The Collapse of the Weimar Republic and the Rise of the NAZIS

1. The Collapse of the Weimar Republic and the Rise of the NAZIS Why couldn’t Weimar survive? Why did support for the NAZIS increase?

2. What can you remember about the Weimar Republic in 1929? (Before the Crash) Strengths? Weaknesses? Stability?

3. How stable was the Weimar Republic before the crash? • ｷStronger leadership (Stresemann) • ｷGreater political and financial stability

4. ‘Germany is dancing on a volcano. If the short-term credits are called in a large section of our economy would collapse’. • Prophetic words from Gustav Stresemann, 1928

5. ｷBUT Few durable institutions established if faced with crisis • ｷRegime was tolerated but not popular • ｷUnpopular with civil service, universities, school officials • ｷE.g. schools present one-sided view of German defeat in 1918 • ｷSystem of parliamentary parties– not strong enough for stability in democracy • ｷMain coalitions (SPD, DDP & Zentrum – see below) divided on key point: economic, political, religious • ｷSO very vulnerable to anti-democratic threat (would come in 1930s) • ｷEconomy: basis still fragile (despite progress) – not enough German capital – mostly foreign loans • ｷImports 1924-30 = greater than exports • ｷTotal deficit = 1.3 billion Reichmarks

6. ｷConclusion: Weimar Republic was progressing but still hadn’t achieved normalcy and acceptance

7. What is the decisive factor in the failure of the Weimar Republic?

8. The decisive factor in the collapse of the Weimar Republic: • The WALL STREET CRASH: 24th October 1929 • (NB: 3rd October 1929 Stresemann dies).

11. Economic effects: Germany’s foreign capital: • ｧ1928: 5 billion marks • ｧ1929: 2.5 billion marks • ｧ1930: 700 million marks • Loans called in so bankruptcies increased • Government scared of renewed hyperinflation UNEMPLOYMENT = how crisis was seen • ｧBefore crash: 1.5 million • ｧWinter 1929/30: 3 million • ｧSummer 1930: 5 million • ｧJanuary 1932: 6 million(remember this – this was how many were unemployed when Hitler became Chancellor) • Food shortages, strikes, demonstrations; also bad weather. Life was desperate

12. Political effects: • Revival of extremism (see table below) • They are offering extreme solution to contemporary problems • E.g. KPD (Communists) and particularly NAZIS • It is undeniable that the economic and social crisis was important in the rise of popularity of the NSDAP (Nazi party)

13. Historians: • Martin Brozat: 55% of working class recruits to Nazis were unemployed (1930-33) • Alan Bullock: when ‘disaster cast its shadow over the land again, the despised prophet entered into his inheritance’. • William Carr: ‘it is inconceivable that Hitler could ever have come into power had not the Weimar republic been subjected to the unprecedented strain of a world economic crisis.’

14. Historiography

15. Hitler establishes a single-party state

16. The political landscape of Germany changed on 30th January 1933. Why? • Hitler became chancellor

17. What are the reasons that: • A) Hitler became Chancellor • B) Hitler became Fuhrer

18. How did Hitler become Chancellor? • 1930 elections = swing to extremist parties. Why? • Presidential elections March 1932: Hindenburg vs Hitler (both right wing; won 18 & 11 million votes. Communist thalmann won only 5 million). • Parliamentary govt had ended: • government through decree (article 48) • Chancellor Bruning resigned May 1932

19. How did Hitler become Chancellor? • Franz von Papen = next chancellor. Cabinet responsible to president not Reichstag • In june 1932 he lifted ban on S.A. ( = much street violence) • Elections July 1932. Nazis = 230 seats - 90 short of majority • Hitler refused coalition without him as chancellor • Sept 1932 - vote of no confidence; new elections (Nazis lost a few votes)

20. How did Hitler become Chancellor? • Nov 1932 - von Papen resigned • Hitler refused to be Chancellor without decree powers • So Kurt von Scheicher formed cabinet - lasted until 28th Jan 1933 (He resigned when Hindenburg refused him emergency powers) • This time: Hitler accepts Chancellorship • There are no other candidates left. • Hindenburg did his best to keep Hitler out.

21. Interpretations • Much debate since 1933 • Marxists: last show of capitalism before Comm. Revolution • Later Marxists: dwelt on financial backing from big business (less on squabbles on left)

22. Interpretations • Continuity in German expansion plans (C.F. WW1) - Nazism = logical development • E.g. William Shirer • Post WW2 German historians wrote on this

23. Interpretations • Now: less emphasis on parallels, more on Weakness / problems of Weimar Rep. • C.F. postive attraction of Nazis • Hitler exploited opportunities & benefited from others’ weakness • E.g. von Papen thought he could manipulate Hitler once in office • Alan Bullock: luck, disunity of others, but also abilities: timing, insight into weakness, risk taking

24. Remember: • Hitler was not swept into power • He was not democratically elected • Achieved power through ‘backstairs intrigue’ • Politicians played the game with him because he was already powerful and would be useful if tamed • Not inevitable • But few mourned the passing of a ‘failed’ democracy

25. From Chancellorship to Dictatorship: new presentation