The Failure of Weimar Democracy Flashcards
All 12 cards in this deck
What was the result of the 1932 presidential election?
Hindenburg was re-elected with about 19 million votes; Hitler came second with about 13 million.
What were the results of the two Reichstag elections of 1932?
In July the Nazis became the largest party with 230 seats; in November they fell to 196 seats but were still the largest party.
What was von Papen's role in Hitler becoming Chancellor?
He convinced Hindenburg to appoint Hitler Chancellor with himself as Vice-Chancellor, believing they could control Hitler.
True or false? Hitler became Chancellor because the Nazis won a majority of seats in a Reichstag election.
False. President Hindenburg appointed him Chancellor on 30 January 1933; the Nazis never won a Reichstag majority in a free election.
How did the Nazis do in the Reichstag election of September 1930?
They won about 18% of the vote and 107 seats, up from 12 seats in 1928, and became the second-largest party in the Reichstag.
What happened to Chancellor Brüning in 1932?
He banned the SA in April 1932, lost President Hindenburg's support and resigned in May. Franz von Papen replaced him and lifted the SA ban to win Nazi backing.
What happened when Hitler demanded to be made Chancellor after the July 1932 election?
Hindenburg refused and kept von Papen as Chancellor, even though the Nazis were now the largest party in the Reichstag.
Why did Kurt von Schleicher's time as Chancellor (December 1932–January 1933) come to an end?
He had little support in the Reichstag, and Hindenburg refused his request to rule with emergency powers backed by the army. Von Papen then persuaded Hindenburg to appoint Hitler instead.
True or false? Chancellor Brüning used Article 48 to cut wages and benefits and raise taxes during the Depression.
True. His measures added to Germans' misery and lost the Weimar government support.
Why did the Weimar system of government struggle to give decisive rule during the Depression?
Proportional representation produced many small parties, so coalitions argued and could not agree on how to deal with the crisis.
How many Nazis were in Hitler's first cabinet of 30 January 1933?
Only three out of twelve, which is why von Papen and Hindenburg believed they could control him.
Who was Paul von Hindenburg?
A First World War field marshal and national hero who was elected President of the Weimar Republic in 1925, after Ebert's death, and stayed in office until he died in 1934.