Week 2, Germany History Part 1 The Weimar Republic 1919-1933

Weimar: 3 Parts Part 1: Weimar 1919-1923 BAD Part 2: Weimar 1924-1929 Good Part 3: Weimar 1929-1933 BAD

Weimar Part 1: 1919 to 1923 Terrible Times: Inflation and Chaos

1924 to 1929 is GOOD US loans Germany money and their debts are reduced (mid 1920s things get better) Art/Architecture- Bahaus school Music- famous composers like Arnold Schonberg Fashion- Berlin and important center (lots of clothing manufacturing) Modern technology, famous scientists in Germany: Albert Einstein, Max Planck

Jews Considered Themselves “WE” Think of how people become “They” Who is they at WMS? In the U.S.? In the world? How and why does this happen? When does it turn “bad”?

Jewish Life in Europe Most Jews lived in Eastern Europe (Poland, Soviet Union, Hungary) and most lived in “shetls” (Jewish village.). They spoke Yiddish, dressed traditionally, etc. Jews In Western Europe (Germany, France, Britain), were assimilated. Were in all jobs, spoke language of country, etc. They considered themselves German, French, etc.

Jewish Quarter, Paris, 1933

Weimar 1929-1933 The Great Depression Changes Everything In 1929, the stock market crash in US sends whole world into Depression. Millions lose jobs. Weimar government cuts spending to help those in need because it is out of cash. Weimar government very unpopular, and returns Weimar to the chaos of 1919-24.

Unemployment Skyrockets!

1929: The Great Depression Economic Troubles Return Unemployment 1928- 1,862,000 1929- 2,850,000 1930- 3,217,000 1931- 4.886.000 1932- 6,042,000

How Do Germans handle the tension? Underlying tensions: WWI feelings distrust of Democracy Anti-Semitic attitudes Economic crisis Where do Hitler and Nazis come in?

Nazi Power in 1920’s ------ 7% 2% 19% 38% 45% 1% 9% 11% 13% 15% 12% There were dozens of political parties in Weimar that tried to elect represenatives to the Reichstag, the legislative branch. Here are three. The chart shows what % of the Reichstag each party controlled. What do you notice happens over time? 1920 1924 1928 1930 1932 1933 Nazis ------ 7% 2% 19% 38% 45% Communists 1% 9% 11% 13% 15% 12% Social Democrats 22% 27% 31% 25% 21% 18% ----- Meeting Notes (5/17/12 08:58) ----- On this slide, period 1 Thurs 5/17

What about that Hitler guy? Hitler and his Nazi Party had tried to take over the Weimar government in 1923. The attempt failed. Why? Hitler was jailed. He was supposed to spend 5 years in jail, but he only served for 1 year. While in jail, Hitler wrote a book, Mein Kampf (my struggle). The book had two main themes: 1. Blaming Jews for Germany’s problems, and 2. Claiming Germany needed room to expand.

Weimar, Part 3: 1928-1933 Why did the Nazi Party’s popularity increase so dramatically from 1928-1930? Hitler (the leader of the Nazi Party) claimed to have all of the answers to Germany’s problems. The depression had just hit and many people in Germany needed a strong leader to help save their country. The Nazis also staged quite a campaign - they put on parades, broadcasted on the radio, put together films, gave speeches, etc.

Not to mention … Hitler was a very powerful speaker.

Powerful speaker… Germans, stand together! Up and resist the foe!...So long as this Treaty stands there can be no resurrection of the German people…The treaty was made in order to bring 20 million Germans to their deaths and to ruin the German nation…He who will not be a hammer must be an anvil. An anvil we are today, and that anvil will be beaten until out of the anvil we fashion once more a hammer, a German sword!”

What did Hitler’s party promise the people of Germany? Promised jobs and food. This attracted the vote of the unemployed workers, small farmers,industrialists, and shopkeepers, who were nearly bankrupt and accepted his promise of good earnings. Promised to restore law and order. This attracted urban Germans, who were fed up with the crime and disorder in the cities. Promised to destroy the Communists. This attracted the upper and middle class property owners, who feared that the communists would take over Germany and seize all of their private holdings and wealth. Promised to restore honor and glory to Germany by tearing up the Treaty of Versailles (refusing to pay the war debts, building up the German army). This attracted nearly all Germans who felt that the treaty had destroyed their country.

What did Hitler’s party promise the people of Germany? Promised jobs and food. Promised to restore law and order. Promised to destroy the Communists. Promised to restore honor and glory to Germany by tearing up the Treaty of Versailles (refusing to pay the war debts, building up the German army). What types of people would this appeal to?

Blame and Pride Blame: Hitler found ways to put the blame for the horrid conditions on someone else, thus giving the German people a scapegoat for their suffering. Traitorous polticians: stabbed germany in back by signing the Treaty of Versailles Jews: who he claimed “controlled all the money in the world” Pride: Called true Germans a “master race” that was destined to rule the world.

But WHY the Jews? If they Jews were only 1% of the population And most German Jews were assimilated people who considered themselves GERMAN Then how did they become THEY? The Other? Why did people believe Hitler?