The Impact of the Depression Flashcards
All 14 cards in this deck
What caused the rapid growth of unemployment in Germany from 1929?
The Wall Street Crash: US banks recalled their loans to Germany and world trade collapsed, so firms closed; unemployment passed 6 million by early 1932.
True or false? Support for the Communist Party (KPD) fell during the Depression.
False. It grew as unemployed workers turned to the KPD, which won 100 seats in the November 1932 Reichstag election.
Why did Hitler himself appeal to German voters in 1929–32?
He was a charismatic, passionate speaker who claimed he could solve Germany's problems, and he appealed to a wide range of groups in society.
How did Goebbels use propaganda to increase Nazi support in 1929–32?
He ran campaigns such as the 'Hitler over Germany' aeroplane tour and the 'Hitler, our last hope' posters, and targeted propaganda at different groups in society.
What was the SA?
The Nazi Party's paramilitary force, set up in 1921 and made up largely of ex-soldiers; known as 'stormtroopers' or 'brownshirts'.
True or false? One role of the SA was to disrupt the meetings of rival parties, especially the Communists.
True. The SA also protected Nazi meetings and speakers, and gave the impression that the Nazis offered strength and discipline.
Give two examples of what Nazi propaganda promised different groups in 1929–32.
Any two: farmers were promised that their land would be safe from the Communists; workers were promised 'work and bread'; business leaders were promised an end to the economic crisis.
What happened between the SA and the Communists in the run-up to the July 1932 Reichstag election?
There was widespread street fighting between them, and dozens of people were killed. The Nazis used the disorder to present themselves as the only party able to stop a Communist revolution.
Apart from unemployment, give two effects of the Depression on ordinary Germans by 1932.
Hunger and homelessness — many could not pay their rent, and desperation affected all classes.
Why did many middle-class Germans and businessmen begin to support the Nazis during the Depression?
They feared a Communist takeover of their factories, farms and wealth, and Hitler promised to deal with the Communist threat.
True or false? The Depression only damaged the lives of working-class Germans.
False. It affected all classes — businessmen and middle-class people also became disillusioned with the Weimar government.
How did the Nazi vote change between 1928 and July 1932?
It soared from about 810,000 votes (under 3%) in the 1928 Reichstag election to about 13.7 million (37%) in July 1932.
How did Hitler change Nazi tactics after the failure of the Munich Putsch?
Instead of attempting another armed rising, he aimed to come to power lawfully by winning Reichstag elections, and rebuilt the party with branches in every region to win votes.
Give one reason why some German women voted for the Nazis in the early 1930s.
Nazi propaganda promised to protect the family and restore traditional values, which appealed to women who disliked the new freedoms and 'immoral' culture of the Weimar years.