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GERMANY and AUSTRIA in the 1930S

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GERMANY and AUSTRIA in the 1930S GERMANY AND AUSTRIA IN THE 1930s 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 Unemployment reaches The Great Coalition The German government More than 6 million are Republic and to the Nazi Von Schleicher resigns. concentration camp at Civil War in Austria between 2.8 million in Germany. formed in 1923 between cuts salaries and pensions unemployed in Germany. rise to power. The Nazi Hitler is appointed Dachau is opened for the Austrian army and the the four main pro- of public employees. Party reaches close to Chancellor on January 30 political prisoners. The Social Democratic Party (SDP). Riots break out in Berlin democratic parties in Paul von Hindenburg 38% in the parliamentary and Von Papen is named Enabling Act is passed, The SDP is subsequently between the Communists Germany is dissolved. A banking crisis ensues is reelected President elections (230 seats), Vice-Chancellor. granting Hitler dictatorial banned in Austria. and the police in an Heinrich Brüning forms after the collapse of the of Germany with 53% but during the following powers. Only the Social episode known as a minority government Darmstädter and National of the vote. Adolf Hitler weeks, Hindenburg The German parliament Democrats (SPD) New constitution is enacted in Blutmai (Bloody May). and serves as German Bank (Danat Bank). The comes in second with refuses to name Hitler is dissolved. An arson vote against it in the Austria under Dollfuss, leading Chancellor until 1932. German stock market is 37% and the Communist, Chancellor. attack on the German Reichstag. to authoritarian rule and the U.S. stock market closed until September. Ernst Thälmann, secures parliament leads to the establishment of a Ständestaat crash affects the global French troops leave third place with 10%. Federal elections held in false accusation that The Nazis organize (corporate state). economy. American Germany. 4.5. million are unemployed Temporary ban on the Germany, with losses for the Communists were a boycott of Jewish banks recall all loans to in Germany. There is Sturmabteilung (Assault the Nazi Party. It is the behind the fire. The shops and businesses in First meeting between Germany. Unemployment Dissolution of the German a failed coup attempt Division, or SA) and last free election before National Socialist regime Germany. Hitler and Benito Mussolini. continues to rise. Reichstag (Parliament). by Austrian Heimwehr Schutzstaffel (Protective the Nazis seize power in led by Hitler starts (national paramilitary Squadron, or SS) after January 1933. to rule by emergency Book burnings across Under the Röhm purge, Hitler The Young Plan is adopted group) commander Walter Hindenburg’s reelection. decree. Around 4,000 Germany of works asks Himmler to lead the SS to solve the question of Pfirmer in Styria. Von Papen is forced Communists are arrested. deemed “un-German.” in murderering the SA lead- German war reparations. Franz von Papen named from office. Kurt von ers and conservative oppo- Unemployment surpasses A second German govern- Chancellor of Germany. Schleicher is named The Austrian parliament is Dollfuss bans all activities nents. The SS under Himmler 3.5 million. In the ment is formed under Hein- Chancellor and is the last dissolved and Chancellor of the NSDAP in Austria. becomes responsible for the elections, the Social rich Brüning. The Harzburg So-called “Prussian one to serve under the Engelbert Dollfuss begins The Social Democratic concentration camp system. Democratic Party of Front, a short-lived and Blow” takes place. The Weimar Republic. a semi-dictatorship. Party (SDP) is banned in The July Putsch is a failed Germany (SPD) wins a radical anti-democratic Prussian government Federal elections are held Germany. coup attempt against the Na- majority, but the National group, is formed in the is overthrown and in Germany just days after tional Socialist fascist regime Socialist German Workers’ town of Bad Harzburg to power is transferred to the Reichstag fire. The The Nazi Party is in Austria. Austrian Chancellor Party (NSDAP), or Nazi oppose the Weimar democ- Chancellor Von Papen Nazis wins 44% of the proclaimed the only Dollfuss is murdered. Party, reaches 18.3% (95 racy and the government of under an emergency vote, and shortly thereafter, political party in Germany seats in the parliament) Chancellor Brüning. decree by President other political parties that is permitted to exist. German President Hindenburg and becomes a strong Paul von Hindenburg. are banned. Joseph dies and Hitler becomes political faction. The federal government of This effective coup Goebbels is appointed The Reich Chamber of Führer (Leader). The German Germany declares a state d’état contributes to the Minister of Propaganda Culture is established army swears allegiance of emergency. downfall of the Weimar for the Third Reich. The under Goebbels. to Hitler. 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 France, Great Britain, Reintroduction of general Law for the Protection Hitler sends German Opening of the Austrian Chancellor Kurt After the Munich German troops invade and Italy declare Austria’s conscription in Germany. of the Hereditary Health troops into the “Degenerate Art” von Schuschnigg resigns Agreement is signed Czechoslovakia. Poland autonomy. of the German Nation demilitarized Rhineland. exhibition in Munich. and is succeeded by granting Germany forms a military alliance Adoption of the is instituted, requiring Arthur Seyss-Inquart. annexation of portions of with France and the Nuremberg Race Laws. certificates for all Austrian Chancellor Goebbels opens Czechoslovakia, known United Kingdom. prospective marriages. Kurt Schuschnigg and the exhibition “The German troops cross as the Sudetenland, the German Ambassador Wandering Jew” the Austrian border and German Army abandons Hitler issues an order to Franz Von Papen sign a in Munich. encounter no resistance; plans to replace Hitler. prepare for war against treaty whereby Germany they are greeted by Poland. will recognize Austrian cheers and Nazi salutes. German diplomat Ernst sovereignty and the Hitler declares the vom Rath is shot by a German-Soviet Austrians will release Anschluss (Annexation) Polish-Jewish student, Nonaggression Pact Nazi prisoners. of Austria on the Herschel Grynszpan, signed in Moscow. Heldenplatz (Square of in Paris. In response to Germany and Italy Heroes) in Vienna. Rath’s death, synagogues The German Wehrmacht send troops to Spain to are burned in Germany, attacks Poland. England support General Franco Referendum held in Jewish businesses are and France declare war during the Civil War. The German-occupied Austria vandalized, and Jewish on Germany, marking the Olympic games are held on the annexation of men arrested on the outbreak of World War II. in Berlin. Austria to the German nights of November 9–10. Reich. More than The term Kristallnacht Hitler signs order Germany and Italy 99% of voters support (Night of Broken Glass) authorizing euthanasia announce the Rome- unification. “Aryanization” is used to describe the and backdates it to Berlin Axis Pact. of the German economy violent and murderous September 1 to protect begins, whereby Jewish pogrom. those enforcing it and to businesses and property link with outbreak of war. are transferred to non- Jewish owners. Johann Georg Elser’s attempt to assassinate Hitler and other Nazi leaders in Munich fails. Courtesy German History in Documents and Images (GHDI).
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