die  Weltwirtschaftskrise

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈvɛltˌvɪʁtʃaftskʁiːzə/

🌍 What exactly does "die Weltwirtschaftskrise" mean?

Die Weltwirtschaftskrise refers to a period of severe global economic problems. In its narrowest and most common sense, the term refers to the Great Depression, which began in 1929 with the stock market crash in New York (Schwarzer Donnerstag/Freitag - Black Thursday/Friday) and shaped the entire 1930s.

It was characterized by:

• Massenarbeitslosigkeit (mass unemployment)
• Produktionsrückgänge (declines in production)
• Bankenzusammenbrüche (bank failures)
• Deflation (deflation)
• Internationale Handelshemmnisse (international trade barriers)

Although there have been other global economic crises (e.g., the oil crisis of 1973, the financial crisis of 2008), die Weltwirtschaftskrise per se is almost always associated with the events starting in 1929. The article is always die because the core noun Krise (crisis) is feminine in German.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Weltwirtschaftskrise

The word Weltwirtschaftskrise is a feminine noun. Therefore, the definite article is always die. It's a compound noun formed from die Welt (the world), die Wirtschaft (the economy), and die Krise (the crisis). The gender is determined by the last component ('Krise').

Declension (Singular):

Plural: The plural form die Weltwirtschaftskrisen is grammatically correct but rarely used, as the term typically refers to the specific historical event of the 1930s. When talking about multiple global crises, phrases like globale Wirtschaftskrisen are more common.

📜 Example Sentences:

1. Die Weltwirtschaftskrise hatte verheerende soziale Folgen.
   (The Great Depression had devastating social consequences.)
2. Die Ursachen der Weltwirtschaftskrise sind komplex und vielschichtig.
   (The causes of the Great Depression are complex and multi-layered.)
3. Viele Länder litten unter der Weltwirtschaftskrise.
   (Many countries suffered under the Great Depression.)
4. Historiker analysieren die Weltwirtschaftskrise bis heute.
   (Historians analyze the Great Depression to this day.)

🗣️ Usage in Context

The term die Weltwirtschaftskrise is mainly used in historical, economic, and political contexts.

• Historisch (Historical): To describe the global economic depression of the 1930s. Example: "Die Weimarer Republik scheiterte auch an den Folgen der Weltwirtschaftskrise." (The Weimar Republic also failed due to the consequences of the Great Depression.)
• Wirtschaftlich (Economic): As a reference point for severe economic recessions or for analyzing crisis mechanisms. Example: "Manche Ökonomen warnten vor einer neuen Weltwirtschaftskrise." (Some economists warned of a new Great Depression/global economic crisis.)
• Politisch (Political): In connection with political upheavals triggered or intensified by the crisis. Example: "Der Aufstieg extremistischer Parteien wurde durch die Weltwirtschaftskrise begünstigt." (The rise of extremist parties was fueled by the Great Depression.)

Typical Collocations:

• Beginn / Ausbruch der Weltwirtschaftskrise (Start / outbreak of the Great Depression)
• Folgen / Auswirkungen der Weltwirtschaftskrise (Consequences / effects of the Great Depression)
• Überwindung der Weltwirtschaftskrise (Overcoming the Great Depression)
• Lehren aus der Weltwirtschaftskrise (Lessons from the Great Depression)

⚠️ Achtung (Attention): Don't use the term lightly for any economic downturn. It denotes an event of exceptional scale and severity.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

For the Article (die): Think of the core word: die Krise (the crisis). Remember that 'Krise' is feminine in German. Picture a 'diva' (starts with D, like die) dramatically lamenting the state of the Welt (world) Wirtschaft (economy) - it's a Krise!

For the Meaning: Break down the word: Welt (World) + Wirtschaft (Economy/Business) + Krise (Crisis). It's literally a 'World-Economy-Crisis'. Imagine the entire world's economy crashing down – a major crisis.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar but distinct terms:

• Die Rezession: (Recession) An economic downturn, but usually less severe and prolonged than a depression/Weltwirtschaftskrise.
• Die Finanzkrise: (Financial crisis) A crisis in the financial sector, which can spread to become an economic crisis (like in 2008), but isn't necessarily global or as profound as the Weltwirtschaftskrise of 1929.

😂 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Enkel den Opa: "Opa, wie war das damals in der Weltwirtschaftskrise?" Sagt der Opa: "Schlimm, mein Junge. Das Internet war so langsam, wir konnten kaum unsere fallenden Aktienkurse live verfolgen!"

English Translation: The grandson asks his grandpa: "Grandpa, what was it like back then during the Great Depression?" Grandpa replies: "Terrible, my boy. The internet was so slow, we could barely follow our falling stock prices live!"
(The humor comes from the anachronism, as there was no internet back then.)

📜 Poem about the Crisis

Die Welt hielt den Atem an,
Wirtschaft lag darnieder, manch Plan zerrann.
Krise schlug mit voller Wucht,
Brot ward knapp in dunkler Schlucht.
Fabriken schlossen, leer die Kassen,
Millionen auf den kalten Straßen.
Die Weltwirtschaftskrise, tief die Spur,
Veränderte die Welt, die Zeit, die Flur.

--- English Translation ---

The World held its breath then,
Economy lay low, many a plan rent.
Crisis struck with fullest might,
Bread grew scarce in darkest night.
Factories closed, coffers bare,
Millions on cold streets in despair.
The Great Depression, a deep scar it wore,
Changed the world, the time, the floor.

❓ Little Riddle

German:
Ich begann mit einem Knall an der Börse weit,
brachte Not und Elend, Arbeitslosigkeit.
Von Amerika zog ich um die ganze Welt,
hab die Politik verändert, nicht nur das Geld.
Mein Name klingt global, dramatisch und schwer,
die Dreißiger prägte ich sehr.

Wer bin ich?

--- English Translation ---

I began with a crash at the stock exchange far away,
Brought hardship and misery, unemployment's sway.
From America, I traveled the whole world around,
Changed politics profoundly, not just money found.
My name sounds global, dramatic, and grave,
The Thirties are the era I pave.

What am I?
(Solution: die Weltwirtschaftskrise / The Great Depression)

💡 Other Information

Word Composition (Kompositum):

• Welt (die Welt): Refers to the global scope.
• Wirtschaft (die Wirtschaft): Refers to the economic system.
• Krise (die Krise): Refers to a severe turning point, an emergency or hardship.

Historical Context: Although the term could theoretically describe any global economic crisis, it is firmly linked to the Great Depression, which began in the USA and spread worldwide. Its effects were a major factor in political instability and contributed to the rise of totalitarian regimes in Europe.