Germany: How the Nazis Stayed In Power Flashcards
Introduction: background information
The Nazis successfully achieved power in 1933 by promising to eradicate all of Germany’s economic problems partly abused by the treaty of Versailles. President Paul Von hindenburg making hitler chancellor gave hitler the second most powerful political position in Germany. After becoming Chancellor, Hitler and the Nazis set about consolidating their power and wiping out opposition to the Party’s control of Germany. By 1934, Hitler was in complete control as a result of these actions.
Introduction: line of argument
Most important factor was Nazis economic power
Introduction: list of factors
Nazis social policies, propaganda, and fear and force
Nazi economic policies: KU
The Nazi government, under Hjalmer Schacht as minister of economics, invested in a massive programme of public works, which included the construction of a motorway network (autobahn). From 1935, there were 72,000 workers employed in the aircraft construction, compared to less than 4,000 at the beginning of 1933.
Another facet of the Nazis campaign was the belief in blood and soil - they introduced measures to help farmers to repay them for their support. By 1937, agricultural prices had increased by 20% and agricultural wages rose more quickly than those in industry.
Nazi economic policies: A
Employment opportunities warranted a lot of support from working-class Germans who had struggled greatly in the previous years of depression. The Nazis portrayed themselves as the saviours of Germany and built a strong support base for the party.
Nazi economic policies: A+
The apparent fall in unemployment was not solely due to the nazi’s policies. It was partly due to the exclusion of minority groups - like women and Jewish people - from official statistics. This undermined the credibility of the Nazis as they had to alter the population to fulfill their promises.
Nazi economic policies: ev1
The Nazi’s economic policies were the most important factor in them staying in power. This is because one of their most popular policies was autarky. It stemmed from nationalistic ideologies and aimed to make Germany an economically independent country. This could only happen if they ended all trade with other countries. Many Germans supported this as they believed it would being prosperity to Germany.
Nazi social policies: KU
Roughly 33% of Germans followed catholic, predominantly in southern Germany. A significant number of Germans practiced Protestantism. In July 1933, the Nazis reached a concordat with the Catholic Church. The agreement guaranteed the church religious freedom and allowed it to run its affairs. In return, the church would not interfere in politics. Priests would not denounce Nazi ideas, would not preach against the party, and would not encourage their followers to stand up against Nazi policies.
Nazi social policies: A
Faith was a crucial part of peoples lives, nazism being confirmed as compatible with catholic mean that catholics would be open to supporting the Nazis. Thus, the Nazis could ensure they had supporters who would not act against them.
Nazi social policies: A+
The Nazis failed to fully control the Catholic Church as in 1937, pope pius XI wrote the encyclical, ‘Mit Brennender Sorge’. This was partly written in response to the Nuremberg laws and explicitly condemned racial theories. Therefore, many catholic Germans did not support the Nazi’s policies
Nazi social policies: ev2
Pupils were taught based on Nazi values. For example, biology taught that Germans were a superior race. Jewish teachers were fired and other teachers were forced to join the nazi’s teacher alliance. 97% of German teachers joined this group by 1936. Therefore, Nazis could control younger people who would grow up to be Nazi supporters.
However, the policies only focused on long term support rather than support for them during 1933 - 1939.
Economic more important as the Nazis introduced the strength through joy programme. Cheap or free holidays or activities to workers, making them. More happier and motivated at work. The German economy increased in strength so many people supported the Nazis
Propaganda: KU
During periods of preceding legislation or executive measures against Jews, propaganda campaigns crafted a culture tolerant of anti-semitism to prevent backlash from the legislation. The film industry was particularly significant - Nazis make films that portrayed Jews as subhuman, barbaric creatures that were infiltrating aryan society. For example, ‘the eternal jew’ (1940) portrayed Jews as cultural parasites obsessed with money.
In 1936, the Olympic Games were held in Bellini and used by the Nazis to celebrate the glory of Germany that they had created. This was potrayed through sculptures of idealised muscle toning and heroic strength.
Propaganda: A
Cinema was an emerging technology at the time. Their use of it allowed them to position themselves as ‘the party of the future’ - causing more young people to support them.
Propaganda: A+
Some anti Nazi propaganda was circulated in Germany; approximately 1000 tarnschriftens (hidden writings) were produced between 1933 to 1945 from neighbouring countries such as France and czechoslovakia. These disproved much of the Nazis propaganda and therefore discouraged people from supporting them.
Fear and force: KU
The gestapo was the secret police force of the Nazis and were responsible for collecting people that were deemed ‘enemies’ of the state. They successfully did this but informers identifying any anti-Nazi people that they knew. 45,000 people were members of the gestapo but 160,000 people were employed as informers.
The schutzstaffen (SS) was the state’s internal security police force tasked with eliminating opposition to Hitler. As SS chief, Himmler could carry out ideological polices that the laws of the state did not allow.
