legal system.

Controlling and influencing attitudes

  • Goebbels and the Ministry of Propaganda: censorship, Nazi use of media, rallies, and sport, including the Berlin Olympics (1936).
  • Nazi control of culture and the arts, including art, architecture, literature, and film.
  • Nazi attempts to control the Catholic and Protestant Churches: the Concordat and the Reich Church.

Opposition, resistance, and conformity

  • The extent of support for the Nazi regime.
  • Opposition from the Churches, including the role of Pastor Niemöller.
  • Opposition from the young, including the Swing Youth and the Edelweiss Pirates.

Life in Nazi Germany, 1933–39

Nazi policies towards women

  • Nazi views on women and the family.
  • Nazi policies towards women, including marriage and family, employment, and appearance.

Nazi policies towards the young

  • Nazi aims and policies towards the young. The Hitler Youth and the League of German Maidens.
  • Nazi control of the young through education, including the curriculum and teachers.

Employment and living standards

  • Nazi policies to reduce unemployment: labor service, autobahns, rearmament, and invisible unemployment.
  • Changes in the standard of living, especially of German workers. The Labour Front, Strength Through Joy, Beauty of Labour.

The persecution of minorities

  • Nazi racial beliefs and policies and the treatment of minority groups: Slavs, Roma and Sinti, homosexuals, and people with disabilities.
  • The persecution of Jewish people, including the boycott of Jewish shops and businesses (1933), the Nuremberg Laws, and 'Kristallnacht'.