3.3 Summary

Question 1

Between what dates was Bruning’s coalition in government?

Answer 1

March 1930 until May 1932

Question 2

The support of which two people was needed for Bruning to stay in power?

Answer 2

Hindenburg and Schleicher

Question 3

What was Bruning unfortunate nickname?

Answer 3

Hunger chancellor

Question 4

Why did Bruning gain the name ‘hunger chancellor’?

Answer 4

He wanted to reduce state expenditure by cutting welfare benefits, reducing the number of civil servants and cutting wages

Question 5

Who did Bruning ban in April 1932?

Answer 5

Bruning imposed a ban on the Nazi SA

Question 6

As support for Bruning disappeared, what was Hitler’s demand?

Answer 6

Hitler agree not to oppose a new government, on condition that there would be a new Reichstag election and that the ban on the SA would be lifted

Question 7

When did Papen replace Bruning as chancellor?

Answer 7

May 1932

Question 8

What was Papen’s cabinet known as?

Answer 8

‘cabinet of barons’

Question 9

What did Papen do in June 1932 and what did it lead to?

Answer 9

He lifted the ban on the SA and imposed curbs on the left-wing press.

This resulted in a new wave of street violence, especially during the Reichstag election campaign of July 1932, which gave Papen an excuse to impose authoritarian rule in Prussia.

Question 10

In which state did Papen dismiss the government?

Answer 10

Prussia

Question 11

July 1932 election

Answer 11

SPD. NSDAP. KPD

SEATS 133. 230. 89

% OF VOTE. 21.6. 37.3. 14.3

Question 12

Which two groups were the nazis particularly popular with in this election?

Answer 12

1. middle class voters

2. many of the unemployed

Question 13

What was the result of the vote of no confidence in Papen that followed the election?

Answer 13

• vote of no confidence was passed by the massive majority of 512 votes to 42
• Papen’s position weakened and he was forced to ask Hindenburg to dissolve the Reichstag and call a new election in November

Question 14

November 1932

Answer 14

PARTY. SEATS. % OF VOTES
KPD. 100. 16.9
SPD. 121. 20.4
DDP. 2. 1.0
CENTRE. 70. 11.9
DVP. 11. 1.9
DNVP. 52. 8.9
NSDAP. 196. 33.1

Question 15

Give two reasons why support for Nazis declined?

Answer 15

1. Many middle-class voters had been alienated by Hitler’s attacks on Papen and by his refusal to join a coalition government
2. The Nazis had supported a communist-led transport strike in Berlin during the election campaign also damaged the party in the eyes of the middle-class voters who were terrified of a communist revolution

Question 16

Why did Papen ultimately resign?

Answer 16

• He was beginning to lose credibility in the eyes of the army
• Papen considered banning the Nazis and the communists, and using the army to enforce an authoritarian style of government
• Schleicher told Papen that the army would not support him, he had no alternative but to resign

Question 17

Which three men were members of Hindenburg’s inner circle?

Answer 17

1. Kurt Von Schleicher (since 1926 had been political head of the army) ( and since 1929 he had been the head of the Ministerial Office)
2. Oskar von Hindeburg (President’s son, another key army officer with links to Schleicher)
3. Dr Otto Meissner (Civil servant who ran the President’s office and acted as a key go-between in negotiations between Hitler and Hindeburg)

Question 18

When did Schleicher become Chancellor?

Answer 18

December 1932

Question 19

Why did Schleicher believe he could get the NSDAP to join a coalition?

Answer 19

• Nazis had suffered a setback in the November elections and the state elections in December
• their support was falling
• virtually bankrupt

Schleicher believed he could put pressure on Hitler by playing on these divisions in the party

Question 20

What three tactics did Schleicher do to attempt to stay in power?

Answer 20

• Believed that a progressive social policy could win support for the trade unions and through them, gain support in the Reichstag
• he cancelled cuts in wages and benefits made by Papen in September
• considered a large-scale job creation scheme to relieve unemployment

Question 21

When did Papen meet Hitler and what did they discuss?

Answer 21

• 4th January 1933
• Negotiations to form a government in which the conservative and nationalist elements were represented together with the Nazis

Question 22

What did Hindenburg agree with Papen and when was Hitler appointed as chancellor?

Answer 22

Papen won Hindenburg over to make Hitler chancellor with the argument that the representatives of the other right-wing parties which would belong to the government would restrict Hitler’s freedom of action.

Hitler becomes chancellor on 30th January 1933