1. The Weimar Republic
1919: German leaders draft a constitution in Weimar
Created a democratic government
“Weimar Republic”
Political Problems:
Weak politically: many small political parties
Government was moderate = constantly being attacked by conservatives and liberals
Blamed Weimar Republic for the Versailles Treaty
Germans looked for scapegoats, many blamed Jews t-

2. Runaway Inflation Inflation Spirals Out of Control =
1923: Germany falls behind in Reparation Payments, France occupies Ruhr Valley
German workers in region protest, German Government prints huge amounts of $$$ to pay them
Inflation Spirals Out of Control =
German Marks become worthless
(i.e. items that cost 100 marks in 1922, cost 944,000 marks in 1923

3. Recovery & Collapse The Dawes Plan: 1924
U.S.A gets British & French approval for a plan to reduce German reparations
Terms:
France withdraws from Ruhr
America gives loans to Germany
Great Depression hits in the United States….Dawes Plan collapses
Many Germans turn to young Adolf Hitler, promises to restore German power & solve economic crisis

4. The Rise of the Nazi Party
Hitler’s Background:
Born in Austria, 1889
@18, goes to Vienna
Developed fanatical anti-Semitism = prejudice against Jews
Fights for Germany in WWI
1919: Joins Right-Wing extremist party
Soon he is leading the Nazi Party (Nat’l Socialist German Workers)

5. Mein Kampf (“My Struggle”)
1923: Hitler makes failed attempt to seize power….arrested, sent to prison
In prison, writes Mein Kampf
“master race” of Aryans
Enemies were Jews
Jews were a separate race
Blamed German defeat in WWI, in part, on Jews & Marxists (Communists)
Urged Germans to unite into one great nation
Lebensraum = “living space”

6. Hitler Comes to Power
Released from Prison after less than one year
Nazi membership rises with unemployment,
Great Depression helps
Hitler’s cause
1933: Hitler legally becomes Chancellor of Germany, even though he is viewed as a radical…he is dictator within a year.

7. The Third Reich 1st, 2nd and Third Reich Totalitarian State
Gestapo: Secret Police who rooted out opposition
Nuremberg Laws:
Deprived Jews of German Citizenship
Imposed severe restrictions
No intermarriage
Could not attend/teach at German schools
Kristallnacht: Nazi led mobs attack Jewish communities throughout Germany
Nazi Youth