Section 3

Question 1

How did the Wall Street Crash in 1929 occur?

Answer 1

• In October 1929, share prices began to fall on the Wall Street Stock Exchange which caused people’s investments to fall in value
• People rushed to sell their shares as they were afraid that they would deplete further in value
• On ‘Black Thursday’, 24th October 1924, 1.3 shares were sold
• This panic selling made things worse and sent prices even lower
• Shares worth $20,000 in the morning sold at $100 in the evening
• Within a week, investors lost $400m

Question 2

How did the Wall Street crash spread to Germany?

Answer 2

• Bankers and Financiers from the US withdrew their loans from Germany, which left Germany with no money
• International Trade depleted rapidly, which meant that Germany did not get any money from exports
• As a result, many German manufacturers had to close factories and lay off workers

Question 3

What were some political impacts of the Wall Street Crash?

Answer 3

• The Great Depression put a great strain on state finances. This caused a split in the grand coalition, with the SDP wanting to raise taxes and the DVP wanting to reduce benefits payouts
• Political figures such as Ivan Schleiches who saw it as their chance to impose a more authoritarian style of government
• The new coalition formed by Brüning in 1930 was a minority government and so required presidential decree to rule, practically making Germany a dictatorship
• In the Reichstag elections of September 1930, the Nazis became the second largest party and started to disrupt Reichstag proceedings. This caused decision making and power to shift the President and his small circle of advisors
• Political violence increased dramatically between 1930 and 1933
• In December 1931 Brüning banned political uniforms and in April 1932 banned the SA, however by the end of 1932 the SA was no longer banned

Question 4

What were some social impacts of the Wall Street crash?

Answer 4

• The was a limit to benefit payments introduced in 1930 with women receiving fewer benefits than men
• Poverty Increased because of the depression, and so did malnutrition, disease and suicides. Shanty towns started to appear as people could no longer afford to pay rent
• The Great Depression lead to high levels of unemployment in young people: 39% for Men and 25.2% for women
• The number of youth charged with crimes increased, especially for theft and crimes against the state
• Membership of youth political groups increased during this time as these groups offered food shelter and community
• The Government established day centres and emergency labour schemes to try and reduce unemployment, however these were very unpopular and so there were strikes in 1930 and 1932
• The number of women in the workforce and so did anti woman sentiment and campaigns against ‘double earners’. In 1932 a law was passed allowing married women in the civil service to be dismissed

Question 5

What were some Economic impacts of the Wall Street Crash?

Answer 5

• Many American companies in Germany went bankrupt, causing thousands to lose their jobs
• The Depression decreases international trade, and so German trade fell by 61% and manufacturing fell by 58%
• Many started to withdraw their money from banks as the banks started to get into difficulties
• Unemployment Increased rapidly, so by 1932 1/3 of all Germans were unemployed, or around 8,000,000 people
• Industrial areas such as the Ruhr and Silesia were affected badly and farmers were effected very badly as the sale of food had declined rapidly

Question 6

What impact did the Wall Street Crash have on the rise of extremist parties?

Answer 6

• In the September 1930 election, extremist parties gained 2/5 of the total vote
• The KPD gained 77 seats in the Reichstag, and the Nazis grew their number of seats from 12 to 107
• The Nazi vote Increased from 810k in 1928 to 6.5million in 1930, making them the second largest party
• Since the Nazis were the second largest party in Reichstag, they were able to disrupt parliamentary proceedings so much so that the Reichstag did not sit at all between February and October 1931

Question 7

How did the Wall Street crash lead to the intensification of political violence in Germany?

Answer 7

• Political violence during the Golden Area had slumped with only about 120 deaths between 1924 and 29
• Between 1930 and 33 political violence increase dramatically as Nazis (SA) and Communists (Red-Front fighters’ League) took their political battles to the street
• Each side tried to disrupt each other’s meetings, and this violence often led to full scale riots, especially at election time

Question 8

What were some responses to the increased political violence in 1930-33?

Answer 8

• In December 1931, Brüning banned the wearing of political uniforms, however this ban had little to no effect as the SA still marched on the streets
• In April 1932 Hindenburg was persuaded to ban the SA outright. Similarly, this ban had no effect and political violence continued to grow
• By The end of 1932 the SA was estimate to have 400,000 members

Question 9

What was the Nazi vote in 1928 compared to the Nazi vote in 1932?

Answer 9

1928:

• 810,000 votes
• 2.6% of the vote

1932:

• 13.75million votes
• 37.3% of the vote

Question 10

What was the communist vote in 1928 compared to the Communist vote in 1932?

Answer 10

1928:

• 3.3million votes
• 10.6% of the vote

1932:

• 5.3million votes
• 14.3% of the vote

Question 11

How did the Nazi policy of the power of will help the Nazis gain support?

Answer 11

• Hitler presented himself and the Nazis as a movement that was a force of change in Germany
• Nazi propaganda claimed that power, strength and determination to succeed were qualities personified by Hitler
• The Nazi movement’s parades of stormtroopers presented an image of discipline and unity

Question 12

How did the Nazi policy of A racial community help them gain support?

Answer 12

• The Nazis spread the concept of a ‘people’s community’ or Volksgemineshaft in which all Germany Aryans would be a part
• In the real community, there would be no social classes and all Germans would be equal and have equal opportunities for all
• The belief was backward looking and harked back to a time of ‘blood and soil’ when there were no classes before industrialisation.
• The Nazis believed that rural peasants had retained their racial purity and traditional values, whereas city dwellers had lost theirs

Question 13

How did the Nazi policy of struggle and war help win support?

Answer 13

• The Nazis glorified war and believed that it would reconstruct Germany and create a new German Reich
• Hitler pushed the belief that the struggles between races was scientifically justified

Question 14

How did the Nazi policy of National Socialism help them gain support?

Answer 14

• The Nazis put Socialist in their name in the hopes that it would attract support from the working class; however they distanced themselves from international socialist and communist parties
• The Nazis laid out many polices that were shared by Socialist parties in their 25 point plan e.g. Nationalisation of major industries, however Hitler never fully committed to these and changed his message depending on the audience. E.g in 1929 Hitler assured business owners that a Nazi Government would not threaten them

Question 15

How did the Nazi policy of the Führerprinzip help the Nazis gain support?

Answer 15

• Hitler believed that the Democracy of the Weimar Republic was Jewish run and not German. He also believed that it led to the growth of Communism
• Hitler also believed that the Weimar democracy established at the end of the First World War was based in betrayal by the November Criminals
• Hitler believed that the Weimar democracy had to be destroyed and be replaced by a dictatorship based in the Führerprinzip

Question 16

How did the Nazi policy of aggressive nationalism help them gain support?

Answer 16

Hitler wanted to:

• Reverse the humiliation of the treaty of Versailles and restore to Germany the lands lost by the treaty
• Establish a ‘Greater German Reich’ in which all Germans would live within its borders
• Secure for Germany its Lebensraum to settle its people and have enough resources to provide for them

Question 17

How did the Nazi policy of Anti-Semitism help them gain support?

Answer 17

• Hitler believed that the Jews were responsible for all of Germany’s ills and Nazi propaganda helped spread that view
• Hitler believed that the Jews had to be held responsible for Capitalism, communism, the defeat of Germany in WW1, the treaty of Versailles and the decline of Germany after WW1

Question 18

How important was Hitler to Nazi success?

Answer 18

• By 1929, Hitler had established himself at the head of the Nazi Party and had a leadership cult created around him
• Many Germans saw him as possessing great Charisma and oratorical skills
• His speeches went on for hours and had a hypnotic effect, even though they mostly contained lies and repetition
• Hitler knew how to play on people’s fears and emotions and convince people that he had the answer
• He was able to tailor his message to his audience, and his mass appeal was crucial in winning the Nazis votes

Question 19

What was the role of Anti-Semitism in Nazi electoral success?

Answer 19

• The rise of the Nazis did not create more anti-semitism, it just made people more willing to express their views more freely
• Many ordinary Germans were still unwilling to go along with the anti-Semitic propaganda. In 1932, most people voted for the Nazis in spite of the Nazi’s anti semitism, not because of it
• The Nazis did not constantly talk about Anti-Semitism. In 1932 for example Hitler said a speech at an industry club without once mentioning Jews. Anti-Semitism was also not guaranteed to make it on propaganda posters, with most of them focusing on broader issues such as unemployment
• Even for membership of the SA ant semitism was not the main draw. Many joined as the group was anti communist, and for others it was the sense of community and a roof over their heads

Question 20

What role did Propaganda play in Nazi success?

Answer 20

• Hitler understood the importance of propaganda in gaining success and so employed Joseph Goebbels as his propaganda minister from 1928 onwards
• Much like Hitler’s speeches the Nazis tailored their propaganda to individual audiences and rarely pushed anti Semitic propaganda
• The Nazis mainly focused their propaganda to focus on the Weimar Republic being the main cause of Germany’s ills

Question 21

What were the main policies of the KPD during the Weimar years?

Answer 21

• The end to benefits cuts
• Legalisation of Abortion
• Close cooperation with the USSR
• Overthrow of the Weimar Republic
• Cut military spending and focus more spending on the establishment of a workers state
• It saw the great depression as the final nail in the coffin of capitalism and that a worker’s revolution was inevitable
• It wanted to replace the SPD as the main party on the left, as they saw them as ‘social fascists’

Question 22

What were the strengths of the KPD?

Answer 22

• Their propaganda helped attract membership, both through its posters and its speeches by Thälmann
• Their posters were mainly focused to appeal to the working class with slogans such as ‘Bread and freedom’
• Many KPD posters Attacked the SPD as being the tool of the Capitalist class
• The KPD membership continued to grow, especially after the Great Depression, as did their vote share
• The Increased perceived threat of communism caused many in the German middle classes to start to support the Nazis

Question 23

What were the weaknesses of the KPD?

Answer 23

• The KPD was never able to launch a successful communist revolution
• The party membership had high turnover. 50% of new recruits in 1932 left after a few months
• It failed to gain support outside the large industrial areas, and had limited support amongst women
• Since many of its members were unemployed it was very short of money
• Its Attacks in the SPD blinded the KPD to the threat of the Nazis, and split the anti Nazi voice at a crucial time

Question 24

What were the main events that led to the appointment of Hitler as chancellor in 1933?

Answer 24

• On The 30th May 1932, Hindenburg fails to sign a presidential decree for Chancellor Brüning leading to a collapse of his government and him being replaced by Von Papen
• On The 16th June 1932, Von Papen lifts the ban on the SA and imposed harsher restrictions on the left wing press
• On The 31st July 1932, the Nazis gain 37.3% of the vote and become the largest party
• On The 3rd August 1932, Hindenburg offers Hitler the position of vice chancellor, but Hitler refuses
• In September 1932, the Nazis, communists and other parties join in a vote of no confidence which causes Papen’s government to dissolve and forces him to resign
• On The 6th November 1932, the Nazis vote share falls to 33.1%, however they still remain the largest party
• On The 19th November 1932, a number of business men appeal to Hindenburg to make Hitler chancellor
• In January 1933, Hindenburg’s inner circle come to an agreement that Hitler should be appointed chancellor, so long that there were assurances that his power would be contained
• On The 30th January 1933, Hindenburg appoints Hitler as chancellor

Question 25

Why did Brüning’s government fall in May 1932?

Answer 25

• Brüning’s Government could only stay in power with the support of Hindenburg and Schleicher
• Brüning tried to reduce state expenditure by cutting welfare and civil service budgets - ‘The hunger chancellor’
• Brüning’s economic policy worsened the depression and by February 1932 unemployment exceeded 6million
• As unemployment rose so did the support for extremist parties, and may felt that a communist revolution was possible
• Schleicher felt that Brüning’s ban on the SA would provoke a Nazi uprising, and schleicher believed that the Government could not rule without the Nazis and so needed the support of the Nazis
• When Hindenburg, advised by Schleicher, failed to sign a presidential decree for Brüning, Brüning had to resign and was replaced by Von Papen

Question 26

What were the main features of Von Papen’s ‘cabinet of barons’?

Answer 26

• Papen constructed his government on a non party political basis in an attempt to create a ‘government of national concentration’
• The only party that supported his government was the DNVP who had 2 cabinet posts as a result
• The rest of The cabinet was filled with people who were not members of the Reichstag who often came from the industrial and land owing elite
• Von Papen had very limited support in the Reichstag and so had to rule by decree
• Papen feared a communist revolution and believed that Weimar Democracy facilitated the rise in communist support
• Papen also saw the usefulness of the Nazis with their large supporter base in forming a government
• Von Papen reversed the ban on the SA in June 1932 which increased street violence and allowed him to impose authoritarian rule in Prussia

Question 27

What happened in the July 1932 election?

Answer 27

• The moderate parties lost out
• Politics became more polarised as both the Nazis and KPD increase their support, taking votes from the moderate parties
• After the election the Nazis and Hitler was in a stronger position than before but refused the position of Vice Chancellor
• Papen’s position was weakened and he called another election for November

Question 28

What was the main result of the November 1932 election?

Answer 28

• The Nazis remained the largest party but lost 2million votes and 34 seats in the Reichstag
• Many middle class voters switched back to the DVP and DNVP after Hitler’s attack on Von Papen and his refusal to enter into coalition with him
• Three elections had exhausted the Nazis’ funds and it seemed that the Nazis had lost their chance to gain power by legal means
• Communist support increased

Question 29

How did Papen’s government end?

Answer 29

• Papen’s government faced a hostile Reichstag majority and he was beginning to lose credibility in the eyes of the army
• Papen considered banning the Nazis and Communists and using the army to impose an Authoritarian style government, but Schleicher informed him that the Army would not support him
  
  • Because of this he had no option but to resign

Question 30

Who was in Hindenburg’s inner circle?

Answer 30

Kurt Von Schleicher:

• Political head of the army and head of the Ministerial Office
• Important in causing the downfall of both Brüning’s and Von Papen’s Governments
• Schleicher sought an alliance between the old forces of conservatism and the Nazis who would legitimise an authoritarian regime dominated by the old conservatives

Oskar Von Hindenburg:

• The President’s son
• Had close links to Schleicher
• Controlled across to the president

Dr Otto Meisner:

• Ran The president’s office
• Acted as a key go between in negotiations between Hitler and Hindenburg
• Was reluctant to concede Hitler’s demand to be made chancellor without any checks on his freedom of action

Question 31

What were the main features of Schleicher’s government?

Answer 31

• Schleicher sought to persuade the Nazis to join a coalition with him which seemed a possibility as the Nazis were virtually bankrupt and their support continued to fall
• Schleicher started negotiations with the Nazis, but these were quickly halted when Hitler sacked Gregor Strasser
• Schleicher instead tried to gain support from the trade unions with his progressive social policy. However, this just alienated industrialists and landowners and it also failed to gain trade union support
• Schleicher’s last tac was to ask Hindenburg to suspend the constitution, dissolve the reichstag and give him dictatorial powers, but Hindenburg refused causing Schleicher to resign

Question 32

How did Papen and Hitler negotiate a government approved by Hindenburg?

Answer 32

• Hitler finally agreed to part of a coalition of ‘national unity’
• Hitler would lead the coalition with Papen as Vice Chancellor, and with Hugenberg running the Economics and food ministries
• Aside from Hitler there would only be two other Nazis in the cabinet
• Both Papen and Hindenburg believed that they could control the poorly educated and inexperienced Hitler

Question 33

What was the SS, and how was it used to maintain Nazi Control?

Answer 33

• It was under the control of Heinrich Himmler
• They were Hitler’s bodyguards and loyal to the Fuhrer
• They has the power to search and arrest without trial
• They were used extensively in the night of long knives
• They were strictly disciplined and had no qualms about murder or violence

Question 34

What was the SD, and how was it used to maintain Nazi Control?

Answer 34

• An offshoot of the SS
• Set up in 1931 as an intelligence body of the Nazi party
• Its main aim was to discover actual and potential enemies and make sure they were removed
• It attracted many professionals and highly trained individuals such as lawyers
• They monitored public opinion and exposed those who voted no in plebiscites
• It was staffed by amateurs, rather than professional police officers

Question 35

What was the Gestapo, and how was it used to maintain Nazi Control?

Answer 35

• State secret police run by the gestapo
• Recruited 160,000 informers and tapped telephones and intercepted mail
• They had the power to arrest without trial, to torture and to send to concentration camps
• They depended on the reputation of being all knowing, however they were actually a small organisation
• Most of the members were office based p, and were professional police officers who wanted to serve the state
• People believed there were gestapo agents everywhere and so were constantly afraid

Question 36

How were informers used to maintain Nazi Control?

Answer 36

• ‘Block wardens’ were in charge of Nazi loyalty in local areas
• They collected donations and dues to the Nazi party
• The checked to see whether people saluted hung Nazi flags etc
• They wrote reports on Nazi members
• They were mostly motivated by personal grudges, rather than Nazi loyalty

Question 37

How were the police and courts used to maintain Nazi Control?

Answer 37

• The police force was Nazi run
• They became part of the Nazi network, collecting information on opponents etc
• Judges swore and oath of loyalty to Hitler
• The death penalty was used far more by the Nazis, and crimes punishable by death included:
  
  • Sexual relations with Jews
  • Listening To anti-Nazi radio
  • Habitual criminality

Question 38

What were some ways that the German court system was an asset to the Nazis?

Answer 38

• The front of German Law, 1933, made cit clear to the judges that they would be fired if they didn’t do the regime’s bidding
• The Nazi’s seg up Their own ‘people’s court’ in 1934 which allowed political crimes to be tried by Nazi judges

Question 39

What were some ways in which the German court system was a problem to the Nazis?

Answer 39

• Very Dee judges belonged to the Nazi party, and they were focused on upholding the rule of law
• The violence and intimidation used by the SS and stormtroopers would not by acquitted in court
• The Supreme Court acquitted all but one of those charged with the Reichstag fire

Question 40

How did the Nazis use propaganda?

Answer 40

• They used it to help control, direct and censor the media, and to help support the Nazi message
• The propaganda ministry allowed Goebbels and the Nazis to control media organisations and so gave the Nazis exclusive influence of German cultural life
• Propaganda was most effective with the young, and old conservatives
• It was most effective when it overlapped with traditional beliefs held by the old conservatives

Question 41

How effective was the Nazi control of newspapers?

Answer 41

• All newspapers that offered a differing opinion were banned under the defence for the protection of the state
• Newspaper circulation declined however, meaning people simply ignored the propaganda

Question 42

How effective was the Nazi control of the radio?

Answer 42

• Most (70%) Germans owned radios

- Hitler made many speeches and everyone was encouraged to listen

Question 43

How effective was the Nazi control of film?

Answer 43

• Film viewership increased 4 fold between 1933 and 1934, showing that the films were popular
• The films weren’t directly propaganda, but they did contain subliminal messages

Question 44

What were the overall successes of Nazi propaganda?

Answer 44

• It was successful when aimed at the young who had yet to form political opinions
• Successful when their message overlapped with the traditional views of old Conservatives and aristocrats
• Propaganda was most successful when it built upon existing beliefs and values

Question 45

What were the overall limitations of Nazi propaganda?

Answer 45

• It was questioned when it challenged deeply held beliefs, such as religion
• There were still some skepticism in Germany towards certain Nazi beliefs
• Plebiscites could not be used as evidence of Nazi support