Authoritarian & Totalitarian States: Germany & WW1

• Authoritarian states include restricted political choice and civil liberties. Germany's Nazi regime was a totalitarian state, using ideology and a single party to control all aspects of citizens' lives and monopolize power.
• Ideologically driven totalitarian movements arose in Russia, Italy, and Germany after World War 1 due to economic, social, and political disruption and the disillusionment with the peace treaties.

Timeline of Key Events (1918-1934)

• 1918: The "November Revolution" and declaration of a republic occurred
• 1919: Early problems and threats emerged for the Weimar Republic (political and economic)
• 1919-1923: Convention in Weimar produces a constitution for the new democratic republic
• 1923-1929: The Weimar Republic experienced a "Golden Era/Gilded Era" of growth and stability under Gustav Stresemann
• 1930: Accountable democratic government declined, and rule by presidential decree increased
• 1933: The Weimar Republic ended, National Socialism rose, and Hitler became chancellor
• 1934: Gleichschaltung (coordination) occurred, and the Führer state was established

The Rise of the Authoritarian State in Germany (1919-1934)

• The Weimar democratic system preceded the establishment of the single-party National Socialist state, consolidated in 1934 when Adolf Hitler became Führer of Germany.
• National Socialism gained support from the military, eliminating domestic obstacles to Hitler's ambition to establish his "Thousand Year (Third) Reich."
• The Weimar Republic has been seen as a troubled interlude between the Wilhelminian Kaiserreich and the Third Reich.
• Pessimistic view of German history interprets the triumph of National Socialism to be inevitable but this not entirely correct.
• Prior to the establishment of the one-party state, the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP) never had support from the majority of the electorate (43.9% in March 1933).
• The Nazis achieved power through a combination of circumstances, not simply a "seizure of power."
• The "passing of the baton" or handover of power by vested interests tried to use the Nazis to counter the rise of the Communist Party (KPD) in 1932-1933.
• British historian AJP Taylor claimed that Germans got what they deserved when they cried for a hero, willingly accepting simplistic reasoning, which coming to power of National Socialism resulted from German character. Ian Kershaw pointed out Hitler was no in exorable product of a unique German path

Conditions for the Emergence of Authoritarianism

• A discredited parliamentary system produced disillusionment and frustration.
• Dislocation from World War I and the Paris Peace Settlement led to revisionism, nationalism, and revanchism.
• Economic crises caused panic among the population and political extremism.
• Fear of the Left increased due to the existence of the Soviet state and socialist/communist movements.
• Collaboration/capitulation of existing political establishments occurred when vested interests underestimated the Fascists/Nazis.
• Semi-legal assumption of power occurred and gave fascist/Nazis a “seizure of power"

Key Concepts

• Pragmatism involves adapting to circumstances instead of sticking to principles.
• Millenarianism promises a future period of prosperity under the regime.
• "The Left" refers to communist/socialist beliefs, while the Right (DNVP and NSDAP) were right-wing policies.
• Spartacists were radical socialists who attempted to establish a Bolshevik-type state in Germany in 1919.

The Appeal of movements/leaders came from

• Pragmatism
• Millenarianism
• Propaganda
• Paramilitary forces

The Weimar Republic (1918-1933/34)

• The “November Revolution" of 1918 led and declaration of a republic by Philip Scheidemann
• Kaiser Wilhelm II did not officially abdicate until November 28.
• A convention in Weimar gave the republic its name and create a constitution founded on popular sovereignity.
• Germany's defeat in the war created political turmoil that extremists sought to exploit. Weimar was plagued by domestic and external problems, allowing enemies to subvert the republic.

Stage 1: 1918-1919

• German military leaders claimed defeat a result of betrayal, but Hindenburg and Ludendorff realized that defeat is a failure.
• Superior resources of a reinvigorated Allied enemy after the USA entered the war in April 1917 was reason for surrender by late 1918.
• The peace settlement was likely to be punitive given Germany's treatment of Russia.
• The radical change in German political life was essentially a revolution from above rather than a popular groundswell.

Terms of the Treaty of Versailles

• Article 231 held Germany and its allies responsible for the war of 1914-1918.
• Germany loss of 13% of its European territory, 12% of its population, and all its colonies. Germany’s assets only been previously acquired by Prussia
• Alsace-Lorraine returned to France, Belgium was give Eupen and Malmedy, and Posen and West Prussia to Poland
• Northern Schleswig became part of Denmark and Upper Silesia became part of Poland, but Anschluss was forbidden(union with Austria)
• Military: Rhineland demilitarized, army restricted to 100,000 men, navy restricted to 15,000 men, and Germany could not have an air force

Stage 2: 1919-1923

• Friedrich Ebert concluded a pact with Groener, ensuring military support for the new Republic in return for allowing the army to remain virtually independent.
• army chose when to defend the government, and military stated the Reichswehr does not fire upon Reichswehr making clear to not act against nationalist . Only strike ended putsch
• Article 17 introduced universal and secret suffrage, also instituting proportional representation this identified as a major flaw
• Parties unable to form long-term stable governments. Some party’s were hostile to the Weimar era Political parties are formed to include Democrats, the Social Democrats, and the German Peoples Party.

The main political parties of the Weimar era

• KPD (Communist Party) was hostile to democracy, organization to League the soviet army
• SPD (Social Democrats) often spouted to Marxist rhetoric,
• DDP (Democratic Party) organisation: Reichsbanner committed to Weimar Democrat , DVP (German People's Party) was on right centre.
• DNVP (German National organisation: Stahlhelm , the best reluctant to support Weimar for business
• NSDAP (National Socialist Sturmabteilung (SA) hostile to society , was linked to hostility to collaborate with the Reich Ministry

The Problems

• With hasty establishment, weimar inherited army officers from the Kaiser and many “Republicans” the best, Downright. Germanophobes the German result.

Economic crisis

The economic issue of Weimar, coped in helped undermined , this confidence , and a second economic crisis struck In 1923 one US dollar = 4.2 trillion German Marks Those in fixed income or pension had ruined , and barter’s emerge

The USA

USA helped reduce the payment Dawes Plan to promote economic by 1923 USA A series of offerings suggest a similar approach to population

Reichstag

Underwent profound change with voters. The golden years saw Hitler rebel AJP Taylor government “we are the enemies” Weimer is no more. The primary object was the industrial world (weaker)

Reichstag Government

Hitler used authorian methods that got him into the government, a small gap in Weimar. Simplicissimus are you an army ? Is it the economy . Those years gave hope from the ravages of WW1, but is was obvious at the time that less attractive developments were coming because of the period at that moment. Hitler began to mobilize for power within the government again

-"the political cement witch ministry those year" -died of the market (September) he was unemployed as one of the government

The Achievements

• Germany accepted Locarno 1935 stated boarder and all parties renounced Germany recognized Great power, not only the economy

Hindenburg

Eminent German politician who smelled in the old order in Weimar period No truth has the Germans to the presidents. Under Hindenburg , acceptable government that was to be replaced by a process of the German constitution

Problems with German leaders

The Germans did not want the president or head of military in good view to be the ruler

• Germany -Germany’s reliance was with his people over there -Coalition governments -Agrarian distress had farmers

The Nazi’s (the end game)

-Were ready to suppress the revolution -The leader said (if outvoting them takes longer with more results or not in power. It would be by the power of constitution the period for preparation and the aid were on the collapse. The appointment in 1928 The rebel can help cover the support German constitution- there and gone with votes is more important

• Germans and people as a result of the Reich. He made his oath to defend -the constitution

Factors to Nazi

Weimar worked on a long day with Germanies , A little hard but true The leaders could have just gotten along. Germany was not doing what they were promised.

• Hitler was just another leader working as German leader
• It seemed possible that he was going to take full power When Hitler became a coalition he took his place

Problems and solutions of ww1

180 degree turn about face The SPD and KPD, now it was time to stand Germany was to do things with the other leaders What type of parties did Hitler want with him? AJP- A world without him

The Weimar period never really had much to work due to certain circumstances

The Methods

The “people’s community came about to help. But , to what cost

###Hitler and the Weimer's Hitler was in fact, in a position of power by the time that he got released.

• The campaign that was for voters was something that helped a lot of
• Germans by 1929
• Many Germans just found and found that he had been chosen (Hitler)
• German leaders thought that he could be controlled
• Anti simitism

Factors related to Germany’s Power

-The problems that they ran into -Did people understand what he had said -That the German’s we’re going to go back out on their own. -The problem of the people’s support.

• The lack of power meant that the force was ineffectual for all cases of the power they had

More Nazi problems

-Germany could not do anything about what was coming . -Hindenburg just appointed Hitler one day (Hitler) -The abuse with the right powers

• Did everyone get their vote the same way

Hitler’s methods

• The Demonetazation’s where that got everyone there
• Violence, intimidation, The Putsch (October 22nd) failed but helped to start a campaign -Used intimidation a tool for the enlisting bull for the german's
• Used Murdered if they didn’t take the rights

Abuse

• The bill was about the people’s constitution (The law set it up )
• Took into account about everyone that voted the ayes

Problems with 1929’s

-There had already been an agreement in place (with the Italians )

• It was no about to be a failure.
• The state and the party were going to be on.
• Civil service in the German area

How to fight in the state

• The fight was with socialism
• Gleichschaltung is on and what that was like by sir Horace Rumbold.
• The fight and support were more important than they had thought

A lot of German people found them the beliefs of Hilter when they left the country.

• In 1933 Hitler started to not look towards the bad so much
• The way out at that time was to let Hitler get a hold of as much stuff , even if the time were to run out.

The election

The election had gotten so much more people to support the group it was , 43.9 , just about all of Germany now backed this group from a support standpoint , what a blessing Then nearly 2/3 is what they had with the parties!

The parties

The group was well and ready to have the the SA show them respect , but how they went down that road will be a mystery in the near future. It was up to Hitler to to take the blame for that now!

NSDAP and all of the people

• A lot of people may disagree , he can fix Germany through the power and control of the leader A lot more will not support the idea that that party will try to make that happen so that you can defend the name. (Just a small percentage ) Hitler is never to be used again

1931-1934

The government in power that time. They took what was meant for them to be ready to help get a hold of what was meant for them

Explore the rise of authoritarian states, focusing on Nazi Germany as a totalitarian regime. Discover the ideological movements in Russia, Italy, and Germany after World War 1, driven by economic and political upheaval.