Week 2, Germany Week 2, Germany History Part 1History Part 1

The Weimar RepublicThe Weimar Republic

1919-19331919-1933

Weimar: 3 PartsWeimar: 3 Parts

Part 1: Weimar 1919-1923 BADPart 1: Weimar 1919-1923 BAD Part 2: Weimar 1924-1929 GoodPart 2: Weimar 1924-1929 Good Part 3: Weimar 1929-1933 BADPart 3: Weimar 1929-1933 BAD

Weimar Part 1: 1919 to Weimar Part 1: 1919 to 19231923

Terrible Times: Inflation and ChaosTerrible Times: Inflation and Chaos

1924 to 1929 is GOOD1924 to 1929 is GOOD US loans Germany money US loans Germany money

and their debts are reduced and their debts are reduced (mid 1920s things get (mid 1920s things get better)better) Art/Architecture- Bahaus Art/Architecture- Bahaus

schoolschool Music- famous composers like Music- famous composers like

Arnold SchonbergArnold Schonberg Fashion- Berlin and important Fashion- Berlin and important

center (lots of clothing center (lots of clothing manufacturing)manufacturing)

Modern technology, famous Modern technology, famous scientists in Germany: Albert scientists in Germany: Albert Einstein, Max PlanckEinstein, Max Planck

Jews Considered Jews Considered Themselves Themselves ““WEWE””

Think of how people become Think of how people become ““TheyThey””

Who is they at WMS? In the U.S.? In Who is they at WMS? In the U.S.? In the world?the world?

How and why does this happen?How and why does this happen?

When does it turn When does it turn ““badbad””??

Jewish Life in EuropeJewish Life in Europe

Most Jews lived in Eastern Europe Most Jews lived in Eastern Europe (Poland, Soviet Union, Hungary) and (Poland, Soviet Union, Hungary) and most lived in most lived in ““shetlsshetls”” (Jewish village.). (Jewish village.). They spoke Yiddish, dressed traditionally, They spoke Yiddish, dressed traditionally, etc.etc.

Jews In Western Europe (Germany, Jews In Western Europe (Germany, France, Britain), were assimilated. Were France, Britain), were assimilated. Were in all jobs, spoke language of country, etc. in all jobs, spoke language of country, etc. They considered themselves German, They considered themselves German, French, etc.French, etc.

Jewish Quarter, Paris, Jewish Quarter, Paris, 19331933

Weimar 1929-1933Weimar 1929-1933The Great Depression The Great Depression Changes EverythingChanges Everything

In 1929, the stock market In 1929, the stock market crash in US sends whole crash in US sends whole world into Depression.world into Depression.

Millions lose jobs.Millions lose jobs. Weimar government cuts Weimar government cuts

spending to help those in spending to help those in need because it is out of need because it is out of cash.cash.

Weimar government very Weimar government very unpopular, and returns unpopular, and returns Weimar to the chaos of Weimar to the chaos of 1919-24.1919-24.

Unemployment Unemployment Skyrockets!Skyrockets!

1929: The Great DepressionEconomic Troubles Return

Unemployment1928- 1,862,0001929- 2,850,0001930- 3,217,0001931- 4.886.0001932- 6,042,000

How Do Germans handle How Do Germans handle the tension?the tension?

Underlying tensions: Underlying tensions: WWI feelingsWWI feelings distrust of Democracydistrust of Democracy Anti-Semitic attitudesAnti-Semitic attitudes Economic crisisEconomic crisis

Where do Hitler and Nazis Where do Hitler and Nazis come in?come in?

Nazi Power in 1920Nazi Power in 1920’’ss

19219200

19219244

19281928 19301930 19321932 19331933

NazisNazis ------------ 7%7% 2%2% 19%19% 38%38% 45%45%CommunistCommunistss

1%1% 9%9% 11%11% 13%13% 15%15% 12%12%

Social Social DemocratsDemocrats

2222%%

2727%%

31%31% 25%25% 21%21% 18%18%

There were dozens of political parties in Weimar that tried to elect represenatives to the Reichstag, the legislative branch. Here are three. The chart shows what % of the Reichstag each party controlled. What do you notice happens over time?

What about that Hitler What about that Hitler guy?guy?

Hitler and his Nazi Party Hitler and his Nazi Party had tried to take over the had tried to take over the Weimar government in Weimar government in 1923.1923.

The attempt failed. Why?The attempt failed. Why? Hitler was jailed. He was Hitler was jailed. He was

supposed to spend 5 years supposed to spend 5 years in jail, but he only served for in jail, but he only served for 1 year.1 year.

While in jail, Hitler wrote a While in jail, Hitler wrote a book, book, Mein KampfMein Kampf (my (my struggle). The book had two struggle). The book had two main themes: 1. Blaming main themes: 1. Blaming Jews for GermanyJews for Germany’’s s problems, and 2. Claiming problems, and 2. Claiming Germany needed room to Germany needed room to expand.expand.

Weimar, Part 3: 1928-1933Weimar, Part 3: 1928-1933Why did the Nazi PartyWhy did the Nazi Party’’s s popularity increase so popularity increase so

dramatically from 1928-dramatically from 1928-1930?1930?

Hitler (the leader of the Nazi Party) Hitler (the leader of the Nazi Party) claimed to have all of the answers to claimed to have all of the answers to GermanyGermany’’s problems. The depression had s problems. The depression had just hit and many people in Germany just hit and many people in Germany needed a strong leader to help save their needed a strong leader to help save their country.country.

The Nazis also staged quite a campaign - The Nazis also staged quite a campaign - they put on parades, broadcasted on the they put on parades, broadcasted on the radio, put together films, gave speeches, radio, put together films, gave speeches, etc.etc.

Not to mention …Not to mention …

Hitler was a very Hitler was a very powerful speaker. powerful speaker.

Germans, stand together! Up and resist Germans, stand together! Up and resist the foe!...So long as this Treaty stands the foe!...So long as this Treaty stands there can be no resurrection of the there can be no resurrection of the German people…The treaty was made in German people…The treaty was made in order to bring 20 million Germans to order to bring 20 million Germans to their deaths and to ruin the German their deaths and to ruin the German nation…He who will not be a hammer nation…He who will not be a hammer must be an anvil. An anvil we are today, must be an anvil. An anvil we are today, and that anvil will be beaten until out of and that anvil will be beaten until out of the anvil we fashion once more a the anvil we fashion once more a hammer, a German sword!”hammer, a German sword!”

Powerful speaker…Powerful speaker…

What did HitlerWhat did Hitler’’s party s party promise the people of promise the people of

Germany?Germany? Promised jobs and food.Promised jobs and food. This attracted the vote of the This attracted the vote of the

unemployed workers, small farmers,industrialists, and unemployed workers, small farmers,industrialists, and shopkeepers, who were nearly bankrupt and accepted his shopkeepers, who were nearly bankrupt and accepted his promise of good earnings.promise of good earnings.

Promised to restore law and order.Promised to restore law and order. This attracted urban This attracted urban Germans, who were fed up with the crime and disorder in Germans, who were fed up with the crime and disorder in the cities.the cities.

Promised to destroy the Communists.Promised to destroy the Communists. This attracted the This attracted the upper and middle class property owners, who feared that the upper and middle class property owners, who feared that the communists would take over Germany and seize all of their communists would take over Germany and seize all of their private holdings and wealth.private holdings and wealth.

Promised to restore honor and glory to GermanyPromised to restore honor and glory to Germany by by tearing up the Treaty of Versailles (refusing to pay the war tearing up the Treaty of Versailles (refusing to pay the war debts, building up the German army). This attracted nearly debts, building up the German army). This attracted nearly all Germans who felt that the treaty had destroyed their all Germans who felt that the treaty had destroyed their country.country.

What did HitlerWhat did Hitler’’s party s party promise the people of promise the people of

Germany?Germany? Promised jobs and food.Promised jobs and food. Promised to restore law and order.Promised to restore law and order. Promised to destroy the Communists.Promised to destroy the Communists. Promised to restore honor and glory to Promised to restore honor and glory to

GermanyGermany by tearing up the Treaty of by tearing up the Treaty of Versailles (refusing to pay the war debts, Versailles (refusing to pay the war debts, building up the German army). building up the German army).

What types of people would this What types of people would this appeal to?appeal to?

Blame and PrideBlame and Pride

Blame:Blame: Hitler found ways to put the Hitler found ways to put the blame for the horrid conditions on blame for the horrid conditions on someone else, thus giving the German someone else, thus giving the German people a scapegoat for their suffering.people a scapegoat for their suffering. Traitorous polticians: stabbed germany in Traitorous polticians: stabbed germany in

back by signing the Treaty of Versaillesback by signing the Treaty of Versailles Jews: who he claimed Jews: who he claimed ““controlled all the controlled all the

money in the worldmoney in the world”” PridePride: Called true Germans a : Called true Germans a ““master master

racerace”” that was destined to rule the that was destined to rule the world.world.

But WHY the Jews?But WHY the Jews?

If they Jews were only 1% of the If they Jews were only 1% of the populationpopulation

And most German Jews were And most German Jews were assimilated people who considered assimilated people who considered themselves GERMANthemselves GERMAN

Then how did they become THEY? Then how did they become THEY? The Other? The Other?

Why did people believe Hitler? Why did people believe Hitler?