Download How Depression helped Nazis

Activity 3.6:
How did the Depression help the
Nazis?
Part 1
How did the Depression weaken
the Weimar government?
Unpopular economic policies (1)
• Germans very proud of and sensitive
about the economy
• Weimar government seemed to have no
idea what do about poverty and
unemployment
• No other country’s government did any
better
• Weimar government did try measures but
had limited options …
Unpopular economic policies (2)
• Weimar government afraid of repeat of
1923 inflation so Chancellor (Bruning):
– raised taxes
– cut wages
– reduced unemployment benefit
What effect do you think this would have
had on attitudes towards the Weimar
Republic?
Presidential rule
• Economic policies caused crisis:
– Social Democrats pulled out of government
coalition because of economic policies
– Chancellor got President Hindenburg to use
Article 48 to pass his measures
– but Hindenburg was 84 and influenced by his
friends – business and army leaders
What was the attitude of Hindenburg
and his friends towards the Weimar
Republic?
The rise of extremism
• Weimar government seemed to be losing control
• More people became involved in politics and
voted
• Extremist parties – Nazis and Communists –
claimed they had the answers
• Extremism led to violence – 500 killed during
1932 elections
How would these events affect people’s
faith in the Weimar Republic?
Pause for thought
• The image on the next slide shows the Berlin
police reacting to an emergency.
• In a way, the picture sums up the terrible
position the Weimar Republic was in at this time.
• Label the picture using the framework on the
next slide.
Weimar Germany 1929–1932: A state in
crisis
Factor weakening
the Weimar
Republic
Factor weakening
the Weimar
Republic
This was a
major/minor
threat because …
This was a
major/minor
threat because …
Factor weakening
the Weimar
Republic
This was a major/minor
threat because …
Part 2
How did these problems help the Nazis?
How did these problems help the Nazis?
• Nazis claimed they had the answers:
– Weimar was weak – Hitler was a strong leader
– unemployment – Nazis would create jobs
– Communists – SA would deal with them
• Hitler’s public speaking and general appeal
• Nazi seats in Reichstag rose …
– 1930 – 107 seats (previously twelve)
– July 1932 – 230 seats (biggest party)
But why did the Nazis benefit so much
rather than other parties?
How did the Nazis do it? (1)
• Organisation:
– background as soldiers
– local workers well trained
– skilled leaders
• Propaganda
– Hitler and Goebbels were propaganda masters
– exploited anti-Communist feelings
– used violence against Communists for propaganda
purposes
How did the Nazis do it? (2)
• Support of industrialists
– deal with Nationalists
– some funding from big business
• Use of technology
– radio
– use of aircraft in 1932 presidential election
– rallies, parades, marches
How did the Nazis do it? (3)
• Promises to voters:
–
–
–
–
workers were promised jobs
employers were promised profits
farmers were promised higher prices
shopkeepers were promised protection from
competition
• Flexibility:
– Dropped unpopular policies (e.g. nationalising
industry)
– Kept policies vague: ‘make Germany great again’
How did the Nazis do it? (4)
• Hitler the superman:
– appearance on posters
– Speech-making skills
– no opposition leader to match him
• Weakness of opposition
– opposition underestimated Nazis
– Social Democrats thought Nazi election campaigning
would not work
– Social Democrats relied too heavily on their own base
of supporters
– Social Democrats and Communists completely
refused to work together either in the Reichstag or out
on the streets
Which was the most important factor in the
Nazis’ success?
Extend or shorten each bar to show the importance of each factor.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.
Depression
Govt. policies
Presidential rule
Extremism
Nazi organisation
Nazi propaganda
Industrialists
Technology
Promises
Flexibility
Hitler
Weak opposition