Democracy and Dictatorship in Germany
1919-63
- Created by: V
- Created on: 16-05-11 17:35
PROBLEMS FACING THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC
Ineffective constitution
Left Wing rebellions such as the Spartacist Revolt
Right Wing pressure which lead to the Kapp Putsch
The Invasion of the Ruhr put pressure on the German economy
Inflation lead to hyper inflation
The Munich Putsch failed but Hitler gained attention
THE GOLDEN YEARS OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC
The Rentenmark temporarily replaced the Reichsmark
The Dawes Plan was set up
Industrial production increased
Prices of German exports increased
Germany became an attractive market for foreign loans, especially from the USA
However, Agricultural Depression hit German farming and the baby boom of pre 1914 meant there were 5 million more workers. Those who had lost savings to inflation had not been fully compensated
Stresemann seeked alliance with Western powers to reduce reparations
Permanent demilitirasation of the Rhineland with the Treaty of Locarno 1925
A year later Germany joined the League of Nations
Stresemann used this goodwill to make extractions to France less harsh
The Young Plan meant France agreed to evacuate the Rhineland
However, there were still unstable coalitions who disagreed on foreign and social policies which made cooperation difficult
THE COLLAPSE OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC
The Weimar Republic had betrayed Germany as the Treaty of Versailles was still in force
The Right and Left wing hated the Republic
The heavy costs of running a welfare state
Unemployment was very high
Hitler had rebuilt the Nazi Party
The Great Depression
NAZIS RISE TO POWER
Nazis got 18.3 percent of votes in 1930 and 37.3 in 1932.
Different organisations targeted all sectors of the public
They promised to end unemployment
They felt Germany should be self sufficient and not rely on loans
Only Hitler could unite the German nation
The Reichstag Fire helped Hitler
Brunings policies played into Hitlers hands
In 1932, the Nazis launched a massive campaign for Hitler
NAZIS POLICY OF COORDINATION
Hitler created one party centralised Reich
Eliminated the SPD, Centre Party and smaller parties
Banned trade unions
Businesses came under Nazi control
Industrialists were loyal the Nazi Party
Nazis controlled education and the media with Goebbels
The army still had its own values but Hitler won them over
Hitler had eliminated opposition and won support
HITLERS ECONOMIC POLICIES
Reduced unemployment which was a success
Government spending increased confidence
The Four Year Plan and New Plan failed
Farmers supported Hitler and productivity was higher than before
Blood and soil policy
HITLERS SOCIAL POLICIES
Hitler Youth helped train boys
Women were encouraged to stay home
Workers faced more tax and shortage of raw materials
Jews and homosexuals were excluded from the People's Community
Anti Semitisim was most successful social policy
DIVISION OF GERMANY
The FRG in the West and GDR in the East
Banned parties such as the KPD and SPD were refounded
America, Britain and Soviets agreed Germany would be led by Allies
German history after World War 2 was much more stable
Denazification punished former Nazis and increased support for Communists
Famine in winter of 1946 and 47 meant money became worthless
Soviets planned Berlin Blockade to try and seize West Berlin
Britain and USA had to defend western democracy against communist threat
West Germany was more prosperous and had better living standards
But people saw GDR as the better Germany
Workers uprising June 1952
More women started to work in the GDR and mass organisations were important
East German society was still very religious
The Berlin Wall meant labour supply was stabilised and the economy improved
ADENAUER
The FRG was designed to stop previous flaws of Weimar Republic and Nazi dictatorship
Everyone was welcome to work in the FRG as 3 million left the GDR after the Berlin Wall
The Trizonia was an economic unit which was controlled by the Allies
Adenauer as Chancellor of the CDU won 4 elections in a row
The economic miracle helped win support for Adenauer
Adenauer rejected the East and integrated the West
Adenauer helped West Germany become accepted in Europe as an important economic and military power
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