Germany Flashcards
(145 cards)
1
Q
How many German soldiers died in WWI?
A
1.7 million German soldiers died in WWI.
2
Q
What caused food supplies to run low at the end of WWI?
A
Naval Blockade by the British meant that food supplies ran low
3
Q
What killer strain of disease caused thousands of Germans to die every week?
A
Winter 1918, killer strain of flu swept across Europe. Thousands died every week in Germany.
4
Q
Why was Kaiser Wilhelm forced to abdicate?
A
Nov 1918: Kaiser Wilhelm forced to abdicate due growing unrest from the military and civilians.
5
Q
Who became the first President of the Weimar Republic?
A
1919: Friedrich Ebert, leader of Social Democrats, became president.
6
Q
What did the Big Three force Germany to become?
A
The Big Three forced Germany to have a democracy.
7
Q
How much land was taken away from Germany?
A
Land-13% of land taken away and all colonies given away.
8
Q
How much was their military reduced to?
A
Army-reduced 100,000 men, no air force and only allowed 6 battleships.
9
Q
How much did the reparations to Belgium, France and Britain cost Germany?
A
Money-forced to pay £6,600 million in reparations to Britain, France and Belgium.
10
Q
What was Germany forced to accept?
A
Blame- forced to accept all the guilt for the causing WWI.
11
Q
How often was the President elected and who did they appoint?
A
President Elected every 7 years and chose the Chancellor.
12
Q
Where was the Chancellor chosen from?
A
Chancellor chosen by the President from the biggest party in the Reichstag.
13
Q
How often was the Reichstag elected?
A
Members of Parliament were elected to the Reichstag every 4 years by the public.
14
Q
Who could vote in the Weimar Republic?
A
Everyone over 20 could vote.
15
Q
What voting system was used to ensure smaller parties gained seats?
A
Proportional representation meant smaller parties were took up seats.
16
Q
What was the uprising of 1919 and who led it?
A
Spartacist Uprising 1919: Communists led by Rosa Luxemburg attempted to control Berlin.
17
Q
How many Freikorps took over Berlin in 1920 with Wolfgang Kapp?
A
Kapp Putsch 1920: 5,000 Freikorps overtook Berlin led by Wolfgang Kapp.
18
Q
Where did Hitler and the Nazis try to take over in 1923?
A
Munich Putsch 1923: 3,000 Nazis led by Adolf Hitler tried to take over Bavaria.
19
Q
Why did the French and Belgian troops invade the Ruhr in 1923?
A
Invasion of the Ruhr: French and Belgium troops invaded the Ruhr as Germany had not kept up Reparation payments.
20
Q
What caused hyperinflation?
A
Hyperinflation: Workers striked in the Ruhr (passive resistance). Led to printing more money to pay them, which eventually made money worthless.
21
Q
How did Stresemann bring hyperinflation under control?
A
Changed the currency to the Rentenmark and ended passive resistance to bring Hyperinflation under control.
22
Q
What did the Dawes plan 1924 do?
A
Dawes Plan 1924- Big loans from America to help rebuild German economy.
23
Q
What did the Locarno Pact 1925 do?
A
Locarno Pact 1925- Agreement with Britain, France, Belgium and Italy not to invade each other.
24
Q
What did Germany join in 1926?
A
Join the League of Nations 1926- Given great power status, Germany now had a say in major decisions.
25
What did the Young plan 1929 do?
Young Plan 1929- Lowered the amount of reparations Germany had to pay.
26
How did Hitler’s leadership help the Nazi party gain support?
Leadership: Hitler was an excellent public speaker and enthused those who listened to him.
27
What promises did the Nazi party make through their propaganda?
Promises and Propaganda: the Nazi party made promises through propaganda, such work for the unemployed and scrapping the ToV.
28
Which section of society had a particular fear of communism?
Fear of Communism: The Nazi party fostered fear of a communist revolution through propaganda, especially with middle class businessmen.
29
Why did the Great Depression of the 1930s help the Nazi party gain support?
Great Depression: Made people turn to extreme political parties. Nazis made people believe that they would make things better.
30
Who chose Hitler to become Chancellor in January 1933?
Political Deal: President Hindenburg and Von Papen chose to make Hitler Chancellor, hoping to be able to control him.
31
What happened in Feb 1933?
Reichstag Fire: Feb 1933, blamed on Dutch Communist. Communist banned from Reichstag as a result.
32
What powers did the Enabling Act give Hitler?
Enabling Act: March 1933 Law passed that gave Hitler the power to pass laws without going through the Reichstag.
33
What was banned in July 1933?
Political Parties banned: July 1933.
34
What was the Night of the Long Knives?
Night of the Long Knives: June 1934 Rohm and the SA were killed by the SS due to fears of rebellion and the army not trusting Hitler.
35
How did Hindenburg’s death mean Hitler became dictator of Germany?
Hindenburg’s Death: Aug 1934 Hindenburg dies. Hitler declares himself Fuhrer, taking both position of President and Chancellor. Army swears an oath to die for him.
36
How did the Nazis control the courts?
Courts: Nazis controlled judges and courts of law. Opponents did receive a fair trial.
37
Who led the Gestapo?
Gestapo: Led by Heydrich.
38
What did the Gestapo do?
Power to arrest people without reason and spied on people through their neighbours.
39
Where were political prisoners sent by the Gestapo and SS?
Concentration Camps: Those arrested by the Gestapo or SS were sent to Concentration Camps.
40
Who ran the SS and what did they do?
SS: Run by Himmler. Took over the police forces.
41
How many writers were banned by the Nazis?
2,500 writers were banned.
42
How were newspapers controlled?
Newspapers: Nazis controlled them and what would be written. Had to be approved by Nazi press agency.
43
Where was the famous rally held by the Nazis?
Nuremberg
44
How many attended the Nuremberg rallies?
100,000 attended.
45
What did each household have to hear important Nazi messages?
Radios: Each household had to have radio set. Important Nazi messages were played.
46
What did 18-25 year old males have to join and do?
18-25 year old males had to do 2 years military service and 6 months in the National Labour Service.
47
What helped reduced unemployment?
Huge building programmes reduced unemployment.
48
What was the aim of the Four Year Plan?
Four Year plan was designed to reduce unemployment and increase military arms.
49
What organisation aimed to improve working conditions?
Beauty of Labour scheme aimed to improve working conditions
50
What organisation set up leisure activities for workers?
Strength Through Joy set up to organise leisure time for workers.
51
What were women removed from?
Removed from the employment register
52
What were mothers given to celebrate larger families?
Honour cross of the Germany mother handed out to celebrate large families. 8= Gold, 6=Silver, 4=Bronze.
53
What were new brides offered if they agreed not to work?
Loans offered to new brides who agreed not to work
54
How were women expected to dress and look like?
Told to wear flat shoes, no make-up and loose clothing.
55
What was made compulsory in 1937?
Duty Year made compulsory in 1937. Worked on farms etc. in preparation for war.
56
What did school lessons and textbooks emphasise?
School lessons and textbooks emphasised Nazi beliefs.
57
What did children learn in History and Biology?
History=Nazi Interpretation of ToV, evils of communism. Biology= Taught racial superiority and how ‘spot’ a Jewish person
58
What was the aim of Hitler Youth?
Hitler Youth aim was to indoctrinate young boys with Nazi ideas, such as training for war
59
What was the aim of the League of German Maidens?
League of German Maidens taught girls how to be mothers and wives.
60
What did the Nazis need children to be towards them?
Emphasis on unquestioning obedience to Nazi beliefs.
61
What happened to Jewish people in 1933?
1933- Boycott of Jewish Shops. Jews sacked from important jobs.
62
When were Jewish shops marked with a yellow star?
1934- Jewish shops marked with a yellow star
63
What did the Nuremburg laws of 1935 say?
1935- Nuremburg Laws took away German citizenship and forbade marriage between Jews and non-Jews.
64
What happened during and after the Night of the Broken Glass?
1938- Night of the Broken Glass 10,000 Jewish shops smashed, homes and synagogues set alight. 300,000 Jews sent to Concentration Camps as a result.
65
What happened to Jews at the outbreak of war?
1939- Outbreak of WWII. 3.5million Jews living Poland, forced into Ghettos.
65
How many Jews were living under Nazi rule as a result of the Invasion of the USSR?
1941- With the invasion of the USSR, 6 million Jews were living under Nazi rule.
66
What were all Jews forced to wear in 1941?
1941- All Jews forced to wear yellow star of David.
67
What did the Einsatzgruppen do?
Einsatzgruppen rounded up Jews and shot them into mass graves.
68
What was decided at the Wannsee Conference in 1942?
1942- Nazi leaders wanted a more ‘efficient’method of killing Jews. They met at Wannsee and ordered the construction of 6 death camps in the Final Solution.
69
How many Jews were killed at Auschwitz and in total during the Holocaust?
At Auschwitz 1,100,000 Jews were killed. In total, 6 million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust.
70
What did rationing start?
Rationing started in Sept 1939. Clothing rationed in Nov 1939.
71
What did total war mean?
Total War 1943- 44 meant all parts of society had to help to the war effort.
72
Who were drafted into the workforce due to labour shortages?
Labour shortages meant women were drafted into the workforce.
73
How many forced labourers were there in 1943?
Political prisoners and Jews forced into work. 1943, 7 million forced labourers.
74
When did air raids start on German cities and how many people did the raid on Dresden kill?
Aug 1940- Air raids on cities started. 1945- raids on Dresden killed 25,000 people.
75
What did Bishop Von Galen do?
Catholic Opposition: Bishop Von Galen spoke out about the euthanasia program.
76
Name the two main Protestant men who opposed the Nazis and what they did.
Protestant Opposition: Martin Niemoller led the confessing church and Dietrich Bonhoeffer helped Jewish people escape Germany.
76
Who led the July Bomb plot 1944 and how many were executed as a result?
Military Opposition: July bomb plot 1944 was led by Von Stauffenberg. Plot to kill Hitler failed, 5000 were executed as a result.
77
Name the two prominent youth groups who opposed the Nazis.
Youth Opposition: White Rose group distributed leaflets opposing Nazis, Hans and Sophie Scholl were executed as a result. Edelweiss Pirates opposed Nazis by engaging in American culture, 13 were hanged in 1944.
78
What was the name of the Jewish uprising in 1944?
Jewish Opposition: Undergrounds led uprisings, such as the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1944.
79
What was decided at Yalta and Potsdam?
Division of Germany and Berlin into 4 zones decided at Yalta and Potsdam Conferences.
80
Which countries would each have a zone?
Britain, USA, France and USSR to have a zone each,
81
What sentences were given out at the Nuremburg Trials 1946?
Nuremberg Trials 1946: 12 Nazi War criminals sentenced to death and 7 sentenced to life imprisonment.
82
What was denazification and when was it abandoned?
Denazification took place to remove Nazis from positions of power. However difficult rebuild without re-employing some people. Abandoned in 1951.
83
How many Germans did European countries expel at the end of WW2?
11 million Germans were expelled from European countries- arrived back in Germany as refugees
84
What did the USA and the USSR zones agree to send to each other?
Agreed at Potsdam USA would send Industrial goods to USSR zone and USSR would send agricultural goods to USA zone.
85
What did the USA do when the USSR failed to do this?
1946, USSR failed to deliver their goods, USA didn’t deliver their goods.
86
What did the USSR refused to hold in Eastern European countries?
USSR refused to hold free elections in Eastern Europe.
87
What was the currency of Bizonia?
1947- American and Britain zones unite as Bizonia. Introduce new currency- Deutschmark.
88
What was the official names of East and West Germany in May 1949?
May 1949- western Allies combine zones as Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). Oct 1949- USSR controlled zone formed into German Democratic Republic (GDR).
89
How many Lander was West Germany divided into and what was the Capital?
Federal Structure adopted. Divided into 11 Lander. New capital was in Bonn.
90
Who was the first Chancellor of West Germany?
First Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer (1949-63) who helped restore the economy and repair damage from the war.
91
How much money did West Germany receive in Marshall Aid?
Marshall Aid from USA gave West Germany $1,300 million to rebuild the economy.
92
Why was there an economic miracle in the 1950s?
Economic miracle due to industrial expansion and full employment and helped by the Korean War (1950-53).
93
What was West Berlin the Centre of?
West Berlin centre of consumerism, luxury goods and thriving social activities.
94
What type of state was East Germany and who led it?
One-party state, led by Walter Ulbricht
95
How many opponents of the govt. were put into Concentration Camps?
Opponents of new government arrested and imprisoned. 120,000 put into old Nazi Concentration Camps.
96
How many East Germans fled eastwards from 1949-61?
3.5 million East Germans between 1949-61 fled eastwards due to poor living and working conditions.
97
What happened when workers went on strike in 1953?
1953- Workers went on strike and demanded free elections. Red army crushed the uprising and 125 people killed.
98
What did the Stasi do?
Stasi (secret police) used to keep tabs on people and ensure more uprisings didn’t happen.
99
Between which countries did relations get tense between after WWII?
After WWII, relations between the western Allies (Britain, France and the USA) and the USSR (Russia) became very tense.
100
Which countries had communist govt. by 1948
By 1948, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Albania and Czechoslovakia had Communist governments. These increased tensions with USA.
100
What did Winston Churchill mean by the phrase ‘Iron Curtain’?
Winston Churchill used the phrase ‘Iron Curtain’ to refer to the division of Europe between the Capitalist nations of the west and the Communist nations of the east.
101
Which USA President took a tough anti-communist line?
USA President Harry S. Truman, took a tough anti-communist line.
102
What did the USA give to Western European countries that create a bigger divide?
USA gave Marshall Aid to Western European countries, driving a greater divide with USSR
103
What did Stalin do in response to creation of Bizonia?
Due to the creation of Bizonia and creation of the Deutschmark, Stalin cuts off USA and Britain from Berlin by road and rail.
104
How did Britain and USA respond?
USA and Britain responded by flying in supplies.
105
How long did the blockade last?
Lasted 318 days. Plane landed every 3 minutes. Needed 6,000 tonnes of food a day, brought in 13,000 tonnes a day.
106
What was the result of the blockade?
Stalin abandoned the Blockade in May 1949. As a result Germany was permanently divided into FRG and GDR.
107
When was the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation set up?
1949, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation set up as a military alliance of Western countries.
108
Why was the migration of skilled workers to the west a problem for the USSR?
Migration of skilled workers to the west was politically embarrassing and economically disastrous for East Germany.
109
Who ordered the building of the Berlin Wall and why?
August 1961 Nikita Khrushchev (leader of USSR) orders the building of a wall to divide Berlin to prevent people moving from East Germany.
110
What was the gap within the wall called?
Gap within the wall was called the death strip and there were specially constructed crossing points, such as Checkpoint Charlie
111
How many people were estimated to have been shot trying to cross the wall from 1961-89?
Estimated nearly 100 people were shot trying to cross to the west from 1961-89.
112
What did building the wall prevent between USA and USSR?
USA President Kennedy stated ‘A wall was a hell of a lot better than a war’, recognising that it prevented a nuclear war between USA and USSR.
113
How many nations were there in NATO?
1949: North Atlantic Treaty Organisation set up an important military alliance of 11 nations, including West Germany.
114
What was the name of the military alliance set up the Soviet Union in 1955?
1955: Soviet Union sets up its own military alliance of Communist states- Warsaw Pact
115
What did France agree to share with Germany in 1950?
1950: France share their coal, iron and steel with West Germany.
116
What community was established in 1951?
1951: European Coal and Steel Community established. It included France, West Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg and Italy.
117
What was the name of the treaty which formed the Common Market in 1957?
The Common Market (European Economic Community) formed by the Treaty of Rome in 1957.
118
What roles did Willy Brandt have?
Willy Brandt was Foreign Minister from 1966 and Chancellor from 1969 of West Germany.
119
What does Ostpolitik mean?
Ostpolitik meant Eastern Policy.
120
What did the Non-aggression treaty do for relations with East Germany?
Non-aggression treaty between W.Germany and USSR which improved relations between East and West Germany.
121
How did Willy Brandt ease tensions with Poland?
Agreement with Poland recognised Poland’s acquisition of territory and Brandt kneeling in homage at the memorial to Polish Jews eased tensions with Poland.
122
What was the name of the treaty where East and West Germany agreed to send diplomats?
Basic Treaty 1972: East and West Germany agreed to exchange diplomats. This made travel and communication easier between the two countries.
123
What caused tensions to rise again between USSR and USA in the late-70s and early-80s?
Late-70s, early-80s, tensions rose again between USSR and USA due to USSR invasion of Afghanistan and Ronald Reagan calling Soviet Union the ‘Evil Empire’.
124
Who became leader of the USSR in 1985?
1985: Mikhail Gorbachev new leader of USSR.
125
Name and define Gorbachev's two policies
Two policies: perestroika (competition in business) and glasnost (freedom).
126
What was the USSR struggling with in the 80s?
USSR was struggling to maintain its global superpower status and could no longer afford to keep up with the arms race.
127
What did the leader of USSR in the 80s stop sending into communist countries?
Gorbachev also stopped sending the Red Army to uprisings and protests in Eastern European countries.
128
What was the revolution called led by Havel in Czechoslovakia?
Czechoslovakia: 1987 some Perestroika and Glasnost allowed, however, demonstrations in 1988/89 broken by police violence. 1989, Velvet Revolution led by Havel leads to the Communist govt. resigning.
129
Which group formed the non-Communist govt. in Poland?
Poland: 1989 free elections held and trade union Solidarity won 99% of seats and formed the first non-communist govt. in Eastern Europe.
130
How many fled to the west when Hungary opened their border with which country?
Hungary: Aug 1989 opened border with Austria. 10,000 left for the West
131
Who was the Chancellor of East Germany was forced to resign in 1989?
East Germany: Chancellor Honecker forced to resign as he didn’t introduce Gorbachev’s reforms. Thousands migrate Westwards, eventually leading to the fall of Berlin Wall 1989.
132
What happened to Nicolae Ceausescu in Romania?
Romania: Dictator Nicolae Ceausescu uses troops on protests. Overthrown by revolution and executed.
133
What led people East Germany to protest against the govt.?
Fall communism across Eastern Europe led people in the GDR to protest.
134
Which countries did East Germany go through to use their open borders?
Many East Germans had been using the open borders in Hungary and Czechoslovakia to cross into the West.
135
What did Gorbachev’s reforms allow in the East Germany?
Gorbachev’s reforms allowed many new opposition groups to form and they put pressure on the govt
136
When does Honecker resign?
Honecker resigned in Oct 1989 and his replacement was still reluctant to open the borders.
137
When was the border with West Germany declared open, leading the fall of the Berlin Wall?
After continuing demonstrations from East Germans, on 9th November the border with West Germany was opened ‘immediately’. East and West Berliners and forced the guards to open the checkpoints
138
Why did Helmut Kohl give loans to East Germany and the USSR?
West German Loans: Helmut Kohl (Chancellor of West Germany) gave loans to East Germany to bail out bankrupt East Germany and given to the USSR so Gorbachev wouldn’t oppose reunification.
139
How did the East German republic show support for reunification?
The East German public: Overwhelming support for reunification show in free elections and by 300,000 of East Germans migrating Westwards by March 1990.
140
When did the two currencies merge?
Currency Merger: May 1990 the two currencies merged. Ensured reunification was popular in East Germany.
141
How did Gorbachev allow reunification to happen?
Gorbachev: His policies of glasnost and perestroika allowed more openness in East Germany, allowing for reunification to be possible.
142
When did the Treaty of Unification come into force?
Treaty of Unification: Signed in August 1990 and came into effect on 3rd October 1990.
