Weimar Republic, 1929 Crisis, Russian Revolution, and WWII
Weimar Republic and the 1929 Crisis
The Weimar Republic faced a severe economic crisis and hyperinflation. It was threatened by leftist movements and right-wing coups.
The 1929 Stock Market Crash
Stock prices became inflated, exceeding their real value. This led to a massive sell-off, causing prices to plummet. People and banks were ruined, consumption decreased, and poverty increased.
The New Deal
President Roosevelt implemented the New Deal, advocating for state intervention to revitalize the economy. Key measures included:
- Aid to struggling businesses.
- Creation of public companies.
- Regulation of banks.
- Social reforms.
The Russian Revolution
Karl Marx and the October Revolution
Karl Marx’s theories on worker equality were put into practice during the October Revolution of 1917.
Russia at the Beginning of the 20th Century
The Russian Empire was an autocracy ruled by the Tsar, supported by a bureaucracy, a powerful army, and the Orthodox Church. A small number of aristocratic landowners controlled most of the land. The proletariat worked in factories for very low wages, and the bourgeoisie remained a small sector.
The IWW and the Russian Revolution
Yes, there was a connection. Military disasters led to the deaths of Russian soldiers and food shortages in cities. The people began to rise up against Tsarism.
Mensheviks and Bolsheviks
The Mensheviks were the moderate faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, while the Bolsheviks were the radical faction.
February 1917
The February Revolution marked the first stage of the Russian Revolution. Tsar Nicholas II abdicated, ending the Russian monarchy and leading to the establishment of a provisional government.
October 1917
The Bolsheviks opposed the provisional government. The revolution spread rapidly. The Bolshevik government promised “Peace, Land, and Bread.” The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed with Germany, though Russia lost territories.
The Russian Civil War
The Tsarist supporters and those favoring a liberal system (the White Army) opposed the Bolsheviks (the Red Army). The war lasted three years.
Leon Trotsky
Leon Trotsky was the leader of the Bolshevik’s Red Army.
Organization of the USSR
The USSR was a federation of republics. Power was concentrated in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and other political parties were prohibited.
World War II
Four Causes of WWII
- Treaty of Versailles: Germans voted for Hitler because he promised to overturn the treaty.
- The Great Depression: Hitler promised jobs and the creation of a powerful Germany.
- Fascism and Nazism: Mussolini and Hitler began to implement aggressive policies.
- Weakness of Democracies: Britain and France initially sought to avoid war.
Main Factors of the USSR’s Economy
- Collectivization of the economy.
- Planned economy to organize production.
- Industrial development.
Stalin’s Instruments of Control
Stalin controlled the USSR’s population through:
- Repression.
- A secret police.
- Purges.
- Military power.