The impact of the Depression on Germany

Mr Allsop History Clips

24 May 201904:53

Summary

TLDRIn late 1920s Germany, the vibrant nightlife of music, theater, and cabaret was contrasted by rising political tensions. Hitler viewed the era's indulgences as a threat to German values, seeking to eradicate democracy. The 1929 Wall Street Crash devastated Germany, leading to widespread unemployment and economic hardship. Amidst this turmoil, Hitler saw an opportunity, believing that harsh reality would awaken the masses. With democracy failing, many turned to communism, while Hitler, now a transformed and strategic figure, aimed to dismantle the system from within by winning votes legally before destroying it.

Takeaways

🎭 The late 1920s in Germany were marked by a vibrant music theater and cabaret scene, reflecting a period of enjoyment and energy before the onset of hardship.
🌊 Fritz, a character in the script, spent these years at sea, highlighting the divide between the leisurely pursuits of the upper class and the limited opportunities for working-class individuals.
👑 Adolf Hitler viewed the nightlife and pleasure-seeking of the time as shameful, positioning himself as a hero destined to 'slay the monster of democracy'.
🗣️ Hitler's rhetoric emphasized the need for a strong leader to 'clean away' the perceived moral decay and filth of democracy, advocating for a ruthless and unwavering approach.
📉 The Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the subsequent worldwide depression hit Germany particularly hard, leading to a significant economic downturn and widespread unemployment.
📉🇩🇪 German production halved, many small businesses collapsed, and unemployment rose dramatically, affecting a third of the population who were reliant on state support.
💼 The economic crisis affected not only the working class but also the middle class, who were fearful of losing their savings and faced with increasing prices and bank closures.
🏛️ The government's inability to effectively respond to the crisis was evident, with frequent changes in leadership and a lack of consensus on how to manage the economic situation.
🔴 The rise of communism in working-class areas attracted six million new members, influenced by the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia and the promise of worker control over factories and businesses.
🔄 Adolf Hitler's transformation post-imprisonment is noted, with a change in appearance and policy, moving from attempting to seize power to winning votes legally within the democratic process.
🗳️ The script suggests a strategic shift in Hitler's approach, aiming to participate in democracy to ultimately dismantle it from within.

Q & A

What was the cultural atmosphere in Germany during the late 1920s?
-The cultural atmosphere in Germany during the late 1920s was characterized by a vibrant music theater, cinema, and cabaret scene, with enormous energy being expended in the pursuit of both serious and pleasurable activities.
How did Adolf Hitler view the nightlife and entertainment of the time?
-Adolf Hitler found the nightclubs and entertainment of the time shameful. He began to see himself as a hero with a mission to slay the monster of democracy.
What event in 1929 had a significant impact on Germany and how did Hitler react to it?
-The Wall Street Crash of 1929 had a significant impact on Germany, leading to a worldwide depression that hit the country the hardest. Hitler saw this as an opportunity and felt contentment, believing that the hard reality would open the eyes of many deceived Germans.
What were the economic consequences of the depression in Germany?
-The depression led to a halving of German production, the collapse of thousands of small businesses, and unemployment rising to 6.5 million, which was about a third of the population at the time.
How did the middle class and those with savings perceive the economic situation during the depression?
-The middle class and those with savings were frightened during the depression, as they were at risk of losing everything with prices going up and banks closing their doors.
What was the state of the German government during the economic crisis?
-The German government was in a state of turmoil, with new governments forming frequently and social democrats walking out of parliament due to disagreements on how to handle the economic crisis.
How did the German people's perception of democracy change during the depression?
-The German people began to question democracy as it seemed to make the country weak in the face of the depression, with the government unable to provide effective solutions.
What political group gained significant support in working-class areas during the depression?
-The Communists gained six million new members in working-class areas, as they called on workers to rise and take over factories, banks, and businesses.
How did Adolf Hitler's image and political strategy change after his time in prison?
-After his time in prison, Adolf Hitler became more impressive, appearing in uniform and changing his political strategy from seizing power to winning votes legally through participating in the democratic process.
What was Hitler's ultimate goal regarding the democratic process?
-Hitler's ultimate goal was not to support democracy but to win votes legally and then destroy the democratic process from the inside.
How did the economic and political situation in Germany during the late 1920s and early 1930s set the stage for Hitler's rise to power?
-The economic depression, widespread unemployment, and the perceived failure of democracy to address the crisis created a fertile ground for Hitler's rise to power, as he presented himself as a strong leader with solutions to Germany's problems.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 Cultural Vibrancy in Late 1920s Germany

Germany in the late 1920s was a hub of vibrant cultural activities including music, theater, cinema, and cabaret. However, this period of energetic pursuit of pleasure was overshadowed by the contrasting experiences of individuals like Fritz, a working-class seaman, and the rise of Hitler who condemned the nightlife as morally corrupt.

⚔️ Hitler's Rise Amidst Economic Crisis

Hitler's disdain for the perceived decadence of Weimar Germany set him on a self-appointed mission to eradicate democracy. His rhetoric gained traction following the Wall Street Crash on October 24, 1929, which plunged Germany into a severe depression, leaving millions unemployed and businesses in ruins.

📉 Economic Collapse and Social Despair

The global depression hit Germany hardest, halving production and causing mass unemployment. The social despair was palpable, with widespread joblessness and businesses collapsing. The government's inability to effectively respond exacerbated the crisis, leading to disillusionment with democracy.

🔄 Shifting Political Landscape

As the economic crisis deepened, the political landscape in Germany shifted dramatically. The Social Democrats' inability to manage the dole led to a series of unstable governments. This political instability made democracy appear weak, prompting people to seek alternative solutions, including extremist ideologies.

🚩 Communist Influence and Class Struggle

In the most impoverished working-class areas, communism gained significant traction, with six million new members advocating for the takeover of factories, banks, and businesses. Inspired by the Russian Revolution of 1917, they sought to overthrow the existing capitalist system.

🛡️ Hitler's Transformation and Legal Strategy

Post-prison, Hitler underwent a significant transformation, becoming a more disciplined and impressive figure. Abandoning the idea of a violent takeover, he focused on gaining power through legal means, intending to dismantle democracy from within by participating in the electoral process.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cabaret

Cabaret refers to a form of entertainment featuring music, songs, and sometimes comedy, characteristic of the late 1920s Germany as depicted in the video. It symbolizes the cultural and social life of the time, representing a period of pleasure and energy before the onset of political and economic turmoil.

💡Hitler

Adolf Hitler is a central figure in the video, representing the rise of a political leader who capitalized on the dissatisfaction of the German people during the economic crisis. His transformation from a 'shuffling figure' to a 'uniformed impressive' leader illustrates his growing influence and the shift in his strategy to gain power.

💡Wall Street Crash

The Wall Street Crash of 1929 is a pivotal event in the script, marking the beginning of the worldwide Great Depression. It had a devastating impact on Germany, leading to a massive economic downturn and setting the stage for political upheaval.

💡Depression

Depression in the script refers to both the economic downturn and the state of despair it caused among the German populace. The term is used to describe the widespread unemployment, business failures, and the general sense of hopelessness that pervaded society.

💡Unemployment

Unemployment is highlighted as a critical issue in the video, with the number of jobless individuals rising to six and a half million. This figure underscores the severity of the economic crisis and its direct effect on the livelihoods of the German people.

💡Dole

The dole, or unemployment benefits, is mentioned as a government support system that was strained by the economic crisis. The script discusses the inability of the government to sustain this system, reflecting the broader failure of social policies during the Depression.

💡Social Democrats

Social Democrats are portrayed as a political party that walked out of parliament due to disagreements over cutting the dole. This action signifies the political instability and the inability of the government to address the economic crisis effectively.

💡Communists

Communists are depicted as gaining significant support in the working-class areas due to the extreme poverty. The script suggests that their call for workers to rise and take over factories, banks, and businesses resonated with those affected by the economic downturn.

💡Democracy

Democracy is presented as a political system that was under threat during the period covered in the video. Hitler's mission to 'slay the monster of democracy' and the script's mention of democracy making Germany weak indicate the growing disillusionment with democratic processes.

💡Propaganda

Although not explicitly mentioned, the concept of propaganda is implied in Hitler's rise to power and his ability to persuade Germans of the need for a 'knight in shining armor.' It is a key strategy used by Hitler to manipulate public opinion and gain support.

💡Russian Revolution

The Russian Revolution of 1917 is referenced in the script as a historical precedent for the communists' call to action. It serves as an example of a successful overthrow of the existing social and political order, which the communists hoped to replicate in Germany.

Highlights

Germany in the late 1920s was a time of immense energy in music, theater, cinema and cabaret.

Fritz, a working-class lad, spent these years at sea, as the good times were not meant for him.

Hitler viewed nightclubs as shameful and saw himself as a hero on a mission to slay the monster of democracy.

Public life at the time encouraged indulgence in pleasure, which Hitler deemed filthy and plague-like.

Hitler's goal was to persuade Germans that they needed a knight in shining armor to save them.

The Wall Street crash on October 24, 1929, led to a worldwide depression that hit Germany the hardest.

Hitler felt contentment seeing the hard reality open the eyes of millions of deceived Germans.

In three years, German production halved, thousands of businesses collapsed, and unemployment rose to 6.5 million.

17 million, or a third of the population, relied on government support, reflecting the widespread desperation.

Unemployment and economic depression affected not just workers, but also the middle class with money and savings.

Banks were closing, prices were rising, and the government seemed unable to provide solutions.

Democracy was on the brink of collapse, with new governments forming daily amidst disagreements.

The German people sought new solutions, with the Communists gaining 6 million new members in working-class areas.

Adolf Hitler had changed since his imprisonment, appearing more impressive and with a new strategy to win votes legally.

Hitler aimed to participate in the democratic process and then destroy it from within.