GER2 - Impact of Great Depression

Question 1

what was the effect on young people?

Answer 1

In 1933, more than 50% of people aged 16-39 were unemployed. Even people with good level of education couldn’t find work

Question 2

What was the effect on factory workers?

Answer 2

4/10 couldn’t get a job. They suffered because unemployment benefits were reduced by the government and since the food prices were high, they couldn’t afford to eat

Question 3

What was the effect on farmers?

Answer 3

Since the mid-1920s, the price of their goods was falling and this caused a lot of farmers to be in debt.

Question 4

What was the effect on businessmen?

Answer 4

People had less money to spend on goods due to unemployment and higher tax payment.

Question 5

Which political parties fell out due to the Great Depression?

Answer 5

The SDP and the Centre Party

Question 6

Why did German people suffer more with Bruning as the chancellor?

Answer 6

He made the tax higher and he introduced further cuts to unemployment benefits

Question 7

What were the consequences of Germans suffering more?

Answer 7

• This made many Germans turn to extreme political parties like the Nazi Party hoping for a solution
• The Nazis gave people scapegoats and claimed that Germany’s problems had been caused by Jews, Communists and Weimar politicians
• 1928 election, the Nazis won 12 seats → 1930 election, they won 107 seats

Question 8

What did Bruning do since he didn’t have the majority in the Reichstag?

Answer 8

He asked President Hindenburg to use Article 48 to make Germany no longer a democratic country