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How did the Depression in Italy
and Germany led to the rise of
dictatorships?
Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler
Skill 2
Liza French
Gabrielle Boutin
Block 1
The Weimar Republic
• (1919-1933) Typically described as the period in
history when German government was a
democratic republic that was administrated by a
constitution.
• This government was actually a result of the
United State’s refusal to make dealings with the
Kaiser in the aftermath of World War I.
• A new government had to be established, thus the
Republic. However, the people of Germany were
dissatisfied with the Republic, which was a
weakening point for Germany.
The Depression and Debts in
Germany
After World War I, Germany had debts of nearly $36 billion to repay—debts they
could not afford.
They borrowed a lot of money from the United States to manage their debts.
When the Stock Markets crashed in October of 1929, Germany was greatly affected
because of their great monetary connection with the United States.
The United States needed the money they’d lent to
Germany back. They gave Germany 90 days to repay
them, but Germany couldn’t afford it.
The German government overprinted money to an
extreme. Hyperinflation in Germany reduced the worth
of their money to almost nothing and rather than
helping them it only increased the severity of the
situation.
As A Result…
• Companies went bankrupt and
millions of workers became
unemployed.
• People could not provide for
themselves or their families.
Without a job, food, clothes,
heating, and other necessities of
life became difficult to afford.
• Desperate conditions made
German morale weak—people
were losing confidence in their
government.
• The people of Germany wanted
someone to blame and someone
to save them.
September 1928
650,000
unemployed
September 1929
1,320,000
unemployed
September 1930
3,000,000
unemployed
September 1931
4,350,000
unemployed
September 1932
5,102,000
unemployed
January 1933
6,100,000
unemployed
The Rise of a Dictator
• The troubled people turned to the Nazi and
Communist parties.
• Hitler, the leader of the Nazi party, had ideas
of public-work projects and munitions to
provide jobs for people, increasing his
popularity.
• Hitler challenged Field Marshall von
Hindenburg, the current president and
demanded to be made chancellor.
• Hindenburg was disdainful of Hitler
however, and wanted to appoint his own
chancellor. But when the two men failed at
their jobs, Hitler was the people’s choice for
the new chancellor.
The Depression in Italy
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Italy was another country hit hard by
the Depression.
The government had spent more money
in WWI than was spent in 1861-1913
and as a result the economy was a
disaster, constantly going up and down.
The unregulated business practices
allowed people to do whatever they
wanted in ways that harmed the already
fragile economic system.
There was a large fall in investments,
work hours, international trade, and
production of goods.
The government was unstable at this
time as well.
The unemployment rate rose
considerably and riots and strikes broke
out amongst the people regularly.
There was also great fear of a Socialist
Revolution, such as seen in Russia.
Unemployment Rate
30.00%
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
Unemployment
Rate
1929
1931
1933
1935
1937
1939
•
Italy Needs A Leader
•
Benito Mussolini, the leader of the
Fascist party, attempted to crush
anarchy erupting around Italy by
sending his own “thugs,” The
Blackshirts, to riot against
Communists and other groups, all
in the name of peace—he spread
chaos throughout the streets of
Italy while posing as a champion of
order and regulation, something
Italy needed in abundance.
•
Fear of Communists turned people
toward fascism, a governmental
system led by a dictator having
complete power, forcibly
suppressing opposition and
criticism and emphasizing an
aggressive nationalism and often
racism, as the answer to Italy’s
problems.
Mussolini’s Rise To Power
• The Fascist Party began riots
against the Italian government
initially without Mussolini’s
support, but when it appeared
they might succeed, he stepped in
front as though it were his idea
all along.
• Through intimidation and a
rigged election, he bullied the
Italian Parliament into giving him
the power to shut down all other
parties in Italy.
• By 1925, Mussolini had complete
power in a fascist dictatorship.
It is only necessary to watch 3 minutes or so.
Bibliography
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http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/etc/20/FC133
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/weimar.htm
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-was-the-weimar-republic.htm
http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/westn/interwareco.html
http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/depression/about.htm
http://www.stocks-simplified.com/Effects-of-the-Great-Depression.html
http://www.gcsehistory.org.uk/modernworld/appeasement/impactofdepress
ion.htm
http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2011/06/unemployment-during-the-greatdepression-has-been-overstated/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTuIzGe2Nz8
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=462
http://www.localhistories.org/italy.html
http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~quadrini/papers/deprpap.pdf