Unit 2 (Rise Of Ultranationalism) Flashcards
World wide depression:
•Stock market was seen as a “can’t miss investment” in the United States and were taking out loans to invest.
•Drought in the American Midwest causing an American farming crisis.
•Black Tuesday – October 29th 1929.
•The stock market dropped 25% in two days and by 1932 had fallen 89% off its peak.
•Unemployment became rampant.
Setting the stage:
•France was attempting to rebuild damages from WW1.
•Britain and France had taken out enormous loans to pay for the war.
•Germany, which had the largest population in Europe, cannot complete its required reparations.
•Why is this important?
Foreign policies:
•Countries close their borders to foreign imports to attempt to save national jobs.
•International trading comes to a halt.
•Immigration is severely restricted and dictated on racial lines.
•Is this similar to 2020?
1920s in Germany:
•When Germany is unable to make payments, French occupy the Ruhr (Germany’s industrial district).
•German state prints more money to pay its bills.
•Inflation is rampant.
1930s depression and increase of nationalism:
Rise of militant nationalism – fascism – in Germany, Italy and Japan.
Fascism:
•Ultra-Nationalistic movement.
•Far “right movement” “super ultra conservative”.
•Single party nondemocratic state.
•Free market economy with government direction.
•Always military in nature – physical struggle creates positive opportunities.
•Nationalist propaganda.
•Often uses racial dividing lines – Social Darwinism.
Rise of Hitler:
•How did this happen?
•Can we make predictions?
The Weimar Republic:
•German politicians meet in Weimar to discuss a new constitution.
•The new German Republic (governed by the people) met in Feb 1918.
•Weimar Republic was a term that Hitler made popular in the 1930s.
Dissatisfaction with the treaty of Versailles:
•Diktat: a harsh unilaterally imposed settlement with a defeated party.
•Ex-soldiers felt that they had been ‘Stabbed in the back’ and felt that they had not been defeated.
•Hatred over provisions (I.e. War Guilt Clause & Reparations).
•People fearing a Communist revolution in Germany.
•Gave rise to parties who promised to overturn the treaty. (I.e. Nationalist Socialist / Nazi Party).
Political and economic instability in Germany (1919-1923):
•Attempts to overthrow Weimar government.
•Hitler and the Nazi Party.
•Convicted of high treason and sentenced to five years in prison.
Regrouping:
•While in prison, Hitler analyzed the party’s strategy.
•Political Strategies were developed and refined.
•Shift to winning electoral support.
•Development of propaganda tools.
•Attempts to win support of big business.
The Great Depression:
•The economic crisis caused the rise in popularity of more extreme parties offering radical solutions to Germany’s problems.
•American bankers and financiers demanded their money back from Germany.
•German industries could no longer sell their goods abroad which resulted in mass unemployment.
•The middle classes were scared of Communist revolution.
Into government:
•Electoral support rises: Nazi’s become largest single party in the Reichstag.
•Continuing economic crisis leads to break down of Weimar coalition governments.
•Aging and ineffective president Germany in desperate need of a strong leader.
•Hitler is invited to become chancellor by politicians who believe that Hitler can be manipulated easily.
Into government 2:
•January 1933.
•Depression following the Wall Street Crash made more people vote for the Nazis. In 1933, Von Papen convinced Hindenburg that Hitler should become Chancellor.
The Reichstag fire:
•The Reichstag building burnt down.
•A communist was found inside the building. He admitted responsibility.
•Chancellor Hitler was able to convince people that the Communists were trying to take power by terrorism.
•He was able to have the Communists banned from the Reichstag.
