When was the Wall Street Crash?
29th October 1929
Name three reasons why the Great Depression affected Germany
- US loans dried up
- American banks that had leant short-term loans demanded immediate repayment
- German economy entered a deep depression
Between 1929 and 1932, Germany’s export trade declined by what %?
61%
How far did Germany’s industrial production fall?
Fell by 58% of its 1928 level
By 1932, what fraction of German workers were registered as unemployed?
1/3 of all German workers
Name three groups that were hit badly by the Great Depression
- Civil service
- Farmers
- Young people
What limits to unemployment benefit were there?
- The unemployed were only entitled to state benefits for a fixed period, after which they had to apply to local authorities for relief.
- Local benefits were less generous and strictly means tested
- Women received less benefit than men, young people less than adults
Give three impacts the Great Depression had on Young people
- High rate of unemployment. ex: In hamburg, 39% of 14-25 year old males were unemployed
- Gangs of young men congregated in public spaces - caused alarm to older. middle class citizens
- Youth involvement in crime was increasing
What law was passed in response to complaints about ‘double earners’?
In may 1923, a law was passed that meant married civil servants were to be dismissed.
Extent of the law was limited to central government employees
Women could only be dismissed if their economic situation was secure
Reich Postal dismissed 1000 married women
When did Muller’s coalition collapse?
March 1930
Why did Muller’s coalition collapse?
The DVP, Right wing, wanted to reduce unemployment benefit, whilst the SPD wanted to protect the level of benefits and raise taxes. Government deadlocked and he resigned.
Who replaced Muller as chancellor?
Heinrich Brüning, leader of the centre party
Which two people influenced Hindenburg to make Bruning chancellor?
General Kurt Von Schleicher and General Groener
Who was excluded from bruning’s coalition?
the SPD
What happened to the state of Weimar democracy?
The exclusion of the SPD, the largest party, from the coalition meant that they didn’t have enough support in the Reichstag to pass laws. Governments had to rely on ruling from Presidential decree which meant democracy was dead
Party and seats that in the September 1930 election
KPD- 77 SPD- 143 DDP - 20 Centre party - 68 DVP - 30 DNVP - 41 NSDAP -107
How many people voted for the NSDAP?
In 1928 - 810,000 votes
1930 - nearly 6.5 million votes
Which groups carried out political violence on the far right and far left?
Red-Front Frontier’s League - Paramilitary arm of the KPD
SA (stormtroopers) - Nazi party
Name two measures enacted to address the violence in the Reichstag
- Bruning issued a decree in Dec 1931 banning the wearing of political uniforms
- April 1932, Hindenburg was persuaded to sign a decree outlawing the SA
How did the Nazi party disrupt the Reichstag?
Chanting, shouting and interrupting
