3.1 Summary

Question 1

When was the Wall Street Crash?

Answer 1

29th October 1929

Question 2

Name three reasons why the Great Depression affected Germany

Answer 2

1. US loans dried up
2. American banks that had leant short-term loans demanded immediate repayment
3. German economy entered a deep depression

Question 3

Between 1929 and 1932, Germany’s export trade declined by what %?

Answer 3

61%

Question 4

How far did Germany’s industrial production fall?

Answer 4

Fell by 58% of its 1928 level

Question 5

By 1932, what fraction of German workers were registered as unemployed?

Answer 5

1/3 of all German workers

Question 6

Name three groups that were hit badly by the Great Depression

Answer 6

1. Civil service
2. Farmers
3. Young people

Question 7

What limits to unemployment benefit were there?

Answer 7

1. The unemployed were only entitled to state benefits for a fixed period, after which they had to apply to local authorities for relief.
2. Local benefits were less generous and strictly means tested
3. Women received less benefit than men, young people less than adults

Question 8

Give three impacts the Great Depression had on Young people

Answer 8

1. High rate of unemployment. ex: In hamburg, 39% of 14-25 year old males were unemployed
2. Gangs of young men congregated in public spaces - caused alarm to older. middle class citizens
3. Youth involvement in crime was increasing

Question 9

What law was passed in response to complaints about ‘double earners’?

Answer 9

In may 1923, a law was passed that meant married civil servants were to be dismissed.

Extent of the law was limited to central government employees

Women could only be dismissed if their economic situation was secure

Reich Postal dismissed 1000 married women

Question 10

When did Muller’s coalition collapse?

Answer 10

March 1930

Question 11

Why did Muller’s coalition collapse?

Answer 11

The DVP, Right wing, wanted to reduce unemployment benefit, whilst the SPD wanted to protect the level of benefits and raise taxes. Government deadlocked and he resigned.

Question 12

Who replaced Muller as chancellor?

Answer 12

Heinrich Brüning, leader of the centre party

Question 13

Which two people influenced Hindenburg to make Bruning chancellor?

Answer 13

General Kurt Von Schleicher and General Groener

Question 14

Who was excluded from bruning’s coalition?

Answer 14

the SPD

Question 15

What happened to the state of Weimar democracy?

Answer 15

The exclusion of the SPD, the largest party, from the coalition meant that they didn’t have enough support in the Reichstag to pass laws. Governments had to rely on ruling from Presidential decree which meant democracy was dead

Question 16

Party and seats that in the September 1930 election

Answer 16

KPD- 77
SPD- 143
DDP - 20
Centre party - 68
DVP - 30
DNVP - 41
NSDAP -107

Question 17

How many people voted for the NSDAP?

Answer 17

In 1928 - 810,000 votes

1930 - nearly 6.5 million votes

Question 18

Which groups carried out political violence on the far right and far left?

Answer 18

Red-Front Frontier’s League - Paramilitary arm of the KPD

SA (stormtroopers) - Nazi party

Question 19

Name two measures enacted to address the violence in the Reichstag

Answer 19

1. Bruning issued a decree in Dec 1931 banning the wearing of political uniforms
2. April 1932, Hindenburg was persuaded to sign a decree outlawing the SA

Question 20

How did the Nazi party disrupt the Reichstag?

Answer 20

Chanting, shouting and interrupting