Why had the Weimar Republic survived by 1923? Weimar had faced a series of problems between 1919 and 1923 (hyperinflation, Munich Putsch, Kapp Putsch etc) but despite the odds had managed to survive. 1. Effective government action- Ebert had taken decisive action against the Communists- used th e Freikorp to crush them and Stresemann dealt with hyperinflation by introducing a new economy 2. Most people were prepared to support Weimar- the German people resisted the Kapp Putsch- strike led to Kapp’s failure and most supported the passive resistance against the French in the Ruhr. 3. Weakness of political opponents- the LEFT lacked public support and most working people supported the more moderates. The RIGHT also lacked the support of the people and didn’t have strong leaders, lots of people were suspicious of the Nazis. Achievements of the Weimar Republic Problems in the Weimar Republic Economy • Introduction of the Rentenmark stabilised the economy Economy after hyperinflation • Prosperity relied on loans which could be called back at • Germany began to build up their prosperity with the any moment. This would lead to economic collapse again! help of loans from USA called the Dawes Plan. They • Big businesses did well but small businesses and farmers received 800 million marks that was invested in industry were the losers. Many farmers overproduced food and • By 1927 the economy had recovered well and was the couldn’t meet their mortgages second greatest industrial power. For most wages • Small shop keepers also felt increased and there was a better standard of living. threatened by big department They also managed to pay reparations and increase stores. These people felt Weimar exports. offered them little. Culture • There was a cultural revival – there was freedom to Culture express new ideas and new writers and poets • Many people saw the new culture as immoral and saw it as flourished a sign that Germany was losing its values. • New styles of architecture such as the Bauhuas • A Wandervogel movement design- exhibitions attracted 1,000s of visitors developed that was a reaction • The 1920s was also a golden age of cinema. Its to Weimar culture. It promoted a nightlife was also celebrated with the Jazz and return to simple country values. Cabaret clubs Politics • Politics became more stable- there were no attempted revolutions Politics • Votes for the moderate parties grew and more • Despite the relative stability- both the Nazis and people seemed willing to support and go along with communists were building up their organisations. the government. Extremists got even less support. • There were four different Chancellors during the For example the Nazis got less than 3% of the vote period and 30% of the vote went in 1928 to parties that opposed the Weimar • Lots of the parties worked well together in the Republic. period and therefore it was more stable • Hindenburg was elected President in 1926. He opposed democracy. Foreign Policy • Signed significant agreements such as the Locarno Foreign Policy Treaties (1925- Germany accepted the boarders • People said that joining the League and signing set by Versailles) and also was accepted into the treaties like the Locarno was a bad thing because it League of Nations in 1926. gave into the powers and did not improve Germany’s • Negotiated the young plan which slightly reduced position by making them a great country, they claimed Germany’s reparations. Germany was becoming Germany was still weak. They also saw the Young Plan respected and accepted again into international as a failure- Germany were still paying reparations. relations The Munich Putsch • Started as the German workers Party when it was Why? set up in 1919 by Anton Drexler. • Weimar was suffering from economic crisis (hyperinflation) • Hitler joined in 1919 • The government in Bavaria was anti-communist. • In 1920 they announced their 25 point • Had the support of key figures like Hindenburg. programme- a list of what they stood for- it included- the abolition of the Treaty of What happened? • Nazi storm troopers marched in to the beer hall where Von Kahr was Versailles, union of Germany and Austria, a strong government holding a meeting. Hitler demanded they join the National Socialist • In 1920 they also changed their names to the Revolution. He let them leave and they informed the police, the next NSDAP- National Socialist German Workers Party day the Nazi’s marched into Munich where the police waited for them. or Nazi for short. The Putsch fell apart. Hitler was arrested and put on trial for treason. • In 1921 Hitler became the leader- he made So were several other leading Nazis important changes such as introducing a flag with Results the swastika on, increased the membership, made propaganda and set up the SA (brownshirts) • Nazi party fell into disarray when Hitler was in prison- it was only after • Took part in the Munich Putsch in November 1923 that he began to re-organise the party and failed. Hitler went to prison for 9 months • At his trial for the first time, Hitler gained national publicity- his • 1925 onwards the Nazis started to reorganise the words and beliefs were put in all the newspaper and the judges let him party. By 1929 they were still a small party! give lengthy speeches. They became a nationally known party. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison. He only served 9 months. • Hitler decided that the Nazi Party would take power legally- they would destroy Weimar from within- by getting voted into power. • Other changes included; writing his book Mein Kampf which outlined his key beliefs, setting up the SS (black shirts) these were Hitler’s personal bodyguard, he set up a national party with grass roots support Hitler Youth around Germany. He also set up the to get young people’s support. They also won the support of people who were not doing well in How did the Depression help the rise of the Weimar like farmers and small business owners. They successfully Nazi’s? developed their use of propaganda to appeal to voters and Goebbels was placed in charge of propaganda. Hitler split Germany into regions Depression- in 1929 the American Stock with a local leader called the Gauleiter. They helped to build support market crashed and they recalled all as a national party. their loans. They also stopped buying • All these changes made them an organised and efficient party ready to and selling to Germany. This caused take power when the opportunity arose. major economic problems, workers • were unemployed and German BUT, the problem remained that they were still an extremist party and businesses went bankrupt. whilst people were doing well, they were less inclined to listen to them. This was proven in 1928 when less than 3% of people voted for them. How did the Depression help the Nazi’s? • Caused people to lose faith in Weimar. This was the second time there was major economic problems and people blamed Weimar, they saw them as weak and looked for a strong • Depression- made people desperate and look for alternatives for a strong alternative, Hitler seemed to be offering this. government. They were fed up with Weimar • Desperation made people turn to extremism- • Nazi Propaganda- was simple, clear and skilfully people were so desperate that Hitler’s radical used. It appealed in different and unique ways ideas started to appeal to them, they accepted such as the use of radio to lots of people. Their the Jews as a scape goat, someone to blame for posters and rallies etc impressed people. their problems. • Nazi message and values- people liked their • Hitler offered them what they wanted- jobs simple message of jobs, strong Germany and and food. His message was appealing. someone to blame- the Jews and Communists. They stood for traditional values. Policy was kept simple. • Hitler- the figure of Hitler was personally appealing- he was charismatic and a good speaker- people were drawn to him. • Anti-Communism- people were frightened of Communism- the Nazi’s were anti- Communist so many of the middle classes thought they would be able to stand up to Communism. The SA and SS regularly fought with them on the streets. By July 1932 The Nazi’s were the largest party in the Reichstag. Hitler demanded to be Chancellor but most people were suspicious of him, but they could not ignore, democratically his party had been chosen as the most popular. After the Wall Street crash most Chancellors relied on the use of article 48, this included the Chancellor in 1932 Franz Von Papen. He didn’t do a very good job so was replaced by Schliecher. Papen annoyed at being replaced made a deal with Hitler. Papen would persuade the aging Hindenberg to make Hitler Chancellor and Papen Vice Chancellor. In January 1933 Hindenberg agreed and Hitler was made Chancellor. Papen thought he could control Hitler- he was wrong! • Because he was the leader of the largest party so had a right to be included in the government • Because of the intrigue and double dealing made by Papen, Schleicher and Hindenburg • Because there were few other options- three previous chancellors had failed and he was popular. • Because the others politicians at the time under rated him as someone they could control- i.e Papen 1. Reichstag fire- Hitler started by calling a new election to get a majority in the Reichstag- this was needed to pass any new laws. Just days before the election was due, the Reichstag was set on fire. No one really knew if the Nazi’s had done it themselves. Inside a Dutch Communist called Van der Lubbe was found and put on trial.