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HIGHER HISTORYINTRO
Miss Bain- Britain & Migration and Empire
Miss Glynn- Germany and extended essay
Welcome!
3 notebooks (BIG ONES) One for each topic (Britain/Germany/Migration &
Empire) Hard work ASK FOR HELP!
What you will need TO SUCCEED
Britain- Miss Bain- essays Germany- Miss Glynn-essays Migration and Empire- Miss Bain -source skills EXTENDED ESSAY- Miss Glynn- your topic- BIG essay.
You will write one essay per issue (6 per topic) for each teacher as practice.
WHERE YOUR MARK COMES FROM:Extended Essay-Written BEFORE the exam. Done in SQA Exam conditions. Deadline set by SQA. NO LEEWAY. Topic of you choice write a 30mark essay in 1hr 30mins. You will have picked the question and practiced this in advance.
Exam- In the exam you write 2 essays (one British, one German then do source questions on migration and Empire).
Course outline
HIGHER GERMANY ISSUE 5
THIS TOPIC EXAMINES:
The reasons behind Germany’s post war democratic government only lasting 14 years
The reasons why the Nazis rose to power so quickly
These 2 things happened at the same time
WHAT WE WILL STUDY
ISSUE 5- An evaluation of the Nazis coming to power.
(How did the Nazis gain power).
Factors include:
1. resentment of the Treaty of Versailles,
2. Weakness of the Weimar Republic,
3. economic problems,
4. the appeal of the party AND the role of Hitler himself,
5. weakness and mistakes of opponents (naivety of politicians and lack of effective opposition).
NOTES, QUOTES AND KEY PLAYERS
Quotes- Make a page in your notes dedicated to quotes. When you see an appropriate quote copy this into your book so you have a list of quotes.
Key Characters- Make a page in your notes titled “Key Characters”- when a new person is mentioned write down their name and who they were so that you can reference this if you get stuck e.g Friedrich Ebert- SPD (socialist party) leader, and leader of the Weimar Republic.
Definitions: Reichstag- German parliament. Abdication- When the king or queen gives up their throne and power. Armistice- ceasefire. Freikorps- ex-soldiers who had returned from war to find themselves out of work who offered their services to private armies. SPD- Social Democratic Party of Germany, (German: Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschland) Coalition government- When the government is made up of two or more parties coup-sudden appropriation of leadership or power; a takeover
GERMANY AT THE END OF WW1-FAILURE AT THE END OF THE WAR, STARVATION/GERMANY NOT INVADED ETC
-ARMISTICE
-TOV
-WEIMAR REPUBLIC
- REVOLUTION FROM ABOVE.
- EBERTS LACK OF CHANGES
- Lack of support,
- Left wing/right wing.
CLIP 2434 establishment of the Weimar republic. http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/2434.html
GERMANY AT THE END OF WW1NOTES
Answer questions in FULL sentences so you have revision notes.
1. Get a copy of McKichan’s textbook. Read p117 from “In October 1918” (Halfway down the page) to the bottom of p. 118. Use this information to help you copy the timeline on p.130 of your textbook (BLUE) P. 86 (GOLD) and add in extra information. At home add in pictures to each event to make more memorable in your revision. (Use the above Definition box to help you).
2. Copy the three points on p.131 of your textbook (BLUE) under the heading “The Weimar Republic – Born at a bad time”. P.87 (GOLD) top section.
Cameron, Henderson and Roberson’s book (black cover) p. 124 under the heading Revolution from above.
3. Why did Hindenburg and Ludendorff want a ‘revolution from above’?. Who was blamed for Germany’s defeat in the war?
Read p. 132 of blue textbook (p.87 gold textbook)
1. How had Ebert been used to making decisions?(who did he try to get agreements with?) How did this affect his leadership style?
2. Who were the extreme left wing of the socialist party and why had they split from the SPD?
Read p133 of your textbook (p.89 gold textbook)
3. Give examples of the ways in which Ebert failed to utilize the opportunity for change given to him.
4. Some say that the Weimar Republic was not a big enough change as it left some of the old rulers in power. Read the defence of Ebert’s actions in the quote boxes. Do you agree that Ebert was right to encourage a more moderate rather than revolutionary change?
Read p. 134 of your textbook (p.90 gold textbook) and your own knowledge.
5. Copy the issues which threatened the security of the new republic. (only in Blue)
6. Which party did Karl Liebkneckt and Rosa Luxembourg belong to?
7. What was the Spartacist Rebellion and when did it happen?
8. Who was called in by the government to help defeat this rebellion?
9. How did the result of the Spartacist Rising lead to a permanent division between the USPD and majority socialists? How might this help Hitler?
10. Why is the Weimar republic known as the Weimar Republic?(only in Blue)
END OF WW1 NOTES
GERMANY AT THE END OF WW1
Work in your groups to create a mind map describing Germany at the end of WW1, use the pictures to help you.
FACTOR1 TOV
THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES
You should know these terms in detail by now. If you don’t, you’d better look them up:
TERMS
TERRITORIAL
MILITARY FINANCIAL
OTHERS
Alsace-Lorraine
Polish Corridor
Loss of Colonies
Army = 100,000
No tanks or submarines
Only 6 small naval ships
Rhineland demilitarised
Loss of industrial areas such as the Saar crippled the German economy
Reparation = £6,600
million
Anschluss banned despite others having ‘self determination’
War Guilt Clause
It was a Diktat
FACTOR 1- THE T O V
TOV- FACTOR 1
TREATY OF VERSAILLES (ToV) Read your textbook p. 134- 137 or gold 90-94
1. Who were the ‘November Criminals’? Why were they called this?
2. Where did the signing of the ToV take place?
3. What happened to Alsace and Lorraine?
4. What happened to the Saar coalfields?
5. What land was given to the Poles? And the Belgians?
6. What was the Polish corridor? Copy this diagram of the Polish corridor
7. How many German speakers now lived in Czechosolvakia?
8. What happened to Germany’s colonies?
9. The ToV was called a “Diktat” Dictated peace as Germany could not negotiate the terms. Copy this note
10. State the military terms of the ToV.
11. What was Article 231 and why did Germans hate it?
12. Find out how much Germany had to pay in Reparations. (use your index).
HOW THIS HELPED THE NAZIS RISE TO POWER
• Hitler used anger of ToV to undermine the Weimar Republic
•Germans referred to it as ‘Diktat.’•Germans humiliated. •Reparations- recipe for disaster. Resented being controlled by the Reparations committee. •Land- only 13% but loss of resources, people and land angered the population. •Article 231- wasn’t entirely Germany’s fault..•Military losses- Stripped Germany of her pride. Claimed they were unable to defend themselves. •The Nazis would denounce the treaty.
CONCLUSION QUESTIONHISTORIANSWhite and Hadley- Germans “were outraged by the treaty” (of Versailles).
McGonigle “There is little doubt that the stigma of the so-called ‘November Criminals’ hung like a shadow over the period of Weimar Germany”
Preuss “The Criminal madness of the imposed Versailles settlement was a shameless blow… The Reich constitution of Weimar was born with this curse upon it”
Preuss “The burdens and cruelties inflicted by the Allies upon an innocent Germany… undermined democracy… and facilitated the rise of Hitler”
Hiden “The Versailles treaty certainly did not doom the Republic from birth, but it did create particularly troublesome dimensions to existing internal conflicts and contradictions”.
HIGHER TIMED PARAGRAPHS
(never use ‘I’) (Factor) was VERY/NOT VERY/QUITE important in (topic).
EXPLAIN WHAT FACTOR IS. (give evidence i.e quotes/facts/figures etc)
This was important because…….
Historians disagree on the importance of the Tov HISTORIAN thinks it was very important “_____” which mean (explain in own words) however HISTORIAN thinks it was less important “_” explain in own words.
Conclusion Question:How important was hatred towards the Treaty of Versailles in the Nazi Rise to Power? (Hitler vowed to reverse the ToV).
FACTOR 2 WEAKNESS OF WEIMAR REPUBLIC
FACTOR 2 WEAKNESS OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC.
Condemned for signing the hated Treaty of Versailles
Many believed the German army had been ‘stabbed in the back’ by the ‘November Criminals’
Historians agree that the treaty facilitated Hitler’s rise to power as these theories were seized on and highlighted by Hitler
THE LEGACY OF 1918/19
TOO GOOD A CONSTITUTION?
A Constitution are the rules which govern an organisation or country. The Weimar
constitution was said to be “the most perfect democracy on paper”. In reality it was quite
different. It’s problems were:
•The voting system – Proportional Representation
• Coalition Government•Article 48 and the personal power of the
President
THE VOTING SYSTEM
Proportional Representation (P.R.) led to there never being a clear winner to provide strong leadership
Instead – numerous parties had to do deals and form coalition governments to run the country – these are inherently weak by nature.
These coalitions found it difficult to agree on anything
During the fourteen years of the Weimar Republic, there were twenty different coalition governments. The longest government lasted only two years.
This political chaos caused many to lose faith in the new democratic system.
SMALL PARTIES GIVEN POWER
A more destructive feature of PR was to enable small minority parties representation
A good thing for democratic minority parties but a dangerous thing when those parties are extremist
and authoritarian – allowed them a ‘foot in the door’
ARTICLE 48 AND THE POWER OF THE PRESIDENTArticle 48 gave the President power to rule by decree (by himself) in times of emergency – without the approval of the Reichstag.
However, this power was used all too often between 1919-33 when coalitions collapsed
What impression did this give the public? The excessive use of Article 48 played a significant part in the public’s loss of confidence in democracy
Looked as if there was a constant ‘state of emergency’ and democracy not working
It also set a precedent for successive leaders to follow
It conditioned the German people to be ruled by one person
NOTES ON THE WEAKNESS OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC.
WEAKNESS OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC.
Structural Weaknesses- Read p.137-139 of your textbook (blue) or p.94-95 (Gold)
1. Under the new Weimar Constitution who could vote?
2. What was the Reichstag?
3. What is Proportional Representation (PR)?
4. What powers did the President have?
5. Name two problems with PR.
6. Copy the table on p.138 blue p.95 gold
7. A negative effect of Article 48 is given on p.138, what is this? (can you see any problems this might cause in the future?)
8. Copy the following notes:
NOTES ON THE WEAKNESS OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC. CNTUD
Proportional Representation.
During the fourteen years of the Weimar Republic, there were twenty different coalition governments. The longest government lasted only two years. This political chaos caused many to lose faith in the new democratic system
Small Parties Given Power
A more destructive feature of PR was to enable small minority parties representationA good thing for democratic minority parties but a dangerous thing when those parties are extremist and authoritarian – allowed them a ‘foot in the door’
Article 48
Article 48 gave the President power to rule by decree (by himself) in times of emergency – without the approval of the Reichstag. However, this power was used all too often between 1919-33 when coalitions collapsed. The excessive use of Article 48 played a significant part in the public’s loss of confidence in democracy. Looked as if there was a constant ‘state of emergency’ and democracy not working. It also set a precedent for successive leaders to follow. It conditioned the German people to be ruled by one person.
Conclusion Question.
• Write a paragraph explaining how the weakness of the Weimar Republic might have helped Hitler gain power. Include information on PR, Article 48, lack of experience / weak govt (see your work on Ebert).
HIGHER TIMED PARAGRAPHS
CONCLUSION QUESTION. WRITE A PARAGRAPH EXPLAINING HOW THE WEAKNESS OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC MIGHT HAVE HELPED HITLER GAIN POWER. INCLUDE INFORMATION ON PR, ARTICLE 48, LACK OF EXPERIENCE / WEAK GOVT (SEE YOUR WORK ON EBERT).
(Factor) was VERY/NOT VERY/QUITE important in (topic).
EXPLAIN WHAT FACTOR IS. GIVE DETAIL AND EXAMPLES You must include:
• The voting system – Proportional Representation • Coalition Government
• Article 48 and the personal power of the President
This was VERY/NOT VERY/QUITE important because…….
(give evidence i.e quotes/facts/figures etc) (never use ‘I’)
SAY WHETHER IT IS LESS/MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE TOV
OPPOSITION TO THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC
Some historians suggest the Weimar Republic was ‘born with a curse upon it’ and lacked any support
EXTREME LEFT WING- COMMUNISTS- SPARTAKISTS UPRISING
RIGHT WING- NATIONALISTS- KAPP PUTSCH
EXTREME RIGHT WING- DICTATORSHIP- NAZIS- BEER HALL PUTSCH.
ESTABLISHMENT- Teachers, Lawyers, Judges
ENEMIES ON THE LEFTTo some on the Left, the Republic represented the ‘old’ views rather than providing a radical solution to Germany’s problems - most of the Kaiser’s officials remaining in power.
To extreme groups like the Spartacists they were disillusioned by the new republic
There were a number of attempts by the extreme Left to overthrow the republic even from its outset: in particular the Spartacist Revolt 1919.
SPARTACIST REVOLT 1919The Spartacists (Communists) were the most extreme Left wing group that broke away from the SPD during the war
In a revolt led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, the Spartacists led a violent coup and seized key buildings in Berlin
Friedrich Ebert, leader of the SPD, was forced to use the old Establishment, in particular the Friekorps, to brutally put down the rebellion and murder its leaders. The Freikorps were the ex soldiers who had returned from war to find themselves out of work
The implications for the Republic were severe:-The Left Wing of German politics, already divided, would never unite again meaning that there could be
no strong opposition to Hitler
It became obvious that the Republic relied on others to protect and save
it
ENEMIES ON THE RIGHT – THE NATIONALISTS The ‘Right’ hated Weimar as well. This group included many former soldiers. They hated:
• the Treaty of Versailles and the govt who signed it• the idea of having a republic rather than a
monarchy• the country being run as a democracy – had no
experience of it
Also as nationalists and patriots, they ‘blamed’ the Weimar politicians for all Germany’s problems
The Kapp Putsch, 1920, was an attempted right wing coup by the nationalists to overthrow the Treaty of Versailles and the republic
THE KAPP PUTSCH 1920Right-wing journalist Wolfgang Kapp led a group of Freikorps soldiers to take control of Berlin in March 1920. This was a very powerful group who were against the new republic
Without the option to use the army for support to put down the revolt (the army refused to fire on former soldiers), the Republic was forced to rely on ordinary people to beat the revolt.
A general strike was called to make Berlin an unworkable city, thus forcing Kapp and his men to retreat.
Again, it became obvious that the Republic relied on others
to protect and save it.
It highlighted that there was a large and powerful section of German society who preferred
the ‘old Germany’.
THE MUNICH PUTSCH 1923Opposition from the extreme Right wing – the Nazis
Reaction to the government ending passive resistance in the Ruhr and re-starting reparations payments
Seen as backing down and a betrayal
Hitler and the Bavarian government (a region in Germany) plotted to overthrow the Weimar Republic and establish a right wing government, first in Munich, the capital of Bavaria, and then in Berlin
The coup was crushed by the army and Hitler was imprisoned for 5 years
Again, it became obvious that the Republic had enemies
This revolt, although unsuccessful, brought the Nazis to
the public’s attention. It also showed Hitler that he would have
to use legal means to achieve power
FURTHER ENEMIESCivil servants, judges, teachers and other key figures in Weimar Germany were a legacy of the old Establishment – loyal to the old regime
Their actions further undermined the Republic:
• Teachers taught students to be against the Republic
• Judges took lenient actions against Right Wing law breakers
Weimar is bad
This opposition and undermining of democracy
was ‘constant’ and very damaging
Again, it became obvious that powerful groups of people opposed Weimar
TASK- IN YOUR GROUP RESEARCH THE DIFFERENT THREATS TO THE REPUBLIC.
Within your groups make sure you research each of these and create a mind map which the rest of your group should copy.
BROOMAN(blue book)
• Spartacists Revolt p. 6/7
• Communists Revolt p.8/9
• Kapp Putsch p.14/15
• Munich Putsch p. 20/21
For extra info read the following pages :
P.34 “Attempts to overthrow the Weimar Republic” of the Geddes “Higher History Revision Guide” (blue and black cover book)
p.127 of the Cameron, Henderson and Christie (black cover Growth of Nationalism) book from “Enemies on the Left- Spartacist Revolt” to the top of p.129.
p. 138 of blue textbook from “Although the government…” to the top of p. 139. or gold p.88-90
P.140 of blue textbook from “Hoping to capitalize….” Until Hitler’s quote on p.141
Opposition Group
Action Taken When Outcome
The Communists, the Extreme Left
Who were the group?What did they do?
Date Were they successful?How were they crushed?What message did this uprising give to the Republic?
The Nationalists, the moderate ‘Right’ Wing
The Nazis, the Extreme Right
The Establishment
Read the following pages and notes to help you:P.34 “Attempts to overthrow the Weimar Republic” of the Geddes “Higher History Revision Guide” (blue and black cover book) p.127 of the Cameron, Henderson and Christie (black cover Growth of Nationalism) book from “Enemies on the Left- Spartacist Revolt” to the top of p.129. p. 138 of blue textbook from “Although the government…” to the top of p. 139. or gold p.88-90P.140 of blue textbook from “Hoping to capitalize….” Until Hitler’s quote on p.141
Quotes• Joll comments that Weimar suffered from ‘it’s total rejection by important sections of the
German people’• Hiden ‘To vote for Hitler was for many a rejection of the existing system• McGonigle “weakness of the Weimar republic contributed to Nazi success”• Simpson- “The Weimar Republic was born out of the external defeat of the German
Empire and the internal collapse of its system of government, It is an open question whether the Weimar Republic could ever have overcome the disadvantages which attended its birth.”
• McKichan “ A Republic nobody wanted”• Hiden “Although the time seemed ripe for a remodelling of society and a clean break wit
the imperial past, German socialists were neither fully prepared for revolution nor united.• McGonigle “There is little doubt that the stigma of the so-called ‘November Criminals’
hung like a shadow over the period of Weimar Germany”• Eliot “The Weimar Republic collected enemies right from its birth”• Elliot “The scales were heavily weighted against the Republic”• Elliot “ re Weimar Republic “The mental image created for a great many Germans was of a
weak and treacherous government which was preventing Germany from becoming a first rate power again”
HAND OUT AVAILABLE
CONCLUSION QUESTION:
• What difficulties did the Weimar Republic face? (summarise the opposition it faced and the weaknesses of its structure).
• How important was this in the Nazis rise to power? Was it VERY/NOT VERY/QUITE IMPORTANT? Explain your reasons why. Try to argue if you think it was more or less important than the Resentment toward the ToV.
FACTOR 3ECONOMIC
DIFFICULTIES
COULD THE REPUBLIC HAVE SURVIVED?
Despite all of the problems it experienced, it is debatable whether the Republic would have survived
Some historians think it could have had it not been for the
severe economic difficulties of the time – this factor is therefore essential.
Remember people usually vote for what DIRECTLY affects them.
ECONOMIC PROBLEMSThe people of Germany could forgive their government for many things but a weak economy was not one of them. Germans prided themselves on their economy since the days of the Zollverein- more about this later.
To the ordinary person in the street this means a job, money in their pocket, and their standard of living
If these things deteriorate then a government risks losing support
£
$€
ECONOMIC PROBLEMS
French and Belgian troops invaded the Ruhr to directly take reparation money in the form of coal The government asked the workers to go on strike – ‘passive resistance’ However, it was the Weimar Government’s decision to print more money to pay the striking Ruhr workers while little national wealth was being created that really created the problem.This caused hyper-inflation when money lost its valueAlmost overnight the life savings of millions of Germans became worthless and by November 1923 German money had no value.The people blamed the government
RUHR CRISIS
The 1923 crisis began when Germany missed a reparations payment. This situation spiralled out of control and once again the German people were unhappy and in financial difficulty, so uprisings occurred throughout the country.
Germany missed a reparations payment
The French Invaded the Ruhr
SO
SO
The German workers went on strike
SO
The government printed paper money
SO
There was Hyperinflation
SO
There were Communist and Nationalist riots.
WHAT WAS THE EFFECT OF HYPER-INFLATIONThe German people blamed the government who were failing
to cope with the situation
In desperate times people look for an alternative
The alternatives this time were the extremist parties who also blamed the government and offered extreme solutions to
the problems
To see what effect this economic crises had, it’s necessary to look at the
support for parties at the time
WHAT DID THE RESULTS SHOW?
During difficult economic times, people turned away from the government moderate parties (SPD)
People turn to the extremist parties instead (KPD and the NSDAP)
During stable times the reverse is true – people trust and support government moderate parties and support them and are not interested in extremism
The NSDAP did well immediately after the Rhur crisis gaining 6.5% of the votes as did the KPD gaining 12.6%. The SPD lost support during this time of economic hardship only gaining 20.5%.
When stability returns the SPD do well again and gain 29.8% in 1928 while the NSDAP slump to only 2.6% and the KPD only 10.6%
OVERALL, THE
NAZIS RELIED ON ECONOMIC CRISES FOR THEIR SUCCESS
Stability Returns
• During the Stresemann era Germany had a period of recovery and prosperity.
• Extremist parties all but disappeared as support for the Democratic process increased
Dawes Plan adjusted
Reparation payments
and loaned Germany
U.S. money
Locarno Pact accepted
Germany’s Western border
Rentenmark ended
Hyperinflation
Art & Music thrived
Economic Problems
• In 1929 the Wall Street Crash in America meant that loans to Germany agreed in the Dawes Plan stopped and immediate repayment of previous loans was demanded.
• Businesses shut down and unemployment rocketed. The economic stability and trust created under Stresemann was lost.
• Gustav Stresemann also died in 1929 but even if he had lived it is unlikely he could have done much.
HISTORIAN’S VIEWS
Many suggest that economic crises were vital in the success of the Nazis
Cameron, Robertson and Henderson all agree and assert that during the Golden era
‘Streseman and his times denied the Nazi fire the oxygen of misery and it was all but extinguished’
Fulbrook (who is a lady!) suggests Nazi success was ‘directly related to the growth of mass unemployment’
HYPERINFLATION-Read p. 138-141
Why was France looking for an excuse to ‘put Germany back in her place’ in 1923?
Why did the French and Belgians occupy the Ruhr?
What did the German government order as a result of the French and Belgian occupation?
Copy the table on p. 139 (Gold p.96)
Copy this note. "On 1st November 1923 1 pound of bread cost 3 billion, 1 pound of meat: 36 billion, 1 glass of beer: 4 billion."
Copy the “Index of German Wholesale Prices” on p. 129 of the Cameron, Henderson and Christie (black cover Growth of Nationalism) book.
RECOVERY p. 143
What were Gustav Stresemann's achievements?
Copy the two quotes at the top section of p.144 into your quotes page.
THE GREAT DEPRESSION p. 144
What was the cause of the Great Depression in 1929?
Make a note of the increase in unemployment after the Great Depression using Source 10.8 onp.146.
Read p.147. Copy the quotes
(Gold Textbook-read p.96-99 and borrow a blue book to copy notes on p. 147, borrow blue to get quotes on p. 144)
SUMMARY QUESTIONS
SUMMARY NOTES
Word Bank- Hyper-inflation- Monetary inflation occurring at a very high rate (the value of money goes down so prices go up).
ECONOMIC PROBLEMS
HYPERINFLATION-------- (Ruhr Crisis)
RECOVERY----------------- (Stresemann)
WALLSTREET CRASH------------ (Great Depression)
The NSDAP did well immediately after the Rhur crisis gaining 6.5% of the votes as did the KPD gaining 12.6%. The SPD lost support during this time of economic hardship only gaining 20.5%.
When stability returns the SPD do well again and gain 29.8% in 1928 while the NSDAP slump to only 2.6% and the KPD only 10.6%
QUOTES‘Streseman and his times denied the Nazi fire the oxygen of misery and it was all but extinguished’ Cameron, Robertson and Henderson
Fulbrook (lady!) suggests Nazi success was ‘directly related to the growth of mass unemployment’
McKichan “ Hitler would almost certainly have remained on the fringe of politics if it had not been for the Great Depression”.
Taylor “The effects of the Great Depression really brought Hitler to power”
McKichan “In 1929 it faced a disastrous economic blizzard in which much of what it had was blown away”.
Elliot “It was economic troubles which fertilised the seeds of Nazism”
CONCLUSION QUESTION:
How important was economic instability in the Weimar Republic in the rise to power of the Nazis?
1. STARTING SENTENCE
2. EXPLAN THE ECONOMIC INSTABILITIY ((Ruhr, Wall st Crash)
3. How did this help Hitler?
4. How important was this? ARGUE YOUR POINT! Was it more or less important that the other 2 factors? WHY!?!
FACTOR 4 APPEAL OF THE NAZIS
Why did so many Germans vote for the NSDAP in the elections of
1930 and 1932?
Hitler and the Fuhrer Principle
• Hitler was personally very popular and a charismatic and powerful public speaker.
• He had fought in the German army during the First World War and, although he had only been a corporal, he was seen as a ‘man of the people’. Much was made of this during the 1932 Presidential Election.
• Part of Nazi party philosophy was the ‘Fuhrer Principle’ – namely the idea that there should be one strong leader or Fuhrer. This appealed to those who were disillusioned with the weak Weimar coalitions and felt that democracy was feeble and ineffective.
Quick solutions to economic problems:
• The Nazis promised to provide employment through rearmament and conscription.
• Many of the Nazi promises on the economy were vague but their ideas appealed to those who had suffered during the economic crises of 1923 and 1929.
Communism:
• The Nazis were vehemently anti-communist. They promised to destroy communism and curb trade union power. This was especially appealing to the middle classes and those who feared that communism may take Germany along the same violent path as Russia. This was probably the biggest factor in the Nazis winning power as the KPD vote increased after 1930.
State Socialism
• The NSDAP started off as the DAP, or German Workers’ Party, so there were socialist elements to their policies.
• The Nazis promised jobs and a fairer share of national wealth.
• Hitler added ‘Socialist’ to the title of the party in an attempt to give it a broader appeal.
Foreign Policies• The Nazis had an aggressive foreign policy,
designed to restore Germany’s power.• They promised to overturn Versailles, re-arm,
and create a ‘Grossdeutschland’ incorporating all German-speaking peoples into the Reich.
• These ideas were popular with most Germans.• The Nazis promised to achieve Lebensraum ie
the expansion of German territory as far east as the Ural Mountains in Soviet Russia, in order to ensure the Reich had all the resources it needed for self-sufficiency (or autarky), such as oil, minerals and grain.
Racial Policies
• Nazi racial policies appealed to many like-minded Germans.
• The Nazis promised to get the ‘bank Jews’ off the back of hard-working ordinary Germans, e.g. farmers, shop-keepers, and small businessmen.
• Anti-Semitism was common in Germany at the time, but not widespread enough to make this a major vote winner for the Nazis.
Propaganda and Funding
• The backing of wealthy businessmen such as Alfred Hugenburg was crucial in Nazi electoral success. Hugenburg also owned several newspapers and a chain of cinemas, which helped publicise the Nazi message.
• Nazi propaganda was also very effective in getting the Nazi message across to the electorate.
Appealed to all social classes
• Because of all of these policies and ideas the Nazis did have broad appeal.
• Wealthy landowners and army officers desired a ‘Kaiser figure’ and therefore the Fuhrer Principle was appealing.
• These people also supported the Nazis anti-communist stance, as did the middle-classes.
• Many of the working classes also supported the Nazis. The KPD did well in towns, but the Nazis did better in rural areas.
FACTOR 4- WIDESPREAD APPEAL OF THE NAZISOnly party to appeal to all social classes - rich and poor
Middle Class and businessmen gave huge support – through fear of Communism
Farmers promised fair prices for produce
Consumers offered lower prices for goods
Destruction of TOV and re-armament
‘Work and Bread’ for the unemployed
Offered something for everyone – contradictory policies
THE ROLE OF HITLERHitler’s oratory skills – many related to the words he spoke
He personally made powerful alliances to bolster the party - his alliance with Hugenberg – cinema owner financed much of the Nazi propaganda, allowed for widespread publicity of the Nazi message
His stance on strong government – refused to work with other parties
He personally offered a strong alternative to weak government – a return to the days of the Kaiser with one strong leader
Cameron suggests that ‘He was the Nazi Party’s greatest electoral asset’
CLIP 2440The role of Hitler's public appeal in the Nazi rise to power
Clip 2240
THE ROLE OF HITLERQUESTIONS.
Read p. 142 of blue textbook. (p.100/101 in gold)
1. What was the original name of the Nazi Party?
2. How did Hitler come to dominate meetings?
Read p. 146- 149 of McKichan.
3. How was Hitler described by one of his superiors? (p. 146)
4. In what year did Hitler become party leader of the Nazi’s?
5. How was Hitler’s speech in 1929 described?
PROPAGANDA
Ministry of Propaganda set up - led by Goebbels - filtered into every aspect of people’s lives
Cinema, radio, poster campaign, rallies – financed by businessmen
The first party to use propaganda so effectively
Cameron suggests that ‘The Nazis were among the first to realise the persuasive power of this medium (cinema)’
Rothnie argues that ‘Never has any party prepared for power more thoroughly than the Nazis during the period 1925-33’
PROPAGANDA Q’S“We chose red for our posters, since it is vivid and was the colour that most aroused our opponents. It forced them to notice and remember us.” Hitler- Mein Kampf
Read p. 147 & 148 (Blue) p109-110 (Gold)
1. What does Jones argue? (need blue textbook for this)
2. Why might farmers support the Nazi party?
3. Why might consumers support the Nazi party?
4. What were workers promised?
5. What were businessmen promised?
6. What was the army promised?
7. Why might the middle class vote for the Nazis?
8. What was the appeal of the Nazis to the unemployed?
9. Who was the Propaganda Minister? What does the fact that the Nazi’s had a propaganda minister tell you about how important they thought this could be in persuading Germans of their views?
10. How do McKichan and Welch disagree about the effectiveness of propaganda?
11. List the different propaganda mediums used by the Nazis. How was Hitler able to reach such as Mass audience?
For extra information see McKichan p. 158
QUOTESCameron suggests that ‘He was the Nazi Party’s greatest electoral asset’ (RE Hitler)
Cameron suggests that ‘The Nazis were among the first to realise the persuasive power of this medium (cinema)’
Rothnie argues that ‘Never has any party prepared for power more thoroughly than the Nazis during the period 1925-33’
Kershaw “Hitler inspired millions”.
Hildebrand “The party was never returned to power by a majority of the German people”
HAND OUT AVAILABLE
NAZI APPEAL
Widespread appeal of Nazi policies
Effective Propaganda
Hitler’s Appeal
Effective electioneering
Strong paramilitary activity
Why were the Nazis capable of exploiting Weimar’s weaknesses?
Charisma of HitlerConclusion Q- How important was propaganda in the Nazi’s rise to power? (Give detail on how it helped promote the Nazi cause and assess its importance in comparison to other factors previously studied).
FACTOR 5- THE NAIVETY OF POLITICIANS/ LACK OF EFFECTIVE OPPOSITION.
FACTOR 5- THE NAIVETY OF POLITICIANS/ LACK OF
EFFECTIVE OPPOSITION
NAIVETY OF POLITICIANSIn the political chaos created by the 1929 Depression, the Nazi Party gained 37% of the vote in the July 1932 election.Politicians such as von Papen and von Schleicher felt they could ‘use’ the charisma of Hitler to gain them popularity and power and then leave him aside. They thought they could ‘use’ him They were wrong! They had persuaded President Hindenburg to make Hitler Chancellor as he led the largest party in Germany - he was on his way to his legal take over of power – he had been ‘invited’ to be chancellor
LACK OF EFFECTIVE OPPOSITION Divisions among those who supported the government
Lack of any effective party / parties to oppose the Nazis
SPD / KPD the only ones who could really form an opposition. However, they refused to co-operate – therefore no effective left wing opposition
A general lack of experience with democracy
Lack of strong experienced politicians who could strengthen the republic – Stresemann the only skilled one and he died in October 1929
Hiden suggests that the Nazis gained hugely from the dissatisfaction of people with the government and Weimar politicians: ‘To vote for Hitler was for many a rejection of the existing system’
The Reichstag fire: In February 1933, the German parliament, the Reichstag, was burned down. The Communists were blamed. Hitler expelled the Communists from parliament and enforced a state of emergency where all civic freedoms were suspended (using Article 48). The Nazi party now had complete control of Germany's army, its police force, its government and its economy. Hitler was in power
WEAKNESS AND MISTAKES OF OPPONENTS (NAIVETY OF POLITICIANS AND LACK OF EFFECTIVE OPPOSITION)
Read p. 149 of blue textbook (p.110-111 gold)
Why did the SPD and KPD fail to cooperate? (add in information about the Spartakists revolt from your previous notes)
Naivety of Politicians
What kind of power structure did Hinderberg, von Papen and von Schleicher want?
What do you think von Papen meant when he said “we have hired Herr Hitler”?
Look back on your noes about Article 48. (p. 138) and read the information below about the Reichstag fire. How could this power be misused to get rid of democracy in Germany?
Copy the diagram on p. 145 (blue), p.105 Gold
Add this quote at the end of your timeline Hildebrand “the Party was never returned to power by a majority of the German people” and this
Feuchtwanger “Hitler did not seize power, but was given it by a back stage intrigue”
QUOTES“….Hitler came to office in 1933 as the result, not of any irresistible revolutionary or national movement …but as part of a shoddy political deal with the “Old Gang” whom he had been attacking for months past.” Alan Bullock
“Without the Depression, Hitler would not have been able to build up mass support. However, without the help of right-wing politicians who thought they could use him for their own ends, he could not have won power.” McKichan
Hildebrand “the Party was never returned to power by a majority of the German people” and this
Feuchtwanger “Hitler did not seize power, but was given it by a back stage intrigue”
CONCLUSION QUESTIONHow important was the mistakes of others as a reason for the rise of the Nazi party to power by 1933? (explain how the mistakes of others helped Hitler gain power and assess how important this factor was).
ISSUE 5 SUMMARY
ISSUE 5 QUOTES- PUT THESE UNDER FACTOR HEADINGS
• ‘Streseman and his times denied the Nazi fire the oxygen of misery and it was all but extinguished’ Cameron, Robertson and Henderson
• Fulbrook (lady!) suggests Nazi success was ‘directly related to the growth of mass unemployment’
• Joll comments that Weimar suffered from ‘it’s total rejection by important sections of the German people’
• Cameron suggests that ‘He was the Nazi Party’s greatest electoral asset’ (RE Hitler)
• Cameron suggests that ‘The Nazis were among the first to realise the persuasive power of this medium (cinema)’
• Rothnie argues that ‘Never has any party prepared for power more thoroughly than the Nazis during the period 1925-33’
• Hiden ‘To vote for Hitler was for many a rejection of the existing system
• White and Hadley- Germans “were outraged by the treaty” (of Versailles).
• McGonigle “weakness of the Weimar republic contributed to Nazi success”
• McKichan “ Hitler would almost certainly have remained on the fringe of politics if it had not been for the Great Depression”.
• Kershaw “Hitler inspired millions”.
• Feuchtwanger “Hitler did not seize power, but was given it by a back stage intrigue”
• Hinde “The Versailles Treaty certainly did not doom the Republic from birth”
• Taylor “The effects of the Great Depression really brought Hitler to power”
• Pruess “Many Germans blamed the Allies for the weakness of democratic Germany”.
ISSUE 5 QUOTES CNTUDSimpson- “The Weimar Republic was born out of the external defeat of the German Empire and the internal collapse of its system of government, It is an open question whether the Weimar Republic could ever have overcome the disadvantages which attended its birth.”
McKichan “ A Republic nobody wanted”
Hiden “Although the time seemed ripe for a remodelling of society and a clean break wit the imperial past, German socialists were neither fully prepared for revolution nor united.
McGonigle “There is little doubt that the stigma of the so-called ‘November Criminals’ hung like a shadow over the period of Weimar Germany”
Preuss “The Criminal madness of the imposed Versailles settlement was a shameless blow… The Reich constitution of Weimar was born with this curse upon it”
Preuss “The burdens and cruelties inflicted by the Allies upon an innocent Germany… undermined democracy… and facilitated the rise of Hitler”
Hinden “The Versailles treaty certainly did not doom the Republic from birth, but it did create particularly troublesome dimensions to existing internal conflicts and contradictions”.
McKichan “In 1929 it faced a disastrous economic blizzard in which much of what it had was blown away”.
Hildebrand “The party was never returned to power by a majority of the German people”Eliot “The Weimar Republic collected enemies right from its birth”
Elliot “It was economic troubles which fertilised the seeds of Nazism”
Elliot “Th scales were heavily weighted against the Republic”
Elliot “ re Weimar Republic “The mental imiage created for a great many Germans was of a weak and treacherous government which was preventing Germany from becoming a first rate power again”
ESSAY QS
To what extent was the growth of the Nazi Party between 1919 – 33 due to the lack of effective opposition?
How important was the leadership of Hitler in the rise to power of the Nazi Party between 1919 – 33?
To what extent was the growth of support for the Nazi Party between 1919 – 33 due to the lack of effective opposition?
To what extent were the economic difficulties experienced in Germany responsible for the rise to power of the Nazi Party?
END OF TOPIC PRACTICE
TIMED PARAGRAPHS.
Use this time to PREPARE yourself for a timed paragraph on the topic given to you.
You will then have 7minutes to write the paragraph.
TREATY OF VERSAILLES•Germans referred to it as ‘Diktat.’•Germans humiliated. •Reparations- recipe for disaster. Resented being controlled by the Reparations committee. •Land- only 13% but loss of resources, people and land angered the population. ( Imperialism pre-1914)•Article 231- wasn’t entirely Germany’s fault..•Military losses- Stripped Germany of her pride. Claimed they were unable to defend themselves. •The Nazis would denounce the treaty.
ECONOMIC PROBLEMSAcceptance of Reparations made the Republic appear weak.
Hyperinflation angered the middle classes whose life savings were wiped out.
Dawes Plan and Young Plan- German economic growth built on American loans.
Wall Street Crash- 1932- 6 million unemployed, life savings wiped out.
IMPACT- ECONOMIC PROBLEMS
Nazis promised to get rid of Versailles and therefore reparations. Economic issues caused widespread anger, suffering and resentment. People were looking for a strong, authoritative government that would solve Germany’s problems.Many Germans who suffered during the Depression ( ie: teachers whose wages had been cut, ) were likely to vote for extreme right wing parties. Answer= Nazis
POLITICAL PROBLEMS•Retention of old guard- Those in power supported the Kaiser and not the WR.•Too few political parties supported the Republic. •WR- Accepted the Versailles agreement. •Ebert- Groener Pact- Ebert sold out from the start. •Spartacist Revolt- Use of Friekorps-Independent Socialists never forgave Social Democrats. Socialist now divided- LEFT WING NEVER UNITED OR STRONG ENOUGH TO TAKE ON THE RIGHT WING. •PR- encouraged small extremist parties. Led to coalition governments. •Weimar Republic weak, unstable. •Nazis in contrast- organised, disciplined and had a strong leader who would solve all of Germany’s problems.
HITLER•Great orator. •Promised to make Germany great again. •Involved in organisation- contrast of disorder of WR. •Persuaded people to give backing to Nazi cause. •Use of propaganda to maximum effect.•Promised “All things to all men.”•Vague policies to appeal to all. •WR- lost war, betrayed Germans at Versailles, accepted reparations- Nazis would rectify all these wrongs. •Return Germany to glorious past.•Promised to make Germany great again. •People were terrified of Communism spreading from the West. The Nazis would stop the spread of Communism.
MAKING THE MOST OF OPPORTUNITIES
•Hitler used his trial for the failed Munich Putsch of 1923 to make himself a national figure. He used the publicity to get his ideas published in Mein Kampf, his autobiography.•When social unrest increased, after benefits were cut in 1930, Hitler used fear of Communism to get support from Hugenberg, an industrialist who owned a chain of newspapers, and Thyssen, a steel manufacturer. They, and other industrialists, formed the Harzburg Front which helped finance the Nazi election campaigns in 1932-3 to ensure the Communists were defeated.•At the July 1932 election, the Nazis won more votes than any other party. Hitler was offered political office in a coalition with two other politicians, von Papen and von Schleicher. He refused. He would not share power.•After the November 1932 elections, Hitler refused the chancellorship because President Hindenburg tried to limit his powers. When he accepted the chancellorship in January 1933, he was one of only three Nazis in a Cabinet of eleven. The Vice Chancellor, von Papen, thought he could keep Hitler under control.•The Reichstag fire- February 1933,. The Communists were blamed. Hitler expelled the Communists from parliament and enforced a state of emergency where all civic freedoms were suspended.
TIMED CONCLUSION
You now have to write a conclusion for the title “How important was X in the rise of the Nazi’s to power?”
You may choose the named factor.
You have 10minutes to write this.
GOOD LUCK
YOUR PLANPropaganda + Nazis widespread appeal
The Role of Hitler + platform of Treaty of Versailles
Economic problems
The weakness of democracy (PR, Art 48, lack of experience / weak government)
Weakness / mistakes of Opponents + Lack of effective Opposition