Fall of Weimar

• By 1932, unemployment had hit 6 million.
• By 1932, one third of Germans had no regular wages.
• The grand coalition struggled as the welfare system had not been built to cope with such numbers.
• Due to SPD being largest party, Bruning had to force his cut to public spending and higher taxes through article 48.
• Bruning managed to bring an end to reperations but banned the SA in 1932.
• During 1931, the SA was prevalent in beating up communists in the street, hence Bruning's decision to ban them.
• In November 1932, the Nazis had lost some of their votes due to:

  • Hitler's repeated attacks on Papen
  • refusal to accept the vice-chancellorship
  • His support for a communist-led transport strike in Berlin
• 'Law for the restoration of the professional civil service' forced non-aryans to retire from places in the administration.
• Himmler and Goering spread rumours of a planned coup by the SA giving Hitler an excuse to take action.
• Sonderweg theory - Germany traditionally sought a more nationalist, traditional style of ruling.
• Schleicher tried to win over workers by cancelling Papen's wage and benefit cuts, also by setting up job creation schemes- failed.