Download weaknesses of weimar

RISE OF THE NAZIS
WEAKNESSES OF WEIMAR
KU:
Stab in the back – Weimar was blamed for surrendering too quickly
accepted the Treaty of Versailles (‘Diktat’, Article 231 War Guilt Clause)
A:
unpopular with the German people – Nazi Party AGAINST BOTH so helped them get
support, Hitler refers to them constantly in speeches
KU:
A:
Constitutional problems – 9 elections up to 1928, 35 parties
Nazi Party had never been in government, so not associated with weaknesses and
corruption of the many coalition governments.
KU:
Law & Order 300+ political assassinations
Spartacist Revolt 1919 (Communists inspired by Bolsheviks)
showed Weimar had no control over law and order
people wanted a strong government to ensure peace
Hitler seemed a strong leader
A:
Germans didn’t like democracy – unstable, weak, foreign, imposed on Germany.
Nazi’s attack on democracy seemed like a return to stability of Kaiser before 1914.
ECONOMIC WEAKNESSES
KU:
After the war, Germany entered Hyper-inflation – money worthless, MC savings wiped
Kolbi cabbage 50 million marks
A:
weakness gave Nazis confidence to attempt Beer Hall Putsch 1923 (failed revolution).
Nazi vote 1.9 million in 1924, shows how economic factors directly helped Nazis.
KU:
A:
KU:
A:
“GOLDEN AGE” – temporary prosperity
Dawes Plan – 15.5bn marks from the United States
Nazi vote dropped to 810,100
shows that Nazis were only voted for in times of economic chaos.
“Wall Street Crash” – US called in foreign loans
Great Depression – unemployment 6 million in 1932 (highest in Europe)
showed Weimar as weak
Nazi vote increases to 13.7 million in 1932
Disasters used in Hitler’s speeches to discredit Weimar and stress need for Nazi govt.
A:
weakness gave Nazis confidence to attempt Beer Hall Putsch 1923 (failed revolution).
Nazi vote 1.9 million in 1924, shows how economic factors directly helped Nazis
When economy well, support for Nazis falls. When economy weak, Nazi vote increases.
“Only the Great Depression put the wind in the Nazi sails” – AJP Taylor
APPEAL OF THE NAZIS
KU:
Party Policy – APPEALED TO ALL
Farmers – keep Bank Jews off their backs
Middle-Class – crush Communists
Unemployed – Jobs
Army – rearm Germany, tear up ToV
Working-Class – higher wages
Women – protect families from chaos
A:
Nazi policies suited everyone, sought to maximise votes by policies for all classes.
KU:
Propaganda
HARZBURG FRONT - right-wing political alliance of wealthy businessmen, funded Nazis.
Dr. Joseph Goebbels – Nazi Propaganda Minister
Alfred Hugenburg – country's leading media proprietor, advertised effectively for Nazis.
A:
German people wanted an alternative government. Propaganda made Nazis stand out.
KU:
Distinctiveness distinctive leader, distinctive symbol (swastika), uniforms & marches.
A:
made Nazis seem organised in a time of chaos.
LACK OF OPPOSITION
KU:
LEFT – KPD & SPD, disunited over Spartacist Revolt
CENTRE – Zentrum, weak & impotent, lost too many votes
RIGHT – DNVP supported the Nazis to crush the left & democracy
A:
The other parties’ unwillingness to unite left Nazis rise
UNCHALLENGED
to
power
virtually