Unit Three: German Post WWI

I. New Government

A. Weimar Republic – New government of Germany run by the majority party of the German Reichstag (legislative body) called the Marxist Social Democratic Republic Party.

1. The New government was saddled with the following problems..

– collapsed economy – due to British blockade and war reparation demands.

– Communist and anarchist revolts.

– Blame for losing the war placed on the Reichstag rather than the Kaiser and Generals.

– France’s determination to keep Germany’s economy weak.

2. Democracy

a. Germany became a democratic republic

1. Germans had no experience and little interest in democratic process….too impatient for the speed of Democratic reforms to take hold.

b. Constitution outlining the government

» equality for all

» political power in the hands of the people.

» political minority now represented in the Reichstag

» Cabinet and Chancellor elected by vote in the Reichstag.

» women had the right to vote.

» President elected by the people.

• In many ways, this system helped Hitler gain power …Explain???

B. Political and Social Chaos

1. In Berlin & Munich left wing (liberal) Marxist groups proclaimed Russian-like revolutions. Desired a workers rebellion.

2. Marxists were violently opposed to right wing (conservative) ex-soldiers for hire called the Freikorps. Freikorps attacked the Marxists and Communists.

3. Communists, Marxist, and anyone who was in the wrong place at the wrong time were rounded up and shot by the Freikorps.

4. The new government made a deal with the WWI era military command---- keep post war rank IF they supported the new government and handled the issues with the Marxist movement…ie..eliminate them.

** Good deal for the Army’s leaders.

C. Treaty of Versailles Hit

1. Germans were humiliated in front of the world…pride was crushed.

2. Many Germans now lived for the day that Germany would break the Treaty of Versailles and RECLAIM IT’S PROPER PLACE IN THE WORLD. Hitler!!!

II. German Economy

A. No Colonies = No Resources1. without their colonies Germany was hard pressed

to get their industries back up and producing.

2. U.S. passed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff which reduced Germany’s ability to trade with the U.S….which they were counting on.

a. highest tariff in world’s history…other countries matched it.

3. The British continued their WWI era blockade of German ports which continued to restrict Germany’s ability to trade and fix their economy.

B. Rampant Inflation

1. When Germany could not make their reparations payments the French seized control of rich German coal mines.

2. Workers refused to work. The government continued to pay them and to do so printed mass amounts of currency.

3. The uncontrolled distribution of currency rapidly decreased the value of the Mark (German dollar).

– Items costing 100 mk in 1922 rose to 922,000 mk by 1923,

– People needed wheelbarrow full of cash to buy a loaf of bread.

– People’s income increased dramatically, but not nearly enough to cover the rising cost of food and housing.

– The Mark was so devalued that people would use it wallpaper their houses or replace coal in their stoves.

4. The U.S. attempts to intervene on behalf of the German

government.a. They convinced France and England to allow

reparations to be reduced.

b. Dawes Plan – American Banker, Charles Dawes, arranged for large quantities of loans from American banks directly to Germany to help slow inflation.

c. When the depression hit the U.S…..the loans dried up.

• Many Germans lost everything they had in the inflation.

• Many Germans blamed wealthy German Jews for the economic collapse.

• There was growing desire among the people to have a strong nationalist leader to emerge who could solve the problems that Germany was facing and restore it’s national pride.

III. The Rise of Hitler

A. Informer• Became and informer for the military by outing fellow

military personnel who favored Marxist radicalism• Went on to become a undercover army agent weeding

Marxist influence out of the army. He also investigated political organizations.

• Was sent to a political indoctrination course where he gained the attention of his superiors for his politics and speaking skills.

• Hitler was given the job of educating German prisoners of war who had returned on the dangers of communism and disobedience.

• Was sent to investigate a new, but small political group called the German Workers Party..who would go on to become the Nazi Party.

Hitler the Informer

B. Hitler Joins the German Workers Party

1. Hitler was ordered to go to a meeting and check them out.

2. Hitler eventually joined in a heated debate that day and attracted the attention of the party leadership who believed they could use a man of his speaking skills and political beliefs.

3. Hitler was sent a pamphlet and informed he had been accepted as a member even before he knew he was interested in joining.

4. Hitler found the party to have similar political ideology has he did– Nationalistic– Pro military– Anti-semitic– Working class people

5. It was a young party with foundations based on his own beliefs that he felt he could mold and shape into the direction that he desired.

6. Hitler joined in Sept 1919.

IV. The Nazi Party is Formed

A. Membership1. Hitler and 6 other executive committee members

made up most of their group.

2. Hitler was obsessive about recruiting new members – Mailed personal invitations to people he thought would

be interested– Arranged for an Ad in a local Anti-Semitic newspaper.

3. Attracted just over 100 to his first major speaking event..and by his own account…mesmerized the audience with his emotional and sometimes hysterical speaking style

4. Money began to come in to help fund the group and Hitler spent much of it on recruitment.

5. Hitler was now the featured “attraction” at their rallys.,,and found that there was interest in what he was spewing

– Railed on against the Treaty of Versailles– Tiraded against the Jews– Attendance at party events began to slowly increase.

B. Leadership

1. Took charge of Party propaganda publication in 1920

2. recruited young men he had known in the Army.

- Like many Germans these old soldiers hated the treaty.

3. many people who were afraid of communism’s expansion joined.

C. 1st Mass Meeting – Feb 1920

1. 2,000 showed up at the rally..including Communists who hoped and did cause trouble.

2. German Workers Party members openly brawled in the aisle ways.

3. Hitler goaded the crowd with his presentation of the 25 points of the German Workers Party – The 25 core beliefs of the party.

4. This eventually was a 4 hour meeting where Hitler successfully got the message of the Nazi party out to the masses.