Page 43 - Year 10

History: Weimar and Nazi Germany: 1 of 4 History: The Rise of the Nazis: 2 of 4

Nazi Party (1920-22) Lean Years 1924-28
Origins of the Republic Hitler recovering from gas poisoning 1919, sent to spy In prison Hitler wrote Mein Kampf: Key words
Near end of WWI G had lost 2m soldiers, 4m wounded, on tiny German Workers Party (DAP) led by Drexler. Aryan race destined to rule the world; Jewish conspiracy to Aryan – the master race who
massive debt and facing food shortages. Kaiser Wilhelm Early challenges (1919-23 Hitler joined the party and within two years had taken Nazi’s believed should dominate
(emperor) had lost control of country - strikes and riots. over and changed it into the Nazi Party. undermine Aryans by inter-marriage and taking over German
9/11/18 Kaiser abdicates (stood down), country becomes a Weimar Republic always linked to surrender of WWI (this was unavoidable, but unpopular with German people) 1920 wrote the party’s 25 Point Programme. Mainly business and industry; Nationalism (capturing Lebensraum “living lesser races
republic. Ebert (leader of the SDP) appointed head of govt Forced to sign Treaty of Versailles (peace terms) in June 1919; imposed by GB, Fr and US. G had no say. space” for German people in East); totalitarianism – strong leader Mein Kampf – Hitler’s book about
until a new constitution (rules for the country) written. War guilt: G had to accept blame for the war Reparations: G had to pay £6.6bn to allies because of Hitler’s personal appeal (v passionate, better than weak democracy; traditional German values. his political beliefs
11/11/18 armistice, G surrenders. Lost overseas colonies and pieces of land including Alsace Lorraine and Saar coalfields (to Fr), and Posen (to Poland). G lost 13% of land and 10% of population G forced to persuasive orator) by end of 1920 party had 2,000 Released 1924 after 9 months in prison, relaunched NSDAP: better SA – “brownshirt” private Nazi
Ebert tries to bring stability: make G people confident in the reduce army to 100,000 troops, weakened navy, no air force. members. organised party that could win political power through election;
Republic, get support of army, trade unions and business. Critics of the Treaty said that G had never actually lost the war – it was “stab in the back” of G by politicians who signed the Treaty. Reparations weakened G economy, Changed name to National Socialist German Workers HQ in Munich, 35 local party organisations around the country. army, led by Rohm.
But extreme political parties not happy. and made politicians of seem weak. Party (NSDAP) – Nazi for short; began using swastika -SA continued to grow (400,000 members by 1930) – but many were SS- Hitler’s elite personal
January 1919 elections for National Assembly. Gather in city Spartacist Revolt logo; set up party newspaper to spread ideas. thuggish difficult to control, and more loyal to Rohm than Hitler. bodyguards, led by Himmler
of Weimar to produce Constitution of the Weimar Republic. 1919 Spartacists (communists led by Rosa Luxembourg) called a general strike: +100,000 workers took to the streets, seized govt newspaper and telegraph offices. July 1921 Hitler became party leader. He appointed key Stab in the back – idea that the
Weakened army could not stop the revolt, so Ebert ordered the establishment of Freikorps (units of former soldiers, +250,000); Freikorps crushed Spartacists, -Hitler set up the SS, elite personal bodyguard, led by Himmler.
Luxembourg killed. supporters Hess, Goering, Streicher and Rohm; also 3,000 members by 1930. Weimar politicians let down the
The Weimar Constitution Kapp Putsch worked closely with General Ludendorff, leader of G -NSDAP far better organised and had 100,000 members by 1929, German people by signing Treaty
Strengths By 1920, Ebert struggling to control Freikorps. Led by Nationalist politician Wolfgang Kapp they took over Berlin. Govt fled to Weimar and encouraged people to go on army in WWI. but limit to of Versailles.
V democratic: over 21s and women allowed to vote strike, which stopped the uprising, but made the govt look weak SA formed in 1921, led by Rohm: former soldiers hired support because of success of Stresemann in making Weimar more
Proportional Representation – small parties (with +600,000 G struggled to pay reparations, as punishment Fr sent troops to Ruhr (industrial region of G). This massively weakened G economy as Ruhr contained 80% of G iron, coal as a private army. Known as Brownshirts, paraded on stable.
votes) get represented in parliament and steel. Resulted in more debt for G, higher unemployment, shortages of goods. streets as a show of force, controlled crowds and Recovery of economy meant NSDAP had no support from working
Power divided so no individual or group could have too much opposition, often violently. Also disrupted opposition classes.
power: voters elected President; President chose Chancellor; party meetings.
Chancellor proposed laws, which had to be agreed by 1922 Hitler took complete control of NSDAP, no more
Reichstag (Parliament) Recovery (1924-29) elections for leader, Hitler dictated all policy. By 1923
Weaknesses Streseman appointed Chancellor (he soon resigned from this job) and Foreign Secretary. He bought stability to the Weimar Republic. By 1928 his policies
Proportional Representation meant lots of coalition govts meant that support for moderate parties increased, and extreme parties decreased. party membership +50,000. Hitler becomes Chancellor (1933)
(small parties agreeing to work together, but often Economic 1930 NSDAP 107 seats in Reichstag (18% of votes). Moderate SDP 25%.
arguments, so govt collapsed. 9 govts for 1919-23) Set up the Rentenmark (Nov 1923), a new currency, which meant that the economy could begin working again (factories back in business, people back Munich Putsch (Nov 1923) Hindenberg’s term as President ended. He stood for election again aged 84, beat Hitler
Article 48: in case of a crisis, Chancellor could pass any law in work) by 18m votes to 11m; but nobody won 50% of votes, so another election later that
without the agreement of Reichstag Dawes Plan (1924): deal to help G pay reparations: loan of £25bn from US to get G economy going, reparation bill temporarily reduced to £50m per year. As a Causes: “stab in the back” anger about Versailles / Weimar
Several larger parties elected to Reichstag (nationalist and result Fr left the Ruhr; G industry returned to pre-WWI levels, increased employment, trade, tax paid to govt. But meant G was reliant on US loans, and politicians; NSDAP strong support in Munich; copying Mussolini’s year; Hindenberg beat Hitler again 19m votes to 13m.
Communist) were opposed to democracy extreme parties angry that G agreed to continue paying reparations. fascist March in Rome; Hyper inflation; Ruhr invasion. German Chancellor Bruning banned the SA and SS and announced plan to buy up land from big
Young Plan (1929) reduced total reparations to £2bn, paid over 59 years. Made G people more confident in stability of Weimar, allowed govt to lower taxes people v angry, so Hitler made bid for power. landowners to house unemployed. This united right wing groups against Bruning;
for working people. 8 Nov 1923, meeting of Bavarian Govt, led by Von Kahr, in without support of the Reichstag or President Hindenberg he was forced to resign.
Key words Foreign relations Munich beer hall. Hitler and 600 SA troops burst in, announced After Bruning’s resignation Hindenberg made Von Papen Chancellor, with Nazis
Abdicate – when an emperor / Locarno Pact (1925) G agreed treaty with GB, Fr, Italy, Belgium (not imposed like Treaty of Versailles). Agreed peaceful border with Fr, Rhineland (region supporting a coalition of right wing supporters. Hitler becomes part of govt of
king stands down from the role between G and Fr) demilitarised (no troops allowed there). he was taking over the state of Bavaria and would march to Berlin Germany.
Chancellor – the leader of the German Parliament 1926 G finally allowed to join the League of Nations (had been excluded since 1919) to overthrow Weimar govt.
Constitution – set of rules for running a country Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928): G + 61 other countries signed agreement that they would not resort to war to settle disputes. Showed that G was now included Rohm and SA captured local police and army HQs, but Ludendorff 1932 Reichstag election, lots of violence, +200 killed. NSDAP won 230 seats, 38%,
Kaiser – emperor of Germany until the end of WWI among the main world powers and Weimar Republic respected. released the 3 Bavarian leaders. Became clear that local biggest party. Hitler demanded Hindenberg sack Von Papen and appoint him as
Putsch – political uprising Changes in society politicians and people did not support the uprising. Shooting in Chancellor.
Rentenmark – new German currency introduced 1923 Living standards decreased during economic crises of 1918-23, but improved after 1923. Unemployment fell, working hours reduced, wages increased; new town square: 14 Nazi supporters and 4 policemen killed, Hitler Hindenberg hated Hitler, assumed Nazi support would drop so refused to make him
Reparations – money that G had to pay the allies for damage homes built, war veterans given support. wounded. Hitler and Nazi leaders arrested. Chancellor. But Von Schleicher persuaded Hindenburg that he must force von Papen to
done in WWI Women given right to vote, more women in work, but with lower wages than men in lower status jobs. Young women more independent. Society Consequences: Hitler and Nazi leaders found guilty of treason, resign or face civil war.
Republic – a country ruled by a divided, many thought these “new women” threatened traditional values and upset economy. Von Schleicher appointed Chancellor Dec 1932, but with no public support, and no
parliament, not a king/emperor sent to prison. NSDAP banned (until 1925); Hitler realised needed
Ruhr – industrial area of Germany Big cultural changes in Weimar. New freedoms and economic recovery resulted in new styles of art, cinema and architecture. a new strategy – violent uprising failed, so needed to win power majority in Reichstag he was unable to govern. Von Papen persuaded Hindenberg to
through election; Wrote Mein Kampf – book of his political ideas make Hitler Chancellor with Von Papen as vice, saying that he would be able rto
– in Landsberg Prison; gained lots of publicity from trial. control him. Jan 1933 Hitler appointed chancellor.