The Weimar RepublicFrom Democracy to Nazism

On the back…

• Based upon what you know about World War II, the Holocaust, and Adolf Hitler - how did he take over Germany?

“Stab in the Back”

• Nov. 1918 - Weimar Republic formed • Nov. 1918 - Armistice signed by civilian

representatives• Versailles Treaty inflicted brutal

punishment

Weimar Constitution

• President elected popularly• Chancellor appointed by President• Legislators elected through proportional

representation to Reichstag• Article 48 - Temporary dictatorship to

solve crises

Weimar Culture

• Berlin became center of European culture

• Conservatives opposed changes• All Quiet banned

Early 1920’s

• French occupy Ruhr• Far-left and right groups fight for control• Munich (Beer Hall) Putsch• Hyperinflation

Hyperinflation - 1923

Hyperinflation

• Most workers were paid daily and given time to shop before the value of their wages fell further.

• Depositors received letters from their banks informing them their life savings were worth less then the administrative costs of maintaining their accounts.

• Young women who had been setting aside money for their dowries saw their savings evaporate, thus making a traditional German marriage impossible.

• A concert pianist would be paid with a suitcase of bills for his performance and exchange half of the bills for several sausages.

Hyperinflation

Hyperinflation

Hyperinflation

Hyperinflation

Late 1920’s

• Recovery based upon American loans

• 1929 Stock Market crash, Depression

• Taxes raised, wages and social programs cut

• 6 million unemployed workers

Political Crisis

• Coalitions collapse• Parties unwilling to compromise• President Hindenburg and Article 48• Extremists gain power• Paramilitary groups roam cities

Hitler and Nazi Party

• As party leader, he gave numerous speeches blaming Germany’s new found weakness on the current politicians, the French, the communists, and the Jews

Philosophy of Hitler

• First outlined his political philosophy in Mein Kampf– Versailles Treaty must be repealed, it had dismantled

the very nature of the Fatherland– All German-speaking people must be united in a

single nation which therefore needed additional “living space”

– Aryans are the highest form of life, must never intermingle with lesser races including Slavs and Jews; these groups must be separated from Aryans

Philosophy of Hitler

• After prison, Hitler reorganized Nazi party and developed a political platform that would utilize the democratic system to obtain power

National Socialist Platform

• Stop all compliance with the Versailles Treaty and punish those responsible for this “stab in the back”

• Rid Germany of corrupt non-Aryan influences, including the Jews who he said had an international plan to take over world

• Only allow people of German blood to be citizens

National Socialist Platform

• Rebuild greatness of the German army; build an unrivaled navy

• Unify the German peoples• Rebuild the German economy without

foreign influences – protecting German workers and farmers

National Socialist Platform

• Education in the name of the nation should be available to everyone and the press should have limitations placed on it

• All citizens have equal access to pensions and medical care in their old age

1932

• Four parties vying for power• Nazis receive 37% of vote - 2nd• Hitler demands to be appointed

Chancellor• President Hindenburg believes it would

keep him in check

1933-34

• Feb. 1933, Reichstag burned

• Consolidates power• Nazis gain control • Hindenburg dies• Hitler declares himself

Fuhrer

"Comrades, we stand firmly together for Germany, and we must stand firmly together for Germany. I am handing you the new insignia, knowing I place it in the most loyal hands in Germany. In the past you have proven your loyalty to me a thousand times. In the future it cannot and will not be any different!"