How did the Great Depression weaken
Germany?
Learning objective – to understand the
impact of the Great Depression on
Germany.
I can describe the
main elements of
the impact of the
Great Depression
on Germany.
Grade D
I can explain and
make links between
the different ways
the Great Depression
hit Germany.
Grade B/C
I can explain and analyse
the impact of the Great
Depression on Germany
and
can
reach
a
substantiated
judgement
about its significance.
Grade A/A*
Starter
This word cloud is in the
shape
of
Heinrich
Brüning, Chancellor of
Germany between 193032. Choose three words,
look out for them in the
presentation and write
why each word is
significant in this lesson.
How did the Great Depression affect
Germany?
Breakdown of
democracy
Fall in
international
trade
Rise of
extremism
Failure of
economic
policies
Social
breakdown
Why did events in America hit Germany so
badly?
How did Parliamentary democracy
breakdown in 1930?
By 1930, the government found itself
with growing number of unemployed
wanting benefit payments, but had
much less tax to pay them with.
In March, 1930 the coalition
government could not agree on how to
handle the crisis and resigned. No
coalition could be formed.
As a solution, Hindenburg appointed the new Chancellor,
Heinrich Brüning, to govern with emergency powers under
Article 48 of the constitution. The Reichstag was now bypassed
and Germany was ruled by Presidential dictatorship.
What was the impact of the Reichstag
elections in 1930?
To break the deadlock and to establish
a united Reichstag, Brüning called an
election in September. However, this
backfired as the Nazis capitalised upon
the fears and discontent of Germans
and made significant headway winning
107 seats – making the Nazis the
second largest party in Germany.
The election only served to divide the Reichstag further and give the
impression that democracy involved squabbling politicians over which
job they would get in cabinet while doing nothing about the real
problems. The Reichstag met fewer and fewer times.
How did the rise of extremism impact
upon German politics?
People began to lose faith in the
Weimar Republic and democracy itself.
People wanted a ‘strong man’ in charge
and saw the Weimar Republic as too
weak.
Both the Nazis and the Communists
gained significant headway in the 1930
election. Both presented themselves as
decisive groups outlining what they
wanted to do – but not sharing HOW
they were going to do it.
With the growing extremism, there was growing political violence on the streets of
Germany, contributing to a febrile and tinderbox atmosphere.
Why were Brüning’s economic policies
unpopular?
Brüning decided to follow a tough
economic policy, which meant –
• Cuts in government
spending.
• Raising taxes.
• Cutting wages.
welfare
Brüning urged Germans to make sacrifices and relied on Hindenburg to pass these
measures. He felt a tough economic policy was needed in order to avoid hyperinflation.
However, the policies did not stimulate the economy quickly enough and confidence
continued to fall.
How did the Great Depression impact
upon German people?
Unemployment
spiralled to 5.6
million
Rising
starvation
Farmers
continued to do
badly
Businesses
closed
Banking crisis
Revisiting the
Starter
Which words did you
pick?
Why were they significant
in the lesson?
Main activity
Fill in the table with as much evidence as you can. This task will help you sort
out evidence into clear sections and can help you structure an essay.
Remember to make an overall judgement which is substantiated. Which
impact do you think was the most important?
Extension task
Construct a timeline of key events in Germany between 1929 and 1932.
Plenary – My Brain
Subheading – My Brain
Draw an outline of your brain.
Fill your drawn brain with all the things you have learnt in this lesson.
This can be in the form of key words, drawings, bullet points, lists –
anything you like so long as it summarises your learning and that others
can understand it.