Germany and the Depression

• The Great Depression (1930):

  1. The USA recall loans (ask for money back)
  2. Americans could no longer afford to buy foreign goods. + German bank recall loans from German businesses: Small businesses close and cant pay back loans to banks.
  3. German factories begin to close due to reduced demand for goods. + Banks begin to close and people lose their savings.
  4. German workers lose their jobs: unemployment rises.
  5. Support for the Weimar Republic decreases.
  6. Support for political extremests increases.
• Politica Extremity:

  People lost trust in the mainstream parties and wanted change. Communists gained more support because of unemployment and falling wages. The working class trusted communists to protect their jobs. This led to the Nazis becoming more popular as they promised to fight communism. The rich and middle class feared communism as it may lead to a change in their standard of living.
• Government Failures:

  The government led by Heinrich Bruning , was ineffective. They at first raised taxes to pay for benefits and cut benefits to make them cheaper for the government; this was very unpopular. The Reichstag did not approve Brunings policies and so he had to rely on article 48 to make emergency laws called a presidential decree. Bruning was losing control of the Reichstag and there were 66 presidential decree in 1932, compare to 5 in 1930. 
• Unemployment:

  By 1933 six million workers unemployed. 40% of factory workers , 50% of Germans between 16 and 30 and 60% of graduates. Savers lost savings, workers wages were cut. There was in increase in crime in Berlin by 24%.
• Why did people vote for Hitler? (Part 1):

  The Depression:

  • Wages fell by 1/3, 6.1 million people were unemployed. - Welfare system could not cope.
  • Encouraged people to vote for Hitler as they lost faith in the Weimar government. Hitler promised to reduce unemployment and make Germany great again.

  Appeal of Hitler:

  • Made a lot of promises (support families, solve economic problems) and was a powerful speaker.
  • They were inspired by his charisma in comparison to the impact of the Great Depression. He was able to instil belief throughout the country.
• Why did people vote for Hitler? (part 2):

  Fear of Communists:

  • SA were intimidating attacked communists and business men donated money to the NSDAP as they feared communism.
  • Encouraged business owners to vote for Hitler as they were scared of communism. Funded the NSDAP as Hitler promised to protect them.

  Propaganda and Tactics:

  • Hitler held rallies in Nuremberg (100,000+ attendees) and the Nazis trained over 6000 speakers.
  • Encouraged people to vote for Hitler as we could share his message easily. Created a sense of community and trust that Germany would be great again.
• How did Hitler become Chancellor? (part 1):

  The Great Depression:

  • Caused a loss of trust in the Weimar.
  • Led to an increase in unepmloyment.
  • Led to more support for communists and NSDAP.

  September 1930 Election:

  • Nazis saw an inrease in seats in the Reichstag. (107)
  • Hindenburg appointed Bruning as Chancellor.
  • 3m were unemployed.

  Failures of Chancellor Bruning:

  • Stopped banks from lending. Increased unemplotment losing him support.
  • Used emergency decrees to pass laws to sieze rich peoples land.
  • Lost Hindenburgs Support who refused to sign his laws.
• How did Hitler Become Chancellor? (part 2):

  Hindenburg refuses to make Hitler Chancellor:

  • Bruning was forced to resign and Von Papen was appointed.
  • Electon shoes that the NSDAP were the most popular (230). Hindenburg refuses to appoint Hitler and keeps Van Papen.

  November 1932 Election:

  • NSDAP vote fall slightly but are still the most popular.
  • Von Papen's party also loses votes. Von Papen resigns.
  • Hindenburg apponts Kurk Von Schleicher but he had no support so resigned.
• Hitler becomes Chancellor

  • Hindenburg has no option but to appoint Hitler and Chancellor. restricted the number of Nazis Hitler could appoint to his cabinent to 2 and appointed Von Papen as Vice chancellor to limit Hitlers power.
  • Hindenburg thought he could control Hitler.
• Reichstag Fire (Feb 1933):

  • Reichstag building was destroyed by a huge fire.
  • A young Durchman and Communist (Marinus Con De Lubbe), caught on site with matches and firelighters. Confessed he acted alone and was found guilty and executed.
  • Hitler and Goering claimed it was a Communist conspiracy against the government.
  • Hitler used this to attack Communists. 4000 Communists were arrested.
  • Hitler pressured Hindenburg to declare a state of emergency. If Hindenburg supported Hitler, he was able to use decrees to govern Germany.
• The Enabling Act (23rd March 1933):

  • Hitler used the force of Storm Troopers to threaten the families of parliament members.
  • Allowed Hitler to ignore the constitution of the Weimar Republic; bypass the Reichstag and implement his own laws.
  • This law was passed 444 votes to 94 by the Reichstag.
  • Attacked other political parties.
  • Enables Hitler to gain more power because he could now create new laws without the approval of the Reichstag. A step closer to dictatorship.
• Removal of Trade Unions (Mary 1933):

  • Trade union offices were broken into and leaders arrested all over Germany.
  • Hitler ensured that strikes were illegal and trade unions were banned.
  • Attacked Trade Unions.
  • Consolidated Hitlers power because he had taken away the single way that workers could complain about treatment, given himself a way to control a whole group of people.
• Removal of Political Opposition (July 1933):

  • Any parties who oppose the Nazi ideals were destroyed and following any party other than the NSDAP was made illegal.
  • Anyone attempting to set uo other political parties would be sentenced to 3 years in prison.
  • Targeted other political parties.
  • Consolidated Hitlers power because Germay was a single party country. He had an increased amount of power because he now dictated German politics.
• Local Government (January 1934):

  • Local Government of each region of Germany was run by its own parliament under the Weimar.
  • Hitler controlled the Reichstag by the year 1934 but still doesn't have authority over local government.
  • Abolition of local governments occured and he appointed governors to run each region.
  • Attacked the Local Government.
  • Consolidated Hitlers power because he now had complete control over the entire country.
• Night of Long Knives (30th June 1934):

  • To achieve the removal of the SA he oragnised a meetinf with Rohm and 100 other SA leaders. When they showed up he imprisoned and shot them.
  • Evidently abolished the SA and their threat.
  • Attacked the SA.
  • Consolidated Hitlers power because he was on good terms with the army and had gained support because people saw that he was trying to destroy the SA (remove violence from his party).
• Hindenburg died in August 1934. Hitler joins together the role of President and CHancellor. He's now full dictator of Germany.