Democratic development Democratic development & democratic decay& democratic decay

The collapse of the Weimar The collapse of the Weimar Republic & The Rise of NazisRepublic & The Rise of Nazis

Germany at war’s endGermany at war’s end

Kaiser abdicates (1918)Kaiser abdicates (1918) Abortive revolutionAbortive revolution Militias, paramilitary groups activeMilitias, paramilitary groups active

• Kapp putschKapp putsch Weimar Republic proclaimed, 1919Weimar Republic proclaimed, 1919

• Accepts peace dictated by alliesAccepts peace dictated by allies• Doomed from the start?Doomed from the start?

Fragmented polityFragmented polity Extreme left: Extreme left:

• Communists committed to violent revolutionCommunists committed to violent revolution Left: Left:

• Social Democrats, committed to economic change, Social Democrats, committed to economic change, redistribution of wealth – increasingly part of redistribution of wealth – increasingly part of systemsystem

Centre:Centre:• Christian Democrats,Christian Democrats,

Right:Right:• LiberalsLiberals• ConservativesConservatives• NationalistsNationalists

Extreme right: opponents of liberal democracyExtreme right: opponents of liberal democracy

Bases of supportBases of support Pro-system: the ‘Weimar parties:’Pro-system: the ‘Weimar parties:’

• Social Democrats (SPD)Social Democrats (SPD)• Catholics (Centre Party)Catholics (Centre Party)• Liberals (DVP, DP)Liberals (DVP, DP)

Republic opposed, at best tolerated by Republic opposed, at best tolerated by • military military • civil servicecivil service• JudiciaryJudiciary• upper classesupper classes

Changes over timeChanges over time

Initially, ‘Weimar parties’ enjoy strong Initially, ‘Weimar parties’ enjoy strong support;support;• But challenged from left and right: But challenged from left and right:

revolutionaries, free corps, militias….revolutionaries, free corps, militias…. Support narrows as early as 1920Support narrows as early as 1920

• Communists and independent Socialists gain Communists and independent Socialists gain on the left (20%)on the left (20%)

• Nationalists gain on the right (33%)Nationalists gain on the right (33%) Further narrowing in 1925Further narrowing in 1925

• Hindenburg elected presidentHindenburg elected president

Three periods:Three periods:

1918-1923 -- Shaky start1918-1923 -- Shaky start 1924-1929 -- Normalcy 1924-1929 -- Normalcy 1929-1933 -- Great Depression and 1929-1933 -- Great Depression and

demisedemise

1918-19231918-1923

Problems of revolts from Problems of revolts from right and leftright and left• Eventual suppressionEventual suppression

1923 Ruhr crisis: 1923 Ruhr crisis: • France & Belgium occupy in France & Belgium occupy in

order to extract reparationsorder to extract reparations• Workers strike – with approval Workers strike – with approval

of German government of German government Inflation and hyper-inflation: Inflation and hyper-inflation:

money printed to cover money printed to cover costscosts

Reparations conundrumReparations conundrum

Dawes plan (1924):Dawes plan (1924):• Rescheduling of reparations payments – Rescheduling of reparations payments –

make them manageablemake them manageable• U.S. loans to Germany U.S. loans to Germany

Enable Germany to make payments to Enable Germany to make payments to FranceFrance

Enabling France to repay U.S.Enabling France to repay U.S.

1924-19291924-1929

Stabilization of currencyStabilization of currency Attempts to make Weimar work:Attempts to make Weimar work:

• Broader coalition: centre-right parties Broader coalition: centre-right parties such as DVP joinsuch as DVP join

Period of relative success:Period of relative success:• Political stabilizationPolitical stabilization• Accommodations reached with Accommodations reached with

neighboring countries (Locarno Pact)neighboring countries (Locarno Pact)

1929-19331929-1933

US Stock Market CrashUS Stock Market Crash German dependence on American loans German dependence on American loans

results in shutdowns, mass unemploymentresults in shutdowns, mass unemployment Extreme parties – right and left – gain Extreme parties – right and left – gain

supportsupport Inability to sustain cabinets Inability to sustain cabinets

• successive electionssuccessive elections• presidential intervention presidential intervention • growth of support for Nazismgrowth of support for Nazism

The Third ReichThe Third Reich

The Nazi Seizure of PowerThe Nazi Seizure of Power

How and why?How and why?

NSDAP as a relatively small group – NSDAP as a relatively small group – one of many ‘volkish”/nationalist one of many ‘volkish”/nationalist elements, kicking around in the early elements, kicking around in the early 1920s1920s

How and why was it able toHow and why was it able to• come to power in 1933?come to power in 1933?• Consolidate power within six months?Consolidate power within six months?• Establish a totalitarian regime by 1936?Establish a totalitarian regime by 1936?

Possible explanations:Possible explanations:

German culture:German culture:• deep-seated deep-seated

authoritarianism,authoritarianism,• fragmentation/divisionsfragmentation/divisions

Fragility of Weimar Fragility of Weimar RepublicRepublic

Hitler’s skill/charismaHitler’s skill/charisma Use of propagandaUse of propaganda

http://www.thecorner.org/hist/video/v_hitler.htm

HitlerHitler

Disaffected Austrian, social misfitDisaffected Austrian, social misfit Served in German army,World War IServed in German army,World War I Afterward, one more ex-soldier Afterward, one more ex-soldier

haranguing about defeatharanguing about defeat Becomes leader of National Socialist Becomes leader of National Socialist

Workers Party (NSDAP), a small partyWorkers Party (NSDAP), a small party

Ideology or Ideology or WeltaunshaungWeltaunshaung Supremacy of Aryan raceSupremacy of Aryan race Nationalism/RomanticismNationalism/Romanticism Establishment of a new orderEstablishment of a new order Anti-SemitismAnti-Semitism LebensraumLebensraum::

• Germany must expand eastGermany must expand east Importance of struggleImportance of struggle Fuhrer Fuhrer principleprinciple Vague anti-capitalism –promises of Vague anti-capitalism –promises of

something better for everyonesomething better for everyone

1923-19251923-1925

Origins as a paramilitary groupOrigins as a paramilitary group 1923 Beer Hall Putsch, arrest and 1923 Beer Hall Putsch, arrest and

imprisonment as a turning pointimprisonment as a turning point From 1924-25, pursuit of legalityFrom 1924-25, pursuit of legality Emphasis on building up party, while Emphasis on building up party, while

propagating messagepropagating message Organization increasingly refined, with Organization increasingly refined, with

subsections for different occupations, subsections for different occupations, broader contacts with societybroader contacts with society

Gaining powerGaining power

Impact of depressionImpact of depression Divisions among partiesDivisions among parties

• Collapse of SPD-led Collapse of SPD-led government (1928-30)government (1928-30)

1930 election: NSDAP 1930 election: NSDAP gains 18%, gains 18%,

BrBrüüning (Centre) uses ning (Centre) uses presidential emergency presidential emergency powers (art. 48) to govern powers (art. 48) to govern

1932 1932 Presidential election: Presidential election:

Hindenburg defeats Hitler 53%-37%Hindenburg defeats Hitler 53%-37% BrBrüüning dismissed, ning dismissed,

• replaced by Von Papenreplaced by Von Papen SPD gov’t in Prussia ousted – SPD gov’t in Prussia ousted – Socialists fail to resistSocialists fail to resist

1932 Parliamentary Elections 1932 Parliamentary Elections

First election:First election: NSDAP wins 37%NSDAP wins 37% Nationalists, von Papen and then Nationalists, von Papen and then

Schleicher, try to enlist NSDAP in a Schleicher, try to enlist NSDAP in a coalitioncoalition

Hitler refuses, unwilling to be named Hitler refuses, unwilling to be named vice-chancellorvice-chancellor

22ndnd election called election called

1932-331932-33

2nd 1932 election: 2nd 1932 election: NSDAP wins 32%NSDAP wins 32% Coalition with Hitler as chancellor, Coalition with Hitler as chancellor,

von Papen as vice-chancellorvon Papen as vice-chancellor Hitler assumes office Jan. 30, 1933Hitler assumes office Jan. 30, 1933 Rapidly consolidates power by Rapidly consolidates power by

successively eliminating his successively eliminating his opponentsopponents

The Third Reich: The Third Reich: Consolidating power Consolidating power

Dividing and rulingDividing and ruling New elections called (Nazis win 44%)New elections called (Nazis win 44%) Reichstag fire as pretext for Reichstag fire as pretext for

emergency legislation, suspending emergency legislation, suspending civil liberties, banning communists civil liberties, banning communists from new Reichstagfrom new Reichstag

Enabling Act, 1933 transfers power to Enabling Act, 1933 transfers power to chancellorchancellor• Centre Party supports, lest it be banned, Centre Party supports, lest it be banned,

supplying necessary 2/3 majoritysupplying necessary 2/3 majority

Moves against other Moves against other organizationsorganizations

Social Democrats banned Social Democrats banned Unions promised freedom to pursue Unions promised freedom to pursue

economic goals economic goals • later reorganized into comprehensive labour later reorganized into comprehensive labour

frontfront Centre Party disbands following concordat Centre Party disbands following concordat

with Vatican, guaranteeing position of R.C. with Vatican, guaranteeing position of R.C. ChurchChurch

Nationalists subsequently marginalized –Nationalists subsequently marginalized – http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/

mod/horstwessel.htmlmod/horstwessel.html

Control of governmentControl of government

Power enhanced by creating new Power enhanced by creating new ministries –with Nazis in chargeministries –with Nazis in charge

Enabling Acts used to take control of Enabling Acts used to take control of provincial governmentsprovincial governments

Military and business acquiesceMilitary and business acquiesce Some objections, but Hitler placates by Some objections, but Hitler placates by

moving against more radical elements:moving against more radical elements:• SA attached and destroyed during SA attached and destroyed during Night of Night of

Long KnivesLong Knives (June 20, 1934) (June 20, 1934)• makes way for more disciplined SSmakes way for more disciplined SS

1934-351934-35 Hindenburg dies in 1934 Hindenburg dies in 1934 Hitler as chancellor & presidentHitler as chancellor & president

• New role of New role of FuhrerFuhrer• endorsed by plebiscite: endorsed by plebiscite:

38 million for, 5 million opposed38 million for, 5 million opposed Nazi penetration of government, societyNazi penetration of government, society

• Independent organizations merged into Nazi Independent organizations merged into Nazi organizations: organizations:

• GleichschaltungGleichschaltung (‘ (‘bringing things into line’) bringing things into line’) enhances control enhances control

Increasing use of terror by SS, GestapoIncreasing use of terror by SS, Gestapo

Policies and directionsPolicies and directions Expansive economic policy – rearmament, public Expansive economic policy – rearmament, public

works (construction of autobahns…) –works (construction of autobahns…) –• creates jobs,creates jobs,• reflates economy reflates economy • generates supportgenerates support

Successive moves against Jews, minoritiesSuccessive moves against Jews, minorities• Restrictions on numbers of Jews in professionsRestrictions on numbers of Jews in professions• Nuremberg laws (1935) remove citizenshipNuremberg laws (1935) remove citizenship• Kristallnacht, 1938Kristallnacht, 1938

Foundation laid for warFoundation laid for war• Rearmament in violation of Versailles, 1933Rearmament in violation of Versailles, 1933• Attempted Attempted anschlussanschluss with Austria 1934 with Austria 1934• Reoccupation of Rhineland, 1936Reoccupation of Rhineland, 1936

The Nazi stateThe Nazi state

Partial fusion of party and statePartial fusion of party and state Hitler at the centre – Hitler at the centre –

• remote – issuing vague directionsremote – issuing vague directions Numerous empires within the Numerous empires within the

system, system, • SSSS• GestapoGestapo

Why was this possible?Why was this possible?

Mass attitudes?Mass attitudes? Attitudes of elites?Attitudes of elites?

• Hindenburg, military, monarchists, Hindenburg, military, monarchists, others…others…

Fragmentation of Weimar society?Fragmentation of Weimar society? Hitler’s skill?Hitler’s skill?

• Success of divide and rule tactics?Success of divide and rule tactics?• Success of propaganda, big lie?Success of propaganda, big lie?

Cumulative radicalization?Cumulative radicalization?