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Germany 1918-1945 Flashcards

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1
Q

Describe Germany’s economic growth during the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century.

A

It had the fastest-growing economy in Europe. Germany was the scientific capital of the world and the country focused on chemicals and electric engineering.

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2
Q

Why did many working-class people turn to socialism?

A

Low wages, poor conditions, exhausting jobs. The SDP offered political representation but also a community with trade unions, sports clubs, newspapers, etc.

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3
Q

When was the Socialist Workers Party of Germany founded? When did it become the SDP?

A

It was founded in 1875 and became the Social Democratic Party in 1890.

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4
Q

Which social classes disliked socialism?

A

The ruling class, the Junkers, and army and industrial tycoons.

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5
Q

Why were Catholics suspected in Prussia?

A

Because Prussia was mostly protestant. There was fear that the Catholics would choose the Pope over the Empire.

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6
Q

Which German states were catholic?

A

Bavaria, Rhineland, and Silesia.

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7
Q

What were the main divisions between classes in pre-war Germany?

A

The ruling class was conservative, the working class was mainly socialist. Catholics were alienated and the middle class was diverse. Intellectuals, doctors, small tradesmen.

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8
Q

When was the German Revolution?

A

1918-1919

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9
Q

What are the three ‘acts’ of the revolution?

A
  1. German army commanders try to impose a new system and fail.
  2. Moderate socialists take control of main cities and proclaim a democratic republic.
  3. Revolutionary socialists try and fail to seize power.
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10
Q

What was the Ludendorff Offensive?

A

A series of last-ditch effort attacks on the Western Front of Germany during WW1.

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11
Q

What fueled the mistrust against the ruling class and the Kaiser?

A

They had promised that the war would be short and Germany would definitely win.

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12
Q

What is the revolution from above?

A

The generals told the Kaiser that the war was lost. He agreed to appoint a new government and Germany became a parliamentary democracy. The Kaiser was a ceremonial head of state.

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13
Q

Who was Germany’s first chancellor after the Kaiser stepped down?

A

Prince Max von Baden. A political lightweight who was easily influenced and manipulated.

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14
Q

Why did the generals propose democracy at the end of WW1?

A

Because they thought it would get them more lenient peace terms.

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15
Q

What is the popular revolution of November 1918?

A

The USA demanded that the Kaiser abdicate to have peace talks. After a series of strikes and worker councils were set up, the moderate socialists controlled the main cities. Wilhelm II abdicated and Prince Max also stood aside.

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16
Q

What were the main differences between moderate and radical socialists?

A

Moderates supported the war, radicals opposed it. After the war the radicals wanted a soviet style state, and the moderates wanted a parliamentary democracy.

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17
Q

Explain how the Spartacus League was formed.

A

A minority of radical socialists broke away from the SDP in 1917 and formed a party, the Independent Socialists. They were hard-line Marxists and became the KPD.

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18
Q

What was the job of the National Assembly?

A

To write a constitution for Germany.

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19
Q

What was the Spartacist Challenge?

A

The attempt of radical socialists to overthrow the new government and set up a soviet style state.

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20
Q

What arguments supported the Spartacist uprising?

A

-They received backing from Russia.
-Had support of radical trade union officers
-Widespread hunger and unrest
-German army was nonexistent, the government couldn’t rely on it.

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21
Q

What arguments opposed the Spartacist uprising?

A

-They had no plans
-Liebenknecht and Louxemburg were thinkers, not doers
-They were being actively undermined by powerful forces
-The numbers weren’t in their favor

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22
Q

What were the free corps?

A

Private military-style units set up by Gustav Norke to replace the army. They had a reputation for violence and right-wing extremism.

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23
Q

Who joined the Free Corps?

A

People who hated Marxists, mercenaries, and former soldiers.

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24
Q

Who was used to crush the Spartacus Week?

A

The Free Corps.

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25
Explain 'Free Corps unleashed'.
After their successful crushing of Spartacus Week, the Free Corps was sent to crush revolutions in multiple German cities. They overthrew the Bavarian Soviet Republic. They were loved by the upper class and hated by revolutionary socialists.
26
When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?
June 1919
27
What were the main terms of the Versailles Treaty?
-Germany gave up all its overseas colonies -Guilt clause Reparation payments -Limits on troops and ships -Polish Corridor transferred to Poland for sea access -Lorraine-Alsace returned to France -Rhineland became a demilitarized zone
28
Why did French troops occupy the Ruhr in 1923?
Because Germany failed to make reparation payments on time.
29
What was the Kapp putch and when did it happen?
1920. The first right-wing attempt to overthrow the Republic by force.
30
What is Organisation Consul?
A right-wing death squad. It was responsible for the murders of Erzberger and Rathenau. It disbanded because of increased security measures.
31
What is the Beer Hall Putsch? When did it happen?
München 1923. Failed attempt by Hitler and the NSDAp to take control of Bavaria.
32
Sum up the economic situation in 1923.
-Rising government spending because of passive resistance in the Ruhr -Rising unemployment -Forced to print paper money -Bartering goods for goods -No way of resisting France because of demilitarisation
33
What were Gustav Stresemann's main achievements?
-He introduced new currency -Secured US investment -Gave Germany its late roaring 20s -Policy of fulfillment (trying to get the allies to change Versailles terms) -Fended off extremist threats from both sides
34
Why was Stresemann controversial?
-He tried to negotiate with the allies which made him unpopular -Did not favor the elites but focused on the people -Leaned more towards the left over time and was called a traitor
35
Why was Hitler's trial significant?
He turned it into a political rally, presented himself as a martyr and gained national attention. The judge was sympathetic and he got a very lenient sentence.
36
What happened to the NSDAP during Hitler's time in prison?
They were virtually nonexistent. They were banned and crumbled without their leader.
37
Why was Hitler's time in prison significant to the Nazi party?
He got national attention, decided that he was the country's savior, and decided that legality was the best strategy for the party. He established his authority and a highly systematic hierarchy—Bamberg conference 1926.
38
Which parties switched to Nazi voters during the 1928-1932 electoral breakthrough?
DDP and DVP. After the moderates, the conservatives followed suit. The breakthrough was less successful in catholic and industrial areas.
39
Why was the Great Depression of 1929 an issue for Germany?
They depended heavily on US assets so losing those due to the crisis made them the most affected country in Europe.
40
Why did the middle-class vote for the Nazis?
Unhappiness with the Weimar Republic, promise of jobs (important due to 60% unemployment at the time), fear of communism and Hitler's charisma.
41
Why was Hitler able to legally become chancellor in 1933?
Because of changes made in 1930 to how Germany was ruled and because of support from the conservative elites.
42
Who were the people involved in Hitler becoming chancellor?
Max von Papen, Paul von Hindenburg and Kurt von Schleicher.
43
Who was the Nazi propaganda chief?
Josef Goebbels
44
Name some Nazi election strategies
Voter intimidation, violence, tailor-made contradicting promises to different voter groups. Also a focus on resentment remaining from WW1.
45
Why did Müller's coalition fall apart?
Unemployment was rising so the non-socialists called for spending cuts. The social democrats didn't agree because it would affect the working class too much. No party had enough votes to win so the coalition broke apart.
46
Who gained votes in the 1930 elections?
The Nazis and communists. Moderate parties lost votes.
47
What is article 48?
The article under which Germany switched to a presidential government due to a state of emergency in 1930. It was supposed to be temporary but it ended up lasting years.
48
Who became president in 1930?
Paul von Hindenburg
49
Who was appointed chancellor in 1930 and why?
Heinrich Brüning of the Centre Party because he was conservative, a monarchist, had a finance background, and was well known in the Reichstag so Hindenburg thought he might be useful to make the Reichstag agree with the president.
50
Who ran against Hindenburg for the presidency?
Hitler. Hindenburg won but Hitler won the conservative side.
51
Who was Brüning's sucessor as chancellor?
Franz von Papen
52
How did Hitler become chancellor in 1933?
He demanded to be chancellor but was refused by Hindenburg. Hitler made the Nazis switch parties to force an election in November. He met with von Papen 5 times in secret and they plotted for H to become chancellor. Schleicher didn't like von Papen so he got Hindenburg to dismiss him which caused rifts in the Reichstag. Schleicher failed, was ousted by Hindenburg and Hitler was named chancellor in January 1933.
53
What legislations did Hitler use to give him unlimited power?
Reichstag Fire Decree - February 1933 (took away freedom of speech and assembly) Enabling Act - March 1933 (gave him unlimited power and made him independent from the Reichstag.
54
What other parties aside from the Nazis helped Hitler get into power?
Conservatives actively backed him. Communists didn't help but were divided internally. Social democrats cared more about their voters than about stability in the Reichstag. This made them vulnerable. Centre party supported the enabling act. Middle class parties didn't help but didn't resist and moved sharply to the right.
55
What is the night of the long knives? When did it happen?
June 30, 1934. Elimination of the SA. SA leader Ernst Röhm and senior members were arrested and shot. Several hundred people were murdered by the SS, among them von Schleicher and his wife.
56
Why did Hitler not need the SA anymore?
They had an image as thugs and reflected negatively on the party. He also had the SS and the Gestapo now.
57
Explain why the Nazi party didn't target Catholics at first.
They made a deal with the pope. If the Vatican didn't criticize the Nazis, Hitler wouldn't target Catholics. When the pope broke this agreement, so did Hitler.
58
Name some key features of the Nazi government.
-Volksgemeinschaft -Control over media and politics -Strong hierarchy -One Nation (Länder were stripped of their powers and terminated)
59
What were the main groups working against the Nazi regime in the 30s?
Trade unions, youth groups, church groups. Some students at universities as well.
60
Why is it hard to determine how much support the Nazi party had and how strong the opposition was?
Because the legitimacy of Nazi records has been questioned repeatedly. Opposition groups were also swiftly and violently dealt with, and in some cases the Nazis may not even have been aware of their existence.
61
How did the Nazis control German society and impose their rules?
Control of education, healthcare, propaganda everywhere, control of the media, concentration camps, the SS and Gestapo who operated apart from the judicial system, controlling communication.
62
What was the Nazi view of women's role?
They should stay at home, have as many children as possible and raise them to be 'good' Nazis. They were discouraged from working and groups were set up, e.g. the NS-Frauenschaft. The Nazis thought that family units were too individualistic and wanted them working for the good of Germany.
63
Name some impacts that the war had on women.
-Many men didn't come back from war -Food and goods became scarce -Living conditions worsened (bombing, no food or water) -Women were allowed to join the military (in certain positions) in 1940. -More childcare was provided -Women, even married ones, were now urged to work due to there not being enough men to work.
64
Explain the Nazi education policies
National Socialist Teachers League was set up in 1929, undesirable teachers were purged by law in 1933. Schools were places of indoctrination, the main focus was physical fitness and loyalty to Hitler. Private education was abolished to control the education everyone received.
65
Name some Nazi racial policies
-1934: compulsory sterilization program -Breeding control laws -Violent persecution of ethnic minorities -Eventually the Final Solution -Legal separation of Jews from the community, bans, and boycotts of Jewish businesses, segregation. -1935 Nürnberg Race Laws
66
What were the Nürnberg Race Laws?
A set of laws designed to segregate Jews and exclude them from society.
67
What is the flight tax?
At first, Jews were encouraged to emigrate. The government took 30-50% of their wealth as a tax. Many didn't go far enough and found themselves in invaded territories during the war.
68
What is Kristallnacht?
One of the first large-scale acts of violence against Jews and their synagogues.
69
What were Hitler's short and long-term economic goals?
Short-term: bring down unemployment. Long-term: turn Germany into a war economy.
70
How did the Nazis bring down unemployment from 1933-39?
-Natural recovery post-world economic depression (they took credit for it) -Building the Autobahn and other public works -More jobs due to rearmament -Doctored unemployment statistics, Jews who were fired, and married women weren't counted. -Compulsory military service -In 1935, all 19-25 year olds had to do six months of unpaid labour for the Reich, but this counted as a job.
71
Who was Hjalmar Schacht?
Chief of the National Bank in 1933, and minister of economics in 1934. He masterminded the 'New Plan'.
72
Why was the 4-year plan put in place? Who implemented it?
Hitler decided that Germany needed to be ready for war within the next 4 years. He wanted to make the country an autarky. Schacht disagreed and resigned and Hermann Goering, who had no experience in economics, was chosen to implement the plan.
73
What strategies did Germany use to become an autarky?
-Encouraging farmers to grow more food -Using German raw materials whenever possible, even if these were more expensive or of worse quality. -Investments to drop artificial substitutes for natural products -Extensive program of labor retaining
74
Why did Hitler plan on invading Eastern Europe?
Because Germany couldn't feed itself and he needed the agricultural land.
75
Why was the 4-year plan not good for the German finances?
-Production of synthetic materials had mixed results -Germany lived beyond its means -They could not feed themselves because of little arable land
76
Explain the crisis of 1935-36
Germany wasn't self-sufficient yet and needed to import materials for food. Countries wanted money instead of trade for goods and the Germans had two options: increasing exports or cutting consumption and pressing for higher production. They chose the second one.
77
Describe the situation in 1939 (socially)
Difference in living standards for pure Germans and undesirables. Doctors and nurses had to report children under 3 with mental or physical disabilities. 'Asocial' families were sent to be re-educated.
78
Name the decisive reverses during the war
Stalingrad, 1942 Kursk tank battle, 1943
79
Why did Germany lose the war?
Fighting on two fronts, declaring war on the US, constant bombing by allies, Hitler's mistakes. v
80
Name some resistance groups in the 30s.
The Edelweiss Pirates, the Swing Youth, and the Leipzig Meuten.

Germany 1918 - 1945 (1 decks)

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