These revision notes follow the updated CAIE A-level History 9489 syllabus and scheme of work for Paper 4: European option, Depth study 1: European history in the interwar years, 1919–41, Theme 3: Hitler’s Germany, 1929–41. Easy to follow, clear and very detailed notes that cover all the core...
Chapter 1: Why did Hitler gain power in 1933?
1.1 LO: To understand the problems facing Weimar politicians from 1929.
Key question: What were the problems facing Weimar politicians from 1929?
• Background: What was the state of Germany when Hitler and the Nazi took over?
• Political problems: political instability; Reichstag dissolved; coalition of government
• Economic problems: The Great Depression; deflation
• Social problems: Unemployment; hunger;
• Military problem: The Stennes Revolt of 1931
Background:
Resentment at the imposed peace settlement, combined with the shock of military defeat and the conviction that the nation had been
betrayed from within by corrupt and craven politicians, created post-war political instability in Germany. The situation was made worse by
economic problems created by crippling war debts, the burden of having to pay reparations, and high unemployment.
Such factors made post-war Germany a volatile place. Resentment was widespread and deeply felt. Violence was a constant presence
as parties of the Right and Left struggled to exploit the situation. Street fights between contending factions became commonplace. In
such an atmosphere revolution seemed increasingly likely.
• Political problems: political instability; Reichstag dissolved; coalition of government
- The years 1928 until 1930 were characterised by political instability and economic depression.
In 1930, Heinrich Brüning’s appointment as Müller’s successor was made possible by Article 48. Due to the lack of a majority support
Cambridge International AS & A Level History 9489 – from 2021 1
, from the Reichstag, Brüning was the first Weimar chancellor to act separately from the Reichstag, but more dependent on President
Hindenburg. Brüning’s financial proposal was rejected by the Reichstag, but immediately overridden by the president.
- Due to the consistent opposition from the Reichstag (SPD, KPD and DNVP), Brüning proposed the dismissal of the Reichstag. On 14
September 1930, the general election resulted in a political shift within the parliament. Millions of unemployed and desperate Germans
believed that the solution to their plight was to join extreme political parties like either the right-wing Nazis or the left-wing Communists. In
1930, the NSDAP won 18.3% of the vote, which was five times higher than their seat in 1928.
- Between 1930 and 1932, Brüning mostly governed and imposed policies under the president’s emergency decrees. His long-term
deflation plans exacerbated the existing economic crisis, which further pushed the public’s political frustration.
- In 1932, President Hindenburg discharged Chancellor Brüning for his inability to stabilise the chaotic German government. Franz von
Papen replaced him for 6 months followed by Kurt von Schleicher who lasted for 2 months. With Nazi dominance in the Reichstag,
Hindenburg and Papen came up with a plan in 1933. They offered Hitler vice chancellorship but were rejected. Instead, Hitler demanded
to be chancellor and Hindenburg agreed thinking that he could control Hitler and the Reichstag.
• Economic problems: The Great Depression; the Global Deflation of 1931-1933
- In October 1929, the U.S. Stock Exchange dramatically fell, which brought on an economic depression in many parts of the world. It
came to be known as the Wall Street Crash and it greatly affected the German economy due to American investments and loans. During
the Stresemann Years, Germany was able to recover economically through domestic policies, foreign investments and U.S. loans. The
consequence was that the German economy relied heavily on the U.S. economy and the Great Depression hit the Germans in 1929.
- 11 May 1931 - Austrian Kreditanstalt (the largest bank of Austria and at that time also the largest bank east of Germany) collapses
- May 1931 - Four million unemployed in Germany.
- 13 July 1931 - German bank crisis.
• Social problems: Unemployment; hunger
- The rise in unemployment was one of the obvious impacts of the Great Depression. This event also questioned the Germans’ faith in
democracy and the republic. As a consequence of the unwavering discontent, Chancellor Hermann Müller resigned in March 1930.
- Farmers struggled as food prices fell; Homelessness rose; Benefits were cut
Cambridge International AS & A Level History 9489 – from 2021 2
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