Lecture notes
Summary for IB History of Europe - Topic 14
- Institution
- Newham Sixth Form College (NEWVIc)
Summary of IB HL History of Europe - Topic 14. Notes are made according to the syllabus for Paper 3.
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Topic 14: Inter-war domestic developments in European states (1918-39)- Weimar Germany
Sub-topic Statistics/events/historiography/arguments/impact
Constitutional,
political, Listed below in sub-sections
economic/financial
and social issues
(1918-33)
Initial Constitutional - Proportional representation meant that many parties
were present in the Reichstag. Inefficient coalition governments had to be
challenges formed to secure majorities - due to differing views there were constant
(1918-23) disagreements. Hugo Preuss (took part in writing constitution) - “The Reich
constitution was born with this curse upon it”. Many people were resentful
towards the new Weimar state for accepting the humiliating Treaty of
Versailles. Branded ‘November criminals’. Article 231 - war guilt clause
+ loss of territory like the polish corridor - resentment from right wing.
Historian A. Nicholls - “The real damage the treaty did to Germany was to
disillusion more moderate men who might otherwise have supported
their new republic”.
Social - Allied blockade from WW1 had caused food shortages and
shortages of essential goods which persisted into the Weimar years. The
war killed 2 million Germans, and wounded 4.2 million. Spanish flu
pandemic in Germany - 287,000 deaths between 1918-20. During
hyperinflation, people’s savings became worthless. Food shortages in
hyperinflation - farmers reluctant to sell produce for worthless money.
Political - Numerous uprisings from extremist parties. Spartacist uprising
in January and March 1919 (50,000 commies, Freikorps had to put
rebellion down - reliance on far right (uh-oh)), another communist uprising
in the Ruhr in March 1920 (Kapp Putsch also), the Central Germany
Communist rising in March 1921, Communist rising in Hamburg in October
1923. Munich putsch by the Nazis in November 1923. Extremist parties
continued to pose a threat to Weimar democracy even into 1923, 4 years
after the republic’s establishment. - Bad political situation. Bitter divisions
between left and right wing parties. January 1923 - French + Belgian
invasion of the Ruhr - increased tensions with allies. Temporary loss of
industrial heartland. Politicians frequently assassinated, eg. Walter
Rathenau. Germany was diplomatically isolated - not initially allowed to
join the league of nations.
Economic - Treaty of Versailles ordered Germany to pay 132 billion gold
marks. Scheidemann (SPD politician) - “The consequences of the war,
need and suffering, will burden us for many years”. Economy already
struggling from the war . Hyperinflation crisis in 1923 - 8.9 marks to 1 USD
(1919 Jan), 4.2 trillion marks to 1 USD (Nov 1923) (Caused by printing
money to keep up with reparations payments). 30,000 % inflation in Oct
1923 alone.
,“Golden era” Social - Welfare state developed. Unemployment insurance introduced in
1927. In 1925, public spending on housing was 25x the 1913 level. Death
under rates of diseases decreased (Tuberculosis: 143/100,000 (1913) to
Stresemann 87/100,000 (1928)) (Pneumonia: 119/100,000 (1913) to 93/100,000 (1928)).
(1924-29) Decrease in unemployment from 10% of labour force (1926) to 6% (1927).
Wages increased every year from 1924-29. Liberalisation +
democratisation of arts and social life, shift away from tradition,
generally in line with Weimar’s liberal values (Eg. Expressionism in
paintings, collage and photomontage), (Bauhaus in architecture) (Naked
dancing and homosexuality in Berlin nighclubs). Stefan Zweig (Citizen) -
“Amid the general collapse of values a kind of insanity took hold of those
middle class circles''. Examples he gives - “high public officials and high
financiers courting drunken sailors without shame” “Hundreds of men in
women’s clothes and women in men’s clothes danced”. Reinforced
conservative hatred for Weimar republic.
Political (Not much constitutional so merged here) -
Hindenburg’s election reduced criticism from right-wing. Share of votes in
Reichstag elections for Pro-Weimar parties - 52% May 1924, 67% Dec
1924 - 72.8% May 1928 - significant increase. Anti-Weimar parties - 39.4%
May 1924, 12% Dec 1924 - 13.3% May 1928. Between 1924-29, no
attempted coups and no major politician assassinated. Extremist parties
losing popularity, trust building in democratic parties. Foreign policy is
more successful. Stressemann negotiated more lenient terms under the
Dawes (Under DP Germany given 800 million mark loan to help stabilise
currency, France withdrew from Ruhr) and Young plan (YP reduced the
total sum to 37,000 million marks from 132,000 m). Some opposition to his
foreign policy - one poster reads - “We do not want to pay 80 gold marks
every second for 60 years” (antiYP). Accepted onto the world stage once
again - Joined League of Nations in September 1926 (Given veto power)
Economic -
Trade deficit was being reduced year on year. Rentenmark introduced
hyperinflation.By 1929, the trade deficit was 0.1 thousand million marks
(Almost gone). Industrial, coal and steel production increased year on
year (1924-9). Between 1925-9, nominal hourly earnings increased by a
third. Agricultural prices fell nearly 9% between 1927-9. These factors
combined - increased purchasing power?
Economic historian Borchhardt - (conservative view, not quote) - Increased
wages were unrelated to productivity, simply showed that trade unions
became more powerful. Government subsidies - living beyond their
means.
Holtfrerich (Left-wing view, not quote) - Cartels formed by the elite
crushed German entrepreneurial spirit..Lack of investment by elite also
to blame. Government subsidies led to lack of productivity. Stressemann
himself admitted that “Germany was dancing on the edge of a volcano” -
Economic gains were fuelled by short term loans.
Crisis years Political/Constitutional - Bruning used Article 48 109 times- President
Hindenburg abusing his position of democracy being undermined..
and rise of Democratically elected Chancellor Muller was dismissed in 1930 .
Hitler (1929- Instead, Hindenburg appointed Chancellors who had little Reichstag
33) support (Bruning, Von Papen, Von Schleicher in order). In July 1932,
Nazis won 230 seats, becoming the largest party. Jan 1933- Hitler
appointed chancellor. Infighting between pro-Weimar parties created a
power vacuum that the KPD and Nazis rushed to fill. Historian Laffan -
, “The Nazis came to power more because of their enemies’ weakness and
failure” than because of their own strength. However, Nazis lost 34 seats
in the Nov 1932 election. Despite actions taken by Nazis to gain 2/3rds
majority,they only won 44% of the vote in the March 1933 election.
Party + SA appeal (In lieu of social because there isn’t much) -
SA membership increased from 30,000 (Aug 1929) to 2,000,000 (1933
May, 20x size of Reichswehr). Terrorised opponents, impressed people
with discipline. Quote from an SA leader - “The sight of a large number of
calm, disciplined men [...] makes the most profound impression on
every german.” The populist appeal of the Nazi party allowed them to
draw supporters from all corners of society. Messages like “Smash the
chains of Versailles” drew support from the right-wing. Their anti-
communist stance was particularly popular, with 65% of party members
said their main reason for joining was because of the anti-Marxist views.
Essential in drawing the support of the middle class and Elite, who feared
communism.
Economic -
Economic slump in Germany following the wall street crash (1929).
Unemployment increased to 6 million people. Industrial production was
2/3rds the level of 1913. National income dropped 39%. Agricultural prices
fell 37% (1928-33) - peasants impoverished and in debt. 18,000 farmers
and 50,000 businesses went bankrupt. Exports dropped from 13.5bn
Reichsmarks (1929) to 5.7bn Reichsmarks (1932). Historian Geary - “The
economic crisis acted as a trigger, occasioning the abandonment of a
political system that had already lost its legitimacy”. Mismanagement of
the economic crisis and economy showed that democratic parties could
not be trusted anymore.
- Nazi Germany (1933-39)
Sub-topic Statistics/events/historiography/arguments/impact
Consolidation Use of legal methods:
28 Feb 1933 - Emergency decree passed using Article 48 (Reichstag fire
of power decree) - Suspended civil liberties, gave secret police power to hold
anybody in custody indefinitely. Was used to suppress the KPD
(Communists).
24 March 1933 - Passing of the Enabling act - the cabinet (Essentially
Hitler) could pass decrees without the involvement of the president.
14 July 1933 - Law against the formation of new parties - The KPD and
the SPD were already banned, other parties dissolved themselves to avoid
persecution. Germany in effect became a one party state. Historian A.
Bullock: “Hitler consolidated his power through a “symbiosis of legality
and terror… a characteristic interplay of ‘legal’ authorisation from the
highest level of government with a mixture of threats, blackmail and
terrorism at a local level”
Use of terror:
26 April 1933 - The Gestapo is created. The day after May 1st (Which had
been ‘Day of national labour’), arrested some 58 trade union leaders after
shadowing them. (Threat because they had done well in works council
elections). SA then arrested functionaries and seized property - aim was to
place all trade unions under German labour front (DAF) - Nazi
organisation. SA and SS terrorised and intimidated deputies when the vote
for the enabling act took place. 30 June 1934 - the Night of the Long
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