Weimar Government and the Great Depression

Question 1

situation in Germany

Answer 1

It became clear that the government could not solve the problem of unemployment.
Chancellor Müller could not improve Germany’s economy and neither could his replacement, Chancellor Brüning.
It was a global problem. Economic growth and world trade slowed and Germany was handicapped by the terms of Versailles.

Question 2

rise of the nazis

Answer 2

Between 1928-1932, the Nazi vote grew rapidly:
2.6% in 1928
18% in 1930
37% in July 1932

Question 3

article 48

Answer 3

In response to the economic crisis, President Hindenburg lost faith in democracy himself and used Article 48 to bypass (avoid and go around) the Reichstag.
This significantly weakened the Weimar Republic.

Question 4

DNVP-Nazi Alliance

Answer 4

The DNVP was a mainstream conservative political party in Weimar Germany. They won 21% of the votes in the 1924 German election.
In 1928, Alfred Hugenberg became the leader of the DNVP.
Alfred Hugenberg was a media entrepreneur who owned Universum Film, and Telegraphen Union, giving him control of Weimar film, news, and telegraph.
The convergence of the conservative nationalist movement with Hitler is shown by the fact that the DNVP’s traditional voter base, protestant Germans, is, according to Jurgen Falter, the only predictive factor for someone voting for the Nazi Party in the 1932 German election.

Question 5

Leadership

Answer 5

In 1932, the Nazis gained political power in the Reichstag. But the Reichstag had no stable leadership.
In April 1932, Hindenburg was re-elected as President of the Weimar Republic.

Question 6

The Chancellor

Answer 6

In May 1932, Chancellor Brüning resigned and was replaced by von Papen.
In July 1932, the Nazis became the largest party in the Reichstag.
Hitler demanded that he be made Chancellor, but was refused.

Question 7

Von Papen and von Schleicher

Answer 7

In November 1932, the Nazis lost votes but were still the largest party in the Reichstag.
von Papen was a DNVP supporter.
In December 1932, von Papen resigned and was replaced by von Schleicher.
But Von Schleicher did not have the support of the Nazis or the people.