Weimar Republic Summary Pointd

Dot Points
1.2 Political, economic and social issues in the Weimar Republic to 1929
Right wing parties: nationalist, anti-communist, opposed the Treaty of Versailles and the democratic Weimar System
Left-wing parties: internationalist, not racist
The democratic parties were getting votes whilst the far right and left were being ignored
Political parties were developing para-military groups
Stresemann’s key role begged the question: what would happen to German democracy if he suddenly left the scene?
Every success provided the right with anti-republican propaganda
Germany lost control of its Central Bank and railways
The economy was suffering from fundamental flaws because it relied almost entirely on the flow of US loan money
Germany had to pay for progressive measures
Industrialists resented the gains that workers were making
The conservative elites tolerated the changes being made by the Republic
The right in Germany had a negative view on much of the art
Expressionism and modernism were seen as a betrayal of Germany great cultural traditions
Many German artists were Jewish and communist which the nationalist right despised.

1.3 Collapse of the Weimar Republic
The economic crisis created by the depression led to a political crisis
The economic policy pursued by Bruning drove Germany into deeper depression
The suffering caused by the depression created feelings of desperation and psychological disillusionment
It gave Hitler and the Nazi Party the opportunity they had lacked
SPD chancellor, Hermann Muller lost support and could not fund the unemployment insurance scheme
Reichstag election, September 1930- the SPD lost votes as more people were voting for parties on the extremes
Presidential election, March 1932 – Hindenberg’s term as president came to an end
The falling of Bruning, May 1932 – Bruning was removed from power
The July 1932 election – Nazis gained 230 seats and was now the largest party in the Reichstag
December 1932 – January 1933: von Papen removed as chancellor and replaced by von Schleicher
Papen persuades Hindenberg to accept a coalition with Hitler as chancellor
Hitler becomes chancellor on 30 January 1933

1.4 Impact of the Great Depression on Germany
The Great Depression had economic, social, psychological impact on Germany
The German economy was suffering long before the Wall Street Crash in October 1929
America needed Germany to repay the money loaned to the economy
Germany suffered a major banking crisis
Unemployment affected nearly every German family
Companies throughout Germany went bankrupt
The depression brought Germany into a deep sense of psychological disillusionment

Summaries
1.2 Political, economic and social issues in the Weimar Republic to 1929
Although the democratic parties were getting 50% of the vote and parties on the far left were being ignored, there was a negative consensus towards the republic. Most German voters still supported non-democratic parties of both the left and right. In the 1920s, political parties were developing para-military groups including the Nazi SA on the right and the KPD Front Fighters League on the left. Between August 1923 and October 1929 Stresemann’s key role guaranteed stability and smooth changes. However, the anti-democratic thinking conservative elites still controlled major institutions including the police, judiciary, education, and the bureaucracy. Stresemann’s diplomatic skills provided Germany with international gains made by the Dawes and Young Plans, and the Locarno Agreement. However, every diplomatic success provided the right with anti-republic propaganda. Accepting a reduction in reparations meant accepting war guilt. Signing the Locarno and entering the League of Nations meant accepting the validity of the Versailles Treaty. Although there was no army interference in the running of the democracy, the army contempt for the republic had not disappeared. Under von Seekt, the army operated like a ‘state within a state’, free of government control.
Although the Dawes plan made a reduction in reparation payments, Germany had to pay a price. It lost control of its Central Bank to ensure there would be no repeat of the note printing frenzy and to secure government revenues. Germany also lost control of its railways. Throughout the 1920s, Germany’s economic success relied almost entirely on the flow of the US loan money into the country. Any crisis inside the United States could see an end to this flow. Once this happened, the German economic prosperity would collapse immediately. Germany’s economic modernisation caused high structural unemployment and in 1926, unemployment was as high as 10%. By 1926, Germany’s farming sector was experiencing an agricultural depression with prices of farm products at rock bottom. Germany’s reliance on international trade was dangerous. It became very difficult to sell German exports when depression hit.
Germany’s success in social issues also had a down side. The progressive measures for Weimar Social Policy had to be paid for. This forced Weimar governments to impose heavy taxation levels which businessmen and middle class salary earners hated. Industrialists resented the gains that workers were making and the privileged position that the trade unions seemed to be enjoying under Weimar governments. The conservative elites in all areas tolerated the changes being made by the republican governments when times were good. However, they would seek to overturn such gains if times turned bad.
Although artistic achievement was significant in Germany, there was a dark side to this aspect of Weimar life. Older Germans living in regional and rural areas and treasured the traditional values of the old Germany hated everything about the cultural explosion that was taking place in Berlin. The right in Germany viewed much of the art as decadent, sexually explicit and morally disgraceful. Expressionism and modernism were seen as a betrayal of Germany’s great cultural traditions. Many German artists were Jewish and communist, and sought inspiration from outside Germany. These were three reasons for the nationalist right to despise what was happening.

1.3 Collapse of the Weimar Republic
The impact of the depression created the circumstances that made possible the events that would see the demise of the Germany democracy. The economic crisis created by the depression led to a political crisis. Bruning pursued an economic policy drove Germany into deeper depression. The suffering caused by the depression created feelings of desperation and psychological disillusionment which led to increasing violence in political life. This gave Hitler and the Nazi party the opportunity they lacked and made it possible for the conservative elites to lead Hitler’s appointment as chancellor.
The resignation of the Muller government on 27 March 1930 marked the beginning of the end for the democratic experiment in Germany. Muller wanted to raise taxes in order to maintain the unemployment insurance scheme. His right wing cabinet refused to go along with this and he was not able to fund the scheme. Muller’s response was to ask President Hindenburg to use his power to push through the taxation measure. However, Hindenburg refused and Muller had no choice but to resign.
Following Muller’s resignation, the president appointed the Centre Party leader, Heinrich Bruning as the next chancellor. Bruning had no majority in the Reichstag but he ruled using the emergency powers under Article 48. His ultimate aim was to restore the monarchy with a right-wing government. Democratic parliamentary government had come to an end in Germany.
In September 1930, new elections were called after the Reichstag dissolved. The election results were a disaster for the republic. The SPD had lost votes as more and more people were voting for parties on the extremes of the political spectrum. Bruning failed to gain a majority of seats but held on to power by relying on Hindenburg’s use of Article 48.
Hindenburg’s seven year term as president came to end in March 1932. Bruning failed to have the constitution changed to extend Hindenburg’s term in office. Hindenburg’s close advisors saw Bruning as a failure and it was decided that he had to be removed from power. Bruning had proven to be unsuccessful in dealing with the severity of the depression as his policies had the effect of making the impact of depression worse. Another factor that worked against him was his failure to end reparations. He believed his deflationary policies would convince allied leaders of Germany’s inability to pay reparations and see their end. Bruning’s attempt to ‘nationalise’ some of East Prussia’s landed estates was deemed ‘left-wing’ and so he was forced to resign. Franz von Papen was appointed the new chancellor.
The next elections for the Reichstag were held in July 1932. The Nazis gained 230 seats and was now the largest party in the Reichstag. German politics had become even more polarised as SPD and DDP support continued to fall. Unhappy with the results of the July election, Von Papen called for new elections which were held in November 1932. Although the Nazis remained the largest party in the Reichstag, the results were a setback for the party as their vote fell by two million, giving them a total of 196 seats.
Von Schleicher believed that von Papen had been a failure as chancellor and wanted to have him removed. Schleicher was jealous of von Papen’s closeness to President Hindenburg. He planted fears of civil war and concerns about the role of the army in such a conflict into Hindenburg’s mind and convinced him to request for von Papen’s resignation. Schleicher tried and failed to persuade Gregor Strasser, the left wing leader of the Nazi Party into his cabinet. He asked for authority to rule by emergency decree but this was refused. Von Papen was dedicated to bringing about the demise of von Schleicher. He came forward to persuade Hindenburg of the necessity of accepting a coalition with Hitler as chancellor. Von Schleicher was removed from power as he repeated Bruning’s mistake of attempting to nationalise some of the East Prussian landed states. He resigned on 28th January 1933.
Hindenburg’s advisors convinced him that there was no danger in making Hitler chancellor. The secret deal was worked out and Adolf Hitler became chancellor on 30th January 1933.

1.4 Impact of the Great Depression on Germany
The Great Depression had a major economic, social, psychological and political impact on Germany. Germany’s economy was suffering long before the Wall St crash of October 1929. Their economic boom had relied almost entirely on the flood of overseas investment, especially the US investment.
US investors were sending their funds to Germany because interest rates were sufficiently high for the investors to receive a solid return on their investment. The US Stock Market was experiencing spectacular growth. During 1928, stock prices rose even higher, as did the opportunities to make even more money.
US investors began to remove their funds from Germany in order to invest on Wall St which slowed the German economy and caused an increase in unemployment. In order to keep foreign funds in Germany, German interest rates were increased, limiting domestic investment in the economy which also slowed the economy.
The crash had a devastating impact on both the American and German economy. In 1924, America propped up the Weimar Republic with huge loans and now needed those loans back to assist her faltering economy. America gave Germany 90 days to re-pay money loaned to her. Britain, France and Russia did not have the money to give Germany cash injections. Weimar Germany could only call on America for help and it was effectively bankrupt by the end of 1929 and incapable of lending money.
When stock prices on the New York market collapsed in October 1929 and continued to slide, the US economy went into freefall. For Germany, this meant the immediate end of US funds flowing into the country. US investors urgently withdrew what funds they could from the country. Businesses all over Germany collapsed including the industrial zones such as the Ruhr. Bankruptcy became a nationwide phenomenon and unemployment affected nearly every German family.
The reaction of many countries to the depression was to move to protect their own domestic industries. This led to major increases in tariffs with the aim of keeping out foreign goods and hopefully keeping home industries stable. This devastated an economy like Germany which relied on international trade. In July 1931, Germany suffered a major banking crisis where the country’s largest bank, the Danat went bankrupt. This led to panic in the banking sphere as people tried to grab their money before the bank fell. The credit controls put in place after the Danat problem drove the economy deeper into depression.
The impact of the Great Depression was far greater compared to the other nations. Working class families suffered eviction and were forced to live in shanty towns, health levels deteriorated, children were forced to leave school early, and families broke up as men left to seek work or simply escape family responsibilities. German cities had their share of factory closures, hundreds of men eagerly reaching for a handful of jobs or just wasting away their lives in street corners. The depression brought to Germany a deep sense of psychological disillusionment, and the Nazi Party was able to flourish as those who saw no end to their troubles turned to more extreme political parties in Germany.