The Weimar Republic and The Weimar Republic and the Beginning of Nazi the Beginning of Nazi

DictatorshipDictatorshipThe Failure of DemocracyThe Failure of Democracy

1918 – Germany a Beaten Power1918 – Germany a Beaten Power

Navy MutiniedNavy Mutinied Population Starving (British Naval Population Starving (British Naval

Blockades)Blockades) Riots in the StreetsRiots in the Streets However, infrastructure in Germany However, infrastructure in Germany

still intactstill intact

New Civilian GovernmentNew Civilian Government

Army Leaders (Army Leaders (Hindenburg and Hindenburg and LudendorffLudendorff) realize they have lost ) realize they have lost and do not want the humiliation of and do not want the humiliation of suing for peace – allow civilian suing for peace – allow civilian government to take controlgovernment to take control

New Socialist Leader New Socialist Leader Philipp ScheidemannPhilipp Scheidemann

First Task - First Task - ConstitutionConstitution

Proportional Representation in Proportional Representation in Reichstag (Parliament) led by a Reichstag (Parliament) led by a Chancellor Chancellor

A President was to be electedA President was to be elected Could appoint or dismiss ChancellorCould appoint or dismiss Chancellor Could Govern by decree (make laws in Could Govern by decree (make laws in

times of emergency without parliamentary times of emergency without parliamentary consent)consent)

First President a Socialist – First President a Socialist – Freidrich Freidrich EbertEbert (moderate Socialist) (moderate Socialist)

Freidrich EbertFreidrich Ebert

First Challenge to New First Challenge to New Government Government

Spartacist RebellionSpartacist Rebellion Extreme Socialists want Communist Extreme Socialists want Communist

style revolutionstyle revolution Led by Karl Liebnecht and Rosa Led by Karl Liebnecht and Rosa

LuxemburgLuxemburg Two week uprising in BerlinTwo week uprising in Berlin

Eventually put down by Eventually put down by Frei Korps Frei Korps Ex-servicemen who were against Ex-servicemen who were against

CommunismCommunismLeaders KilledLeaders Killed

Frei KorpsFrei Korps

Weimar Republic – Second Weimar Republic – Second ChallengeChallenge

Too much fighting in Berlin so new Too much fighting in Berlin so new government sets up in city of government sets up in city of WeimarWeimar

EbertEbert Forced to sign Forced to sign Treaty of Treaty of VersaillesVersailles Seen by many as an unforgivable crimeSeen by many as an unforgivable crime Republic is associated with humiliation – Republic is associated with humiliation –

traitors to Germany (Hitler would call them traitors to Germany (Hitler would call them the November Criminals)the November Criminals)

Army claims it is all the civilian “traitors” Army claims it is all the civilian “traitors” faultfault

For and AgainstFor and Against SupportSupport for the for the

Weimar came from:Weimar came from: SocialistsSocialists Catholic Center PartyCatholic Center Party Democratic PartyDemocratic Party

Those Those Opposed Opposed were were the the NationalistsNationalists and and IndustrialistsIndustrialists Wanted Kaiser backWanted Kaiser back Trade Unions crushedTrade Unions crushed Communists deadCommunists dead Nationalists set up and Nationalists set up and

used the Frei Korps used the Frei Korps (jobless soldiers) to (jobless soldiers) to achieve some of these achieve some of these endsends

Question: Why would the Nationalist be so Against the Republic?

Third Challenge - Kapp PutschThird Challenge - Kapp Putsch

Frei KorpsFrei Korps led by Dr. Kapp try to led by Dr. Kapp try to take power by forcetake power by force Reichswehr Reichswehr (Professional Army) (Professional Army)

refuses to come to the aid of refuses to come to the aid of government and fire on the Frei Korpsgovernment and fire on the Frei Korps

Government flees BerlinGovernment flees Berlin Stopped by general strike by workersStopped by general strike by workers Rebels go mostly unpunishedRebels go mostly unpunished

Kapp

The Kapp Putch

Fourth Challenge - EconomyFourth Challenge - Economy Loss of Industrial outputLoss of Industrial output

Treaty of Versailles gave away a great deal of Treaty of Versailles gave away a great deal of Germany’s industrial areas - SaarGermany’s industrial areas - Saar

ReparationsReparations Too severeToo severe Government began printing money to pay it Government began printing money to pay it

without assets to back the noteswithout assets to back the notes 1923 1923 French and Belgians move into French and Belgians move into

RuhrRuhr (Industrial Heartland of Germany) (Industrial Heartland of Germany) Take what they had been promised in Take what they had been promised in

Versailles but had not received – coalVersailles but had not received – coal German workers strike – economy slows even German workers strike – economy slows even

furtherfurther

InflationInflation

19181918

Jan Jan 19231923

Sept Sept 19231923

Nov Nov 19231923

BreaBreadd

.6 .6 MarksMarks

250 250 MarksMarks

1,500,001,500,000 Marks0 Marks

201 201 Million Million MarksMarks

Wealthy are not hit as hard – value of Wealthy are not hit as hard – value of factories and land keeps pace with factories and land keeps pace with inflationinflation

Trust in Weimar Republic fadesTrust in Weimar Republic fades

Boys making Kites out of the German markBoys making Kites out of the German mark

The German MarkThe German Mark

Lines for food

Children Play with stacks of money

Firewood

Cooking Fuel

100,000,000 Mark note

The Munich Putsch 1923The Munich Putsch 1923(The Beer Hall Putsch)(The Beer Hall Putsch)

Lead by Lead by Hitler and LudendorffHitler and Ludendorff (General in (General in WWI greatly respected by Germans)WWI greatly respected by Germans) Gather in a Beer Hall in MunichGather in a Beer Hall in Munich

3000 armed Brown Shirts (S.A. - Sturmabteilung)3000 armed Brown Shirts (S.A. - Sturmabteilung) March on parliament with idea of taking controlMarch on parliament with idea of taking control Bavarian police fire on marchers and a battle ensuesBavarian police fire on marchers and a battle ensues 16 killed16 killed

Hitler arrestedHitler arrested Sentenced to five years in prisonSentenced to five years in prison

Writes Mein KampfWrites Mein Kampf

Translation-My StruggleTranslation-My Struggle

The Conspirators

Ludendorff

The Beer Hall

The March

Prison

The Lull – Germany Accepted back into The Lull – Germany Accepted back into International Community 1924-1929International Community 1924-1929

Gustav Stresemann ChancellorGustav Stresemann Chancellor Stabilizes currencyStabilizes currency

Halts inflation by creating Reichsmark backed by landHalts inflation by creating Reichsmark backed by land Orders strikers in Ruhr back to workOrders strikers in Ruhr back to work Starts to pay reparation againStarts to pay reparation again

Stabilizes international relationsStabilizes international relations Dawes Plan 1924Dawes Plan 1924

800 million from USA to help with Reparation800 million from USA to help with Reparation Young PlanYoung Plan - 5 years later Reparation reduced - 5 years later Reparation reduced

to 2 billion from 6.6to 2 billion from 6.6 Treaty of RapalloTreaty of Rapallo with Russia with Russia

Closer tiesCloser ties Secret training schools for German Tank and Secret training schools for German Tank and

Airplane pilots (Goes against treaty of Airplane pilots (Goes against treaty of Versailles)Versailles)

1925 Locarno Treaties1925 Locarno Treaties France most important one - France most important one -

Germany gives up any rights to Germany gives up any rights to Alsace-Loraine and recognized Alsace-Loraine and recognized permanent borders with Francepermanent borders with France

Treaty with Poland and Czechoslovakia – Treaty with Poland and Czechoslovakia – disputes to be settled without international disputes to be settled without international helphelp

1926 Germany allowed to join League of 1926 Germany allowed to join League of NationsNations

Nazi and Communist support lessens Nazi and Communist support lessens during this timeduring this time

When economy begins to falter again When economy begins to falter again (unemployment – agriculture – Great (unemployment – agriculture – Great Depression) Nazis begin to gain support Depression) Nazis begin to gain support againagain

Political and Economic Turmoil in Political and Economic Turmoil in the 1930sthe 1930s

Great DepressionGreat Depression degrades economy degrades economy World wideWorld wide

USA demands payment of its earlier USA demands payment of its earlier loans to Germany (Dawes etc.)loans to Germany (Dawes etc.)

Bruning (Catholic Center Party leader Bruning (Catholic Center Party leader and German Chancellor) responds by and German Chancellor) responds by cutting unemployment and welfare cutting unemployment and welfare benefitsbenefits Socialists withdraw from CoalitionSocialists withdraw from Coalition Bruning no longer has majority in ReichstagBruning no longer has majority in Reichstag

Elections are called by Elections are called by President President HindenburgHindenburg (very respected WWI (very respected WWI General)General)

Things got worseThings got worse Nazis and Communists increase their Nazis and Communists increase their

percentage of the votepercentage of the vote Bruning has even smaller minority - has to Bruning has even smaller minority - has to

rule by decreerule by decree Reichstag no longer center of powerReichstag no longer center of power

1932 Hitler challenges Hindenburg in 1932 Hitler challenges Hindenburg in Presidential electionPresidential election Hindenburg – 19000000 votesHindenburg – 19000000 votes Hitler – 13000000 votesHitler – 13000000 votes Communist leader – 4000000 votesCommunist leader – 4000000 votes

Bruning Resigns May 1932Bruning Resigns May 1932 New Chancellor is New Chancellor is Franz Von PapenFranz Von Papen (no (no

real political affiliations – opportunist)real political affiliations – opportunist) Lifts ban on the S.A.Lifts ban on the S.A. Clashes between Nazis and CommunistsClashes between Nazis and Communists

November 1932 elections still no November 1932 elections still no majoritymajority

December 1932 new Chancellor December 1932 new Chancellor von Schleichervon Schleicher – resigns Jan 28 – resigns Jan 28thth, 1933 , 1933 when Hindenburg won’t let him govern when Hindenburg won’t let him govern by decreeby decree

January 30January 30thth 1933 – 1933 – Hindenburg asks Hindenburg asks Hitler to become ChancellorHitler to become Chancellor

Hitler as ChancellorHitler as Chancellor

Hitler Gains Complete ControlHitler Gains Complete Control Hitler did not have a majority at firstHitler did not have a majority at first

Calls for new election – still only 44%Calls for new election – still only 44% Reichstag is burnt downReichstag is burnt down in February in February

Communist arrestedCommunist arrested Communists outlawed - persecutedCommunists outlawed - persecuted

Passes Passes Enabling BillEnabling Bill – Dictatorial powers – Dictatorial powers Socialists vote againstSocialists vote against In May socialists are bannedIn May socialists are banned By July all other parties are made illegalBy July all other parties are made illegal

Nazi Party in complete Nazi Party in complete controlcontrol