- The German economy suffered during the Great Depression because of its debts and a lack of market for its products. Germany was required to pay reparation payments to and repay loans from the United States. In 1930, the United States issued the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which stopped German and other foreign companies from selling their products in U.S. markets.
- The History Place states that as the German economy entered a depression, the value of currency began to diminish. A number of middle class workers, especially men working in the industrial sector, started to lose their jobs during the early 1930s.
- According to the History Place, German Foreign Minister Gustav Stresemann died in 1929 before he was able to help stabilize the German economy. During elections in 1930, the unemployed masses supported radical political parties, such as the Nazi party.
- Before the Great Depression, the Nazi party was a small group that was supported by industrialists and upper middle class men. Historylearningsite.co.uk states that the party was able to secure 143 seats in the German Parliament during the 1930 election after nearly going bankrupt in 1929.
- Historylearningsite.co.uk states that Nazi party leader Adolf Hitler become chancellor of Germany in 1933 after he gained the support of the German Parliament. When Hitler became president of Germany in 1934, he eliminated political parties and government institutions and established a dictatorship.
