Chapter 1: the establishment and development of the Weimar Rupublic Jan 1919 - Jan 1933 Flashcards

Question

‘Munich putsch = not a threat

Answer 1

police quickly broke up putsch and Hitler arrested Hitler backstabbed (not enough nationalistic support for Hitler like Kapp had)

Answer 2

1923 - invasion of Ruhr - hyperinflation - Munich Putsch

Answer 3

Serious : -Republic failed to appreciate extent of opposition from right but this was more serious than the left -election results saw a move away from democratic parties -supporters of democracy found it difficult to create and maintain working coalition governments (longest from 1919-23 lasted 18 months) -hyperinflation and Ruhr crisis Not serious: - left not as serious of a threat as not powerful enough to lead revolution - Kapp & Hitler in early 1920 = too weak and disorganised - no alternative to Republic in 1923 - hostility not reached unbearable levels and it could be directed at French & Belgian forces - workers not suffering badly as they would be in 1933

Answer 4

``` Economy Political stability Living and working conditions Cultural achievements Foreign relations Situation in 1929 ```

Answer 5

introduction of Rentenmark restored confidence in the currency as old mark destroyed some compensation for those who suffered industrial production recovered. GDP increased 1924: Dawes Plan: US financed expansion in German gov. expenditure & loans were made. Revised 800 million marks in loans 1929 Young Plan: reduce reparations and increase time they need to be payed back over (remove strain) foreign investments helped to stimulate industry. Germany one of worlds leading manufacturers by 1930 -> money from Dawes plan used to stimulate industry & manufacturing more efficient empowered the workers due to better conditions etc. -> workers work more and create money. gov. decided to rely on workers

Answer 6

compensation so little that many remained resentful increase in cost of exports which forced industrialists to cut costs & make workers redundant baby boom before war meant more workers -> unemployment (2 mil in Jan 1928) 1924 Dawes Plan: artificial and short term. recovery is too quick - evidence it is superficial Young Plan caused resentment among nationalist groups who wanted reparations cancelled completely Germany dependent on US increase in no. of strikes as profits increase, ah over whether wages should should increase employers angry about comp. state arbitration which argued favoured workers ->authoritarian regime = good global over-production in farming decreased prices and left 1/2 of all German farmers w/o profit support from protestors (like Schleswig-Holstein) meant peasants began to favour NSDAP

Answer 7

- democratic parties by 1928 had 136 more seats than radical parties (NSDAP had less than 3% of vote in 1928) - no more attempted revolutions after 1923 & an opponents of Ebert= ‘Republic is beginning to settle’ -> further encouraged by SD heading a coalition after 1928 election for the first time since 1920 - middle class losing suspicion of socialism and willing to work together - Prussia = stable coalition involving SPD, Centre & DDP parties they made it work

Answer 8

unstable coalitions governed SPD & DVP disagreed over social and economic policies -> co-operation = bad DNVP disliked Stressemann’s policy of rapprochement w/ France and Britain Centre Party had more right-wing policies and so cooperation with left-liberal DDP & SPD = difficult DVP lost support as special interest parties gained support winning 14% of vote in 1928 (more than 2 liberal parties DVP and DDP) 1925 election of Hindenburg as president support for the Republic was lukewarm and aim was to exclude SPD by bringing in DNVP -> suggests support for old style authoritarian regime and old elite

Answer 9

wages for unionised workers rose and working hours were reduced to 8 hour day -> increased standard of living which was further enhanced by provision of welfare benefits and pensions problems being tackled in some cities with mayors introducing recovery programmes

Answer 10

system was costly and attracted a number of curitiba -> argued the welfare state was so costly increase tax burden on business cost of welfare was greater than for reparations agricultural wages were only 1/2 the national average by 1929 extremes of wealth and poverty still present short term improvements and heavily reliant on money from abroad

Answer 11

tolerant atmosphere of Republic allowed new art forms to finish on a great scale significant developments in architecture, painting, cinema and the theatre architecture flourished w/ development of Bauhaus group golden age for cinema epic and advanced films produced (e.g Metropolis)

Answer 12

theatre often criticism of old order prominence of Jewish creative artists caused controversy ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ angered nationalists bc it depicted wartime military in bad light risqué songs etc. gave impression of corruption

Answer 13

Stresemann became major international figure (instrumental in ending Ruhr occupation and stabilising currency. Successful leader who drew support from middle classes) Germany joined League of Nations in 1926 -> no longer an outcast relations improved with France through Loearno Treaties in 1925

Answer 14

Ignores criticism and attacks made by nationalists of his negotiating w/ Allies and former enemies (criticised Young Plan and DNVP forced Stresemann to hold referendum on issue of reparations) move towards Western ideals - isolation from Russian and nationalism - annoyed traditional elites

Answer 15

Economic conditions: -Great Depression Political conditions: -instability of Weimar Nazi party itself: -key characteristics Link between them all

Answer 16

-collapse of US economy -> US businesses and banks curtailed loans to Germany and recalled loans already made -unemployment continued to rise (already reached 2.5 million in spring 1929) and as a result of the crash, unemployment further increased (6.014 million in Jan 1933) => people had less money to spend - demand for goods decreased so more people lost their jobs. 1932: 33% of workforce unemployed - gov. revenue fell due to lack of taxes but gov. expenditure rose due to increase in benefit payments made to unemployed - July 1931: collapse of Austrian bank Kredit Anstalt meant people withdrew their money -> gov forced to support them which added to economic crisis - France blocked an emergency loan to Germany Economic problems fuelled political instability

Answer 17

Social: -mass poverty -> unable to pay rent or feed family (malnutrition common, diseases became more prevalent, poor diet and poor housing, children suffered and mental stress Political: -benefit payments struggled to cope with long-term demand of mass unemployment -> political crisis which weakened the Republic

Answer 18

Impact of the Great Depression and Republic’s inability to deal with it left were given opportunity to rise but people were afraid of communism so turned to the right

Answer 19

Rebuild the party The depression Hitler himself Support of industrialists Organisation Promises to voters Weakness of opposition Propaganda

Answer 20

1921: Hitler became leader of National Socialist German Worker’s Party and attempted to seize power through Munich Putsch -> failure but brought Hitler national publicity led to a change in tactics: Hitler decided to win power through ballot box rather than force while in prison he wrote Mein Kampf and established a network of party - affiliated organisations once out of prison (e.g Hitler Youth & Students League). Put Goebbels in charge of propaganda

Answer 21

provided party with electoral breakthrough as gov. appeared weak, unemployment rose and Nazis offered public work schemes and many people feared communism due to events in Soviet Union so people (practically middle class) turned to the Nazis -> seen in 1930 elections

Answer 22

Hitler was portrayed as a strong leader - the type of person who was needed in the crisis - > propaganda and rallies portrayed him as superman - > appeared charismatic and made great use of oratory skills at mass rallies

Answer 23

many industrialists were frightened by communism & threat to business therefore people abandoned traditional support and gave it to the Nazis also included financial backing with Hugenburg making donations to the party -> this allowed Hitler to finance election campaigns

Answer 24

Nazi Party had been reorganised during the 1920s and local party leaders were well trained to ensure they have a clear and consistent message

Answer 25

party = flexible approach to policies so it therefore appeared to be able to offer something to every group in society unemployed-> jobs farmers -> higher prices shopkeepers -> protection etc.

Answer 26

other political parties = weak and underestimated party as they believed they were so unrealistic that voters would not trust them and disregarded the threat that they posed

Answer 27

helped win & maintain support Goebbels: in charge of propaganda and he ensured local groups were trained in the art & were excellent at adopting new techniques to spread Nazi message Goebbels flew Hitler all over Germany in 1932 as he knew Hitler was the key to Nazi success. Hitler spoke at rallies and parades. he was also depicted on posters as a ‘saviour’ -> promised to make Germany great again and attacked communism (created disturbances at communist rallies so SA could crush it -> seen to deal w/ threat unlike gov.)

Answer 28

Hermann Muller Heinrich Bruning Franz von Papen General Kurt von Schleicher Adolf Hitler

Answer 29

SPD May 1928-March 1930 Parliamentary Government consisting of coalition - Great Coalition government of left-wing and moderate parties. - Issue of unemployment insurance system created a crisis as different parties wanted different approaches to the problem ``` SPD = did not want to cut benefits DVP = wanted cuts & many industrialists argued system too expensive ``` Compromise failed & cabinet refunded when Hindenburg refused Muller emergency policy

Answer 30

Centre Parry March 1930-May 1932 Presidential government which ruled using emergency decree. collation cabinet -Right-wing conservative Banned SA -did not have majority so he stated that he was defeated he would ask for Reichstag to be dissolved and rule by emergency decree -> followed failure to win support for increase taxes & cutting welfare spending failed to deal with depression-> diminished reliance on rule by decree = end of parliamentary democracy aims: create crisis to end reparations? worried about hyperinflation?

Answer 31

Ex-centre party (right wing) June - December 1932 Presidential government. many non-party cabinet members (traditional elite) Aim: create more authoritarian state unable to command majority and able to call fresh elections to win one -> failed & oppostition passed a vote of no confidence in him Army unwilling to support Papen -> dismissed

Answer 32

Non-party December 1932-January 1932 Presidential government with many non-party Cabinet members Attempted to persuade some Nazis to join his gov. hoping they would win him more support (Hitler would not allow it) Attempted to win support of SPD & trade unions w/ promise of economic reforms -> backstairs intrigue -> Hitler determined to remove Schleicher (who unable to get majority) & so lost support of Hindenburg. Hindenburg got Papen to talk to Hitler. Hindenburg removed support from S

Answer 33

Nazi-Nationalist Coalition