Development Of A Dictatorship: 1918-45 Germany

* Believed they were winning the war, but the Weimar pressured Germany into defeat. In turn, they accept the ToV, which they resent for years.

* Keiser is forced to flee, which the middle & upper classes do not approve of, as they preferred a dictatorship.

* The left wing Sparticists want communism, while the Social Democrats & Freikorps want the return of the Keiser.

* Reparations are not being paid and in 1923 the Ruhr is taken over. Stressermann adopts a policy of passive resistance, this plunges Germany into HyperInflation in that same year.

* This urges people to turn towards extremist views.

* The events of the Sparticist Uprising (Jan 1919), Kapp Putsch (1920) & Munich Beer Hall Putsch (1923) - showed there was serious discontent at the time.

* Article 231 (War Guilt Clause) - blamed Germany solely for WWI

* It was 'Diktat', meaning they had no say.

* Reparations of 6600 million GBP to be paid.

* Take 10% of industry, and 15% of agriculture.

* Army limited to 100'000 soldiers, 6 Ships & no submarines.

* Rhineland to be demilitarised for 15 years.

* Lose 13% of total land, including Alsace-Lorraine to France. Much of the Polish corridor from plebiscites etc.

* Bulk of the population were willing to give it a chance, and Stressermann's decision to passively resist the french in 1923, (unlike Nazis)

* Germany has increased external support, as there is a more moderate gov.

* Both Left & Right wing extremist groups have a lack of support and influential leaders then.

* The events of the Sparticist Uprising (Jan 1919), Kapp Putsch (1920) & Munich Beer Hall Putsch (1923 this one during Stresemann) - all failing, showed the Weimar had a level of underlying support.

* Dawes Plan (1924) given 800 million marks helped stabilise the economy and stimulate industry etc.

* ##More on this found during Stressermann years on the slide.##

* Brings in the Rentenmark (1 Rentenmark = 1 trillion marks) to help stabilise the econemy, and control ultra-inflation. This brought back confidence in the German Banks, so more trading took place.

* Dawes plan of 1924 and 800 million marks are received in US loans. This stimulates industry & improves the economy. (In 1928 the industrial output surpasses pre-WWI levels).

* The Locarno Treaty of 1925 secures Germany's Western borders and results in them joining the LoN in 1926.

* Kellog-Briand Pact of 1928 states that war shall not be used to settle disputes. This makes the public feel safe, and support for the Weimar increases.

* Young Plan of 1929 reduces reparation payments and helps stabilise the economy after the Wall Street Crash (Oct 1929), resulting in the 'Great Depression'.

* All of this results in jobs created, support for the Nazi's at the time goes down - and Germany begins to regain its title as a recognised European power.

* Political factors such as: Proportional representation; article 48 allowing laws to be rushed through; and the bitterness of ToV blamed by many (most right wing) on the Weimar.

* Economic factors such as: Ruhr crisis 1923; Hyperinflation (same year); And the Wall Street Crash of 1929 leading to the Great Depression and loans being recalled from the US, exasperating the situation.

* General factors such as: v. high unemployment rates during the Great Depression (1.5 million to 5 million in just 3 years); Locarno treaty not securing eastern borders and the two Putsches and Spartacist Uprisings illustrating the discontent from the political Left & Right.

* Many Germanys are disillusioned after the defeat of WWI. These ex. soldiers turn to groups such as the right-wing Freikorps or Nazi parties.

* Spartacist uprising of 1919 led people to believe a communist takeover could be possible. The middle/upper classes looked to the political right to combat this, as they used force against the Communists and Trade Unions.

* Had the SA that could bully opposition, run by Ernst Rohm.

* Grow in support by saying they will fight ToV.

* Had uniforms that demonstrated strength and order, at it time were the gov. was weak.

* Anti-Jewish propaganda was popular with the masses, as it gave Germany a scapegoat for the problems in recent years (such as the ToV).

* Wall Street Crash of 1929 helps the Nazis, and by 1932 they are the biggest single party with 230 seats in gov.

* Great Depression meant that the Weimar: raised taxes, cut benefits and wages. As opposed to printing money again.

* Unemployment rises from 1.5 million to over 5 million in only 3 years.

* Becuase of these things, the proposition of extremist views becomes more attractive.

* The Nazi's are now the only group that could deal with the threat of Communism.

* Masters of Propaganda, and dev. the cheap radio so every family could listen to their rallies'.

* In 1932 Schleicher is appointed Chancellor, but struggles to hold power (unpopular).

* Hindenburg wants Von Papen in the position, but Papen knows he is unpopular too. Says to Hindenburg "Let Hitler take the position'. However, Hindenburg thinks Hitler is a 'Bohemian Corporal', and doesn't want him too.

* Hindenburg knows there is increasing pressure to accept if he wants to keep power (Hiter threatening civil war). Accepts on the terms that Hiter has just 3/12 seats in cabinet.

* Feb 1933 - Reichstag fire, Hiter uses this as an opportunity to blame the Communists (accuses a Dutch Communist of starting it). Increasing the Right wing popularity, while in turn reducing the Lefts.

* The next day he passes the Law for the protection of People & State. This allows him to disband meeting of communists, take away civil liberties and imprison 'enemy's of state'. Using this he arrests & imprisons 4'000 communist leaders.

* Mid 1933 Hitler persuades Hindenburg to pass the Enabling Act. This allows Hitler to pass his own laws, and because of this. In July, he bans all other parties. He can also search homes which acted as good intimidation.

* General Nazifying of the state, trade unions are banned, and services are placed under the Nazi umbrella, called Gleichaltung.

* July 1933 - The Concordat is signed, removing the threat of Catholic intervention, in return leaving the church alone.

* June 1934 - The 'Night of Long knives' is put into operation. Many high ranking communist and left-wing leaders are assassinated. The SS leader Ernst Rohm is also killed, as now the SS was degrading the Nazi image, and it annoyed the army. By doing this, Hitler was showing he accepted and respected the army (leading to the oath of loyalty).

* August 1934 - Hindenburg dies, Hitler calls himself 'Führer'. And the army swears an oath of loyalty in that same year.

* Concentration camps built. Tool of terror.

* 1935 - Reintroduces conscription.

* 1935 - Anglo-German naval agreement.

* 1936 - Re-occupation of the Rhineland against the ToV.

- Rome-Berlin Axis (Allies with Italy).

* 1939 - Non-Aggression pact between USSR & Germany is signed. However, they break this during 'Operation Barbarossa' in 1941 (when they invade the USSR).

* Birth rate in Germany halves between 1900-33.

* Hitler realises he needs the population for the army offensives. So he tries to promote contraception by: Banning contraception & abortion; give medals to women to have large families, and propaganda is given out to promote motherhood.

* Compulsory duty year introduced for women, ordered to work on a farm, or in a home for no pay. However, this does not work as well as predicted. Many ignore the orders.

* Youth movements such as the 'Hitler Jugend' are set up to promote the Nazi ideology.

* In 1935 conscription is made compulsory, and in 1936 so is the Hitler Jugend.

* Made to look like the scouts, so it is more inviting.

* In school the Nazi's try and cultivate anguish and hate for the allied nations & Jews, so that they will fight honourably for the Nazi cause.

* Jews make up only 1% of the total pop. However make up 16% of lawyers, 17% of bankers and 10'000 doctors.

* Nazi's use the Jews as scapegoats for the ToV, and other failures of the German government over the years, the general public find it easy to get behind and support.

* Slowly over time the Nazi's are able to become more and more anti-semitic without drawing particular attention to the matter.

* 1933 see's the first Jews Boycott of shops etc. It also see's the exclusion of Jewish people from well-regarded professions such as teaching.

* 1935 - Nuremberg laws are passed, this removes any Jews German citizenship. It also bans them from marrying an Aryan person. In the law passed: 'For the protection of German blood and honour'.

* 1937 - Hitlers first openly outspoken attack on the Jewish pop.

* 1938 November - All this anti-semitic treatment culminates into the events of Kristallnacht, in which the Nazi's encourage the attacking of Jewish businesses etc. 91 Jews are killed, and 30'000 arrested.

* The Edelweiss Pirates were a symbol of opposition to the Nazi's - and would beat up Hitler Youth patrols etc.

* White Rose Group - this group would hand out anti-Nazi propaganda. They are ultimately all executed, many at 'Plötzensee Prison' in Berlin.

* Dietrich Bonhoeffer - This man tried to plot the assassination of Hitler, hide jews and many other anti-Nazi things. He openly spoke about his stance on the disabled euthanasia program and other Nazi programs. He was tried and killed for his views. Leading him to become a symbol for anti-Nazi views.

* July Bomb Plot - In 1944 Von Stauffenberg plots with others to kill Hitler and utilise 'Operation Valkyrie', in order to take control of Germany through the territorial reserve army.