WEIMAR TIMELINE 1929-34 Bunselmeyer. Oct. 2020

1929 7 June Young Plan resets reparations at lower amount to be paid over 58.5 years. 3 October Death of Gustav Stresemann 24 October Black Tuesday US stock market crash.

1930 27 March Hermann Müller’s (SPD) “great coalition” resigns after 636 days in office. 27 March Pres. Hindenberg appoints Heinrich Brüning (Centre) Chancellor; Brüning forms a “Presidential” cabinet excluding SPD and KPD. 30 June French troops leave Rhineland ahead of schedule. 16 July Reichstag dissolved. Brüning begins to govern by Presidential decree. 14 Sept. Reichstag elections; Nazi’s become second largest party after SPD.

1931 May Four million unemployed in Germany. 11 May Austrian Kreditanstalt collapses. 20 June Pres. Hoover declares moratorium on reparations. 13 July Major German bank crisis. 11 October Harzburg Front establishes collaboration between Nazi’s, DNVP, and Stahlhelm

1932 10 April Hindenberg re-elected President. (Hindenberg 53% Hitler 36.8% Thälmann 10.2%) 30 May Heinrich Brüning resigns after 556 days in office. 1 June Franz von Papen appointed Chancellor. Expelled by the Centre Party. 16 June – 9 July. Lausanne Conference reduces reparations to a symbolic obligation. 20 July Von Papen dissolves SPD government in Prussia. Appoints himself “Reich commissar.” 31 July Reichstag elections. Nazi’s become largest party with 37.8% of votes cast. KPD 14.6%. 13 August Hitler refuses appointment to a secondary ministry in the cabinet. 6 November Reichstag elections. Nazi vote falls to 34.6%, KPD rises to 17.1%. SPD 20.7% Last free election. 17 November Von Papen resigns. 3 December Kurt von Schleicher appointed Chancellor. 8 December Confrontation between Hitler and Gregor Strasser; Strasser resigns leadership role.

1933 28 January Von Schleicher resigns. 30 January Hitler appointed Chancellor. Nazi’s appointed to Interior Ministries in the Reich and in Prussia 27-28 Feb. Reichstag fire. 28 Feb. Emergency decree enables government to round up Communists and attack KPD. 5 March Reichstag election under Nazi/SA intimidation. Nazi’s win 44.5%, SPD 18.5%, KPD 12.5%. 12 March Government abolishes the black, red, and gold flag of Weimar. 21 March Grand celebration of the new Reich at the Garrison Church in Potsdam. 23 March Enabling Act passes Reichstag, establishes dictatorship. Only SPD oppose. Last free speech by Otto Wels, SPD Leader. 1934 30 June “Night of the Long Knives”. Hitler arranges the murder of about 140 opponents within the Nazi movement. 2 August Death of Hindenberg; Hitler absorbs the powers of the President.