Democracy and Dictatorship in Germany

Ineffective constitution

Left Wing rebellions such as the Spartacist Revolt

Right Wing pressure which lead to the Kapp Putsch

The Invasion of the Ruhr put pressure on the German economy

Inflation lead to hyper inflation

The Munich Putsch failed but Hitler gained attention

The Rentenmark temporarily replaced the Reichsmark

The Dawes Plan was set up

Industrial production increased

Prices of German exports increased

Germany became an attractive market for foreign loans, especially from the USA

However, Agricultural Depression hit German farming and the baby boom of pre 1914 meant there were 5 million more workers. Those who had lost savings to inflation had not been fully compensated

Stresemann seeked alliance with Western powers to reduce reparations

Permanent demilitirasation of the Rhineland with the Treaty of Locarno 1925

A year later Germany joined the League of Nations

Stresemann used this goodwill to make extractions to France less harsh

The Young Plan meant France agreed to evacuate the Rhineland

However, there were still unstable coalitions who disagreed on foreign and social policies which made cooperation difficult

The Weimar Republic had betrayed Germany as the Treaty of Versailles was still in force

The Right and Left wing hated the Republic

The heavy costs of running a welfare state

Unemployment was very high

Hitler had rebuilt the Nazi Party

The Great Depression

Nazis got 18.3 percent of votes in 1930 and 37.3 in 1932.

Different organisations targeted all sectors of the public

They promised to end unemployment

They felt Germany should be self sufficient and not rely on loans

Only Hitler could unite the German nation

The Reichstag Fire helped Hitler

Brunings policies played into Hitlers hands

In 1932, the Nazis launched a massive campaign for Hitler

Hitler created one party centralised Reich

Eliminated the SPD, Centre Party and smaller parties

Banned trade unions

Businesses came under Nazi control

Industrialists were loyal the Nazi Party

Nazis controlled education and the media with Goebbels

The army still had its own values but Hitler won them over

Hitler had eliminated opposition and won support

Reduced unemployment which was a success

Government spending increased confidence

The Four Year Plan and New Plan failed

Farmers supported Hitler and productivity was higher than before

Blood and soil policy

Hitler Youth helped train boys

Women were encouraged to stay home

Workers faced more tax and shortage of raw materials

Jews and homosexuals were excluded from the People's Community

Anti Semitisim was most successful social policy

The FRG in the West and GDR in the East

Banned parties such as the KPD and SPD were refounded

America, Britain and Soviets agreed Germany would be led by Allies

German history after World War 2 was much more stable

Denazification punished former Nazis and increased support for Communists

Famine in winter of 1946 and 47 meant money became worthless

Soviets planned Berlin Blockade to try and seize West Berlin

Britain and USA had to defend western democracy against communist threat

West Germany was more prosperous and had better living standards

But people saw GDR as the better Germany

Workers uprising June 1952

More women started to work in the GDR and mass organisations were important

East German society was still very religious

The Berlin Wall meant labour supply was stabilised and the economy improved

The FRG was designed to stop previous flaws of Weimar Republic and Nazi dictatorship

Everyone was welcome to work in the FRG as 3 million left the GDR after the Berlin Wall

The Trizonia was an economic unit which was controlled by the Allies

Adenauer as Chancellor of the CDU won 4 elections in a row

The economic miracle helped win support for Adenauer

Adenauer rejected the East and integrated the West

Adenauer helped West Germany become accepted in Europe as an important economic and military power