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Nazi Germany
Postwar Germany
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With the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II
on Nov. 9th, 1918, Germany became a
republic under the leadership of the Social
Democrats.
This came as a shock to most, since they
believed Germany was winning the war.
The republic faced its first challenge with
the Spartacist Revolt in Jan. 1919.
Weimar Republic
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German voters chose democracy as the
National Assembly met in Weimar to draft
a constitution.
It created a two house parliament (elected
by proportional representation) and a
president.
Despite this, many conservative
nationalists remained in positions of power
and resented the republic.
Economic Problems
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The reparations debt of 132
billion marks ($33 billion)
crippled Germany.
Default allowed the French to
occupy the industrial Ruhr
Valley in 1923.
The industrial workers there
refused to work for the French.
To support them, Germany
printed money, causing rapid
inflation.
Economic Recovery
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Gustav Stresemann, replaced the old mark with
a new one, stabilizing the currency.
Passive resistance was ended in the Ruhr and
the reparations issue was addressed.
The Dawes Plan had Germany pay variably
depending on economic strength
In 1925, the Ruhr occupation ended.
The infusion of foreign loans and investment led
to recovery in the late 1920s.
The Depression and 1930 Elections
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President Hindenburg faced economic
crisis with the depression in 1930.
In the 1930 election, the Nazis
increased their seats to 107 with the
support of the lower middle class and
peasants.
The Social Democrats continued to
be the largest party with 143 seats
and the communists held 77.
Hindenburg
Adolf Hitler (1889-1945)
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Born in Austria, he was a
poor student who
unsuccessfully attempted to
become an artist in Vienna.
Moving to Munich, he began
to absorb right-wing ideas.
He enlisted in the German
army and won the Iron Cross.
The Nazi Party
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In Munich after the war, Hitler
joined then reorganized a small
nationalist group soon to be
called the National Socialist
German Workers Party
(NSDAP) or Nazis.
He gained followers by
speaking of Germany’s ills and
the disgrace of the Versailles
Treaty.
He formed a paramilitary wing,
the SA, or Brown Shirts.
The Nazi Party
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In the Munich Beer Hall Putsch
of Nov. 1923, Hitler and the
Nazis unsuccessfully attempted
to seize power.
Hitler was imprisoned for nine
months.
While in jail, he wrote Mein
Kampf, which expounded his
views on race, politics and
German expansion
(lebensraum).
Rise of Hitler
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Following the 1930 elections, Hindenburg and
Chancellor Bruning ruled by decree, but had no
success with the economy.
In spring 1932, Hitler challenged Hindenburg for
the presidency. Hindenberg was relected and
appointed Franz von Papen as chancellor.
He failed to gain wide support and he called for
new elections. In July the Nazis emerged with
209 seats, in November, 196).
Rise of Hitler
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Papen resigned and was replaced by Kurt
von Schleicher.
Papen then worked with Hitler to return to
power.
On Jan. 30, 1933, they convinced
Hindenburg to appoint Hitler chancellor
and Papen vice chancellor.
Papen believed he could control Hitler and
be the true leader of the government.
Creation of the Nazi Dictatorship
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New elections scheduled for March 1933
were preceded by the Reichstag fire of
Feb. 27.
Hitler blamed the Communists and
convinced Hindenburg to curtail liberties.
In the March 5 election, the Nazis won
288 seats (44%) and with their nationalist
allies controlled the government (88
communists were banned).
Creation of the Nazi Dictatorship
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March 23, 1933 – the Reichstag
passed the Enabling Act, giving
Hitler dictatorial powers for 4
years.
The Nazis then consolidated power
by ending the federal system,
abolishing labor unions, outlawing
all other political parties.
The SS and Gestapo were created
and with the death of Hindenburg
in 1934, Hitler assumed his powers
and control of the military.
Nazi Anti-Semitism
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Germany’s Jews number about
600,000.
Nazi persecutions began immediately,
but intensified with the passage of the
Nuremberg Laws of 1935.
It defined Jews as anyone with one
Jewish grandparent (increasing the
number to 2.5 million) and deprived
them of citizenship.
On Nov. 9th, 1938, Kristallnacht had
mobs destroying synagogues and
business and the required wearing of
the Star of David on clothing.
Nazis and the Churches
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Pope Pius XI
The Lutheran church was made to
accept a Nazi appointed bishop.
Dissenters following Pastor Martin
Neimoeller were imprisoned in
concentration camps.
In July 1933, the Vatican signed a
concordat with Germany which
protected the rights of Catholics.
Increasing persecutions brought
condemnation from Pope Pius XI in
1937.
Nazi Economic Policy
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“Socialist” in Nazi party terms meant
subordination to the needs of the state.
Capitalists were allowed to keep their
businesses and profits if they cooperated.
Unemployment was drastically reduced
through public works projects such as the
autobahns and the Four Year Plans of
1936 which focused on the increase in
military production.