Rise of Hitler Timeline - 1918 to 1934

Date/period Event(s) November 1918Kaiser forced to leave Germany due to violent unrestEarly 1919 Weimar Republic took to power led by Fredrick Ebert Set up in Weimar as Berlin was too violent Ebert was leader of Social Democratic Party so the new government was democratic 28 June 1919 Treaty of Versaille signed Germany take full blame for the war, Army reduced to 100,000 men, only allowed 6 war ships, forced to pay £6600 million in reparations, Germany lost its empire, German military banned from the Rhineland, air force disbanded, Navy reduced 1919Hitler joined the German Workers' partyDifficulties in 1919 - 1924 Extremists from both right and left Spartacists Weak government The power given to the Freikorps by the government The Kapp Putsch Occupation of the Ruhr Inflation The Munich Putsch 1919 Karl Leibknecht and Rosa Luxemburg led the Communists Tried to take over Berlin as a Spartacist revolt Defeated by Freikorps 1920 Some right wing Friekorps took part in Kapp Putsch Led by Wolfgang Kapp Took over Berlin to form new Government Workers staged a General Strike Kapp gave up Government didn’t punish the rebels as judges sympathised for them 1922 Walter Ratheneu was a Foreign Minister and was Jewish Assassinated by former Freikorps Many Germans turning anti-Semetic 1923 Occupation of the Ruhr Germany could not pay reparations French and Belgium troops invaded the Ruhr Seized raw materials Legal under TOV Lead to Hyperinflation November 1923 Hyperinflation France and Belgium occupied the Ruhr Led to fury so passive resistance started Hyperinflation began: wages paid twice a day, middle classes lost out as bank savings were worthless, German Mark worthless November 1923 Munich Putsch Government was weak Hitler planned to overthrow the Weimar Soldiers occupied a Beer Hall in Munich where local leaders were meeting and announced a revolution Forced leaders to join him The next day Hitler marched into Munich with the SA but it was quickly stopped when police fired at the rebels Aftermath of the Munich Putsch Imprisoned Wrote Mein Kampf - believed Aryans were master race, would join Austria and Germany, reverse TOV, create a Greater Germany, Lebensraum, believed other races were inferior Nazi party banned Economy was improving so people didn’t look for alternatives Decided to use persuasion instead of violence Decided to work through the democratic system 1923 Gustav Stresemann becomes Foreign Minister Stopped passive resistance of the Ruhr Accepted The Dawes Plan then replaced by The Young Plan which reduced reparations Agreed to The Locarno Treaty Created a new temporary currency Stabilised currency Inflation reduced Restarted paying reparations Industries began to recover 1925Troops left the Ruhr1926Germany joined the League of Nations1925 - 1929 The Golden Years Ended passive resistance Bought Locarno Treaty with Britain and France Introduced a new currency Germany became the biggest exported of manufactured goods in the world More freedom for women Culture was thriving -unstable political system -mass unemployment 1930 The Great Depression 6 million were unemployed Germany’s biggest bank collapsed Weimar Government kept changing Extremist Groups becoming more popular as they promised stronger leadership-promised prosperity and to make Germany great again, party grew to over 300,000 1932 Presidential Elections Hitler and a Communist candidate stood against Hindenburg Hindenburg was a national hero At first Hindenburg didn't win the majority On the second he won by 53% to Hitler’s 36.8% vote July 1932 Von Papen Chancellor Nazis won 230 seats Biggest party in the Reichstag but didn't have majority Hitler demanded to be made Chancellor but Hindenburg refused - did not like him November 1932 Nazis lost 34 seats Couldn't afford propaganda People were worried about the violence of the SA Von Schleicher appointed Chancellor 28 January 1933Von Schliecher resigns due to no support30 January 1933 Hindenburg offered Hitler Chancellor as long as Von Papen was Vice Chancellor – so he could be controlled Von Papen was Vice Chancellor 27 February 1933 Reichstag Fire Marrius Van Der Lubbe was blamed (Dutch Communist) as he was found in the Reichstag Number of conspiracies claiming Goering organised it Allowed Hitler to imprison many Communist leaders so they couldn’t campaign during the elections People thought a Communist revolt was going to happen Emergency decree established which gave police and the SA the right to search homes, ban Communist parties, arrest leaders and stop any Communist propaganda (banned all freedom) March 1933 Hitler calls another election to make the Nazis stronger 44% voted for Nazis which wasn’t the majority so Hitler was not happy To gain majority SA intimidated people when voting and joined the Nationalists 23 March 1933 Enabling Act Enabling Act passed End the democracy and Germany would become a dictatorship uWon from 444 votes to 94 Nazi Revolution: all Government departments were purged (removed Communists and Jews), new Nazi Trade Union called The Labour Front April 1933Put Nazi officials in charge of statesMay 1933Abolished trade unions and made strikes illegal (imprisoned union leaders)29 June 1934 The Night Of the Long Knives Hitler felt power was threatened by the army so got rid of the SA by executing 77 leaders Ernst Rohm wanted to become leader of the army and it was rumoured that he wanted to attempt a coup (no evidence) Hitler knew the SA had power to overthrow him For the army - only organisation that could overthrow Hitler, popular war heroes, trained elite soldiers For the SA - 2 million men, loyal to Hitler from the start, SA disrupted public meetings, helped Hitler enforce laws and become Chancellor 2 August 1934 Hindenburg dies Hitler declares himself Fuhrer Now he was Chancellor, president and head of the army Every solider swore an oath of personal loyalty to Hitler