The Collapse of the Weimar Republic and the Rise of the NAZIS Why couldn’t Weimar survive? Why did...
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Transcript of The Collapse of the Weimar Republic and the Rise of the NAZIS Why couldn’t Weimar survive? Why did...
The Collapse of the Weimar Republic and the Rise of the NAZIS
Why couldn’t Weimar survive? Why did support for the NAZIS increase?
Why couldn’t Weimar survive? Why did support for the NAZIS increase?
What can you remember about the Weimar
Republic in 1929? (Before the Crash)
What can you remember about the Weimar
Republic in 1929? (Before the Crash)
Strengths?
Weaknesses?
Stability?
How stable was the Weimar Republic before the crash?How stable was the Weimar Republic before the crash?
キキ Stronger leadership (Stresemann) キキ Greater political and financial
stability
キキ Stronger leadership (Stresemann) キキ Greater political and financial
stability
‘Germany is dancing on a volcano. If the short-term credits are called in a large section of our economy would collapse’.
Prophetic words from Gustav Stresemann, 1928
‘Germany is dancing on a volcano. If the short-term credits are called in a large section of our economy would collapse’.
Prophetic words from Gustav Stresemann, 1928
キキ BUT Few durable institutions established if faced with crisis
キキ Regime was tolerated but not popular キキ Unpopular with civil service, universities, school officials キキ E.g. schools present one-sided view of German defeat
in 1918 キキ System of parliamentary parties – not strong enough
for stability in democracy キキ Main coalitions (SPD, DDP & Zentrum – see below)
divided on key point: economic, political, religious キキ SO very vulnerable to anti-democratic threat (would
come in 1930s) キキ Economy: basis still fragile (despite progress) – not
enough German capital – mostly foreign loans キキ Imports 1924-30 = greater than exports キキ Total deficit = 1.3 billion Reichmarks
キキ BUT Few durable institutions established if faced with crisis
キキ Regime was tolerated but not popular キキ Unpopular with civil service, universities, school officials キキ E.g. schools present one-sided view of German defeat
in 1918 キキ System of parliamentary parties – not strong enough
for stability in democracy キキ Main coalitions (SPD, DDP & Zentrum – see below)
divided on key point: economic, political, religious キキ SO very vulnerable to anti-democratic threat (would
come in 1930s) キキ Economy: basis still fragile (despite progress) – not
enough German capital – mostly foreign loans キキ Imports 1924-30 = greater than exports キキ Total deficit = 1.3 billion Reichmarks
キキ Conclusion: Weimar Republic was progressing but still hadn’t achieved normalcy and acceptance
キキ Conclusion: Weimar Republic was progressing but still hadn’t achieved normalcy and acceptance
What is the decisive factor in the failure of the Weimar Republic?
What is the decisive factor in the failure of the Weimar Republic?
The decisive factor in the collapse of the Weimar Republic:
The WALL STREET CRASH: 24th October 1929
(NB: 3rd October 1929 Stresemann dies).
The decisive factor in the collapse of the Weimar Republic:
The WALL STREET CRASH: 24th October 1929
(NB: 3rd October 1929 Stresemann dies).
Economic effects:Economic effects:Germany’s foreign capital:
キキ 1928: 5 billion marks キキ 1929: 2.5 billion marks キキ 1930: 700 million marks Loans called in so bankruptcies increased Government scared of renewed hyperinflation
UNEMPLOYMENT = how crisis was seen キキ Before crash: 1.5 million キキ Winter 1929/30: 3 million キキ Summer 1930: 5 million キキ January 1932: 6 million (remember this – this was
how many were unemployed when Hitler became Chancellor)
Food shortages, strikes, demonstrations; also bad weather. Life was desperate
Germany’s foreign capital: キキ 1928: 5 billion marks キキ 1929: 2.5 billion marks キキ 1930: 700 million marks Loans called in so bankruptcies increased Government scared of renewed hyperinflation
UNEMPLOYMENT = how crisis was seen キキ Before crash: 1.5 million キキ Winter 1929/30: 3 million キキ Summer 1930: 5 million キキ January 1932: 6 million (remember this – this was
how many were unemployed when Hitler became Chancellor)
Food shortages, strikes, demonstrations; also bad weather. Life was desperate
Political effects:Political effects: Revival of extremism (see table
below) They are offering extreme solution
to contemporary problems E.g. KPD (Communists) and
particularly NAZIS It is undeniable that the economic
and social crisis was important in the rise of popularity of the NSDAP (Nazi party)
Revival of extremism (see table below)
They are offering extreme solution to contemporary problems
E.g. KPD (Communists) and particularly NAZIS
It is undeniable that the economic and social crisis was important in the rise of popularity of the NSDAP (Nazi party)
Historians:Historians: Martin Brozat: 55% of working class
recruits to Nazis were unemployed (1930-33)
Alan Bullock: when ‘disaster cast its shadow over the land again, the despised prophet entered into his inheritance’.
William Carr: ‘it is inconceivable that Hitler could ever have come into power had not the Weimar republic been subjected to the unprecedented strain of a world economic crisis.’
Martin Brozat: 55% of working class recruits to Nazis were unemployed (1930-33)
Alan Bullock: when ‘disaster cast its shadow over the land again, the despised prophet entered into his inheritance’.
William Carr: ‘it is inconceivable that Hitler could ever have come into power had not the Weimar republic been subjected to the unprecedented strain of a world economic crisis.’
HistoriographyHistoriography
Hitler establishes a single-party state
The political landscape of Germany changed on 30th January 1933. Why?
Hitler became chancellor
The political landscape of Germany changed on 30th January 1933. Why?
Hitler became chancellor
What are the reasons that:What are the reasons that:
A) Hitler became Chancellor
B) Hitler became Fuhrer
A) Hitler became Chancellor
B) Hitler became Fuhrer
How did Hitler become Chancellor?
How did Hitler become Chancellor?
1930 elections = swing to extremist parties. Why?
Presidential elections March 1932: Hindenburg vs Hitler (both right wing; won 18 & 11 million votes. Communist thalmann won only 5 million).
Parliamentary govt had ended: government through decree (article 48) Chancellor Bruning resigned May 1932
1930 elections = swing to extremist parties. Why?
Presidential elections March 1932: Hindenburg vs Hitler (both right wing; won 18 & 11 million votes. Communist thalmann won only 5 million).
Parliamentary govt had ended: government through decree (article 48) Chancellor Bruning resigned May 1932
How did Hitler become Chancellor?
How did Hitler become Chancellor?
Franz von Papen = next chancellor. Cabinet responsible to president not Reichstag
In june 1932 he lifted ban on S.A. ( = much street violence)
Elections July 1932. Nazis = 230 seats - 90 short of majority
Hitler refused coalition without him as chancellor
Sept 1932 - vote of no confidence; new elections (Nazis lost a few votes)
Franz von Papen = next chancellor. Cabinet responsible to president not Reichstag
In june 1932 he lifted ban on S.A. ( = much street violence)
Elections July 1932. Nazis = 230 seats - 90 short of majority
Hitler refused coalition without him as chancellor
Sept 1932 - vote of no confidence; new elections (Nazis lost a few votes)
How did Hitler become Chancellor?
How did Hitler become Chancellor?
Nov 1932 - von Papen resigned Hitler refused to be Chancellor without
decree powers So Kurt von Scheicher formed cabinet -
lasted until 28th Jan 1933 (He resigned when Hindenburg refused him emergency powers)
This time: Hitler accepts Chancellorship There are no other candidates left. Hindenburg did his best to keep Hitler out.
Nov 1932 - von Papen resigned Hitler refused to be Chancellor without
decree powers So Kurt von Scheicher formed cabinet -
lasted until 28th Jan 1933 (He resigned when Hindenburg refused him emergency powers)
This time: Hitler accepts Chancellorship There are no other candidates left. Hindenburg did his best to keep Hitler out.
InterpretationsInterpretations
Much debate since 1933 Marxists: last show of capitalism
before Comm. Revolution Later Marxists: dwelt on financial
backing from big business (less on squabbles on left)
Much debate since 1933 Marxists: last show of capitalism
before Comm. Revolution Later Marxists: dwelt on financial
backing from big business (less on squabbles on left)
InterpretationsInterpretations
Continuity in German expansion plans (C.F. WW1) - Nazism = logical development
E.g. William Shirer Post WW2 German historians
wrote on this
Continuity in German expansion plans (C.F. WW1) - Nazism = logical development
E.g. William Shirer Post WW2 German historians
wrote on this
InterpretationsInterpretations
Now: less emphasis on parallels, more on Weakness / problems of Weimar Rep.
C.F. postive attraction of Nazis Hitler exploited opportunities &
benefited from others’ weakness E.g. von Papen thought he could
manipulate Hitler once in office Alan Bullock: luck, disunity of others,
but also abilities: timing, insight into weakness, risk taking
Now: less emphasis on parallels, more on Weakness / problems of Weimar Rep.
C.F. postive attraction of Nazis Hitler exploited opportunities &
benefited from others’ weakness E.g. von Papen thought he could
manipulate Hitler once in office Alan Bullock: luck, disunity of others,
but also abilities: timing, insight into weakness, risk taking
Remember:Remember:
Hitler was not swept into power He was not democratically elected Achieved power through ‘backstairs
intrigue’ Politicians played the game with him
because he was already powerful and would be useful if tamed
Not inevitable But few mourned the passing of a ‘failed’
democracy
Hitler was not swept into power He was not democratically elected Achieved power through ‘backstairs
intrigue’ Politicians played the game with him
because he was already powerful and would be useful if tamed
Not inevitable But few mourned the passing of a ‘failed’
democracy
From Chancellorship to Dictatorship: new presentation
From Chancellorship to Dictatorship: new presentation