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