History & the Novel

Germany - The Rise and Fall of NazismKey Timeline, 1918 - 1945

1918

• Revolution from Above & Below • Democratic republic created

under Socialist government (SPD)

• War ends in defeat – SPD blamed

1919-20

• Extreme left & right attempt coups

• Ultra democratic constitution introduced – created multiparty coalitions under PR

• Versailles Treaty imposed – appeared harsh and unfair to most Germans

1923-4

• French invasion of Germany’s Ruhr

• German hyper-inflation• Hitler attempted coup - briefly

jailed

1924-29• Golden years for Germany

domestically under leadership of moderate Stresemann

• Abroad, ‘Locarno Spirit’ brings hopes for European peace and prosperity

• Hitler reorganises Nazi Party & attempts to win electoral support

1929

• Wall Street Crash In USA. • Leaves Germany near collapse

once more• Growth in support for Communist

Party• Rapid Growth in support for Nazi

Party

1933-34

• Hitler takes power in Germany, thanks to popular and elite support

• Foundations of Nazi Dictatorship created as Hitler assumes new role of ‘Fuhrer’

1935

• Anti-Semitic Nuremberg laws introduced

• Conscription introduced• Nazification of economy under the

4 year plans

1936

• Spanish Civil War - Germany joins Italy in support for Franco’s Fascists

• Hitler takes back control of the Rhineland

• Berlin Olympics takes place – all major powers attend

1938

• Anti Semitism stepped up in Germany with Kristallnacht

• Introduction of Anti-Semitic Laws in Italy for first time – marks new alliance between powers

• Nazi invasion of Austria and Czechoslovakian Sudetenland – ‘allowed’ by Britain via Munich Agreement

1939

• Nazi invasion of rest of Czechoslovakia

• Nazi invasion of Poland• Outbreak of War

1939-45

• World War II ends in German defeat

• - and Hitler’s suicide