Weimar Republic

• The response to the Great Depression and the resultant road to Totalitarianism
• Economic Recovery
  • Economically the Weimar Republic was somewhat prosperous and in recovery from the hyperinflation of 1923 brought on by the Ruhr Crisis/Reparations.
  • The Dawes plan and Locarno Pact had stabilized Germany politically and economically. They were also bolstered by Gustav Stresseman's leadership, who lead Germany back into the fold of European politics with Germany's admission into the League.
  • Germany's economic recovery was copious amounts of Americans loans and issuance of bonds by Germany. They got credit from the US.
• The Great Depression
  • In August of 1929 Stresseman dropped dead
  • The October Wall Street Crash 1929 induces the US Banks to recall the loans and cash in bonds.
  • This hurts the Weimar's recovery the worst, and the German's economy crashes.
  • Production decreases and there is massive unemployment.
  • Unemployment combined with poor leadership make the depression that much worse.
  • In addition, Radical parties in Germany like the Communists and Nazis, quiescent during the late 20th c, enjoyed an increased following
• Heinrich Brüning
  • 1930-1932 the Weimar is led by Heinrich Brüning. Brüning is a staunch member of the Catholic Centre Party and Economist.
  • The Catholics and the Social Democrats have jointly formed the backbone of the Weimar Republic in coalition since its inception.
  • Brüning gave a classical/typical response to Great Depression. Like Hoover, he used laissez faire/non intervention tactics. He embarked on a policy of government austerity.
  • They reduced wages, allowed deflation, cut back on entitlements and the welfare state in general to the chagrin of the Brüning's Catholic/Social Democrat base, who refused to pass their own party leaders legislation.
  • In 1930, Brüning's Government topples and causes a new election.
  • Brüning forms a new coalition, but the #2 party in Germany who get 18% of the vote are the Nazis.
  • Hitler has been politically rehabilitated by his agitation against the Young Plan in 1929.
  • The communists also take votes from the social democrats
  • Brüning refuses to take the Nazis into his coalition, but his coalition fails to pass the austerity legislation.
• A Democratic Dictatorship
  • Brüning then turns to the president of the Weimar Republic, the 89 year old Paul von Hindenburg military dictator of the Great War. Brüning has befriended the old figure, who in his senility is influenced by his military camarilla.
  • Brüning convinces Hindenburg to promulgate his laws through Article 48 of Weimar (its undemocratic): rule by Emergency Decree. They skirt the Reichstag and puts laws into effect. Brüning calls this a Democratic-Dictatorship.
  • The policy of austerity has been ineffectual. Brüning leads Germany deeper into the Depression with a commensurate increase in Radicalism.
  • Brüning tolerates the Nazis in order to combat Communism. In 1930 there are over 260 street battles fought between the Nazis and the Red Front Fighting League.
• Quest for Markets
  • In 1931, Brüning attempted to acquire exclusive markets for the German Economy. The Germans seek an economic union with Austria. France bitterly opposes this deal as a prelude to formal political union between Germany and Austria (Anschluss) which was expressly forbidden by St. Germain.
  • France scuttles the deal through financial channels which causes the failure of Austria's largest bank. This is called the Kreditanstalt.
• The rise of the Nazi Party
  • Hindenburg's seven year term is up, so Germany holds a National Presidential election. There is a referendum on the Weimar's performance during the Depression.
  • Hindenburg defeats Hitler for presidency but the Nazis double their vote to 37%. The Nazis and Commies are avowed anti-Republican, which adds to 52%.
  • Hindenburg will not tolerate a communist coalition, and Hitler refuses coalition government. Brüning is unable to form a government and becomes the victim of intrigue in Hindenburg's military retinue.
  • Franz con Papen, a WW1 veteran and "von," is very close to Hindenburg. Von paper wants to destroy the Republic, ban Nazis and Communists establish a right-wing military, anti-Versailles government. Van Paper rearms Germany and induces Hindenburg to sign an emergency (Article 48) decree which he will present to the New Reichstag.
  • He dissolved the Reichstag and established an oligarchy called the "Government of Monocles"
  • As a leading party, the Nazis name the President of Reichstag Herman Goring.
  • Goring gets wind of von Papen's move and opening day of Reichstag.
  • Goring gets wind of con Paper's move and on opening day of Reichstag, ignores Von Paper and holds a vote of no confidence, which passes 500-40. Von Paper's government unseated and his emergency decree.
  • Its worthless/
  • The are new elections in November; the Nazi coted dwindles and maybe their momentum peaked. Von paper fails to conduct a coalition with Nazis, Hitler is offereed vice chancellor ship but he refuses.
  • Von Papen therefore looses the confidence of the Amry and Plictiacal Kurt con Schleicher and
  • convinces Hindenburg he can split the Nazi Party and detach the Socialist Wing under Gregor Strassen to form a coalition. This fails and Schliechers intrigues exposed.
  • Hindenburg, disgusted and tired, on January 30th 1993, asks Hitler to forma a government as chancellor in coalition with Catholics and Nationalists.
  • In coalition with the Catholics and Nationalists, Hitler does new elections with himself as chancellor using the resources of the state.
  • In March 1933 Hitler returns a solid coalition o f the Right: Nazi party who has 44% and Nationalist (8%). Von Papen has engineered vice-chancellor and he also serves as President of Prussia: "keep Hitler in check"
  • Marin man de Lübbe is mentally challenged Dutch Communist goes to Germany to Protest the Nazis tried to burn the Reichstag down, but he doesn't get released. What is the degree of Nazi complicity.
  • he is released and so eventually burns down the Reichstag to the ground. Hitler immediately goes to Hindenburg and requests a ban on the Communists-Revolution. He convinces Hindenburg for the last time to used the last just of Article 48. Hitler's rise to power is similar to Mussolinis's.
• Hitler gets crafty
  • Hitler and his chief strategist Josef Goebbels have calculated that if they get rid of communist law, this would give the Nazis a clear majority without the Nationalist Party.
  • Reichstag convenes and President Goring immediately proposes the Enabling Law, which suspends the Reichstag to and gives Hitler the power for 5 years to personally make laws. Hitler, in a stroke gains a large measure of political power.
  • Hitler is in a stroke, but gains large measures of political power. Hitler is still seen as problematic by business and boxing.
• The German movement toward totalitariansim
  • In the Last 3 years what led the Weimar Republic towards totalitarianism?
    • Brüning's attempts to fight the Great Depression by circumventing the legislature to enact unpopular measures in 1930 and 1932.
    • Von Papen's attempt to disband the Reichstag in 1932 and establish "Dictatorship of Monocles"
    • Hitler's use of Reichstag Fire to proscribe the Communist Law in Germany to secure a clean Nazi majority. He then ends the Republic with the Enabling Law.
  • These events have two major commonalities
    • Article 48 of the constitution allows laws to be decreed in times of National Emergency
    • The President, who is an ex Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, and the head of Germany Army in World War 1.
      • German Army leadership in 1918 abdicated leadership turned responsibility over to the Weimar Republic hated Republic is blamed for armistice, Peace of Versailles, Ruhr Crisis, Hyperinflation, and Great Depressions. (The Jews are blamed too!)
      • Hindenburg is a strong military and political figure which blocks Hitler's grab at total power.
• Two opponents of Hitler
  • By 1934 Hitler has established a Single party state, banned political parties, banned trade unions, and banned pretty much all other sources of political opposition.
  • 2 sources in Germany of Skepticism towards the Nazis are the industrialsist/capitalists and the Army
    • Industrialists mistrust Nazis due to their apparent solidarity with Socialism. This wing of the party is led by the Strassen brothers (Gregor and Otto).
      • their Socialist programme advocated interest payments (anti-bank), wage equality and improved working conditions, favor small businesses over big Department Stores Uncertainty with big business vis-a-vis Nazi economic policy
    • the Army is suspicious of the paramilitary wing of the Nazis called the Brown Shirts or Sturmerabteilung (SA)
      • they tolerated these groups (friekorps) as a way to circumvent Versailles army limits. With political parties eliminated, the Army fears a uniformed, disciplined, group controlled by ex-army officers led by Ernst Rohm Hitler's ex-commander.
      • Ernst Rohm is the leader of the SA, and is also Hitler's ex-commander.
      • By 1934 the SA numbered 1,000,000 troops. Rohm has publicly stated that the SA will become the core of the New German Army.
• Hitler comes to power
  • In June 1934 Hindenburg dies, and Hitler wants to unite the offices of Chancellor and President under his person. He is the Führer.
  • Hitler has to pay a price: getting rid of undesirable elements in the Nazi Party
  • In August 1934 (similar to Stalin) is when Hitler purges the Communists. Its called the Röhm Purge/ Night of the Long Knives, and it was committed on the pretext that there is an armed uprising (similar to Mussolini) and under the command of Heinrich Himmler will arrest and summarily execute 800+ people.
  • Including Gregor Strassen
  • Geobbels bends the knee. Nazis also settle old grudges, and other Socialist Nazis flee Germany.
  • Hitler now has unquestioned leadership of the SA. Rohm and cohorts are ordered on vacation.
  • Hitler goes to their hotel arrests Rohm with two naked 12 year old boys. Pedophilia was rampant among the leadership of the SA.
  • After this one night the Army and the Capitalists make a deal with the Devil.