In Between The Wars

Bell Ringer• What were the terms of the Treaty of

Versailles?

1 minute

Discuss with your partner

Treaty of Versailles• Germany:

– Lost territory– Took all blame– Demilitarized– Paid reparations

The Weimar Republic

Germany Post WWI

Germany• Plagued riots, strikes, and rebellions• Many groups vying for power

– Communists – Social Democrats– Nazis (Hitler’s political debut)

• When Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated, Germany was declared a republic

New German Republic• First order of business: to sign peace

treaty• Many Germans (including Hitler) saw

this as an act of treason• Still, elections took place and the

Reichstag (German parliament) was able to create a new constitution that was very democratic in nature

Weimar Republic• This new, democratic government was

called the Weimar Republic

• It would stay in power for 14 years

Financial Hardship

• G - unable to pay reparations• By 1922 - defaulted on payments• Result = France & Belgium occupied

the Ruhr region (industrial heartland) with intent to use the products as reparation

Economic Disaster• Occupation led to economic disaster:

– Production decreased– Unemployment increased– Prices rose dramatically --> more money

printed --> hyperinflation

HyperinflationYear Month Marks needed to buy one US

dollar

1919 April 12

1921 November 263

1922 July 493

December 7,000

1923 January 17,000

August 4,621,000

December 4,200,000,000,000

Source: www.historyhome.co.uk

(More) Hard Times for the Germans

• Germans lost life savings

• Workers paid with worthless money

• Literally cost millions for groceries - hunger riots

•It indicates…

•It was drawn after…

•It is a comment about…

•The purpose is…

•It symbolizes…

•The POV is…

The Rise of Totalitarianism

in Interwar Europe

Totalitarianism

• What root word do you notice in

totalitarian

Totalitarianism• A gov’t that exerts total control over

a nation

• It dominates all aspects of life

• Uses terror to: – Suppress individual rights

– Silence all forms of opposition

Fascism

• Emphasizes the importance of the nation or an ethnic group and the supreme authority of the leader

The Insane in the Brain Totalitarian

Game

Let’s Play…

Germany On the Brink

• Economic hardships political discord• Got worse when the WR resumed

reparation payments• Germans furious with gov’t - wanted

something done…

IntroducingTotalitarian Fascist #1 The Megalomaniacal

Demagogue

Hitler’s Plan

Hitler & Nazis plotted:1. Kidnap Bavarian leaders

2. force them (at gunpoint) to accept Hitler as their new leader

3. Win over the Army

4. Declare national revolt

5. Overthrow democratic gov’t

From Beer Hall Putsch…

• Munich, Germany• November 8-9, 1923 -

8:30 pm• Hitler & posse stormed

beer hall = leaders freaked out

• “The National revolution has begun!”

To Beer Hall Putz…

• Comedy of errors…

• Result - Hitler arrested - charged with treason

• 5-week trial - guilty verdict

• Sent to Landsberg Prison (where he wrote his famous book, Mein Kampf)

Did Hitler Really Lose?

• Ultimately, no (it helped him!)

• Trial made him a national figure– Platform to make his views known outside

Nazi party– His defense gave him the opportunity to

attack those he hated (Jews, communists, etc.)

Hitler in a Lederhosen!

Back on Track• New chancellor/foreign minister (Gustav

Stresemann - 1923-1929)• Introduced new currency that ended

hyperinflation• Negotiated reduction in reparations

(Dawes Plan)• This upswing gave way to great cultural

advances (Brecht, Weill, Dietrich, Einstein, etc.)

Great Depression

• International banking, manufacturing and trade made the world dependent upon the US

• US demanded Fr & GB pay wartime debts + kept import taxes high

• Result: Allies had to rely on G’s reparations

Global Collapse • 1929: US Stock Market crashed (not

much impact on Europe) BUT…

• 1931: Collapse of Credit-Anstalt– Austrian bank – considered impregnable– When it fell domino effect across

Europe– This signaled GLOBAL DEPRESSION

Global Depression

Collapse of Weimar Republic

• Depression– Financially crippled Germany

• Weak Government– President von Hindenburg

• Elderly• Too weak to fight Hitler• Tried to outsmart Hitler…backfired

Adolf Hitler

• Watch the following video & jot down the sequence that led him from Chancellor to Führer

Timeline: Hitler’s Rise • 1930

– Sept: Germans elected Nazis to Reichstag• 1933

– Jan 30: Hindenburg appointed Hitler Chancellor– Feb 27: Reichstag fire– March 23: Enabling Act – gave Hitler legislative power

• 1934– June 30: Night of Long Knives (liquidated opponents)– Aug 2: Hindenburg died

IntroducingTotalitarian Fascist #2

The Pompous Arrogant Dictator

Sometimes there are no words….

Benito Mussolini

• Fascist Doctrine HW

Closure

• Compare/Contrast Hitler & Mussolini’s Rise to Power

Discuss w/ Partner

1 min