German Expansion 19181933 Effects of WWI November 1918

German Expansion, 19181933

Effects of WWI November 1918 - Germans still believed victory possible Power handed over to a civilian government Wilson demanded Kaiser’s removal before an armistice Domestic strikes, political unrest, food shortages Armistice came as shock to Germans Dolchstosslegende Blamed “stab in the back” theory socialists in new government for surrendering before German victory

Reaction to Versailles “[the Treaty of Versailles] failed to solve the problem of both punishing and conciliating a country that remained a great power despite the four years of fighting and its military defeat…it was a bundle of compromises that fully satisfied none of the three peacemakers. ” - Zara Steiner, historian What evidence do you think Steiner bases her argument that Germany “remained a great power? ” What factors may mitigate her argument?

WWI and Adolf Hitler Served in German army Believer in the diktat of Germany; anti-communist and anti-socialist Proponent of Social Darwinism Became member of the German Workers’ Party Renamed it the National Socialist German Workers’ Party

National Socialist Workers’ Party Attempting to win working class support Extreme nationalist party Used the Sturmabteilung (stormtroopers) as a paramilitary group Based on similar ideals to the Fascist Party Also dominated by Hitler’s personal ideals

Sturmabteilung- “protection squadron” Schutzstaffel- “protection squadron”

Mein Kampf Written while imprisoned after the Beer Hall Putsch (1923) Wide range of issues: German unity Nationalism Anti-Semitism Mostly focused on foreign policy Clearer than Mussolini’s

Hitler’s Foreign Policy Pan-Germanism German unification with Austria and territories with German-speaking minorities (Czechoslovakia and Poland) Race and Living Space Natural Enemies and Allies • New country of “pure” Aryan Germans • • New space comes from East Enemies- Russia, France • Ally- Britain, Italy • Dispossessing “inferior” nations • Why these countries? • Foundations for the 3 rd Reich

Increased Support for Nazism

The Weimar Republic Crises Spartacists Suppressed rebellion (1919) it and other left-wing uprisings Failed putsch of the Freikorps (1920) Failed after pro-government workers strike Wolfgang Kapp

The Weimar Republic Crises Right-wing political assassinations (1919 -1923: 376 total) Conservatives Ruhr looked to army to replace democracy Crisis (1923) “Passive Resistance” by German workers Hyperinflation especially affected the middle-class

Mary Fullbrook. The Fontana History of Germany: 1918 -1990, page 34 (1991) “The savings, hopes, plans and assumptions and aspirations of huge numbers of people were swept away in a chaotic whirlwind…even when the worst material impact was over, the psychological shock of the experience was to have longer lasting effects, confirming a deep-seated dislike of democracy, which was thereafter equated with economic distress, and a heightened fear of the possibility of economic instability. ”

Munich Putsch (1923) Inspired by Mussolini’s March on Rome Backed by Ludendorff and the Bavarian government Bavaria Still backed down attempted the putsch with 600 SA Arrested and tried for treason; became a national figure

Economy in the Weimar Republic

Economic Recovery Gustav Stresemann Chancellor, then foreign minister (1924 -29) Ended Ruhr Crisis in 1924 Improved economic and diplomatic relations in Germany

Economic Recovery Hyperinflation halts with the Rentenmark (new currency backed by real estate) Dawes Plan Froze reparation payments Reduced total reparation amount Set up U. S. loans (furthered with the Young Plan in 1929) Hans Luther

International Situation Joined Lo. N in 1926 Kellogg-Briand Lorcano Pact (1928) Treaties; led to “Locarno Spring” Overall goals not dissimilar to Hitler’s More pragmatic approach; cooperation best option How might these improvements in Germany have effected extremist politics?

The Great Depression Germany linked to U. S. economy; financial support pulled after the Stock Market Crash Unemployment: Deflationary Policies 2. 8 million (1929) to 6 million (1932) Government expenditure cuts Wage cuts/increased unemployment

Effect on Politics Germans turned to extreme parties Communists (left) Nationalists/Nazis (right) Nazi party used depression to garner support Criticism Hitler’s of Stresemann’s policies aims did not change; looked more appealing to Germans

In your group, discuss the links between: Economic prosperity/political stability Economic crisis/political radicalization Find examples from either Japan, Italy, or Germany (depending on what was assigned) to support your conclusions

Steps to Dictatorship With a partner, provide a rating (1 unimportant- 4 extremely important) for each of the following events that led to Hitler’s dictatorship Burning of the Reichstag building (Feb. 1933) Enabling Night Act (March 1933) of the Long Knives (June-July 1934) Death Provide of President Paul von Hindenburg (Aug. 1934) a brief description of the event and justify your rating