1933 - 1939 Flashcards
(67 cards)
1
Q
when was Hitler appointed chancellor?
A
30th January 1933
2
Q
What was the legal revolution?
A
The legal revolution is often used to describe the transformation of Germany 1933 - 34. While most revolutions involve violence and the overthrow of a government.
In 1933 the Nazis did not solely rely on violence to gain power. they created the impression that the dictatorship they built rested on a legal foundation.
3
Q
When was the Reichstag fire?
A
27th February 1933
4
Q
Who was accused of starting the Reichstag fire?
A
Dutch communist van der Lubbe
5
Q
What was the Decry for protection of the state 1933?
A
In response to the Reichstag fire this gave the Nazis the power to arrest people without trial, search homes, censor press and listen in to telephone calls.
6
Q
Who do historians think is responsible for the Reichstag fire?
A
There was no proof that van der Lubbe was responsible and he wouldn’t have been able to set fire to the entire building by himself. During the Nuremberg Trials 1946 evidence was given that at a party for Hitlers birthday 1942 Goering admitted that it was him who set fire to the building although he denied it.
7
Q
What did Hitler announce when he arrived at the Reichstag fire?
A
As soon as Hitler and the Nazi’s arrived at the scene they declared that it was part of as communist plot.
The same night 4,000 communists were arrested.
8
Q
What was the result of the March 1933 elections?
A
During the March 1933 elections the Nazis had the most votes with 43.9% but failed to gain the majority even with the support of the DNVP they didn’t receive ⅔ . however Hitler claimed it was a great victory.
9
Q
What was the Day of Potsdam?
A
This was a celebration for the opening of the new Reichstag. Hitler made a speech with Hindenburg, important Generals and the ex prince in attendance.
10
Q
Why was the Day of Potsdam a propaganda victory?
A
It was a propaganda victory and made hitler appear more respectable with the support of the right wing upper class. He chose not to wear the Nazi uniform to distance himself from the SA.
11
Q
What was the Enabling Act?
A
This act would give the Nazi’s the power to pass laws without first consulting the Reichstag for 4 years.
12
Q
When was the Enabling act passed?
A
5th March 1933
13
Q
What did the Nazi’s do to ensure the Enabling Act was passed?
A
The vote took place at Kroll Opera House, the SA and SS surrounded the building and prevented Socialists and Communists from entering.
Hitler promised that it would be undone in 4 years and would respect the catholic church.
The vote was passed 444 - 94
14
Q
What happened to trade unions 1933?
A
Hitler did not want trade unions to be able to protest. He did not want communication between him and the workers claiming he knew what was best for them. He wanted to limit the power of individual groups.
2nd May 1933 the SS occupied union offices and abolished any existing trade unions.
15
Q
What was the DAF?
A
A new organization the German Labour Front (DAF) was set up by Rob Ley to replace trade unions with membership being compulsory. Workers lost the right to negotiate with employers over pay and working conditions.
16
Q
What happened to political parties 1933?
A
The KPD had been suppressed, the SPD were banned in June and by 14th July the Nazis were the only legal party and Germany was a one party state.
17
Q
What was the ‘Law for coordination of the Lander’
A
31st March 1933 the Nazi’s passed the ‘Law for the coordination of the Lander’ transferring power from land assemblies to land governments.
January 1934 land assemblies were abolished and the sovereign rights of the states given to the central government. Germany was no longer a federal nation.
18
Q
What happened 1st April 1933?
A
here was a national boycott of Jewish businesses. The SA wanted to continue a permanent boycott but Hitler did not allow this as the economy was still weak.
19
Q
What was The Law for Restoration of the Civil Service 1933?
A
7th April 1933 banned Jews from working in the Civil Service. Jews were excluded from the legal professions, treating patients and no Jewish children were allowed in schools.
20
Q
What happened 10th October 1933?
A
Teachers and students in universities organised a book burning
21
Q
Lawyers and consolidation
A
100,000 lawyers swore an oath of allegiance to Hitler in October 1933
22
Q
What groups were not effected by Coordination?
A
- The Catholic Church
- The Army: he could not risk the army turning against him.
- Big business: Hitler needed to protect the
economy due to the economic depression.
23
Q
What was Hitlers agreement with the Catholic church?
A
The Catholic Church: Hitler made a deal with the Pope called the Concordat 8th July 1933 promising that if the catholic church stay out of politics then he would not interfere with the church.
24
Q
What was the problem with the SA 1933/34?
A
Rohm wanted the SA to become more powerful in line with the German army.
Hitler was becoming embarrassed with the SA as they were seen as hooligans causing street fights and wanted to become more respectable
The SA had around 3 million members in contrast to the 100,000 German army.
SA were loyal to Rohm and Hitler didn’t want him to have more control
25
When was the Night of the Long Knives?
30th June 1934
26
What happened during the Night of the Long Knives?
Ernst Rohm and other SA leaders were killed by the SS
27
How many people were killed?
400 but the Nazi's only confirmed 77
28
How did the Nazis justify the Night of the Long Knives?
Hitler claimed that he had responded to a threat of treason and was thanked by the cabinet for his determined and courageous action.
Hitler claimed his actions were for the protection
Of the German people. Leading Nazi’s including
Goering, Himmler, Heydrich faked evidence
that Rohm had been receiving money from
France to overthrow Hitler.
29
What are the six characteristics of a Totalitarian state?
1. An official ideology
2. A one party state
3. Terroristic control of the police force
4. Monopolistic control over the media
5. A monopoly on arms
6. Central control of the economy
30
What does Dualism mean in Nazi Germany?
The Nazi German system was a system of parallel departments all operating simultaneously. This often led to a duplication of work and conflict over resources.
31
Who was Hans Heinrich Lammers?
He was in charge of the Reich Chancellery meaning he controlled the flow of information to Hitler. He drew up all government legislation. However he found it hard to coordinate effectively with the large amount of organisations
32
Who was Martin Bormann?
Controlled all appointments and personal access to Hitler including his schedule
33
How was the Judiciary Nazified?
Like the rest of the civil service lawyers and judges were made to join the Nazi Lawyers Association and take the oath.
34
What was the Judiciaries attitude towards the Weimar Republic?
In the 1920’s the judiciary was hostile to the Weimar Republic. It had been biased against the left in favour of the right (Hitlers trial 1923).
35
How did the Nazis set up the new Legal System to benefit them?
In 1933 the special courts were set up to try political crimes without a jury
In 1934 the people's court was established to try crimes of high treason (7000/ 16000 cases resulted in the death sentence.
36
What was the Night and Fog Decry?
Nacht und Nebel
The SS were above the law the ‘Night and Fog’ decry gave the SS the right to seize any person thought to be dangerous (they had the right to make people disappear). Although the traditional role of the judiciary in the state continued to function, it was severely subverted.
37
Who were the SS?
Originally Hitler’s personal bodyguards
1933 SS was authorised to act as auxiliary police.
Used Emergency power decree to take suspects into ‘protective custody’ without trial.
After the SA were weakened June 1934 the SS emerged as the chief police arm of the Nazi Party.
The head of the SS was Heinrich Himmler - he was also in charge of the concentration camps
Their main duty was to enforce the parities racial ideologies by 1944 their membership was over 1 million
38
Who were the Gestapo?
The secret police
Set up by Georing in Prussia 1933 they soon replaced the existing police force in Germany
- Himmler took control in 1933 and by 1936 it was established as part of his SS Empire
- Their main duty was to enforce political conformity
- They relied of ‘denunciations; from German citizens. 54% of all arrests of race crimes in Wurzburg came from private citizens
39
What was the SD?
Set up in 1931 by Himmler as an internal security service for the SS
They were increasingly given the job of intelligence
Reports of the SD covered issues such as the popularity of the party, or the situation of the church and provide valuable sources of information of the Third Reich
40
What was the role of the SS?
SS role expanded from bodyguard unit to rooting out enemies of the state and being involved in the running of the concentration camps - Himmler’s SS power bloc has been described as E Kogon ‘a state within a state’ this term is used to express how the SS grew into a mass organisation, with its own military wing and economic assets it was virtually independent from the German state.
According to Layton the SS had 150 firms which extracted raw materials, produced manufactured goods, textiles, armaments and household good. (Used slave labour)
The SS were also in charge of occupied territory, which allowed them to utilise other countries resources.
The Waffen SS had 35 divisions by 1945 and rivalled the traditional German army.
41
What were the strengths of the SS?
Rise in SS membership 240,000 by 1939 and by 1944 reached 1 million (800,000) in the Waffen
Propaganda posters show the SS had an appeal as being an elite force. They appealed directly to the young ‘admission after 17th birthday’ suggesting this was something to aspire to
Historian Jacques Delarue suggests that the SS never before had such ‘power’ to arouse terror and horror
They were able to use the Night and Fog Decry
The Gestapo became independent of the courts creating the people's court with SS judges. They torture their prisoners
The SS also engaged in preventative policing meaning they arrested people before they had committed a crime by targeting people likely to oppose the regime
The increasing number of activities that became offences and the harshness of the punishment for committing them
E.g. the malicious practice act 1933 banned people from making critical remarks about the state or its leaders including jokes
During the war people caught listening to foreign radio were deemed traitors between 1933-1945 7,000 legally executed
42
What were the limits of the SS?
Numbers not as strong as they look as 800,000 men were stationed abroad in the Waffen SS so not part of controlling the german population
The impression that the ss were everywhere was largely propaganda - e.g. Wurzburg population 1 million with only 28 SS officers
80% of reports from the public Historian gellatley suggests this was not support for the Nazi regime but a way for people to settle personal grudges
The SS became overwhelmed with the reports and became reactive organisation resorting to random acts e.g. arbitrary arrest, protective custody, torture
Himmler even had to threaten to send those who made malicious denunciations to the concentration camps
Historian Mallman and Paul have written that the Nazi regime was not in a position to ‘engage incomprehensive surveillance or perfect repression’.
43
What were Denunciations?
Denunciations - general public informing on one another was over 50% ( 57% in Wurzburg) in a number of areas, collectively its thought as much as 80% whereas information gained by interrogation was relatively low ( below 5%)
they even had to warn the public to stop malicious denunciations (trying to settle private grudges)
44
Was the SS a real threat for the people in Germany?
It was more of a The perceived threat was enough to intimidate potential opposition from organising against the regime.
the public acted as a surveillance network - either out of fear; personal vendetta or actual support of Nazi ideology. People were denied their rights and could not rely on the police or the judiciary to defend
45
Evidence of the 'perceived threat' of the SS
the Gestapo relied on the support of ordinary German people to denounce their neighbours, colleagues and family.
Evidence to support this is that there was only 40,000 Gestapo agents for the whole of Germany and that over 50% of arrests came from information from the public.
46
Evidence of the legalised policed state
The Gestapo was given the right to take people into ‘protective custody and hold them indefinitely.The Gestapo became independent of the courts, created the ‘People’s Court’ with SS judges. They tortured their prisoners.
The SS also engaged in preventative policing- meaning they arrested people before they had committed a crime by targeting people likely to oppose the regime e.g. gypsies, political opponents.
The increasing number of activities that became offences and the harshness of the punishments for committing them e.g. The malicious Practice act 1933- Banned people from making critical remarks about the state or its leaders- including jokes!!
During the war people caught listening to foreign radio were deemed traitors between 1933-1945
7 000 legally executed 1941 Night and Fog Decree (Nacht Und Nebel) allowed the SS to take anyone deemed and enemy of the state.
47
What was the role of Joseph Gobbles?
Traditional government – he was Reich Minister of Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda
But Goebbels also had power over the Reich Chamber of culture and the NAZI organizations too e.g Goebbels was also director of Central Propaganda of the Nazi Party.
Therefore, Goebbels was able to coordinate and control all outlets of the German Media. This was one of the few areas of Nazi Germany were the Nazis gained such complete control & avoided overlapping positions which duplicated work –which characterized Nazi Germany
48
Name the methods of Propaganda
Censored: news reports , Radio, Film, literature, theatre, music, art
the use of political posters to promote ideas
Nuremburg Rallies
Sports
The Autobahn
Social Policy - Volksgemeinschaft
49
How were news reports controlled?
controlled the press – journalists etc. compulsory membership to bodies register of acceptable editors and journalists . 1933 Germany had highest readership of Newspapers in Europe. Press was viewed as main means of journalism.
Control of the Editors and Journalists e.g. October 1933 Editor’s Law clause 14 stated that editors were obliged to exclude anything ‘to weaken the Reich’ the editors were personally responsible for content and could be arrested and charged under the law.
The RMPV ( Ministry of Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda – March 1933 employed 14,000 people –provided content for German Press. Daily Press conferences held to give directives on press content, length and direction of articles.
50
How was Radio controlled?
The Reich Radio Company and 9 regional broadcast companies controlled German radio 1933 they were taken over by Reich Governors
April 1934 Nazis created a unified radio system and purged it of hostile elements
Communal loudspeakers were put in workplaces, schools and communal areas.
People’s receiver radio Volksempfanger - Cheap radio so ALL Germans could afford
produced only one station and limited range to control access to information e.g. Did not want Germans to pick up outside broadcasts like the BBC.
Key speeches were announced by a siren – Radio Wardens ensured national moments and reported on attendance
People’s receivers 1935 7 million sets 1943 16 million by 1939 70% of households had a radio
1933 50 (Hitler’s speeches) broadcasts transmitted 1935 estimated audience was 56 million
51
How was film controlled?
Less direct propaganda than press & radio – relaxation than explicit propaganda.
4 major film companies allowed to remain as private
The RMVP gradually bought shares and financed films
In 1942 all film companies were nationalised under Ufi (Ufa film GmbH)
The Reich film chamber regulated the content of films, with Goebbels making himself responsible for approving every film made in Germany
American Films were banned
Films were classified and those deemed of worth were given money, promoted censored films e.g. ‘valuable for the youth’ or ‘film of the nation’
52
How were posters used to spread propaganda?
Hitler Myth perpetuated this ‘god like’ or ‘savior’ image of Hitler – posters depict Hitler in heroic stances and show no human weakness
Posters depict Anti Semitism e.g. Poster for Eternal Jew – distorted features to portray unattractive image – Whip to suggest slave driver – money in their hand represents greed and the red sickle links Jews with a Communist conspiracy.
Posters particularly target the youth to embrace Nazis as the future
people became so familiar with Nazi posters –less impact – bored by Nazi Propaganda - especially during war as people could see reality often did not match reality.
53
The Nuremburg Rallies
Albert Speer choreographed the displays – music, swastika flags –SS in uniform
Hitler used the rallies to give speeches to the masses and appeal emotionally.
Large crowds created euphoria /connection among the people of a shared experience ( like a pop concert or festival might) collective experience . Led to mass suggestion of not thinking individually but accepting the collective thinking.
Nuremberg most successful rallies took place – huge crowds. Provided images for propaganda Leni Riefenstahl commissioned to make a film of the Nazi Nuremberg Rallies to encourage involvement – she created the Triumph of Will (1935)
Most Germans did not attend a Nazi Rally tended to be party faithful ( therefore already supportive of Nazis not recruiting new support)
Rallies started to get a bad reputation - Number of teenage pregnancies increased due to the Rallies ‘lively atmosphere and parents started to object to their children attending them.
Rallies declined as the war progressed.
54
Sports in Nazi Germany
Coordinated under the Reichs Sports Fuhrer – Hitler Youth and DAF organized sporting activities – create fit young people so boys could be future soldiers and girls could be health and have multiple births
Mass gym displays - Girls /boys exercising in public parks
1936 Olympics – opportunity to display Aryan superiority – Germany headed the table
Olympics Hitler s not pleased when USA African American Jesse Owens won gold
Lost at football to England
Sports take up differed in regions and attitudes towards to varied
55
The Autobahn as propaganda
They were a concrete expression of the new united Germany.
-Nazism defined as ‘Hitler plus autobahns’
-Helped military transportation
-Photographers, news reels and painters told the story that Germany had been revived as they were a new MODERN country
1942 programme stopped 3,870 KM had been built
1938 Only 1 in 44 Germans owned a car below USA & Britain
Volkswagen scheme for workers to finance car ownership never paid out Money diverted to war. _ KDF -Strength Through Joy part of DAF - aimed propaganda at workers. Youth in particular were responsive INITIALLY to Nazi Propaganda.
Motorway surface too thin for tanks – military use exaggerated.
56
Nazi Social Policy - Volksgemeinschaft
Social policy was aimed at transforming people’s consciousness.
A wide variety of schemes was devised to encapsulate the idea of Volksgemeinschaft (People’s community and idea of working together)
Extension of propaganda
Organised through DAF – Strength through Joy
Success
Winter Relief Campaign ( Winterhilfswerk) 9 million Germans received payments in 1938
Eintopf (one pot meal scheme) Germans encouraged to eat a simple meal on a Sunday once a month and donate the saved money to welfare schemes like Winter Relief
57
How was Artwork censored?
Hitler preferred to promote traditional German artwork over what he considered ‘degenerate art’ which was abstract or did not conform to Nazi ideology This traditional German artwork contained more visual images.
People attended the art expeditions that were held, Hitler’s art was growing more popular.
120 art expeditions in factories in 1933 and in 1941 1000 expeditions overall. Created unrealistic images and portrayed Nazi’s as heroic.
All working artists had to become members of the Reich Culture Chamber.
Artists were limited in what they could produce with many leaving the country of not producing new or original styles of art
1935 120 Art exhibitions and in 1941 over 1000
Munich 1937 Beauty of Work – appeal artist and worker Provided paintings in factories and was reprinted for postcards
Magazine Art in the Third Reich printed 50,000 copies.
1937 Munich Exhibition of Great German Art – all Nazi approved painting – 600,000 people attended but the 1937 Exhibition of Degenerate art (art the Nazis disapproved of ) 2 million people attended
58
Hitler Youth membership
The Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugend –HJ) was formed in 1925 – by 1933 it had 55,000 members but considering the popularity of youth groups in Germany it was a relatively small organization and represented only 1% of all youth organizations.
During the process of Gleichschaltung most youth groups were forced to join the Hitler youth.
Membership to the Hitler Youth increased steadily but in 1939 the Nazis made membership compulsory.
59
The Edelweiss Pirates
Loose collection of sub groups, country working class, localized groups such as Roving Dudes, Kittelbach pirates or Navajos
There were 1939 2000 members grew rapidly during the war
Reasons they opposed the Nazis: They didn’t like authority or being told what to do, trying to escape the restrictive Nazi system. Usual youth rebellion against authority Some groups become more politicized and radical
Dressed differently - Badges skull & cross bones or Edelweiss flower - check shirts and shorts
Camping escape Nazi control not Hitler Youth songs ( music/Alcohol & sex)
Some became politicised e.g. had links with the KPD (Communists)
Beat up Hitler Youth Patrols slogans ‘Eternal war on the Hitler Youth’
60
The Swing Group
Middle /Upper class youths, more in the city Berlin – Parent’s basements etc..
They did not like the conformity put across by Nazi's. (women's roles, folk music) the liked to go clubbing and listen to jazz. Women like to dress up and wear make up (American Culture- smoking )
Youth Rebellion they liked to go clubbing and listen to jazz. Women like to dress up and wear make up. Not the Nazi folk ideals liked by Hitler.
They included Jewish people in their activities
61
The White Rose Group
It was lead by Hans scholl and Sophie scholl
They were disillusioned by the Nazi regime, active resistance beyond nonconformity e.g. against euthanasia
They produced and handed out anti-nazi leaflets at uni, influenced by bishop Galen. Against euthanasia, going to lose the war etc. 6th leaflet was bold used phrases such as 'down with Hitler' and 'freedom' -1943 Germany losing the War the White rose group thought they could trigger wide spread opposition.
February 18 1943 Sophie made a Leaflet Drop at the university down the main staircase. Created a fuss that led to the Janitor informing the Nazis and Sophie and Hans Arrest.
62
Honour cross for women...
Honour Cross medal given to women having children –
Bronze = 5 children Silver = 6/7 Children Gold = 8 or more Children
63
financial incentives given to women...
Financial incentives: June 1933 Interest Free loan of 600 RM-1000 RM ( Law for the Encouragement of Marriage) given to women that married and withdrew from employment.
Allowed to keep 250 for each child they had. Meaning 4 children cleared the debt!
Income tax reduced - 6 or more children did not have to pay tax
64
Contradictions with Nazi Family Policy
Birth rate increased but declined after 1939
Divorce rate rose 1938 Marriage law –a man had a right to divorce a woman if he had 4 children with her so he could marry another woman. Also if a couple was childless this too was grounds for divorce.
The hitler youth took children away from their families and encouraged them to criticise any opposing views that their parents may have to the regime
Lebensborn encouraged having children outside of marriage to increase the ‘racial pure’ population
During the war women were encouraged to go back to work because of the shortage of soldiers.
They encouraged women who were ‘unworthy’ of marriage to not marry and be sterilised
They only encouraged marriages that they approved of that benefited their ideas of an aryan race which the church disagree with
65
Who was Gertrud Scholtz Klink?
Leader of NSF Baden and later promoted to women’s leader nationwide
Conformed to Nazi ideals – blonde, blue eyes. Nazis used her as an example for women to aspire to – she had 4 children and was married.
Token position she was subordinate to top male Nazis no actual power
Contradictory message telling women to stay at home and be homemakers yet she herself led an organisation.
That some women did support the regime and did not feel oppressed by their ideas, the saw as much of a loyal supporter as other top Nazis, it also shows that the idea of working towards Hitler could be applied to women
66
What was the Lebensborn programme?
Lebensborn programme aimed to improve the racial standards of German procreation.
Unmarried mothers of good racial credentials to be ‘impregnated’ by SS members.
Started 1935 By Himmler – estimates that 11,000 children may have been born under this programme.
67
Education and employment for women after 1939...
Married women were barred from professions such as Medicine, Law and the Civil service in 1933 - 1936
Only 10% of women were allowed to attend University
The percentage of women in employment dropped from 37% to 31 % but many women remained working in lower paid jobs
