Collapse of the Weimar Republic, 1929-1933. Flashcards
Economic Depression- 5 Main effects
Unemployment
- 1932, 6 million
- 1933, 1 in 3 ppl
Falling Prices
-Bankrupt businesses, especially Farmers.
Collapse of Foreign Trade
-Most countries failed to afford it, not just Germany.
Lack of Gov. Funding
-Couldn’t print money due to Dawes and Young plan preventative measures and fear of Hyperinflation.
Reduction in Public Spending
- Less spent on infrastructure
- 1/3 reduction in War pensions
Economic Depression- 4 Main Solutions
- Welfare cuts
- Raise taxes
- Stop paying reparations
- Protectionism
Decisions stalled due to coalition
Protectionism- Definition, Advantages, and Disadvantages.
Restriction of imports, especially those that are cheaper abroad.
+German companies could retain more staff
+Effects of Depression mildly alleviated
-Other countries did the same, Germany’s exports therefore suffered.
-Germans had to pay higher prices, upset voters.
Chancellor Muller’s approach?
1929
-welfare cuts (‘28-‘33 war pensions cut by 1/3).
1930
- Sought Article 48 to solve disputes between coalition government.
- Hindenburg refused, Muller forced to resign in March.
Bruning’s solutions (?) to the Depression
1930
-Finance Bill is rejected by RS so uses A.48 to enforce it.
1931
-Reparation payments suspended for a year.
-cut wages of civil servants
1932
-Started Public Works Schemes
-Worked with Von Papen on Land Reforms (led to his dismissal)
Voter’s response to Depression
(July 1928 –> Dec. 1932)
- 1.25 mill unemployed –> 5.75 million
- 1 mill Nazi votes –> 11 million
- 3.2 mill KPD votes –> 6 million
Bruning’s (z) Chancellorship beginnings
1930
March- Von Schleicher recommends him to Hindenburg
July- Proposes Reichstag re-elections
Sept.- Lost votes in Re-election, use of A.48 increases, 800 million withdrawn by foreign investors.
1932
April- Banned SA & refused to work w/ Nazis
May- Forced to resign by Hindenburg (+ Von Schleicher)
September 1930 Reichstag Election Results
NSDAP 3% - 18%
KPD 10% - 13%
Z 12.1% - 11.8%
Views on Bruning’s Chancellorship
+ Feuchtwanger- Last defender of German democracy, no alternative to his policies
- Mommsen- Helped Hitler achieve power by introducing the concept of ruling by decree.
- Evans- “Bruning thus began the dismantling of democratic and civil freedoms that was to be pursued with so much vigour under the Nazis.”
March 1933 Election Results
Nazi- 44%
SPD- 18%
KPD- 12%
Z - 11.25%
Nazi party membership
1930- 130,000
Jan ‘33- 850,000
1935- 2,500,000
1943- 6,500,000
Nazi demographics
Mainly middle-class (55%)
Mostly protestant
Younger (61% aged 18-30)
Women more likely than men
Franz Von Papen- Mistakes and weaknesses
May - Nov ‘32
- Didn’t support genuine democracy
- ‘Cabinet of barons,’ no RS members
- Little RS support
- Relied on A.48
- Overturned Bruning’s ban on SA
- JULY ‘32, wanted to dismiss RS and ban new elections, led to his dismissal (Von Schleicher.)
Franz Von Papen- Intrigue
- JAN ‘33, deal w/ Hitler to become VC.
- Persuaded Hindenburg to dismiss VS and appoint Hitler, believing he could control him.
- “we’ve hired him!”
General Kurt Von Schleicher- Mistakes and Weaknesses
- Nazis wanted to suspend RS in Jan ‘33 until a budget could be produced in Spring. Schleicher wanted a shorter recess & earlier elections but Hindenburg refused.
- Before the elections Schleicher implemented a public works scheme but lost and so positive effects attributed to Nazis.
