The Impact of depression of 1929

• What was the Wall Street Crash? 

  It was the collapse of the stock market in New York in October 1929. 
• Why did this affect Germany? 

  They took loans from America, which were recalled so the German economy suffered too as they didn’t have enough to give back to them. 
• What happened to Germany’s export trade? 

  It declined by about 60% after the crash. 
• Was Germany in a greater position than Britain or worse? 

  Worse- industrial production fell by about 60% in Germany but by only about 10% in Britain. 
• What happened to banks and businesses? 

  Many became bankrupt as they lost investors and customers. 
• How many people in 1932 were registered as unemployed? 

  A third of German workers-but many like women were not even counted in this figure. 
• What is the estimated number of unemployed people in 1933? 

  Around 8 million. 

   
• How did farmers suffer? 

  Prices of food fell as well as exports of their produce causing their income to decline. 
• What happened to welfare benefits? 

  They had to be limited as too many people now needed them. 
• Name one way the government tried to regulate this. 

  -The unemployed were paid only temporarily 

  -Women were given less than men 
• Name 2 conditions of living during the Depression. 

  -Diseases linked to poor living conditions thrived 

  -Increase of shanty towns 

  -Poverty and malnutrition  
• Why did the rates of juvenile crime increase? 

  Rates of unemployment increased so young people had nothing else to do other than join gangs and steal or fight. 
• What sort of organisations did they join? 

  Political extremist organisations like the KPD, Hitler Youth and the SA. 
• What did the government try to do to help the youth? Give 2 examples.  

  -They established day-centres with activities  

  -Emergency Labour Schemes meant unemployed youths could be paid a small amount to work  

  -Voluntary labour schemes to send people to residential work camps for training   
• How was women’s employment affected by the depression? 

  Married women were dismissed from Civil Service jobs. 

   
• Why did the Grand Coalition collapse? Give 2 reasons.  

  -It was too broad-was made up of 5 political parties 

  -The Wall Street Crash divided left-wing and right-wing members 

  -The army became (undemocratically) involvement in politics 

  -Hindenburg had to rule by decree- no democracy  
• Why were the results of the September 1930 election a concern? 

  Extremist parties gained more seats. The KPD had 77 seats but the Nazis had 107, making then them the second largest party.  
• Describe what political violence was like during this time. 

  There were frequent riots, assassinations and uprisings, particularly between the Nazi SA and the Communist Red-Front. 
• What did Bruning do to control the violence? 

  He issued a decree to outlaw the SA and ban the wearing of political uniforms. 
• How did the SA get around their ban?  

  They wore white shirts and continued!