The inflation rate rose so dramatically that the German currency lost virtually all value. Paper money was as good as worthless. This caused many people, especially in the middle classes to fall into poverty. Many never trusted the Republic again.
In 1924 the crisis was brought to an end by the Dawes Plan, which restored the value of the currency. One result of this was go make the German economy dependent on loans from America. When the Wall Street crash occurred in 1929, this left the struggling German economy in chaos. Social unrest followed, as people starved.
During the Depression unemployment was constantly increasing. The coalition government faced problems in dealing with this. There were industrial cutbacks as demand for products at home and abroad reduced, 50,000 German firms went bankrupt, causing further unemployment. In 1928 1.3 million German people were unemployed. In 1930 this increased to 3.6 million, and in 1932 to 5.5 million. Unemployment reached its highest level in 1933 with 1 in 3 of German people being unemployed. Unemployment benefits could not be sustained by the government. This affected the social conditions of many German people. Hiden states that
“…number of unemployed reached a level of over 6 million. Even this figure represented only a fraction of the people in both blue and white collar occupations whose standards of living was drastically reduced.”**
There was a definite connection between the increase in unemployment and the increase in Nazi votes. As more German people faced unemployed, the Nazi party received more votes. Even those people who were still in employment had pay cuts and were suffering under the coalition government. These social factors contributed to Hitler and the Nazi’s replacing German democracy in 1933.
Nazi propaganda was funded by Alfred Hugenburg, a successful business man, guaranteed nationwide press coverage. Aeroplanes and leaflets were used to advertise the Nazi Party and mass meetings were held. These were stage managed with dramatic speeches and music intended to hypnotise the crowds.
Hitler in particular understood the emotional impact that mass meetings could have on people. In his book, Mein Kampf, he explains why it would be necessary for the Nazi’s to use this method.
“…whilst attending them the individual…receives his first impression of a larger community, and this has a strengthening and encouraging effect on most people… he becomes a member of a community.”***
Propaganda helped in reinforcing the allegiance of those who already supported the party and in converting those who did not. It played an important part in Hitler and the Nazi’s replacing democracy in Germany in 1933.
There was no tradition of parliamentary democracy so there was no general support for the new republic. Parliament was elected through a system of proportional representation. This meant there was no overall majority and the country was run by coalitions. The result was unstable governments and public suspicion of deals between parties.
The Nazi Party knew the importance of changing its propaganda depending on who it was aimed at. The Nazi party policies were deliberately vague so they might appeal to as many people as possible. The middle class and business community feared inflation and the growth of communism. When speaking to these groups, Hitler would state that his mission was to destroy communism and social democracy in Germany. He also spoke of expansion, knowing that this would appeal to industrialists looking for new ways to make money.
The Nazi Party appealed to Nationalists. They were outraged by the injustices of the Treaty of Versailles. The Weimar Republic was associated with failure in WWI since it had signed the Treaty of Versailles that had ended the war. Many nationalists believed the republic had sold Germany out to its enemies by ending the war too early. The treaty took territory from Germany and left the country facing crippling compensation claims. The limitations it placed on Germany's armed forces, and especially the War Guilt Clause that blamed Germany and her allies for starting the war, left many Germans feeling humiliated. For these reasons it was deeply unpopular.
Nationalists also opposed the ‘Dawes Plan’ and the ‘Young Plan’, approved by the Reichstag in 1930. The Nazi’s belief in the supremacy of the German race also appealed to nationalists.
The Nazis promoted themselves as a youthful, dynamic party, and Nazi members were younger than those of other parties. They picked up votes from young voters. Hiden argues
“First time voters also flocked to the Nazi’s , many of them undoubtedly to register their protest against governments austere economic policies.”****
Yet the Nazis were also successful in picking up the votes of pensioners and the elderly, especially those whose pensions and savings had been eroded in value. This group, especially elderly women, were a reservoir of previous non-voters to whom the Nazis made a real appeal.
The Nazis stated that they would abolish the Treaty of Versailles, that they felt unfairly punished Germany. This was a popular policy for many Germans. They came to be seen as the only credible right-wing alternative to the left-wing parties.
Hitler's hatred of Jews struck a chord with many people - they were a convenient. scapegoat, to be blamed for all Germany's problems.
The Nazi Party made the most of the opportunity which had been presented in the political situation within Germany. This helped lead to Hitler and the Nazi’s replacing German democracy.
Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany by President Hindenburg on the 30th of January 1933. Some historians argue that Baron Von Papen and General Von Schleicher had manipulated Hindenburg to assign Hitler this position. Von Papen thought he could constrain Hitler and use him to get himself into a position of power. Collier and Pedley state that
“(Papen) played a leading role in bringing Hitler to power... Papen became Vice-Chancellor in Hitler’s first cabinet”*
Papen had been Chancellor of Germany from June until December in 1932. According to Collier and Pedley, Schleicher had played a part in the dismissal of Papen, and to get revenge Papen persuaded Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as Chancellor.
The influence of Baron Von Papen and General Von Schleicher contributed towards the Hitler and the Nazi’s replacing democracy in Germany.
Throughout the 'Golden Years' of the Weimar Republic Hitler had little to offer the majority of Germans. The Treaty of Versailles was gradually being amended and the economy was picking up. Extreme views, such as those held by the Nazi party, were not popular within this period. However, once unrest arose in Gemrany , Hitler and the Nazi Party took full advantage of the situation. Many Nazi’s believed that it was inevitable that Hitler would gain power because of the ‘super-human’ qualities as a leader. There were many factors which contributed to securing Hitler and the Nazi’s votes, and which led to them replacing German democracy in 1933.
End notes
*Germany 1919-45
Martin Collier and Philip Pedley
Page 76
**J Hiden
**** J Hiden
*** Mein Kampf
Adolf Hitler
