The Reactions of the Unemployed and Jews to the Ideas and Promises of the Nazis

The Reactions of the Unemployed and Jews to the Ideas and Promises of the Nazis

Many people were attracted by the ideas and promises of the Nazis

during the late 1920s to early 1930s because they thought that the

radical values of this party were the only way out of the mess Germany

was in. After the Wall Street Crash in October 1929, all the American

loans were taken out of Germany, businesses closed, world trade

declined, German exports slumped and millions of people lost their

jobs. From 1929, unemployment rose from just over 1.5 million to 6

million in the summer of 1930 (although it is suggested that the real

figure could have been as high as 8 or 9 million).

The Depression had great effects on the German economy. The groups of

people that suffered were businessmen, young people (60% of new

university graduates couldn't get a job, by 1933 over half of 16-30

year olds were unemployed), factory workers (40% of factory workers

were unemployed by 1932) and farmers (prices had been falling since

1925). Germany was left in a state of economic collapse after the

American loans were withdrawn. Industries had to sack employees as

they couldn't afford to pay them, which lead to businesses closing.

More people were now on unemployment benefits which meant the

government had to raise taxes to pay them. This meant money had to be

taken out of other areas such as education. The rest of the world

suffered too, which meant a decline in world trade as people couldn't

afford to buy any luxuries anymore.

Many unemployed people began to listen to the ideas and policies of

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...th the older and younger generations. However,

despite this they still didn't manage to achieve a majority vote.

Generally speaking the Nazis were most popular in rural and protestant

areas. They exploited people's fear of unemployment and communism and

lost faith in the Weimar republic to gain votes, all of which were

successful tactics. Obviously everyone had their own personal reasons

for voting how they did, and many may have been torn who to give their

vote to. Vague promises made by the parties would not have made this

decision any easier, particularly for any Jews who had heard of

Hitler's anti-Semitism message. Times were desperate in Germany;

people looked for radical alternatives from the extremist parties,

they needed a way out of the disorder and chaos. Many may have felt a

dictatorship was the only option.