part 2: failure of weimar democracy Flashcards
(18 cards)
what were the main failures in weimar democracy that led to hitler becoming chancellor?
- chancellors were weak due to proportional representation
- meant it was hard for political parties to gain a majority of seats
- hindenburg constantly had to use article 48 to pass every law
how did franz von papen damage weimar democracy?
- ruled without support of reichstag
- formed a government of the barons in 1932 with no members of reichstag
how did von papen help hitler get into power?
- made a secret deal
- persuaded hindenburg to remove von schleicher and make hitler chancellor
- called second election
how did president hindenburg damage weimar democracy?
- elected von papen
- unpopular choice as he didn’t want to be chancellor
how did hindeburg help hitler?
- called an election where nazi party was second largest
- called another election that nazis won
how did bruning help hitler?
- called an election where nazis grew
how did bruning damage weimar?
- stopped financial help to the german people
- cut benefits
- increased taxes
- tried to give land away
- angered workers and industrialists
how did von schleicher help hitler?
- fed hindeburg false information
how did von schliecher damage weimar?
- said reichstag should be supported, liked parliament
- tried to form coalition with trade unions and miliatry but faced resistance
- failed to gain support of reichstag, chaos
describe the steps to hitler becoming chancellor from march 1932 to january 1933.
- march 1932: presidential election where hindenburg won 49.6% of the vote and hitler (promising jobs, stability, strong germany) won 30.1%
- april 1932: another presidential election, as no candidate gained over 50%, hindenburg won 53%, hitler won 36%
- may 1932: bruning resigned (before hindenburg sacked him) as chancellor as he made two poor decisions - banned nazi SS and SA to try and control them which angered hitler, wanted to buy land from rich to give to poor which angered hindenburg who was a huge landowner
- may 1932: high ranking official von schleicher believed chancellor should be von papen, but this could only happen if he gained enough support from hitler
- may 1932: hitler agreed to give support to von papen as long as ban on SA was ended which worked, in return the nazi party were officially part of the german parliament and could gain more power and influence, von papen becomes chancellor and von schleicher thinks he has manipulated nazis
- july 1932: reichstag election where violent campaign takes place, nazis won 37.3% which made them the largest party but not outright majority (could still have been stopped if other parties worked together) in the reichstag, hitler asks hindenburg to sack von papen and make him chancellor instead however hindenburg refuses
- november 1932: von papen sacked by hindenburg as he wasn’t doing well, however hindenburg disliked hitler so much he refused to give him chancellor
- december 1932: von schleicher made chancellor, he had confidence to say hitler wasn’t a problem anymore but he struggled as chancellor with little support and no economic success
- january 1933: to seek revenge, von papen suggests hindeburg makes hitler the chancellor as he believed hitler would be a stronger leader but hindenburg could still control him, von papen said he had hitler in his pocket so hindenburg agreed and appointed hitler on jan 30th 1933 and von papen as vice chancellor
why did hindenburg finally appoint hitler?
- with von papen as vice they believed they could control him
what was hitler’s deal with von papen?
that if Von Papen convinced Hindenburg to allow him to be chancellor, Papen could be vice chancellor and would get to most of the day-to-day running of the country
what did results of march 1932 election show?
many germans were ready for radical change (30.1% nazis)
when was bruning in power from?
1930 - may 1932
why and when did von papen resign?
- june - november 1932
- resigned due to political infighting and lack of support due to hitler telling his nazis (large proportion) to reject laws (created political chaos as no laws passed)
why did hindenburg not want to appoint hitler but have to?
- believed he was too radical and feared they couldn’t control him
- as political situation grew more unstable, with no clear alternative, hindenburg’s advisors convinced him that appointing hitler as chancellor was only way to restore order
terms on which hitler became chancellor
- von papen vice
- only 2 nazis in cabinet
- can be sacked at any time
why did hitler become chancellor (main reasons)?
- nazi popularity
- political chaos
- pressure from elite for hindenburg
- weakness of other leaders
