History interpretations Flashcards
(21 cards)
How stable was Weimar Republic - traditional?
Doomed from the start weak from the beginning
Weak support from elite
Threats from left and right
Stab in the back
Germans not used to democracy
How stable was Weimar Republic - revisionist?
It has a chance in 1924 to 1929, but it was weakened by bigger problems
Depression and political violence
Stresemann improved economic and international relations
Fewer uprising
More political cooperation
How stable was Weimar republic? - Alternative.
Leadership decisions mistakes led to downfall
Eberts alienation of the left
Pro democratic support being divided
Failure to remove conservative elites
Handling of hyperinflation crisis
What caused in stability for the Weimar republic 1919 to 1923 traditional
Treaty of Versailles associated with failure and weakness
Caused the invasion of the Ruhr
Worsen hyperinflation and economic problems
What caused instability for the Weimar republic 1919 to 1923 revisionist?
Political change
Revolution caused instability as left were divided by Abbott and conservative institutions
Political extremism and uprising caused instability
What caused instability for the Weimar republic 1919 to 1923 alternative?
Economic issues - impact of war on economy - new welfare services were costly - hyperinflation - government mismanagement of funds
Stresemann a successful foreign minister traditional
Yes
Good German
Skilled diplomat
Improved international position with the doors and young plan the treaty of Berlin and league of Nations
Stresemann a successful foreign minister revisionist
No
Good European
Fragile gains based on US loans
Nationalists unhappy
Treaty of Versailles remained
Long-term impact limited
Stresemann a successful foreign minister alternative view
Balanced view
Policy of fulfilment as subtle but starting to work
If he didn’t die in 1929, he could’ve done more
Did the depression destroy the Weimar republic traditional?
Yes it caused the collapse
Triggered economic disaster
Led to mass support for extremist parties
Lost faith in democracy
Did the depression destroy the Weimar Republic revisionist?
No, the republic was already weak
Depression was a trigger, not a cause
Long-term issues of Weimar government
Lack of support from the elites
Did the depression destroy the Weimar Republic alternative?
No Leaders let it collapse
They gave up on democracy
Used presidential government
Deflationary policies worsened crisis
Was the Nazi rise inevitable? Traditional.
Yes
A natural outcome of German history, which has a long tradition of authoritarianism
Hitler’s charisma and propaganda made extremism likely
Was the Nazi rise inevitable? Revisionist
No
Hitler’s rise deepen on his exploitation of specific events such as the depression and weakness of democracy
Could have gone differently
Was the Nazi rise inevitable alternative?
Nazis rose, because others let them
Elite thinking they could control Hitler
Fear of communism
Who voted for the Nazis traditional?
Middle class
Protestants
Northern Germans
They voted to protect their status and traditional values
Who voted for the Nazis revisionist?
Broad support
Not limited to one class, for example, middle class workers and farmers
Support varied by religion and neighbourhood
Nazi built a broad voter base through specific campaigning and propaganda
Who voted for the Nazis alternative view?
Support not just depending on class, but on political belief
Fear of Communism
Nationalism
Anti Versailles
Why did people vote for Nazis? Traditional.
Fear and economic desperation
Voted due to depression, hunger and poverty
Many feared communism and saw Hitler as alternative
More about circumstance than Nazi ideology
Why did people vote for the Nazis revisionist?
Effective campaigning
Modern and targeted campaigning gained Nazi support from broad voter base
Propaganda and speeches promised different things to different group groups
Why did people vote for Nazis alternative?
Ideology
Many voters were drawn to Nazi ideas on nationalism order and shared values and vision for the future
People identified with Nazi ideals, not just as a reaction to hardship
