History Nazi Germany

To what extent was the Wall Street Crash and subsequent economic crisis the main cause of the collapse of the Weimar Republic? (20 marks)

Reply 1

LukeT333

13

do you need help with the question or just resources to do it yourself?

Reply 2

anjalisahota

OP

3

Help please. As I’m really struggling with Nazi Germany.

Reply 3

LukeT333

13

Original post by anjalisahota

Help please. As I’m really struggling with Nazi Germany.

Here's some shortened, adjusted and highlighted notes from my class about it:

The Wall Street crash in October 1929, along with the death of Stresemann caused economic chaos. The prosperity depended on the US loans from the Dawes plan and these were now being recalled, Stresemann’s death intensified things as it was felt he was the only person who could stabilise Germany. This caused a great depression and unemployment began to rise as employers sacked workers and factories closed. German farmer food prices continued to plummet. As a result some were unable to pay rents and were found homeless.

The Muller government (1928-1930) were indecisive about whether to increase unemployment contributions from 3 to 3.5%. In March 1930 Muller resigned. Heinrich Bruning (the new chancellor from 1930 -1932) reduced spending and raised taxes as he believed he should balance the budget. In March 1930, he introduced a wage cut of 2.5% for civil servants; increased tax rates on income, beer and sugar and made up to 60% unemployment benefit cuts. Bruning could not get the Reichstag to agree to his actions, so the president used Article 48 and made many decrees, weakening the power of the Reichstag and undermined democracy.

By January 1932 the total unemployed exceeded 6 million, 4 out of 10 workers were without jobs. This caused extremist parties to gain support as a parties with simple solutions would win more votes. The German Communist Party (KPD) was growing and promised a way out of the depression, but this caused fear of a revolution similar to the one in Russia in 1917.

Bruning called an election in September 1930 to try and win a majority but the Nazis made a breakthrough, winning 107 seats, and were the second largest party after the Social Democrats. Bruning’s lack of majority forced him to rely on Hindenburg. Bruning’s reduction of government spending only served to lose him support of the unemployed and he was nicknamed the ‘hunger Chancellor’. Bruning resigned in May 1932 as he couldn’t keep the economy afloat, replaced by von Papen. Hitler had success in the regional and general elections, the weakness of the Weimar republic increasing their popularity.

During the eight between May 1932 and Hitler's becoming chancellor there was continued political and economic turmoil which saw extreme parties becoming more violence. Changes bought in by bruning had made improvements, but it was too little and too late. The depression had unleashed chaos across Germany, which resulted in Hitler gaining more and more power until his Chancellor position in January 1933

Feel free to ask for further help/information :smile:

Original post by LukeT333

Here's some shortened, adjusted and highlighted notes from my class about it:

The Wall Street crash in October 1929, along with the death of Stresemann caused economic chaos. The prosperity depended on the US loans from the Dawes plan and these were now being recalled, Stresemann’s death intensified things as it was felt he was the only person who could stabilise Germany. This caused a great depression and unemployment began to rise as employers sacked workers and factories closed. German farmer food prices continued to plummet. As a result some were unable to pay rents and were found homeless.

The Muller government (1928-1930) were indecisive about whether to increase unemployment contributions from 3 to 3.5%. In March 1930 Muller resigned. Heinrich Bruning (the new chancellor from 1930 -1932) reduced spending and raised taxes as he believed he should balance the budget. In March 1930, he introduced a wage cut of 2.5% for civil servants; increased tax rates on income, beer and sugar and made up to 60% unemployment benefit cuts. Bruning could not get the Reichstag to agree to his actions, so the president used Article 48 and made many decrees, weakening the power of the Reichstag and undermined democracy.

By January 1932 the total unemployed exceeded 6 million, 4 out of 10 workers were without jobs. This caused extremist parties to gain support as a parties with simple solutions would win more votes. The German Communist Party (KPD) was growing and promised a way out of the depression, but this caused fear of a revolution similar to the one in Russia in 1917.

Bruning called an election in September 1930 to try and win a majority but the Nazis made a breakthrough, winning 107 seats, and were the second largest party after the Social Democrats. Bruning’s lack of majority forced him to rely on Hindenburg. Bruning’s reduction of government spending only served to lose him support of the unemployed and he was nicknamed the ‘hunger Chancellor’. Bruning resigned in May 1932 as he couldn’t keep the economy afloat, replaced by von Papen. Hitler had success in the regional and general elections, the weakness of the Weimar republic increasing their popularity.

During the eight between May 1932 and Hitler's becoming chancellor there was continued political and economic turmoil which saw extreme parties becoming more violence. Changes bought in by bruning had made improvements, but it was too little and too late. The depression had unleashed chaos across Germany, which resulted in Hitler gaining more and more power until his Chancellor position in January 1933

Feel free to ask for further help/information :smile:

PRSOM for that dedication :biggrin: