Hitler's Germany (1929-41) Flashcards
(49 cards)
1
Q
What major global event triggered a crisis in Weimar Germany in 1929?
A
- Wall Street Crash
- led to the Great Depression
- Germany relied on American loans (Dawes Plan) so was greatly devastated.
2
Q
What problems did Weimar politicians face from 1929 that helped Hitler gain power?
A
- mass unemployment: rose from 1.3 million in 1929 to over 6 million by 1932.
- collapse of businesses and banks, undermining confidence in the democratic Weimar gov.
- political instability: Chancellors Brüning, von Papen, and von Schleicher ruled by presidential decree under Article 48, due to the Reichstag’s dysfunction.
the Weimar Republic appeared weak and ineffective, leading many to turn to extremist parties like the Nazis, who promised strong leadership and national revival.
3
Q
How did Nazi propaganda effectively target various groups in society?
A
- under Joseph Goebbels
- Workers: “Work and Bread” slogans
- Middle class: Promised protection from communism
- Farmers: Assured protection from debt
- Nationalists: Emphasized military strength and reversing Versailles
Methods included radio, cinema ads, posters, speeches, and mass rallies
4
Q
Why was Hitler personally such an effective figure for the Nazi rise?
A
- charismatic speaker
- portrayed himself as Germany’s saviour
- Mein kamf : promoted ideas of Lebesraum, Aryan supremacy & anti-communism
- emotionally charged language
5
Q
role of SA in expanding Nazi influence
A
- led by Ernst Rohm
- (brownshirts)
- over 400,000 members by 1932
- protected Nazi rallies
- intimidated political opponents
- fought communists in streets
6
Q
Nazi Party’s electoral successes from 1928 to 1932
A
- 1928: 2.6% of vote (12 seats)
- July 1932: 37.3% (230 seats, largest party)
7
Q
who appointed Hitler as chancellor & when?
A
- 1933
- President Hindenburg
- disliked Hitler but persuaded by Von Papen (who made a deal w Hitler to become Vice Chancellor)
- believing they could restrain & control him
8
Q
Did the Nazi Party win a majority before Hitler became Chancellor?
A
- No
- In November 1932, Nazis lost seats (from 230 to 196). Though still the largest party, they lacked a majority.
- Hitler’s appointment was not democratic, but the result of political maneuvering and backroom deals.
9
Q
What happened during the Reichstag Fire, and how did Hitler respond?
A
- 1933 Reichstag building set on fire
- Dutch communist arrested
- Hitler used this to claim a communist conspiracy
- convincing Hindenburg to pass the Reichstag Fire Decree
10
Q
what was the Reichstag Fire Decree
A
- as a result of Reichstag Fire
- suspending freedoms of speech, press, and assembly.
- 4,000 communists were arrested.
11
Q
when & what was the Enabling Act
A
- March 1933
- gave Hitler the power to make decisions without Reichstag consent
- It passed with 444 votes to 94 after he intimidated the Reichstag and banned communist deputies
12
Q
What was Gleichschaltung (coordination)
A
- aligned all institutions with Nazi ideology
- all parties banned (Law Against the Formation of New Parties, July 1933)
- states lost independence
- trade unions replaced by German Labour Front
- civil service, judiciary, education system, and press purged of opponents
13
Q
when & what was the Night of the Long Knives
A
- June 1934
- Hitler ordered the SS to kill over 200 SA leaders, including Ernst Röhm, who had wanted the SA to replace the army.
- eliminated internal rivals
- reassured army & conservatives
- gained loyalty of the Reichswehr
14
Q
How did Hitler become Führer in 1934?
A
- death of President Hindenburg (2 August 1934)
- Hitler merged the roles of President and Chancellor, declaring himself Führer
- national plebiscite (vote) gave him 90% approval
- the army swore a personal oath of loyalty to him, cementing his absolute power
15
Q
What were Hitler’s main aims in government
A
- establish a totalitarian Nazi dictatorship
- dismantle Weimar Republic & democratic institutions
- implement Nazi ideology: racial purity, anti-communism, & Lebensraum
- restore national pride and reverse the Treaty of Versailles
16
Q
How did Hitler consolidate power between 1933–34?
A
Reichstag Fire (Feb 1933): used to justify arrest of 4,000 Communists.
Reichstag Fire Decree: suspended civil liberties.
Enabling Act (March 1933): gave Hitler power to legislate without the Reichstag.
Night of the Long Knives (June 1934): eliminated SA leadership and rivals.
Death of Hindenburg (Aug 1934): Hitler merged Chancellor and President to become Führer
17
Q
How did the Nazi Party control administration at local level?
A
- Germany divided into Gaue, each led by a Gauleiter loyal to Hitler.
- traditional administrative structures undermined by dual state—Nazi officials operated parallel to civil servants.
- appointments based on loyalty to Hitler, not merit or experience.
18
Q
How did education and youth organisations support Nazi control?
A
- curriculum revised to emphasize racial theory, military training, and Nazi history.
- teachers joined the Nazi Teachers’ League; loyalty to regime required.
- Hitler Youth (HJ) and League of German Girls (BDM) indoctrinated youth from age 10.
- focus on discipline, fitness, obedience, and loyalty to Hitler.
19
Q
role of SS & Gestapo
A
- SS : internal security, racial policies, concentration camps
- Gestapo : monitored dissent & arrested without trial
- opponents sent to camps like Dachau
20
Q
How were political opponents dealt with?
A
- KPD and SPD banned; leaders arrested or fled.
- trade unions replaced with the German Labour Front (DAF).
- People’s Court (Volksgerichtshof) tried ‘enemies of the state’—death penalty common.
- use of concentration camps to detain without legal process.
21
Q
key features of Nazi racial ideology
A
- Aryan racial superiority
- Jews, Slavs, Roma seen as subhumans
- seen as threat to national unity & strength
- aim to create a racially pure people’s community
22
Q
What legal measures institutionalised anti-Semitism?
A
- Nuremberg Laws (1935):
- banned marriages between Jews and Germans.
- Jews stripped of citizenship.
- defined Jews racially (even part-Jewish grandparents).
- Jews excluded from public employment and education.
- boycotts of Jewish businesses (April 1933).
23
Q
What happened during Kristallnacht (& when)
A
- 1938
- state-orchestrated pogrom on 9–10 November 1938.
- over 1,000 synagogues destroyed; 7,500 businesses looted.
- 30,000 Jews arrested, many sent to concentration camps.
- marked escalation from discrimination to state violence.
24
Q
How were other minorities treated under Nazi rule?
A
- Roma (Gypsies): placed in camps, subjected to sterilisation.
- disabled people: targeted by T4 Euthanasia Programme (~70,000 killed).
- homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, asocials: arrested, imprisoned, or executed.
25
What were Hitler’s main foreign policy objectives?
- overturn Treaty of Versailles: end reparations, rearm Germany.
- unite all German-speaking peoples: e.g. Austria and Sudetenland.
- acquire Lebensraum (living space) in Eastern Europe, esp. USSR.
- destroy communism and defeat the Soviet Union.
26
How did Hitler defy the Treaty of Versailles in the 1930s?
- 1933: Withdrew from League of Nations.
- 1935: Reintroduced conscription and created the Luftwaffe.
- 1936: Remilitarised the Rhineland, met no opposition.
These steps violated the Treaty but were tolerated by Britain and France (appeasement)
27
What territorial gains did Hitler make before WWII?
- March 1938 Anschluss: Austria annexed into the Reich.
- Sept 1938 Munich Agreement: Sudetenland given to Germany.
- March 1939: Full occupation of Czechoslovakia
28
significance of the Nazi-Soviet Pact (1939)
- Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (Aug 1939): non-aggression pact between Germany and USSR.
- secret protocol divided Poland between them.
- enabled Hitler to invade Poland without Soviet opposition.
- led directly to WWII: Britain and France declared war on 3 September 1939.
29
What were Hitler’s initial economic priorities in 1933?
- reduce unemployment, which stood at 6 million (30%) in 1933.
- stimulate recovery from the Great Depression using state intervention.
- create an economically self-sufficient (autarkic) Germany.
- prepare for rearmament and future war (economic militarisation).
30
How did Hitler's economic priorities shift over time?
- 1933–36 (Schacht years): Recovery and unemployment reduction through public works and incentives.
- 1936–39 (Goering and Four-Year Plan): Focus shifted to rearmament and autarky.
- increasing tension between “guns vs butter” (military vs civilian goods).
- economic policy became politicised, serving Nazi ideology and foreign policy.
31
What immediate measures were introduced to reduce unemployment?
- Reich Labour Service (RAD): Compulsory work for men aged 18–25 (e.g. road building).
- Public works schemes: e.g. Autobahn construction – by 1938, over 3,800 km built.
- Gov subsidies to industry, especially automobiles (Volkswagen).
- Massive expansion of military spending created jobs in arms and construction.
- Unemployment fell from 6 million (1933) to under 1 million (1939) – though partly due to conscription and removing women/Jews from workforce.
32
How did the Nazis support agriculture?
- Reich Food Estate (1933): controlled food production and prices.
- Hereditary Farm Law (1933): protected small farms from being sold or divided.
- Offered price guarantees and subsidies to farmers.
- By 1939, Germany still imported 20% of food supply — autarky not achieved.
33
What industrial policies were introduced under Nazi rule?
- Industry stimulated through rearmament spending: military budget rose from 1.9bn RM (1933) to 32.3bn RM (1939).
- Synthetic substitutes promoted (e.g. rubber, fuel) to reduce import dependence.
- 4 Year Plan by Goering
34
Aims of the Four-Year-Plan
- 1936
- led by Goering
- prepare Germany for war within 4 years
- increase production of strategic materials (steel,oil,chemicals)
- reduce unemployment & imports
35
How effective was the Four-Year Plan (1936–39)
Only partially successful:
- Steel production up from 9m to 23m tonnes by 1939, but still short of military needs.
- Germany still dependent on imports for oil and other key resources.
- Failed to make economy truly autarkic.
- Exposed tensions: Goering (military focus) vs Schacht (economic realism).
- Contributed to growing budget deficits: national debt rose from 10bn RM (1933) to 40bn RM (1939).
36
economic impact of rearmament?
- Major driver of economic growth: created jobs and revived industries.
- Military spending dominated budget: 74% of investment by 1939.
- Arms production absorbed much of industrial capacity, neglecting consumer goods.
- Resulted in labour shortages and rising prices, but wages were tightly controlled.
- Living standards stayed same
37
how effective were Hitler’s economic policies by 1939?
✅ Successes:
- Unemployment drastically reduced (though artificially).
- Economy reoriented for war; rearmament successful.
- Industry revived after Great Depression.
❌ Limitations:
- Autarky failed – still reliant on imports.
- Economic imbalances and budget deficits.
- Living standards flat or declining for many.
- Short-term success, but unsustainable in the long term.
38
What were the Nazi ideals for women and their role in society?
- Promote traditional gender roles: women as mothers and homemakers.
- Nazi slogan: “Kinder, Küche, Kirche” (Children, Kitchen, Church).
- Saw women as vital to increasing the Aryan birth rate.
- Opposed to women in politics or professional careers.
39
What policies did the Nazis introduce to control women's lives?
- Law for the Encouragement of Marriage (1933): loans of 1,000 RM to newlyweds; ¼ of loan forgiven per child.
- Mother’s Cross: bronze (4 children), silver (6), gold (8+); awarded on Hitler’s mother’s birthday.
- Birth control and abortions discouraged or banned.
- Women dismissed from civil service (1933); banned from judgeships and higher education restricted.
- By 1939, female university enrollment fell to 10% of total.
40
impact of Nazi policy on children and youth
- Education restructured to promote obedience, militarism, and Nazi ideology.
- History taught racial superiority and WWI betrayal myths.
- Biology focused on eugenics and race.
- Hitler Youth (HJ) mandatory from 1936 for boys (military training).
- League of German Girls (BDM) trained girls for motherhood.
41
What was the Nazi attitude toward religion?
- saw Christianity as incompatible with Nazism but tolerated it short-term.
- wanted to control, weaken, and eventually replace religion with Nazi ideology.
- initially made compromises with churches to avoid conflict.
42
How did the Nazis deal with the Catholic Church?
- Concordat (1933): agreement with the Vatican — Church would stay out of politics, and Nazis would not interfere in Church matters.
- Nazis broke the agreement:
- Catholic schools closed, youth organisations banned.
- Priests harassed; some arrested (e.g., Bishop von Galen protested euthanasia programme).
- Catholic press censored.
43
What were Nazi policies towards Protestant churches?
- created the Reich Church (1933), led by Ludwig Müller, to align with Nazi ideals.
- promoted the German Christian Movement – rejected Old Testament, wore Nazi uniforms.
- opposition from the Confessing Church led by Martin Niemöller and Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
- Niemöller arrested; Bonhoeffer executed in 1945.
44
Did Nazi policies succeed in controlling religion?
- Partial success: churches weakened, but religious belief remained widespread.
- Open persecution limited to avoid widespread backlash.
- Many Germans remained privately loyal to their faith, especially in rural areas.
45
What was the 'Strength Through Joy' (KdF) programme?
- Aimed to improve workers’ quality of life and prevent dissent.
- Organised cheap holidays, concerts, sports, and cultural trips.
- Volkswagen scheme promised a car for every German worker (few received it).
- KdF cruise ships and trips were popular among loyal Germans.
46
Were consumer goods and living standards improved under Nazism?
❌ Food prices rose while wages were controlled.
❌ Working hours increased from 43 to 47 hours/week (1933–39).
❌ Consumer goods like butter and meat were limited; rationing plans began pre-war.
✅ Leisure programmes were extensive (KdF), but material improvements were minimal.
47
What groups supported the Nazi regime and why?
- Middle classes and industrialists: feared communism, supported order.
- Farmers and rural voters: promised debt relief and stability.
- Youth: heavily indoctrinated via education and Hitler Youth.
- Many Germans believed Nazis restored national pride and prosperity.
48
What evidence suggests broad public support for Hitler?
- Plebiscites showed >90% support (e.g. 1934: Hitler becoming Führer – 90% yes).
- Massive attendance at rallies, celebrations, and parades.
- Personal loyalty to Hitler remained strong, even when regime grew oppressive.
49
What forms of opposition existed under the Nazi regime?
- Youth resistance: Edelweiss Pirates, Swing Youth rejected conformity.
- Religious leaders: Niemöller, von Galen spoke out against euthanasia and repression.
- Military and conservative opposition: e.g. 1944 July Bomb Plot by Stauffenberg.
- Most opposition was limited, fragmented, and easily crushed by Gestapo.
