Blah Flashcards
What was the spartacist uprising
The workers councils, USPD members and local officials attempted to overthrow the government
What date was the spartacist uprising
6th Jan 1919
Most successful Communist government takeovers, with years
Bavaria 1919
Thuringia and Saxony 1921
Two main Right Wing Putschs
Kapp Putsch 1920
Munich Putsch 1923
How were the two Putschs put down?
Kapp- workers revolt
Munich - Taken prisoner by police
Was the Putsch useful for hitler and why?
Yes, gave publicity to his views, got low prison time because of right wing beliefs, and wrote Mein Kampf whilst in prison
Why was it difficult to protest against Nazi regime
Other political parties were banned, public meetings were illegal, political prisoners were often taken without trial, protest was not helpful
Main ways of showing disapproval of Nazi regimes
Anti-Nazi campaigns
Sabotage
Disobedience
Hitler Assassination Attempts
Church Opposition
Spontaneous protests
What were anti nazi campaigns?
KPD, SPD and Trade Unions would print anti nazi leaflets and newspapers. Leaders were rounded up and sent to concentration camps.Example would be Red Shock Troup, which the SPD started in 1933 which had a membership rate of 3000
What was sabotage in Nazi Germany
“lightning strikes” only lasted a few hours, example autobahn workers in 1936
Sabotage production, calling in sick, damaging equipment were all common, which could lead to arrest but workers were in high demand
However, when groups were too large or successful they were arrested.
Disobedience in Nazi germany
Not joining hitler youth, joining other groups that went for western trends and listened to Jazz and Swing and formed their own bands. Generally stayed out of Nazis ways
Edelweiss Pirates were specifically anti nazi, working class, would express different levels of anti nazi. Wore uniforms opposite to HY. Would often do activities together, do anti nazi grafitti, post anti nazi leaflets.
Example was white rose group in Munich, who exposed the Nazi treatment of jews and encouraged non violent protest
Encouraged to take in people who the nazis wanted, protestant church did this a lot
Hitler Assassination Attempts
15 attempts
7 done by army
If found instantly executed
Many SS members disapproved of Jewish policy
Most serious July Plot, 20th July left a briefcase with a bomb in briefcase, although killed others, did not kill Hitler, 200 were arrested
Church Opposition in Nazi Germany
Originally kept out of Nazis way
Hitler agreed to leave the church if the church left Nazis alone
Developed a Nazi based church (“peoples church”)
1933 churches became more nazi and less christian
Demanded old testament removed as it was too Jewish, displayed Nazi banners
Confessing Church formed in 1934 which condemned Nazis for encouraging Atheism, being antisemitic and obeying the state
Many arrested
Spontaneous protests
Nazis paid attention when large numbers of people protested
Released 2 bishops when people protested to not annoy the church
People were unenthusiastic about invasion of Czechoslovakia, so he peacefully negotiated the land instead
Basics of the FRG
Democratic
Basic Law stated free speech, freedom of press and no censorship
Opposition had a voice
Biggest FRG issues
Rebuilding the government with coalitions and avoiding the Weimars problems
Building identity whilst trying to remerge with east germany
Rebuilding the economy and country
Establishing the FRG as a moderate member of Europe
Demonstrations - 1950s
If parties threatened democracy they were banned
The KPD were unable to gain enough votes to be represented in the Bundestag, and protested in Munich
Changes - 1960s
Economic miracle
Baby boom war
Youth protest against Year Zero and against ex nazis in positions of power, “What did you do in the war Daddy?”
Protests against the FRGs military and worry about nuclear weapons
Protests against Vietnam
What was the APO
Group of young left wing intellectuals who believed they were underrepresented after KPD banned from bundestag and SPD policies were less radical
Violent political protest on the verge of breaking out
Radical revolutionary theories about opposing government started
What was the SDS
Like APO, split from SPD when they became less radical.
Radical protest broke out in the 60s, Radical terrorism in the 70s, not only against FRG, but general world issues, like Vietnam and nuclear weapons, Ex Nazis in power and involvement in NATO.
After Shah of Iran came to FRG and protests broke about the human rights abuses, student was shot, and led to split in group
Leader of SDS was killed by a right wing fanatic, led to protests, riots and attacks on Springer Press who printed the paper that inspired the terrorist.
80,000 people protested the new law which was seen as a violation of the basic law of surveillance of the people, was passed anyway
Challenges in the 1970s
Police found it difficult to control terrorism initially and then developed harder lines against them, putting up wanted posters of Terrorists
Terrorist groups fluid, with members joining different group, merging, acting alone and with others, changing names, etc
Regular gun battles
Accompanied by articles about why they do what they do
RAF largest groups
Hunger strikes when arrested led to bombings of lawyers houses who were involved in trials
Books published on Guerilla War tactics
Bombings slowed down when they realised it wasnt making any progress and government was making more strict laws
Extremism control in Weimar
Key reforms such as the army, education and judiciary system and stop revolutionary extreme ideas from both the left and right
Concessions in Weimar
Ebert Groener pact guaranteed army support as long as it opposed left wing ideals
Stinnes-Legiens agreement with labour leaders to supply fair working hours and on union representation
Neither knew about the other
Regional Disputes in Weimar
Communists often set up governments by themselves
Trouble with all areas adopting the Weimar constitutions , with Thurungia not holding elections til June 1920
