Conditions in which an authoritarian state emerged in Germany (from 1918 to March 1933)

Question 1

adverse impacts of reparation payments (evidence)

Answer 1

German governments printed money instead of raising taxes “to pay the French” (Evans)

Question 2

adverse impacts of reparation payments (therefore)

Answer 2

It created conditions of a paralysed government that could not make unpopular economic decisions which undermined the Weimar Republic and prolonged the bitterness toward the TOV

Question 3

the hyperinflation crisis of 1923 (evidence)

Answer 3

Wiped out savings of the middle class and devalued the value of the German mark

Question 4

the hyperinflation crisis of 1923 (therefore)

Answer 4

It created conditions for Hitler to attempt to launch a coup against a fledgling Weimar government and caused long term dissatisfaction among the middle class which he would exploit

Question 5

reliance on international loans and investment (evidence)

Answer 5

Dawes and Young Plans of the 1920s from the USA provided loans which propped up the German economy (from page 78 of Republic to Reich)

Question 6

reliance on international loans and investment (therefore)

Question 7

the Great Depression (evidence)

Answer 7

German business went broke due to deflationary policy (raising taxes and cuts to spending). By 1932 one in three workers was unemployed. The welfare net for the unemployed broke leaving millions destitute. Agriculture collapsed.

Question 8

the Great Depression (therefore)

Answer 8

It created conditions of political polarisation and a collapse of democratic governance

Question 9

society was deeply divided along social and economic lines (evidence)

Answer 9

There was a fragmented middle class within Germany as a result of inflation which split interest groups and pitted them against one another. This meant that no political party was able to unite them and in turn no political party could gain majority vote.

Question 10

society was deeply divided along social and economic lines (therefore)

Answer 10

This created conditions of uncertainty which made the various social groups vulnerable and more likely to supporting political groups who advocated and worked to fix and restore the distrust they had towards the political system.

Question 11

a large underclass of workers and farmers who felt alienated from the political system (evidence)

Answer 11

Conditions such as hyper-inflation, unemployment and a sense of betrayal in relation to the treaty of Versailles and the armistice drew underclass works and farmers to feel a sense of alienation due to the hardship they faced.

Question 12

a large underclass of workers and farmers who felt alienated from the political system (therefore)

Answer 12

increased the chance of them supporting extremist movements, (promised things such as restoration of national pride and assistance in helping restore the economy).

advocated against traditional politics which appealed to this demographic of people as they believed that the hardship they had faced was due to the present political ruling.

Question 13

social groups felt that their culture and values were under attack by modernity, mass culture, and liberal democracy (evidence)

Answer 13

-

Question 14

social groups felt that their culture and values were under attack by modernity, mass culture, and liberal democracy (therefore)

Answer 14

Many conservative groups came to rise due to fears that their traditional cultures and such were under attack

Question 15

political instability

Answer 15

There were many differences and issues between the left and right wing but also amongst the groups within each wing. Additionally, there was no clear parliamentary majority in Germany meaning the German democracy had to ‘improvise’ leading to an independently elected president who heavily relied on article 48.

Question 16

lack of legitimacy

Question 17

substantial use of emergency decrees to govern Germany

Answer 17

Article 48 was established which allowed the president, in times of emergency, to suspend civil liberties, issue laws without consulting the Reichstag and use the army to restore order. Hindenburg utilised this a lot as he had no respect for the constitution and was a monarchist. Additionally, there was no clear definition of what an ‘emergency’ constituted as.

Question 18

Weimar Republic

Answer 18

Democratic government in Germany (1919-1933).

Question 19

Street battles

Answer 19

Between rival paramilitary groups after WW1 to early 1920s (e.g. Spartacists (Communists) and Freikorps (Right wing)) then again after the Great Depression (Communists – KPD – and Nazi SA Stormtroopers).

Question 20

NSDAP

Answer 20

Nationalist Socialist German Workers Party founded in 1920

Question 21

Coup

Answer 21

Failed armed uprising led by Hitler in 1923

Question 22

Wall Street Crash

Answer 22

Triggered the Great Depression that impacted Germany’s US loans and resulted in mass unemployment (6 million peak in 1932)

Question 23

SA Stormtroopers

Answer 23

Nazi paramilitary group (also known as the Brownshirts)

Question 24

Chancellor

Answer 24

Hitler was appointed by Hindenburg as head of the government on the 30th of January 1933.

Question 25

Reichstag

Answer 25

German parliament and building in Berlin

Question 26

Fuhrer

Answer 26

Hitler joined the offices of President and Chancellor in 1934 at the death of Hindenburg

Question 27

Key clauses of TOV

Answer 27

- article 231 (accept complete responsibility) -give up land -LON looked over cities -lost colonial possession -reparations