The Great Depression Lesson starter: Why did the Weimar government lose the support of the middle classes during hyperinflation?

Today we will… Describe how the Great Depression affected Germany Analyze the effect it had on ordinary people

The Great Depression A worldwide economic crisis of the 1930s started by the Wall Street Crash of 1929 which caused huge unemployment and suffering.

In October 1929, The stock Market on Wall Street collapsed ‘Wall Street Crash’ All over the world, countries who traded with The USA lost money and had to close down businesses

People in The USA and other countries suffered terribly Unemployment rose drastically People fell into poverty Many business owners killed themselves as they lost everything

Since Germany owed money to The USA through the Dawes Plan, the USA asked for it back immediately This meant Germany was affected more than any other country

Germany in The Depression Businesses and companies went bust and closed down Unemployment went up to 6 million 17m people were on the dole The Government raised taxes and took away benefits which made people poorer The Government resigned Hunger and homelessness increased (tent cities outside Berlin)

This is Karl He fought for Germany in WWI He was a manager in a factory and worked very hard since 1918 He lives in Berlin in a nice home with his wife and two children His boss had to close his factory when America called in their loans and the Depression took hold of Germany Karl queues every day at the labour exchange looking for work There is no unemployment benefit for him as the government has cut their benefits He and his wife are living on their savings They will soon run out He has never voted for an extremist party What will happen to Karl? He sees a sign while out looking for work one day….

Are you a war veteran, shamed by the Treaty of Versailles? Have you lost your job and savings in the Depression caused by America who control our great country through their loans? Are you sickened by those people in our great country who are wealthy yet bring nothing to our society? Are you worried that this crisis will allow Communism to become more popular? If you answered Yes to these questions, come along to a meeting of the NSDAP tonight at Bier Halle, Oranienburger Strasse, Berlin.

How did it Help the Nazis? Unemployment rose to 6/6.5 million – the Nazis promised jobs to everyone In desperate times, people were more likely to support extremist parties like the Nazis or the Communists The Nazi vote went up to 13.7 million by July 1932 Historian AJP Taylor said ‘only the Great Depression put the wind in the Nazis sails’

ES Question Source A is from a German Newspaper. Achtung, on 25th October 1929 Black Thursday arrived yesterday. The Wall Street stock market in America crashed and will have devastating consequences. America will undoubtedly call in all of their foreign loans. This will cause huge unemployment in Germany as businesses are forced to close. Business owners will be left with nothing due to our strong trade links with the USA. 1. Evaluate the Usefulness of Source A as evidence of the effects of the Great Depression on Germany? (5 marks)

Today we will… Understand how the Great Depression affected Germany Analyze the effect it had on ordinary people