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Crisis and Crisis and Conflict Conflict Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Authoritarian Authoritarian Regimes Regimes Case Study: Case Study: Nazi Germany Nazi Germany An Enquiry Approach to Modern World An Enquiry Approach to Modern World History History Secondary 3 Secondary 3
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Page 1: Chapter4_Weakness of Weimar Government

Crisis and Crisis and ConflictConflict

Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Authoritarian Regimes Authoritarian Regimes

—— Case Study: Case Study: Nazi GermanyNazi Germany

An Enquiry Approach to Modern World An Enquiry Approach to Modern World

HistoryHistory

Secondary 3Secondary 3

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Was the rise of Nazism in Was the rise of Nazism in Germany inevitable?Germany inevitable?

How was Hitler able to become the leader of

Germany?

What was the impact of Hitler’s rise to power on

Germany?

Factors which led to Hitler’srise to power.

Effects of Hitler’s rule.

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In a NutshellIn a Nutshell

Prior to Hitler’s appointment as the Prior to Hitler’s appointment as the Chancellor of Germany, Chancellor of Germany, the ruling the ruling Weimar Government was Weimar Government was unpopular among the Germans.unpopular among the Germans.

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In a NutshellIn a Nutshell

The Weimar Government was The Weimar Government was blamed for blamed for its inability to solve many of the post-war its inability to solve many of the post-war

problems Germany inherited from its problems Germany inherited from its defeat in World War I.defeat in World War I.

its role in the surrender in World War I its role in the surrender in World War I and the signing of the Treaty of and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.Versailles.

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In a NutshellIn a Nutshell

Hitler was able to gain support of the Hitler was able to gain support of the German people by promising to German people by promising to overturn the Treaty of Versailles and overturn the Treaty of Versailles and regain Germany’s self-respect.regain Germany’s self-respect.

Hitler and his Nazi Party were able to Hitler and his Nazi Party were able to gain total control of Germany by gain total control of Germany by 19331933

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In a NutshellIn a Nutshell

He turned Germany into a He turned Germany into a totalitarian Nazi statetotalitarian Nazi state..

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In a NutshellIn a Nutshell

Totalitarian state: Totalitarian state:

a government that has absolute power over the state and strictly

controls all aspects of life by coercive measures.

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How was Hitler able to become the How was Hitler able to become the leader of Germany?leader of Germany?

The weakness of the Weimar Government

Hitler’s abilities

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The The constitution constitution

and system of and system of proportional proportional

representationrepresentation

Opposed by Opposed by the rightthe right

Opposed by Opposed by the leftthe left

Unable to Unable to keep order keep order

in the in the countrycountry

Lost the Lost the support of support of the middle the middle

classclass

Lost a Lost a capable capable leaderleader

The The weakness of weakness of the Weimar the Weimar GovernmentGovernment

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The constitution and system of proportional representation

•Germany had been controlled by Germany had been controlled by

authoritarian rulers for a very longauthoritarian rulers for a very longtime.time.

•After the German surrender inAfter the German surrender inWorld War I, a new constitution was World War I, a new constitution was drawn up which established a drawn up which established a democratic government.democratic government.

•The democratic Weimar Government The democratic Weimar Government had a President who was chosen by had a President who was chosen by the people.the people.

•The President chose the Chancellor The President chose the Chancellor and the cabinet ministers.and the cabinet ministers.

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The constitution and system of proportional representation

However, under this new system, However, under this new system, governments did not last long.governments did not last long. From 1919 to 1933, there were more than 16 From 1919 to 1933, there were more than 16

chancellors and the longest government lasted chancellors and the longest government lasted only 2 years and 2 months.only 2 years and 2 months.

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The constitution and system of proportional representation

This is because This is because coalition governments coalition governments were usually unstable and led to a lot of were usually unstable and led to a lot of disagreements disagreements as decisions needed all the parties to agree with as decisions needed all the parties to agree with

one another – but they often did not agree with one another – but they often did not agree with one another.one another.

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The constitution and system of proportional representation

Regular changing of the governments Regular changing of the governments proved to be disruptive to the stability of proved to be disruptive to the stability of the country.the country.

Most of the ruling parties were coalition Most of the ruling parties were coalition parties that lacked unity.parties that lacked unity.

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The constitution and system of proportional representation

As a result, many people had little As a result, many people had little trust in the ability of the new trust in the ability of the new

democratic government.democratic government.

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Opposed by the right

The ‘right’ comprised mainly of the The ‘right’ comprised mainly of the German Army which objected to the German Army which objected to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.signing of the Treaty of Versailles.

This group claimed the army had been This group claimed the army had been ‘stabbed in the back’ and could have ‘stabbed in the back’ and could have continued fighting.continued fighting.

Deeply resentful, they were determined to Deeply resentful, they were determined to obstruct the work of the Weimar obstruct the work of the Weimar Government.Government.

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Opposed by the right

However, their claims were actually FALSE.However, their claims were actually FALSE.

Germany’s allies, Turkey and Bulgaria, were ready to Germany’s allies, Turkey and Bulgaria, were ready to stop fighting and negotiate for peace, leaving stop fighting and negotiate for peace, leaving Germany’s south open to attack.Germany’s south open to attack.

Since 1915, the British naval blockade of Germany’s Since 1915, the British naval blockade of Germany’s ports had prevented food and raw materials from ports had prevented food and raw materials from reaching Germany.reaching Germany.

Starved of food and basic goods, the Weimar Starved of food and basic goods, the Weimar Government had no choice but to sign the Treaty Government had no choice but to sign the Treaty of Versailles.of Versailles.

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The Weimar The Weimar Government was Government was

opposed by the leftopposed by the left

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Opposed by the left The ‘left’ refers to the Communists.The ‘left’ refers to the Communists.

One of the Communist groups was known as One of the Communist groups was known as the Spartacists.the Spartacists.

This group wanted to bring down the Weimar This group wanted to bring down the Weimar GovernmentGovernment This is because they This is because they wanted to set up a wanted to set up a

Communist governmentCommunist government similar to the one in the similar to the one in the Soviet Union.Soviet Union.

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Opposed by the left

Frequent uprisings by the Spartacists Frequent uprisings by the Spartacists occurred between 1918 and 1919. occurred between 1918 and 1919.

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Opposed by the left

Many soldiers who had returned home from Many soldiers who had returned home from the war were unhappy with the Weimar the war were unhappy with the Weimar Government. Government. They also did not like the Communist groups.They also did not like the Communist groups.

Many who had quit the German Army joined Many who had quit the German Army joined the right wing Free Corps (Freikorps).the right wing Free Corps (Freikorps). These were experienced, battle-hardened men who These were experienced, battle-hardened men who

were very disciplined.were very disciplined.

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Opposed by the left

There were frequent battles between the There were frequent battles between the Freikorps and the Spartacists in Berlin.Freikorps and the Spartacists in Berlin.

President Ebert moved his government to President Ebert moved his government to the safety of Weimar city the safety of Weimar city

He allowed the Freikorps and what He allowed the Freikorps and what remained of the regular army to bring remained of the regular army to bring peace and stability back to Berlin. peace and stability back to Berlin.

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Opposed by the left No mercy was shown to the Spartacists/ No mercy was shown to the Spartacists/

Communists whose Communists whose leaders were leaders were murdered after being arrestedmurdered after being arrested. .

The Freikorps was better organised and The Freikorps was better organised and armed - they also had a military armed - they also had a military background. background. The majority of the Spartacists were civilians. The majority of the Spartacists were civilians. No-one doubted who would win. No-one doubted who would win.

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The Weimar Government The Weimar Government was unable to keep order was unable to keep order

in the countryin the country

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Unable to keep order in the country

The government spent much of its time The government spent much of its time trying to suppress riots and attempts to trying to suppress riots and attempts to overthrow the government.overthrow the government.

It relied heavily on the It relied heavily on the FreikorpsFreikorps to to suppress revolts.suppress revolts.

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Unable to keep order in the country

The The FreikorpsFreikorps themselves tried to themselves tried to overthrow the government in the 1920 overthrow the government in the 1920 Kapp Kapp PutschPutsch which almost succeeded. which almost succeeded.

In November 1923, Hitler himself In November 1923, Hitler himself attempted to overthrow the government in attempted to overthrow the government in the Munich Beer Hall the Munich Beer Hall PutschPutsch..

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Unable to keep order in the country

Members of the Weimar Government Members of the Weimar Government became targets for attack.became targets for attack. Between 1919 and 1922, there were 376 Between 1919 and 1922, there were 376

political murders.political murders.

Many people were deeply shocked by Many people were deeply shocked by the level of violence in the country the level of violence in the country They lost confidence in the government’s They lost confidence in the government’s

ability to maintain law and order.ability to maintain law and order.

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Unable to keep order in the country

The judges and police were sympathetic The judges and police were sympathetic towards the murderers towards the murderers This is because many of them preferred the This is because many of them preferred the

olden days of rule under the Kaiserolden days of rule under the Kaiser the murderers mostly received light sentences. the murderers mostly received light sentences.

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The Weimar Government The Weimar Government lost the support of the lost the support of the

middle class in Germany.middle class in Germany.

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Lost the support of the middle class

The Weimar Government was heavily in The Weimar Government was heavily in debt due to the payment of war debt due to the payment of war reparations.reparations.

Germany’s problems were worsened by Germany’s problems were worsened by the hyper-inflation the hyper-inflation The hyperinflation was caused by the The hyperinflation was caused by the

overprinting of money which the government overprinting of money which the government used to pay off its debts. used to pay off its debts.

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Lost the support of the middle class

Many Germans lost their savings Many Germans lost their savings overnight and they blamed the overnight and they blamed the government.government.

The middle class was the worst hit and The middle class was the worst hit and they stopped supporting the they stopped supporting the government, government, They thought that the government and its They thought that the government and its

democratic system had failed.democratic system had failed.BackBack

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The Weimar The Weimar Government lost a Government lost a

capable leadercapable leader

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Lost a capable leader

Despite its weaknesses, the Despite its weaknesses, the Weimar Government did not Weimar Government did not collapse.collapse.

This was due to the efforts of This was due to the efforts of Chancellor Chancellor Gustav Gustav StresemannStresemann..

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Lost a capable leader

Stresseman was able to Stresseman was able to negotiate for a longer term for negotiate for a longer term for the repayment of reparations the repayment of reparations through the Dawes Plan and the through the Dawes Plan and the

Young Plan.Young Plan.

He also improved relations He also improved relations with the Allieswith the Allies As a result, Germany was As a result, Germany was

admitted to the League of Nations. admitted to the League of Nations.

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Lost a capable leader

These positive developments These positive developments led people to describe the led people to describe the years 1924 to 1929 as a years 1924 to 1929 as a golden agegolden age for Germany. for Germany. Golden age: Any period of great Golden age: Any period of great

peace and prosperity and peace and prosperity and happinesshappiness

His death in 1929 was a big His death in 1929 was a big blow to Germany.blow to Germany.

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Lost a capable leader

Germany’s economic recovery relied on US Germany’s economic recovery relied on US loans.loans. This made Germany vulnerable as it depended on This made Germany vulnerable as it depended on

America’s ability to keep lending. America’s ability to keep lending.

When the Great Depression hit and America When the Great Depression hit and America was badly affected, was badly affected, the loans from America to Germany came to an end.the loans from America to Germany came to an end.

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Lost a capable leader

Germany suffered as a result of Germany suffered as a result of this and was on the verge of this and was on the verge of collapse.collapse.

Thus, after Stressemann’s death, Thus, after Stressemann’s death, the Weimar government was once the Weimar government was once again hated by the people.again hated by the people.

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The The constitution constitution

and system of and system of proportional proportional

representationrepresentation

Opposed by Opposed by the rightthe right

Opposed by Opposed by the leftthe left

Unable to Unable to keep order keep order

in the in the countrycountry

Lost the Lost the support of support of the middle the middle

classclass

Lost a Lost a capable capable leaderleader

The The weakness of weakness of the Weimar the Weimar GovernmentGovernment