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History: Germany Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a Kaiser?

A

Germany’s ruler who could also ignore government advice. He made all military and foreign policy decisions.

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2
Q

What is a chancellor?

A

The head of the government in Weimar Germany

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3
Q

What was the Bundesrat?

A

The upper house of German parliament, with representatives from each state to express their interests

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4
Q

What was the Reichstag?

A

The German government building

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5
Q

Who created the idea of Weltpolitik and what was it?

A

Kaiser Wilhelm II
The idea of making Germany a global power

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6
Q

What was the SPD?

A

Social Democratic Party
A party which believed in socialism, where power and wealth was shared equally amongst people

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7
Q

What were the Navy Laws and how was money raised for them?

A

A series of German navy expansion policies. They were made to improve the navy for the Kaiser to enhance Germany’s power. They were funded using increased taxes and borrowed money, which left Germany in debt for a long time.

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8
Q

Who was Friedrich Ebert?

A

Leader of the SPD

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9
Q

Who were the Spartacists?

A

A group of communists in Germany who wanted Germany to be run by small councils of soldiers and workers

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10
Q

Who were the Freikorps?

A

A group of ex-soldiers who lost their jobs following the restrictions in the Treaty of Versailles. They were sent by Ebert to attack Spartacists.

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11
Q

What was the Weimar Republic?

A

The democratic government of Germany between 1919-1933 which tried to give power to all German adults

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12
Q

Who were the November Criminals?

A

Politicans who signed the armistace. They were accused of betraying the German army and people.

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13
Q

What was the Dolchstoss?

A

The German army felt like they had been ‘stabbed in the back’ by those who agreed to the Treaty of Versailles

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14
Q

What was Article 48?

A

A section of the Weimar Constitution which allowed the president to pass laws without the Reichstag’s approval in an emergency. However, an emergency wasn’t clearly defined, so this law was often misused.

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15
Q

When was the Treaty of Versailles signed and what was it?

A

June 28th 1919
It was a list of punishments for Germany for their involvement in starting WW1

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16
Q

What punishments were in the Treaty of Versailles?

A
  • £6.6 billion in reparations
  • Limitations to German army
  • Germany must hand over colonies to winning countries
  • No German soldiers can enter the Rhineland
  • Germany must never unite with Austria again
  • Large areas of German land was used to make new countries
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17
Q

Why did Germans hate the Treaty of Versailles?

A
  • They felt it was too harsh
  • They were ordered to sign the Treaty, no discussion
  • Many Germans felt they had not lost the war, and that many German politicans had betrayed them
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18
Q

What was the Occupation of the Ruhr?

A

Germany had announced that they couldn’t afoord to pay reparations. French and Belgians didn’t believe them and took control of the Ruhr region.

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19
Q

What was hyperinflation?

A

The German government printed lots of money to pay striking workers and the reparations. But this led to shopkeepers increasing their prices. The German government printed even more money, so shops raised their prices again. This loop repeated.

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20
Q

What was the Kapp Putsch?

A

In March 1920, right-wing politician, Wolfgang Kapp gathered 5000 Freikorps and took over Berlin. He did this to try and take over the whole country and recover lost land. The uprsing failed as workers striked.

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21
Q

What is a ‘Putsch’?

A

A violent uprising

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22
Q

What was the Red Rising in the Ruhr?

A

Following the Kapp Putsch, left-wing workers in the Ruhr stayed on strike. They took over many towns. The government sent soldiers and Freikorps to deal with the rebellion

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23
Q

What was the Munich Putsch?

A

In November 1923, Hitler and the Nazis tried to seize control of the Bavarian government, promising to overturn the ToV. He planned to capture Munich. Hitler and 2000 supporters marched through Munich, but were met by armed police who engaged in a gun battle, leading to deaths and Hitler’s arrest.

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24
Q

What was the Dawes Plan?

A

A deal which resulted in the US lending 800 million gold marks to Germany to pay reparations

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25
What was the Young Plan?
A reduction in the total payment of reparations from £6.6 billion to £2 billion, while also allowing 59 years for the money to be paid.
26
What was the Rentenmark?
A new currency, created by Streseman, which replaced the old Reichsmark which had become worthless due to hyperinflation.
27
Who was Gustav Stresemann?
Germany's Foreign Minister from 1924 to 1929 who dealt with the problems Germany was facing
28
Which problems remained following Stresemann's death?
- Many political parties - Extreme political parties like Nazis - Large groups of Germans were poor - German prosperity was built on American loans, but what if they wanted their money back?
29
What was the 'golden age'?
Also known as the golden twenties, it was a time of stability and flourishing culture in Germany following hyperinflation and WW1. It also involved key developments in art, literature and design.
30
What was the Locarno Pact?
In 1925, Germany, Britain, France, Belgium and Italy promised to never invade each other
31
What was the Kellogg-Briand Pact?
An international agreement between 62 countries includong Germany to never use war in disputes unless in defense
32
When was the Wall Street Crash and what was it?
**October 1929** It was an event where values in shares in the stock market suddenly plummeted. This led to American companies and banks going out of business and millions losing their jobs. This was soon known as the Great Depression
33
What was the SA?
Also known as stormtroopers, they were Hitler's brown-shirted supporters who were employed to beat up opponents and guard meetings
34
What was the SS?
Also known as the Schutzstaffel, they were Hitler's elite personal bodyguards who became one of the main instruments of terror in Nazi Germany and were led by Heinrich Himmler
35
Who was Joseph Goebbels?
One of Hitler's most loyal followers who was put in charge of propaganda to spread the Nazi message
36
What factors made the Nazis popular?
- The Depression - Discontent with the Weimar Government - Hitler was appealing - Fears about communism - Rallies, youth organisations and propaganda
37
Which groups of people voted for the Nazis?
- Farmers - Women - Middle classes - Wealthy classes - Youth
38
Why did the Nazis appeal to farmers?
- The Depression hit farmers hard and Weimar governement offered little support - Nazis promised them higher prices for crops, better quality of life and higer status - Communists were unappealing to farmers
39
Why did the Nazis appeal to women?
- Nazis targeted women voters by saying family life, discipline and morals were important - Many women agreed that Weimar culture had a poor influence on the young
40
Why did the Nazis appeal to middle classes?
- They felt their jobs would break down during the Depression - Worries about communism destroying their way of life
41
Why did the Nazis appeal to wealthy classes?
- Hitler promised to let owners run factories how they wanted - Communists wanted to take over businesses, but Nazis opposed this
42
Why did the Nazis appeal to the youth?
- Hitler's promise to make Germany great again appealed to younger people - Younger people wanted to be a part of Germany's seemingly bright future
43
Who was Ernst Rohm?
Close friend of Hitler, co-founder and leader of the SA
44
What was the Gestapo?
Secret Nazi police who: - Spied on people - Tapped telephone calls - Opened mail - Could arrest and imprison - Reported people against Nazis
45
When was the Reichstag Fire, what was it and what was its significance?
**27th February 1933** An event where the Reichstag burnt down. Hitler used this as an opportunity to blame a communist plot for it.
46
When was the Enabling Act passed and what was it?
**23rd March 1933** An act which allowed Hitler to make laws without permission of the Reichstag for 4 years
47
When did Hitler ban other political parties and why?
**14th July 1933** - Allowed Germany to become a one-party state. The Nazis now have no competition
48
When was the Night of the Long Knives and what was it?
**30th June 1934** - Hitler and an assassination squad from the SS arrested Ernst Rohm and other SA leaders, who were later shot dead. - Over the next few days, around 400 political opponents were executed
49
What was the impact of the Night of the Long Knives?
- Many who Hitler regarded as threats were now dead - The SS was now responsible for Hitler's security, along with the Gestapo. The SA remained but was no longer a major force - Hitler showed that Nazis would use violent methods to gain power
50
Who was Heinrich Himmler?
Leader of the SS
51
How did Nazis create jobs for the unemployed?
- RAD (National Labour Service) - Public work schemes - Rearmament - 'Invisible' unemployment
52
What was the RAD?
**The National Labour Service** All men aged between 18 and 25 had to spent 6 months in the RAD. They did agricultural jobs and were given free meals but with a small wage.
53
What were the Nazi's public work schemes?
People were able to get jobs in building autobahns (motorways), schools and hospitals
54
How did rearmament allow employment in Germany?
Men aged between 18 and 25 had to work in the army for at least 2 years. Hitler also ordered new military vehicles and utilities, allowing for more job opportunities.
55
What was 'invisible' unemployment?
People like unemployed women, Jews who lost their jobs to non-Jews were not counted as unemployed. Part-time workers were counted as full-time workers. This allowed the unemployment figures to be boosted.
56
What was the DAF?
**German Labour Front** - Replaced trade unions - Strikes banned, workers needed permission to leave their jobs - Promised to protect workers' rights - Ran 2 schemes, SDA and KDF
57
What was the SDA?
**Beauty of Labour** Tried to improve working conditions by installing better lighting, safety equipment, new washrooms, low-cost canteens and sports facilities.
58
What was the KDF?
**Strength through Joy** Organised leisure activities to encourage hard work. Had reward schemes including cheap holidays, theatre trips and tickets to football matches if workers met their targets.
59
Who was Hjalmar Schacht?
Minister of Economics in Nazi Germany before being sacked for Herman Goering
60
What did Hjalmar Schacht do?
- Realised imports of raw materials were needed to build more weapons - Signed deals with other countries to supply raw materials in return for German goods - This led to increased weapon production and reduction in unemployment in the short term - He was sacked however, as changes were too slow for Hitler
61
Who was Herman Goering?
Minister of Economics in Nazi Germany following Schacht's sacking
62
What did Herman Goering do?
- Introduced the Four Year Plan - Set high targets for production which were met by steel and explosive industries, but not by other key industries like oil production - He also tried to make Germany self-sufficient
63
What was the Four Year Plan?
An attempt by Nazis to increase agricultural and industrial production, regulate imports and exports and achieve self-sufficiency in production of raw materials in 4 years.
64
What was the impact of WW2 on Nazi Germany?
- Food shortages - Labour shortages - Bombings - People fleeing Germany as refugees
65
What were schools like in Nazi Germany?
- Subjects were adapted to Nazi policies and aims - Jewish teachers were fired and Jewish students were removed - Nazi beliefs were considered factual
66
What was the Hitler Youth Organisation?
- An organisation created by Hitler to indoctrinate the youth with Nazi beliefs - Clubs were set up to talk about Nazi beliefs and teachings - Boys were taught military skills - Girls were taught how to be good wives/mothers
67
What is indoctrination?
Brainwashing someone into your way of thinking
68
What were the lives of women like in Weimar Germany?
- Declining birth rates - Younger women weren't getting married as much or having kids - Women went to university, and focused on work more than children - Women were not seen as equal to men, so were often sacked
69
What were the lives of women like in Nazi Germany?
- Encouraged to have children by being rewarded for having kids - Women were put in the German Women's League, which trained women to cook, care for kids and eat healthily - Women were taught to stick to the three Ks
70
What were the 3 'K's?
- Kinder (children) - Kirche (church) - Küche (cooking)
71
Why did Christians support the Nazis?
- Nazis believed in the importance of marriage, family and morals, just like Christians - Hitler swore to destroy commmunism, which was anti-religious - Hitler promised to respect the Church
72
What was the Aryan race?
The race which Nazis thought to be ideal. They had blonde hair, blue eyes, strong muscles and were tall.
73
What is totalitarianism?
Total control of every aspect in society
74
Who were on Hitler's 'Hate List'?
- Jews - Gypsies - Slavs - Black people - Indian people
75
What were Einsatzgruppen?
**Execution squads** which went out into the countryside and shot or gassed Jews
76
What were the Nurenburg Laws?
Laws which formalised anti-Semitism into the Nazi state by: - Stripping Jews of German citizenship - Outlawing relations between Jews and Germans - Taking all civil and political rights from Jews
77
When was Kristallnacht and what was it?
**9th - 10th November 1938** Also known as *The Night of Broken Glass* or *Crystal Night*, it was an event where the SA and ordinary Germans attacked Jewish homes, shops and synagogues.
78
What resistance was there to the Nazis in Germany?
- The Swing Youth declared their dislike of Nazi ideas and had Jewish friends - The White Rose Group handed out anti-Nazi leaflets - The Edelweiss Pirates and Navajos beat up Nazi officials and helped army deserters - The Catholic church spoke about against the killing of physically and mentally disabled people - Attempts to kill Hitler
79
What attempts were there to kill Hitler?
- **The Kreisau Circle**, a group of army officials, discussed killing Hitler, but never did it - **The Beck-Goerdeler group** contacted the British about removing Hitler, but no agreement was reached. The group did try to kill Hitler however and was behind the July Bomb Plot 1944.
80
What was the July Bomb Plot 1944?
Army officer Colonel Claus von Staufennberg was part of a group that detonated a bomb where Hitler was meeting other Nazi leaders, which killed four men and injured Hitler

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