History- Case study of Nazi Germany

• WWI

  1914-1918
• Germany on verge of defeat: British Navy blockaded German ports. 300,000 Germans died from starvation


  1918
• Kaiser abdicated


  9 Nov
• Friedrich Ebert (leader of the Social Democratic Party or SPD) became new leader of Republic of Germany


  10 Nov
• Ebert represented Germany to sign armistice to end WWI

  11 Nov
• Start of Paris Peace Conference

  1919 Jan
• Spartacist Uprising (Communist uprising to overthrow Weimar Govt)


  Jan
• First elections of the Weimar Govt


  Jan
• Germany signed Treaty of Versailles

  28 Jun
• German Workers' Party renamed as National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party)


  1920 Feb
• Kapp Putsch


  1920 Mar
• Hitler took control of Nazi party


  1921 Jul
• Signing of Rapallo Treaty: USSR and Germany re-established diplomatic relations


  1922
• French troops occupied the Ruhr


  1923 Jan
• Munich Putsch


  1923 Nov
• Signing of Dawes Plan (US loans to Germany). Helped German economy to recover from hyperinflation


  1924
• Hitler was put on trial and sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment (was released 9 months later. Wrote Mein Kampf in prison)


  1924
• Years of recovery for Germany (flourishing of arts and culture): "Golden Age" of Weimar Govt


  1924-1928
• Signing of Locarno Treaties (Germany, France, Britain, Belgium, Italy) Germany accepted its western borders as set out in TOV


  1925
• Hitler reorganised the Nazi Party


  1925-1928
• Germany became member of League of Nations


  1926
• Elections: Communists won 4 times the number of votes (54 seats) that the Nazis won (12 seats)


  1928
• Young Plan (US loans + reduced reparation amount + extended payment


  1929
• Wall Street Crash in USA & start of Great Depression


  Oct 1929
• Elections: Nazis won more seats (107) in the Reichstag than communists (77)


  1930
• Hindenburg defeated Hitler in Presidential election


  1932
• Elections: Nazi Party won 37% votes in elections and became the largest single Party. Von Papen was made Chancellor


  July 1932
• Elections: Nazi Party won most votes (33%) but votes fell. Von Schleicher was made Chancellor


  Nov 1932
• President Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor


  1933 Jan
• Reichstag Fire


  27 Feb 1933
• Hindenburg declared Emergency Law. 4000 communists were arrested


  28 Feb 1933
• Elections: Nazis won 44% votes. Combined with Hugenberg's Nationalist Party


  Mar 1933
• Passed Enabling Act: Hitler became legal dictator


  24 Mar 1933
• Nazi Party was the only legal political party. Banned all political parties


  Jul 1933
• Banned trade unions and imprisoned their leaders


  Jul 1933
• Night of the Long Knives (About 400: Ernst Rohm, other SA leaders and political opponents were killed)

  1934 Jun
• President Hindenburg died. Hitler combined positions of Chancellor and President into position of Fuhrer


  Aug 1934
• Hjalmar Schacht appointed as Economics Minister


  1934
• Setting up of German Workers' Party
• Hitler Youth: 2.3 million