Domestic Germany 1933-1945 Flashcards
dunknoe loaw making these flash cards man better get an A (84 cards)
1
Q
Why did Hitler consider the SA to be a threat
A
They vastly outnumbered the army and had the potential to take over the country
2
Q
What did the SA demand prior to the night of the long knives?
A
- The SA wanted to take control of the army
- Rohm and the SA also wanted to further the Anti-Capitalist part of Nazism
3
Q
When was the night of the long knives
A
30th June 1934
4
Q
What was the night of the long knives?
A
Hitler ordered the arrest and/or murder of hundreds of members of the SA and political opponents, such as Ernst Rohm, Von Papen, Gregor Strasser, Gustav Von Kahr etc.
5
Q
How did the Night of the long knives help Hitler?
A
It consolidated his power more greatly and gathered the support and trust of the armed forces
6
Q
what was ‘volksgemeinschaft’
A
The German incentive to create a national community undivided by politics, class, region or religion
7
Q
What was the Nazi attitude to women?
A
- Believed they should be at home and caring for the family rather than working
- Many women were removed from jobs
- The marriage loan scheme encouraged women to give up their jobs and get married
- The medal of motherhood encouraged women to have large families
8
Q
How much impact did Nazi policies towards women have?
A
- The birth rate stayed relatively constant despite Nazi initiatives
- Many women were removed from jobs
9
Q
What was glieschaltung?
A
The Nazi programme of ‘co-ordination’ in which they took control of all organisations and groups in order to create a greater sense of unity and to channel propaganda and nazi policy through these groups
10
Q
What were the aims of the Nazi education policy?
A
- To indoctrinate German youth with Nazi beliefs
- To encourage Nazi values such as physical fitness and motherhood (for boys and girls respectively)
- To discourage arguing against Nazism and to build up a greater respect of authority
11
Q
How did Nazis change education?
A
- They incorporated Nazi propaganda and indoctrination into lessons
- Far more emphasis on physical education
12
Q
What was the consequence of Nazi education
A
- Undereducated but physically fit youth
- Parents angry at the poor standard of education
- Youth that has been indoctrinated towards Nazism
13
Q
What was the role of Hitler youth and BDM?
A
- Indoctrination of German youth towards Nazi policies
- To keep youth away from parents who might lead them against Nazism
- To increase the sense of unity
14
Q
Signs of support of young people for Nazism
A
- Estimates from surveys show 95% of German youth supported the Nazis
- Had 6 million members in 1936
15
Q
Signs of lack of support for the Nazis from German youth?
A
- A number of opposition movements such as Swing Kids and the Eldeweiss Pirates
- As time went on, towards the start of the war, the number of youths attending the BDM and the Hitler Youth was decreasing
16
Q
How did Nazis treat ‘outsiders’ in the volksgemeinschaft?
A
They were excluded from society
17
Q
How were ‘outsiders’ excluded in the volksgemeinschaft?
A
- Removed from jobs
- Not allowed German citizenship
- Sent to concentration camps
- extradited
eg. sept 1933; 100,000 tramps and vagrants locked up as part of “Beggars week”
18
Q
What was the Concordat?
A
It was an agreement between the Church and the Nazis that the Nazis would not become involved in the matters of the church and that the church would not become involved in secular matters.
19
Q
Why were Germany’s Jews excluded from the National Community?
A
The Nazis saw them as sub-human and thought they would try to take over the world if they could
20
Q
How did the Nazis treat Germany’s Jews?
A
- 1 billion mark fine
- Removal from jobs
- Damage to Jewish property
- Segregation
- Eventually murder
21
Q
Reasons that the Holocaust was pre-meditated?
A
- Nazi policy was always extremely anti-semitic
- Jews were already being segregated and killed before the final solution
22
Q
Reasons that the holocaust came about due to circumstances?
A
- Large number of Eastern Jews inherited when they took Eastern Europe (German Jewry made up a very small % of population and thus did not need dealing with at the time)
- Working towards the Fuhrer led to increasingly extreme policies
23
Q
What was Kristallnacht?
A
- The state supported rioting, destruction and looting of Jewish property, businesses and synagogues
- It started the physical abuse of the Jews whereas previously it had been verbal or political: some argue it was the start of the holocaust
24
Q
When was Kristallnacht?
A
Nov 1938
25
What were the Nuremberg Laws
Anti-semitic laws:
| -Forbidding marriage or sexual relationships between Jews and non-Jews
26
When were the Nuremberg Laws?
1935
27
What were the Einsatzgruppen?
Paramilitary branch of the SS that worked essentially as a death squad and that executed around 1 million poles, jews, russians, gypsies etc. in mass shootings
28
What was the 'battle for work'?
The Nazi initiative when they first came into power to reduce unemployment. Hjalmar Schacht was hired as minister of economics to help improve the economy.
29
How did the Nazi's undergo the 'battle for work'?
- They had a number of public works projects such as the construction of the autobahnen
- The (secret) rearmament programme provided jobs in industry and boosted the economy
- The removal of Jews and Women from jobs were not included in the unemployment register
30
What was the 'New Plan"
- It was the plan to reduce Germany's trade deficit by only allowing foreign imports with state approval
- Set up bilateral trade with baltic states for raw materials
31
When was the New plan formed
1934
32
What was the '4 Year Plan'?
Hitler's plan for autarky (self-sufficiency):
- It encouraged use of German raw materials rather than those from abroad
- The development of substitute materials such as artificial rubber and oil
- Increased agriculture to help provide food for the whole of Germany
- Large retraining programmes so Germany had ample workers in each department
33
How was the '4 year plan' run?
- Schacht didnt want it as he thought it would damage the German economy
- Instead Hermann Goering became the leader of the 4 year plan
- If any industries failed to comply with Goerings plan, he would simply create a larger state run industry in that sector and put the other out of business
34
When was the 4-year plan?
1936-1940
35
How successful was the 4 year plan?
- Substitute rubber was produced very well however other substitutes were severely under-produced
- Iron ore was well mined but steel was underproduced
- Average German food intake decreased and there was less selection of food for Germans
- Germany had gained a huge budget deficit
36
What was "guns or butter"?
The nazi decision to produce consumer goods or war goods. Originally, they promised both but as time went on, they spend far more on guns than butter
37
What is autarky?
The political aim of reaching self-sufficiency
-It was implemented by Hitler for total war and Hitler was aware of the harsh effects of the British Naval Blockade on the German standard of living
38
What was the re-armament miracle?
Albert Speer's improvement in the efficiency of the production of arms by a great number. eg. he tripled weapons output by 1945
39
How did Albert Speer create the re-armament miracle
- Greatly reduced the amount spent on consumer goods and moved the economy towards total war
- Increased efficiency of factories by making them each specialise in the production of one good
- Moved women into factories to work
- Increased the use of foreign slave labour
- Banning the subscription of skilled workers
40
What was 'economic rationalisation'?
The Nazi movement towards 'total war' by using all resources available on the war effort and closing all non-war related firms.
41
In what way did Germany's economic position improve as a result of the war in 1939-1942?
- They acquire more land and natural resources which they used for industry
- They were able to take over industries and factories of the countries they invaded
- Could use slave labour of foreign prisoners
42
What were the continuing weaknesses of the German economy into the war?
- Autarky led to a large budget deficit and led to a lack of important goods
- Much of Germany's output went towards the war effort rather than the living standards of the their people
- Severe shortages of oil!
43
What were the impacts of the war on the volksgemeinschaft?
- Created a stronger sense of national unity and pride against foreigners
- People told to put the war effort ahead of their personal wants and desires
- People encouraged to work and workers were hailed for helping the war-effort
- Women began to work
- Creation of the Volkssturm (people's army(
44
What were the impacts of the war on public morale
- Morale fluctuated depending on the success of the German army
- Morale dropped due to allied carpet bombing of German cities
- Increased rationing and food shortages at the end of the war decreased morale
- Many people still believed in the fuhrer, hoped for a miracle weapon, or feared the possibility of a soviet take over and thus kept fighting
45
What were the impacts, of the war, on terror?
- Working towards the Fuhrer as the war went on led to increasingly radical policy
- Increased use of concentration/death camps spread fear
- Increasingly harsh penalties on those who disobeyed Nazism and the increasing prevalence of the Gestapo and SS
- The brutality of the Red Army when they arrive
46
Why did Hitler implement price controls in Germany ?
In 1936, he implemented price controls so that the nazis could buy military goods for artificially low prices
47
How did Hitler make Germany a one party state?
- Banned the communists following the reichstag fire
- In June 1933, the SPD was outlawed
- Throughout 1933, the centre party, the nationalists and other weimar parties were pressured into dissolving
- In July 1933, there was the 'Law against the formation of New parties'
48
When did the Nazis disband the trade unions?
May 1933
49
When were concentration camps initially formed and what was their purpose?
- In mid 1933, hundreds of socialists and communists were murdered by the SA
- When these actions begun to receive adverse publicity, Himmler organised the construction of 80 concentration camps, to put opposition in 'protective custody'
- The camps were not initially set up as extermination camps
50
How did the Nazis deal with the protestant church?
- Most protestants had voted for the Nazi's so they were a soft target
- Hitler persuaded the protestant church to reform as the reich church in 1933
51
Was there opposition to the changes of the church in 1933? (4)
- Some protestants disagreed with the reich church and set up their own 'Confessional Church'
- Martin Niemoller, the head of the 'Confessional Church' openly opposed the Nazis and was arrested in 1937
- Hundreds of catholic priests spoke out against the Nazis and were arrested
- Following the closure of church youth organisations, Pope Puis XI spoke out against Hitler
- -> However, There was overall conflict between the church and Nazis and services continued
52
How was the Night of the long knives viewed by the public?
- Viewed internationally as an act of political gangsterism
- Caused Hitler no harm in Germany, as the SA were seen as greedy and corrupt, and people felt the Nazis had ridden their weakest part
53
What was the winter aid programme?
-To encourage better of Germans to provide food and clothing to poverty stricken 'national comrades' to create a sense of the Volksgemeinschaft
54
What was the KDF, when was it formed, and what was its purpose?
- Formed in 1933
- Was the 'Strength through Joy' programme, which replaced the SPD and KPD in helping the working class
- Provided leisure activities and overseas holidays to show the working class the benefit of the volksgemeinschaft, by providing them with opportunitys only previously afforded to the rich
55
What and when was the Volkswagen scheme?
- 1938
- Germans could pay 5 marks per week and receive a car, however when the war broke out, production was stopped and people never got their money back
56
Some facts about the German jewry in 1933 (3)
- In 1933, 0.7% of Germany were Jewish
- The number of Jews was decreasing as a result of increasing number of marriages between Jews and non-Jews
- 100,000 Jews served in Germany's army in ww1
57
How did Jewish Policy change during the Olympics?
In the 1936 olympics, Hitler wanted to showcase the power of the Nazis without controversy and so scaled down all anti-semitic activity
58
How organised was anti-Jewish policy between 1933-1939? (3)
- No settled policy: battle of control of Jewish policy between Himmler, Goering and Goebbels
- Initiatives sometimes cut across each other: Goering was angry at Goebbels after Kristallnacht as he could not seize jewish property and sell it if it was destroyed!
- Intensity of persecution varied: harsh in 1933, 1935 and 1938-39 but the other years were generally quiet
59
How did the Nazis persecute gypsies? (3)
- The 1935 Nuremberg laws applied to them
- 1936 creation of the 'Reich General office to combat the Gypsy nuisance'
- Sent to extermination camps in 1939 onwards
60
What was Nazi policy towards disabled people?
- Mein Kampf stated Hitler's belief that disabled should have compulsory sterilisation
- 1936 'law for the prevention of hereditarily diseased offspring' led to the compulsory sterilisation of some 400,000 people
- Launched operation T-4 in 1939, a 'euthanasia' programme leading to the murder of 70,000 mentally ill patients
61
What was Nazi policy towards homosexuals? (2)
- At first, it was no problem with Ernst Rohm more or less openly gay
- However, once the Nazis came to power, 50,000 gays were arrested and 15,000 were sent to concentration camps
62
What were women like during the Weimar era, and what was the Nazi view on this? (4)
- The weimar constitution gave women the right to vote
- More female MP's throughout the 1920's than in Britain
- More women in work to make up for the men killed or disabled in WW1
- More social freedoms, such as short hair, cigarettes, and fashion
- The Nazis were alarmed by this 'new woman' and wanted more traditional roles
63
How did the Nazis encourage a higher birth rate? (4)
- Financial incentives: 1933 Marriage loan scheme
- Propaganda such as the 'Mother Cross' for having a certain number of children
- Nazis scrapped abortion in 1933
- Relaxed the divorce laws in 1938 to encourage remarrying and second families
- The women's organisation, Deutsches Frauenwerk, headed by Gertrud Schlotz-Klink offered training courses in the skill of motherhood
64
What impact did Nazi policy on women have? (3)
- Birth rate only rose slightly in 1930, and was still below the 1914 level-- This may not even be due to Nazi policy, but the improving economic climate
- There was actually an increase in the number of women in work in the 1930s
- When the war started, Nazi policy changed and encouraged women to work
65
What were the Nazi elite schools?
-Called Napolas, there was 16 formed by 1939, and they aimed to train elite students to become future leaders of the Nazi party
66
Was the Hitler youth compulsory? (2)
- it was the only legal youth organisation after the other had been banned in 1933
- Made compulsory in 1936
67
Was the Hitler youth popular? (3)
- began well, with it seen as a novelty and a good opportunity to mix with other teenagers
- Towards the end of 1930's, waning popularity with boredom setting in and little variation in activities
- Growing popularity of Eldeweiss pirates and Swing Kids
68
What was the impact of the Hitler Youth? (2)
- Indoctrination towards Nazism
- Many of the soldiers who committed war crimes through 1939-1945 were those brought up in the Hitler youth, whilst increasing complaints of teenage aggression have links with the Hitler Youth
69
When was the New plan?
1934
70
When was the four year plan?
1936
71
How successful was the gestapo in reducing the influence of the SPD and the KPD?
- Most of their underground networks had been destroyed by the Gestapo by 1936
- However, the communist spy ring, known as the Rote Kapelle managed to survive in 1942
72
What forms of opposition were there to the Nazis during the war? (4)
-The White rose group, made of intellectuals, handed out leaflets and made graffiti: Hans and Sophie Shcoll were executed in 1943
- The Kreisau Circle was a loose association of upper-class political moderates brought together by a shared loathing of Nazi barbarism
- -> Was essentially a discussion group for a post-war, democratic Germany
- The Beck-Goerdeler group made up of upper class nationalists who saw that Hitler was leading Germany to defeat and disaster
- -> Their plan was to remove Hitler from power through assassination
-The July 1944 Bomb plot
73
How did allied bombing damage the Nazi war effort? (4)
- 75% of Hamburg was destroyed by bombing and it seriously damaged morale
- Decreased Germany's output by 20% at later stages of the war
- Germany had to use scarce resources to build new factories
- 80% of Germany's luftwaffe was used on defending German skies rather than attacking
74
What was an example of KDF success?
10 Million Germans took part in KDF holidays in 1938
75
What was the impact of the Beauty of Labour programme?
-Introduced features not previously seen in factories, such as washing facilities and low-cost canteens
76
What percentage of university places were for women in Nazi germany?
10%
77
How many German women took up the marriage loan scheme?
800,000
78
What was the Nazis plans for the Jews during WW2?
- They planned to deport them, for example with the 1941 Madagascar Plan
- Planned to place them in Siberia
- The failure of the war effort made these plans impossible
- Hence, the Holocaust was the logical option for the Nazis
79
What was the contrast between Historians views on the Nazi policy towards Jews? (2)
Intentionalists argue that Nazi policy was always to exterminate the Jews by any means
Structuralists argue that the Final Solution was the way out of the mess that the Nazis had gotten themselves into with the Jews during the war
80
How did the Nazi's weaponry affect their war effort?
Hitler refused to concentrate effective research on new weapons
eg. He did not allow the increased production of submarines in 1939 when they were requested by the Admiralty
-The Germans never developed a heavy bomber that was able to do significant damage
81
What was the impact of the Yalta conference?
- Decided that the UN would be set up to maintain world stability
- Decided there would be free elections in Poland
82
What was the impact of the Potsdam conference?
-The allies and the USSR decided that Germany would be split into four zones of occupation
83
What was the result of Marshall aid?
$13 Bn had been pumped into Europe
84
How did Stalin respond to Marshall aid?
-Setting up COMECON, which all Eastern European states had to join
