Weimar and Nazi Germany
The Wall Street Crash 1929 and its effect on Germany In October 1929 the American stock market crashed. ... The Wall Street Crash caused a worldwide economic depression but Germany was perhaps the worst hit country because of her dependence on US loans. The effects of the Depression on Germany • Increase in unemployment – this rose from 1. ... • The Weimar government did little to solve the problems. ... Many people began to blame the government for their problems, which meant that the Weimar Republic had been severely weakened. ... • Germany had found itself in an extreme situation – people began to look for an extreme answer. ... A fierce (and violent) battle between the two groups erupted for the right to lead Germany out of the depression. Rise of the Nazi Party There is no simple answer as to why Hitler became chancellor in January 1933. ... On 28 June 1919, Germany signed the Treaty with the allies, losing 10% of her land. The German army was reduced to 100,000 men and Germany had to pay reparations of £6,600 million. ... When Germany failed to pay a reparation installment in 1922, French and Belgian troops entered German soil and seized goods. ... During this crisis in Germany, caused indirectly by the Treaty, when Hitler tried to seize power he was unsupported. ... The Nazi party was banned and Hitler was not allowed to speak publicly (until 1928 in Prussia). The Nazi Party fell apart. ... He was years ahead of his time as a communicator and he sent his message to millions as he travelled by aeroplane all over Germany. ... Before the Great Depression, most people were happy with the way things were- Stresemann introduced the Rentenmark after the hyperinflation and Germany got back onto her feet. ... Germany was hit badly as America recalled the loans to Germany negotiated under the Dawes Plan (1924). In 1932, there were six million unemployed in Germany. ... It was realised that the Weimar constitution was not working and one strong man was needed to lead Germany out of the crisis. ... In March 1933, the Nazi party won 288 seats in the Reichstag, becoming the biggest party. ... Also, like many other men in positions of influence, von Papen wanted to see the Weimar constitution changed, without causing an uproar. ... How did the Nazi Party react to the failure of the Munich Putsch? Why were the Nazi’s unsuccessful in elections in the period 1924-1929? The Nazi’s were reliant on force to get into power. ... How important a factor in the rise of the Nazi’s was Hitler’s personality? Explain why Hitler became chancellor of Germany in 1932. How significant was the Wall Street Crash in the Rise to power of the Nazi’s? The nazi party appealed to everybody. How realistic is this interpretation of the reasons for the Rise to power of the Nazi party? The failure of Von Papen to understand Hitler is the main reason for the Nazi’s gaining power. ... How did the Nazi’s change tactics to increase their popularity? ... Did the nazi’s win the hearts and minds of the German people? How did the Nazi’s deal with opposition? Was Germany under the Nazi’s a totalitarian state? ... Nazi Germany under the leadership of Hitler soon became a dictatorship. ... Personal freedom disappeared in Nazi Germany. ... By the end of March 1933, he had acquired much greater powers than the former leading politicians of the Weimar Republic could ever have foreseen when they supported his appointment as chancellor. ... How did Germany descend so quickly into becoming a dictatorship ? When Hitler was appointed in January 1933, Germany was a democracy. Germany had fair elections; nobody had their right to vote abused; there were numerous political parties you could vote for etc. ... Within the Reichstag of January 1933, over 50% of those who held seats were against the Nazi Party. ... Anything other than a huge endorsement of Hitler and the Nazi Party would have been a disaster and a gamble which it is possible that Hitler did not want to take. ... Hitler knew that if he was to convince President Hindenburg to give him emergency powers - as stated in the Weimar Constitution - he had to play on the old presidents fear of communism. ... Those that arrested him - Nazi officials - claimed that Lubbe confessed to them that the fire was a signal to other communists to start the revolution to overthrow democracy in the country. ... As politicians neared the building, they found it surrounded by SS and SA thugs who tried to ensure that only Nazi or Nationalist politicians got into the building.