1. 3. 1924-29 Recovery of Germany
1.1. Political Recovery
1.1.1. Developing Stability
1.1.1.1. Stresemann becoming chancellor
1.1.1.1.1. Locarno Pact (1925)
1.1.1.1.2. League Of Nations (1926)
1.1.1.1.3. Treaty of Berlin (1926)
1.1.1.1.4. Allied Occupation
1.1.1.1.5. Disarmament
1.1.1.1.6. Ended Hyper inflation crisis along with finance minister with the instation of the Rentenmark
1.1.1.2. During 1924-29 there was no Putsches or Coups
1.1.1.2.1. No more political assassinations
1.1.2. Instability remained
1.1.2.1. Still changes to government without election
1.1.2.2. 4 out of the 6 governments of the time were minority governments
1.1.2.2.1. Multiparty coalitions formed who had totally different policies
1.1.2.3. Hindenburg elected in 1925
1.1.2.3.1. He was greatly anti-democratic in favour of authoritarian rule
1.1.2.4. Still high turnover of governments
1.1.2.4.1. Still minority governments
1.2. Economic Recovery
1.2.1. Developed Stability
1.2.1.1. Exports rose 40%
1.2.1.1.1. Brought social benefits like hourly wage rates increasing annually from 1924-30
1.2.1.2. By 1927 Coal production was 79% of 1913 level, Iron 78% and Steel 86%
1.2.1.2.1. The number of unemployed decreased significantly
1.2.1.3. Foreign Loans from the US
1.2.1.3.1. Along with Dawes Plan loan, other loans from US allowed the economy in Germany to begin to thrive as germany had high interest rates, so was attractive to foreign bankers
1.2.1.3.2. Dawes Plan
1.2.1.3.3. US companies invested in factories in germany and increased methods of mass production
1.2.2. Instability Remained
1.2.2.1. Economic growth was uneven in Germany with the value of imports always exceeding that of imports
1.2.2.1.1. Economic growth lower than USA and Britain
1.2.2.2. Even before the great Depressions effects were felt in germany, enemployment was 1.9 million
1.2.2.3. Grain production only 75% of its 1913 figure
1.2.2.3.1. Farmers fell into poverty with income per head in agriculture 44% lower than national average wage
1.2.2.4. Dangerously dependant on foreign loans from US and France
1.3. Foreign Relations
1.3.1. Improved relations with france with locarno pact
1.3.1.1. End of occupation in the ruhr
1.3.2. Treaty of Berlin developed realtionship with USSR
1.3.3. Instability Remained
1.3.3.1. Stresemann received significant opposition to his foreign policy from Nationalists
1.3.3.2. Negotiated loans as a result of Stresemanns policy made Germany veyr dependant on US loans
1.4. Social Recovery
1.4.1. Developed Stability
1.4.1.1. Culture
1.4.1.1.1. Modern developments in art
1.4.1.1.2. Bauhaus style art and architecture
1.4.1.1.3. Brechtian theatre techniques
1.4.1.2. Working Conditions improved significantly
1.4.1.2.1. Stinnes-Legien 1918 agreement introduced laws restricting working week to 48 hours
1.4.1.3. 1920 Welfare Scheme (from 1920)
1.4.1.3.1. War victims received beenfits and pensions
1.4.1.3.2. National youth welfare law of 1922
1.4.1.3.3. Health and Pensions
1.4.1.3.4. 2 million houses built and homelessness reduced 60% in decade
1.4.2. Instability Remained
1.4.2.1. Revenue did not match expenditure and these social benefits had extreme costs on the government
2. 4. Rise and Appeal of Nazism
2.1. Great Depression
2.1.1. Governments of 1929-1933
2.1.1.1. Muller Government
2.1.1.1.1. A multiparty coalition between 5 parties
2.1.1.1.2. Muller wanted to increase unemployment benefits in a budget plan that he couldnt pass throught the reichstag due to divided opinion
2.1.1.2. Bruning Government
2.1.1.2.1. Hindenburg asked Z Party Bruning to form government after resignation of muller, the Z party did not have a majority and were defeated in 1930 election by Nazis
2.1.1.2.2. Bruning wasnt letting Nazis into the reichstag despite their high votes
2.1.1.2.3. Removed from power after ruling by decree using article 48
2.1.1.3. Von Papen Government
2.1.1.3.1. A non-party government consisting of elite citizens, considered a presidential government
2.1.1.3.2. A 512-52 vote of no confidence removed von papen
2.1.1.4. Von Schleicher Government
2.1.1.4.1. Removed by the influence of 'Backstairs Intrigue' between Hitler and Von Papen
2.1.1.5. Proportional representation made it difficult to form strong governments
2.1.2. Causes
2.1.2.1. Wall street crash in 1929
2.1.2.1.1. Banks failed, resulting in fall of purchasing power overseas
2.1.3. Impacts
2.1.3.1. Resulted in the polarisation of politics and growth in support for extremist parties
2.1.3.1.1. 6 million people in Germany unemployed in 1932
2.1.3.2. People unable to feed family, rise in poverty was unprecendented
2.1.3.2.1. Malnutrition among workers and homeless
2.1.3.3. Drastic fall in government revenue but massive increase in expenditure to deal with the unemployed
2.1.3.4. Collapse of Austrian Bank Kredit Anstalt in July 1931
2.1.3.4.1. People feared this was the first of many banks so rushed to withdraw money from banks
2.2. UPDATED Elite
2.2.1. Immense fear of the spread of communism as Nazis and the KPD were leading at the poles
2.2.2. Backstairs intrigue
2.2.2.1. A series of secret discussions by weimar politicians regarding the end of weimar democracy
2.2.2.1.1. Ultimatley led to the appointment of hitler as chancellor
2.2.2.2. Papen negotiated with hindenburg to appoint hitler
2.2.2.2.1. Believing he could be tamed or controlled
2.2.2.3. Hitler and Von Papen Government - appointed January 1933
2.2.2.3.1. Despite Papen initially suggesting he should be chancellor with hitler as vice
2.2.3. KPDs failure to prevent hitlers rise as a result of the Ebert Groner Pact
2.2.3.1. Pact led to a fallout between the SPD and KPD after ebert, an spd put down the KPDs spartacist uprising with use of groners freikorps
2.2.3.1.1. Hence this divided the left wing vote allowing hitler to optimise this for his benefit
2.3. Party Strength
2.3.1. Hitler Himself
2.3.1.1. Hitler
2.3.1.1.1. Exceptional public speaker with hypnotic effect over audience
2.3.1.1.2. Promoted traditional values
2.3.1.1.3. Anti-semitism gave someone to blame for the problems going on in Germany
2.3.1.1.4. Used propaganda to promote the appeal of the party
2.3.2. Nazi Party Organisation
2.3.2.1. Following failure of munich putsch in 1923, the party met in 1926 and decided to become a leader-led party
2.3.2.2. In 1928 the party was reorganised to obtain a wider appeal
2.3.2.2.1. Division of germany into local regions called gau
2.3.2.2.2. Developed associate organisations for women and NSDAP members
2.3.2.2.3. Also developed Soup kitchens and community buildings and welfare organisations to broaden support
2.3.3. Ideas and Ideology
2.3.3.1. 25 Point Programme
2.3.3.1.1. Laid out a clear campaign that people could support
2.3.3.1.2. For example
2.3.4. Campaign and Propaganda
2.3.4.1. Goebbels trained local Gau in the art of Propaganda
2.3.4.1.1. Goebbels flew hitler across Germany to speak at multiple rallies a day
2.3.4.2. Nazi propaganda attempted to broaden the appeal of the party
2.3.4.2.1. For example the KPD appealed purely to the workers and the workers only
2.3.4.2.2. For example blood and soil campaign targetted farmers neglected by the governments prior to the nazis
2.3.5. Violence and the SA
2.3.5.1. Brown shirt storm troopers Developed an image of strength and order
2.3.5.1.1. Many men wanted to be part of such a uniform organisation
2.3.5.2. Had the means to control the communist opposition
2.3.5.2.1. This reassured the elite, fearing the spread of communism
2.4. Vote percentages
2.4.1. 1928 - 2.9%
2.4.1.1. 1930 - 18.3%
2.4.1.1.1. July 1932 - 37.4%
3. 1. Consequences of the First World War
3.1. Political
3.1.1. Ebert becomes provisional chancellor
3.1.1.1. In order to retain the new regime Ebert made a deal with the army and the Junkers
3.1.1.2. He also made a deal with inustrialists giving them an 8hr working day
3.1.2. Abdication
3.1.2.1. 9th Novemember 1918, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated and handed power over to Ebert, the SPD chancellor at the time
3.1.2.1.1. He did this because nobles and generals in ther army stated they would no longer support him
3.1.2.2. Schedemann then announced the New German Republic, to be governmed by himself and Ebert
3.1.2.2.1. On the 11th November 1918 the armistice when then signed
3.1.3. Birth of the Weimar Republic
3.1.3.1. Immediatley associated with defeat in the war as well as being economically weak
3.2. Social
3.2.1. Divided society increasing gap in living standards
3.2.1.1. Came as a result of manufactorers profiting from the war, increasing factory profits, with workers wages not increasing to match
3.2.2. 2 million killed during the war for germany
3.2.2.1. Left 600,000 women widowed, 2 million children without fathers
3.2.3. Post war inflation resulted in wages being worth even less than before the war
3.2.3.1. Quality of living fell durastically
3.3. Economic
3.3.1. The Mark lost 75% of its value in 1918 compared to 1913
3.3.2. Industrial production fell significantly
3.3.3. Earnings fell by 30% due to wage limits and inflation
3.3.4. Resulted in the government deciding to borrow and print more money
3.3.4.1. Eventually causing the 1923 Hyper inflation crisis
4. 2. Challenges to the Weimar Republic
4.1. Economic Challenges
4.1.1. Hyperinflation Crises (1923)
4.1.1.1. Causes
4.1.1.1.1. In order to pay off debts weimar government could either raise taxes, reduce spending or print new banknotes
4.1.1.1.2. 65 Marks to the USD in January 1921
4.1.1.1.3. Germany failed to make payments in the ruhr
4.1.1.1.4. 1918 20 marks to the pound - in 1923 it was 20,000 marks to the pound
4.1.1.2. Effects
4.1.1.2.1. Middle class/junker savings became worthless in banks
4.1.1.2.2. Mortgage holders were able to purchase their houses very quickly as borrowed money eroded in value
4.1.1.2.3. Income declined severly, with people being payed hourly at the height of the crisis
4.1.1.3. Resolution
4.1.1.3.1. By November 1922 it was 20 billion marks to the USD
4.1.1.3.2. New chancellor stresemann called off passive resistance and rolled out new rentenmark currency
4.1.2. Impact of the Treaty of Versaille
4.1.2.1. 5 Billion USD to be paid by May 1921
4.1.2.1.1. Coal and Timber industry to supply France, Belgium and Italy
4.1.2.2. 48% loss of iron industry
4.2. Political Challenges
4.2.1. The Weimar Constitution
4.2.1.1. Creation of the new federal assembly - the reichstag
4.2.1.2. Universal suffrage - men and women above 20 could vote on the reichstag every 4 years - one of the most democratic systems in Europe
4.2.1.3. Proportional representation system of voting
4.2.1.3.1. Whilst appeared greatly democratic - it did lead to many different parties being forced to co-operate
4.2.1.4. President voted in every 7 years
4.2.1.4.1. The presidential system led to many problems like; the appointment of the chancellor they want in power, dissolve the reichstag and use/abuse article 48
4.2.1.4.2. Ebert runs again in 1925 elections, but loses to Hindenburg
4.2.2. Impact of the Treaty of Versaille
4.2.2.1. War Guilt Clause
4.2.2.1.1. Germany had to accept responsibility for the war, other countries that fought with Germany weren't included
4.2.2.1.2. Resulted in Polarisation of politics as it made germany seem weak
4.2.2.2. Reparations
4.2.2.2.1. Territorial Loss
4.2.2.2.2. Disarmament
4.2.3. Right Wing
4.2.3.1. Kapp Putsch (13th March 1920)
4.2.3.1.1. 12th March - Erdardt Brigade marched 5000 men on Berlin, with the German army leader refusing to put down the Putsch the rebellion proposed a new Government led by Wolfgang Kapp
4.2.3.2. Right Wing Assassinations (1919-1922)
4.2.3.2.1. 376 political murders during this time period - 356 committed by right wing extremists
4.2.3.3. Munich Beer Hall Putsch (November 1923)
4.2.3.3.1. Hitler and Nazis pushed into a Munich Beer Hall where Kahr, the leader of Bavaria, was doing a speech, fired a gun and declared a national revolution
4.2.4. Left Wing
4.2.4.1. Spartacists Uprising (January 1919)
4.2.4.1.1. Uprising launches against Ebert in January 1919
4.2.4.2. Red Bavaria (Bavarian Soviet Republic)
4.2.4.2.1. Came as a result of the spartacist uprising with USPD leader Kurt Eisner took political lead over Baria following collapse of bavarian monarchy
4.2.4.2.2. He struggled to unite socialist parties and was assassinated on the 21st February 1919
4.2.4.2.3. A Bavarian soviet republic set up with red army of workers by Eugene Levine to maintain the republic in April 1919
4.2.4.3. German Oktober
4.2.4.3.1. KPD Communists made preparations for an uprising in response to stresemanns failure in creating the German Oktober
4.2.4.3.2. It was crushed by the army
4.2.5. Invasion of the Ruhr
4.2.5.1. France and Belgium troops invaded the Ruhr due to lack of coal and timber payments
4.2.5.1.1. 150,000 Germans removed the area, as they served no benefit, but workers were allowed to stay
4.2.5.1.2. The chancellor of Germany, Cuno, called for passive resistance - this didnt help the situation
4.3. Social Challenges
4.3.1. The Impact of the Treaty of Versaille
4.3.1.1. Loss of 12% of population (6 million people
4.3.1.1.1. 13% loss of territory and losing all colonies
4.3.1.2. Politicisation of the working class
4.3.1.2.1. Felt weimar was to blame for the loss of WW1