==certain minor detail missing== ==arrange better or do some theme hinting==

Conditions in which authoritarian states emerged

Economic factors

lower class workers: mass unemployment and low income
middle class: hyper-inflation
a loaf of bread over 10k mark
ineffective Bruning’s economic policy -> dissatisfaction to Weimar Government and seek more radical changes -> Nazi’s Bread and Work campaign effectively appeal

Hitler and Nazis
Inflation to pay for debt causing citizen struggle; unemployment due to occupation of the Ruhr by France and Belgium; agriculture stalled development; dependence on US loan → Great Depression

Significance
Inflation and unemployment caused dissatisfaction and hate against current Weimar government, providing fertile ground for radical parties such as the Nazis to popularize. Dependence on the US greatly amplified the devastating effect of the Great Depression later, conducting the crisis to Germany.

Impact of war

Veterens (Hindenburg): since monarchy abolished, old order destroyed; cannot accept defeat, considered politician stab in the back
Citizens: reparation of 6.6 billion pound, huge humiliation
Weimar: print more money to dilute reparation -> hate towards Versailles -> Hitler’s open resentment against Versailles

Hitler and Nazis
Germany was defeated in WWI; signed the Versailles agreement.

Significance
Mass dissatisfaction, especially among the military, directly caused the ==Crisis Years==.

Weakness of political system

Hitler and Nazis
President had power to suspend free public expression in emergencies; President controlled the military.

Significance
Hitler exploited “emergency” powers later and used them to silence his opponents. It enabled legitimacy for Hitler to use his private force to shut down opponents on the street openly.

Historical factors

Hitler and Nazis
Hitler’s NSDAP became the largest political party in Weimar; in 1933 Hindenburg appointed Hitler as vice chancellor.

Hitler’s rise to power was helped by the failure of the post-war Weimar Republic to govern Germany.

Stage 1: 1918-19 – German Revolution (weak base)

The November Revolution - cause/process: a series of mutinies by soldiers and sailors - consequence: abdication¹ of Kaiser Wilhelm II

A Republic declared by Philip Scheidemann of the ==Social Democratic Party (SPD)==. Armistice then signed with Allies on 11th November, ending WW1.

perspective: Military leaders ==Hindenburg== and Ludendorff claimed the army had been ‘stabbed in the back’ by the SPD, but in reality the war was lost. They sought to install a democracy, hoping this would reduce punishment on Germany, and deflect blame onto the democratic system if not.

‘==revolution from above==’, being imposed on Germany by political and military elites who were weary of democracy. - Significance: This provided a fragile base for its success.

Scepticism of this new democracy was compounded by the ==Treaty of Versailles in June 1919== which punished Germany severely. - Article 231 blamed Germany for war - lost 12% of landmass, all colonies - army reduced to 100,000 - reparations bill £6.6 billion - Seen as ‘Diktat’ and was a national shame for Germany, undermining new democratic system – ‘November Criminals’.

Stage 2: 1919-23 – The Crisis Years (Weak Democracy)

The new government led by Friedrich Ebert of the SPD faced threats to its survival.

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==November 1919 agreement== with ==General Groener== allowed military to remain independent of government. - Significance: Weimar lacked support of military - Consequence: military support was conditionally. Army helped suppress Sparticist Uprising in 1919, but refused to move against Kapp Putsch in 1920.

Article 41 enabled the President to override the Constitution under emergency. -> The Weimar Constitution itself was also blamed for weakening democracy.

Proportional Representation as an electoral system also led to weak coalition governments. - Evidence: Only the SPD, DDP, DVP, Z, BVP supported Weimar. The KPD, DNVP and NSDAP were openly hostile. - Consequence: lack of unity between the political parties led to outright street fighting between communist and nationalist factions, and those that wanted the Kaiser back. - Communist attempted armed uprisings in Berlin, Munich, the Ruhr, and Hamburg between 1919-23. - Right-wing extremists attempt to takeover Berlin in the 1920 Kapp Putsch. - Hitler attempted to take power in the 1923 Munich Putsch.

Economic Policy and Failure

The legitimacy and credibility of the government was further tested by economic crisis.

In 1923, French and Belgian troops had invaded the Ruhr after Germany failed to pay its reparations in 1922.

The government attempted to responded by forcing workers to go on strike. Government printed money to pay workers, leading to hyperinflation that destroyed economy and middle class savings.

Stage 3: 1923-29 – The Golden Years

The 1923 economic crisis was solved by a new coalition government under ==Gustav Stresemann==. As Chancellor and foreign minister, he is credited with rescuing the Weimar Republic.

==Dawes Plan of 1924== provided US loans, Locarno Pact 1925 reconciled with France, LoN in 1926, Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928, Young Plan in 1929. ==add details for each with a phrase== - Consequence: During these years extremists parties support declined, as many enjoyed the fruits of economic growth.

The right-wing ==General Hindenburg== elected President in 1925, an overreliance on US loans, weak coalition governments, agrarian distress in countryside, low industrial productivity, a reorganised Nazi party after 1926.

Finally the Wall Street Crash and Great Depression hit in October 1929, sending shockwaves around the world.

Stage 4: 1930-33 – Decline

Economic collapse

German economy collapsed as US loans were withdrawn. - Consequence: Unemployment soared from 1.3 million in Sep 1929 to 3 million in Sep 1930 and over 6 million in 1933.

The inability of Weimar governments to deal with crisis - consequence: increase in support for extremists and rich industrialists began to abandon democracy.

Backdoor

Exacerbated by shift to ‘presidential cabinets’ as Hindenburg appointed Heinrich Bruning, Franz Von Papen, and Kurt Schleicher as Chancellors with Article 48 being used to push through legislation. This ended all democratic accountability.

New elections in July 1932 and November 1932 led to huge rise in support for NSDAP and KPD. This pressured Hindenburg into appointing Hitler as Chancellor in January 1933.

Hindenburg was pursued by Von Papen that Hitler could be ‘controlled’ in a coalition government. Rich industrialists also supported the appointment as the best defence against communism.

Footnotes

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