Chapter 3

3.1 To what extent was Hitler’s rise to power due more to favourable circumstances than his leadership abilities

3.2 To what extent, if at all, did Hitler’s rule benefit the people in Germany?

Reasons for the rise of Hitler

1) Favourable circumstances

2) Hitler’s abilities

Favourable circumstances

• Weakness of the Weimar Republic• Hyperinflation

• Impact of Great Depression

Proportional Representation

For eg if we use proportional representation in Singapore’s context

Taking data from the 2011 General Elections

PAP 60% 52

WP 13% 11

NSP 12% 11

SDP 5% 4

RP 4% 4

SPP and SDA 6% 5

BUTPAP: 81WP: 6NSP: 0SDP: 0RP: 0SPP and SDA: 0

Singapore’s current system

What are the implications?

• No party had majority

• High degree of fragmentation in parliament

Coalition government

• All parties in the parliament come together to form a coalition government

• Some parties were extreme and not willing to compromise

What are the implications

• The coalition government kept breaking up which meant frequent changes to government

• 20 different coalition governments from 1919 – 1933

• Difficult to pass laws

Article 48

• Gave President the power to dissolve both houses of parliament and rule for 6 months in times of emergency

• Civil liberties could be suspended

• Not clearly defined

Singapore Constitution Article 150

Weak support

Left-wing

- Opposed to democracy

- Took part in revolutionsto overthrow the WR

- Communist Spartacistsfought against the Freikorps

Weak Support

Right-wing

- Disagreed with the TOV- Nationalistic and

conservative- Felt betrayed by the WR

(November Criminals)- Wanted a dictatorial

government and thus impeded the work of the WR

- Blamed the politicians for the defeat of Germany

Favourable circumstances

• Weakness of the Weimar Republic

• Hyperinflation• Impact of Great Depression

What is Hyperinflation?

Hyperinflation

• Workers went on strike so that there was nothing the French could take

• The WR printed more money to pay the striking workers as well as to pay off some debt

• Only resolved when the Rentenmark was introduced

What are its implications

• Middle classes were hardest hit as their entire savings were wiped out

• Even though it was eventually solved, the WR never won back the support of the middle class

Stresemann Era (1923 – 1929)

• Chancellor (Aug 1923 – Nov 1923)

• Brought hyperinflation to an end

• Negotiated the Dawes Plan in 1924

• Locarno Treaties

• Entry into the League of Nations

• Young Plan in 1929

Favourable circumstances

• Weakness of the Weimar Republic

• Hyperinflation

• Impact of Great Depression

Great Depression

1929

Economic Crisis

• Government made cuts to social services

• Poverty, Homelessness, Starvation

• 1932, 6 million people unemployed (33%)

Political Crisis

• Coalition government could not decide on what to do

• No laws were passed

• People wanted more decisive action

• Decline in support for moderate parties

• Increase in support for extreme parties(Nazi Party/Communist Party)

Favourable Circumstances

1) Weakness of the Weimar Republic

– Constitution and Proportional Representation

– Weak Support

2) Hyperinflation

3) Impact of Great Depression