Article 48 & Political Turmoil

Weimar Government and the Great Depression

The period after the Wall Street crash is often called the Great Depression. It became increasingly clear that the Weimar government was too weak to deal with the problems of the Great Depression.

The situation in Germany

It became clear that the government could not solve the problem of unemployment.
- Chancellor Müller could not improve Germany’s economy and neither could his replacement, Chancellor Brüning.
- It was a global problem. Economic growth and world trade slowed and Germany was handicapped by the terms of Versailles.

The rise of the Nazis

Between 1928-1932, the Nazi vote grew rapidly:
- 2.6% in 1928
- 18% in 1930
- 37% in July 1932

Article 48

In response to the economic crisis, President Hindenburg lost faith in democracy himself and used Article 48 to bypass (avoid and go around) the Reichstag.
- This significantly weakened the Weimar Republic.

DNVP-Nazi Alliance

The DNVP was a mainstream conservative political party in Weimar Germany. They won 21% of the votes in the 1924 German election.
In 1928, Alfred Hugenberg became the leader of the DNVP.
Alfred Hugenberg was a media entrepreneur who owned Universum Film, and Telegraphen Union, giving him control of Weimar film, news, and telegraph.
The convergence of the conservative nationalist movement with Hitler is shown by the fact that the DNVP's traditional voter base, protestant Germans, is, according to Jurgen Falter, the only predictive factor for someone voting for the Nazi Party in the 1932 German election.

Political Turmoil

In 1932, the Nazis gained political power in the Reichstag. But the Reichstag had no stable leadership.

Leadership

In 1932, the Nazis gained political power in the Reichstag. But the Reichstag had no stable leadership.
- In April 1932, Hindenburg was re-elected as President of the Weimar Republic.

The Chancellor

In May 1932, Chancellor Brüning resigned and was replaced by von Papen.
In July 1932, the Nazis became the largest party in the Reichstag.
- Hitler demanded that he be made Chancellor, but was refused.

Von Papen and von Schleicher

In November 1932, the Nazis lost votes but were still the largest party in the Reichstag.
von Papen was a DNVP supporter.
In December 1932, von Papen resigned and was replaced by von Schleicher.
- But Von Schleicher did not have the support of the Nazis or the people.

1The Weimar Republic 1918-1929

1.1World War One

1.1.1WW1

1.1.2The Weimar Republic

1.1.3Early Challenges to Weimar

1.1.4Reparations & the Ruhr

1.1.5Weimar Recovery

1.1.6Weimar Living Standards

1.1.7Weimar Culture

1.1.8End of Topic Test - WW1 & Weimar

1.1.9Grade 9 - The Weimar Republic

2Hitler's Rise to Power 1919-1933

2.1Early Development of the Nazi Party

2.1.1Hitler & the Beginnings of the Nazi Party

2.1.2End of Topic Test - Start of the Nazi Party

2.2The Munich Putsch & the Lean Years

2.2.1The Munich Putsch

2.2.2The Lean Years, 1923-1929

2.2.3End of Topic Test - Putsch & Lean Years

2.2.4Grade 9 - Hitler's Rise to Power

2.3The Growth of Support for the Nazis

2.3.1The Impact of the Great Depression

2.3.2End of Topic Test - Great Depression

2.4How Hitler Became Chancellor

2.4.1Article 48 & Political Turmoil

2.4.2von Papen & Hindenburg's Pact

2.4.3End of Topic Test - Chancellory

2.4.4Grade 9 - How Hitler Became Chancellor

3Nazi Control & Dictatorship 1933-1939

3.1Creating a Dictatorship, 1933-1934

3.1.1The Rise of Hitler

3.1.2End of Topic Test - Dictatorship

3.2The Police State

3.2.1The Police State

3.2.2Repression & Concentration Camps

3.2.3The Nazis & Religion

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Police State

3.2.5Grade 9 - Dictatorship and Police State

3.3Controlling & Influencing Attitudes

3.3.1Propaganda & Censorship

3.3.2Nazi Art & Culture

3.3.3Church Opposition & Social Conformity

3.3.4Youth Opposition & the July Plot

3.3.5End of Topic Test - Controlling Attitudes

3.3.6Grade 9 - Controlling Attitudes

4Life in Nazi Germany 1933-1939

4.1Life in Nazi Germany

4.1.1Women in Nazi Germany

4.1.2Youths in Nazi Germany

4.1.3Employment & Living Standards

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Life in Nazi Germany

4.2The Persecution of Minorities

4.2.1Nazi Racial Beliefs

4.2.2The Persecution of the Jews

4.2.3The Death Camps

4.2.4End of Topic Test - Persecution

4.2.5Grade 9 - Life in Nazi Germany

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