Nazi Germany Flashcards
(110 cards)
1
Q
What did Röhm want from Hitler?
A
To continue Nazi revolution by reducing the power of big business and carrying out anti-capitalist parts of the Nazi programme - such as taking over major industries. Also, he wanted the SA to take over the army.
2
Q
Who gained from hyperinflation?
A
Borrowers, such as businessmen, landowners and those with mortgages, found they were able to pay back their loans easily with worthless money.
People on wages were relatively safe, because they renegotiated their wages every day. However, even their wages eventually failed to keep up with prices.
Farmers coped well, since their products remained in demand and they received more money for them as prices spiralled.
3
Q
What was the Gestapo?
A
Originally the Prussian secret police run by Goering. Became the state secret police under the command of Himmler. Anyone who so much as whispered any opposition to Hitler, the gestapo could be arrested. They could strike anywhere at any time.
4
Q
What was the Locarno Treaties?
A
In October 1925 Germany, France and Belgium agreed to respect their post-Versailles borders, whilst Germany agreed with Poland and Czechoslovakia to settle any border disputes peacefully. Germany had previously complained bitterly about their loss of territory.
5
Q
How did Nazis influence literature?
A
The Nazis infamously organised mass book burnings in 1933, which saw mostly Jewish authors’ works ceremonially destroyed.
6
Q
How did Hitler reorganise the party?
A
The decision to pursue power through democratic methods meant the party needed a national structure to attract members, develop polices and campaign. Hitler put this in place during 1925 and 1926.
7
Q
What were the effects of the Nazi propaganda on the growth of the support for Nazis?
A
- The Führer cult. Hitler was always portrayed as Germany’s saviour – the man who would rescue the country from the grip of depression.
- Volksgemeinschaft (people’s community). This was the idea that the Nazis would create one German community that would make religion or social class less relevant to people.
- Scapegoating the Jews (and others) for Germany’s ills. Jews were often portrayed as sub-human, or as a threat to both the racial purity and economic future of the country.
8
Q
Describe the term Blame from the TOV.
A
Germany was to blame for causing the war which the Germans hated, to them the war was self-defense.
9
Q
How was the Weimar Republic created following Ebert becoming president?
A
He and his party (which had won a majority of seats in election) started to draw up a new constitution for Germany. They met in the town of Weimar as Berlin was deemed too unsafe after the Spartacist uprising earlier in the month.
Although a considerable number of deputies (German MPs) voted against it, the new constitution was eventually approved and signed in August 1919. This government eventually became known as the ‘Weimar Republic’.
10
Q
What were Nazi policies towards the appearance of women?
A
Women were expected to emulate traditional German peasant fashions - plain peasant costumes, hair in plaits or buns and flat shoes. They were not expected to wear make-up or trousers, dye their hair or smoke in public. They were discouraged from staying slim, because it was thought that thin women had trouble giving birth.
11
Q
What were Nazi policies on marriage and family?
A
Hitler wanted a high birth rate so that the Aryan population would grow. He tried to achieve this by:
> introducing the Law for the Encouragement of Marriage which gave newlywed couples a loan of 1,000 marks, and allowed them to keep 250 marks for each child they had
> giving an award called the Mother’s Cross to women who had large numbers of children
> allowing women to volunteer to have a baby for an Aryan member of the SS
12
Q
What was invisible employment?
A
Although Germany claimed to have full employment by 1939, many groups of people were not included in the statistics, including:
> The 1.4 million men in the army at this time. There were also a number of men working on public works schemes.
> Jews who were sacked and their jobs given to non-Jews.
> Women who were encouraged to give up their jobs to men.
13
Q
Why was the Enabling act important?
A
It allowed them to deal with the opposition without breaking laws or getting condemnation from the President. They dealt with the opposition by:
- Workers were no longer allowed to join trade unions.
- Opposition politicians were arrested and imprisoned.
- Enemies of the Nazis could be executed.
- SA could search and ransack the homes of suspected opponents.
- Many opponents were driven into exile.
- Nazis intimidated votes by watching over them whilst they voted.
14
Q
Describe the Nazi’s control of the legal system (5)
A
They took control of the existing legal system.
> Judges had to swear an oath of loyalty to Hitler and were expected to act always in the interests of the Nazi state.
> All lawyers had to join the Nazi Lawyers’ Association, which meant they could be controlled.
> The role of defence lawyers in criminal trials was weakened.
> Standard punishment for crimes were abolished and so local prosecutors could decide what penalties to impose on those found guilty.
15
Q
What was the most influential art movement to architecture?
A
The Bauhaus School, founded by Walter Gropius:
- Regarded as a pioneer in modern architecture and founder of the Bauhaus movement.
- Bauhaus theory was that all architecture and design was an opportunity to introduce beauty and quality to all, through well-designed and industrially produced items.
- He became famous for iconic door handles, and several public buildings across Weimar.
16
Q
Describe the term League of Nations from the TOV.
A
International group formed after WWI as a way to solve disputes between countries erupted into war. Germany and Russia weren’t allowed tobe members. Britain and France were the major powers.
17
Q
How did the Nazis influence architecture?
A
Hitler was very interested in architecture and believed it could be used to project the power of the Nazi regime. The most important architect of the period was Albert Speer, who redesigned Berlin, as well as designing the stadium in Nuremberg where annual rallies were held.
18
Q
What was the SA?
A
Nazi party’s private army. To protect party meetings march in Nazi rallies and intimidate political opponents. Intimidated voters into voting for the Nazi Party.
19
Q
How did the Spartacists pose a threat and how was it prevented?
A
During 5 – 12 January 1919, 50,000 members of the post-World War One Communist Party, known as the Spartacists, rebelled in Berlin, led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht.
The government was saved when, through the army, it armed bands of ex-soldiers, known as the Freikorps, who defeated the Spartacist rebels.
In the aftermath, communist workers’ councils seized power all over Germany, and a Communist People’s Government took power in Bavaria.
Liebknecht and Luxemburg were killed by the Freikorps after being arrested on the 15th. Luxemburg’s body was dumped in a canal.
By May 1919 the Freikorps had crushed all of these uprisings.
20
Q
How did the Nazis influence film?
A
Films were popular forms of entertainment but Goebbels saw them as a form of escapism for Germans. Directors such as Leni Riefenstahl created patriotic films such as Triumph of the Will (1935).
21
Q
How did the Nazis influence theatre?
A
Works by certain playwrights were banned. Nazi-produced political plays and musicals were not very popular so the regime allowed classic plays by the likes of Shakespeare to be performed.
22
Q
What was the reasons for the growth in support for the Nazis?
A
- Wealthy businessmen: were frightened communists would take their wealth away and did not want to see any more increase in support for them. To combat this, they began to give money to Hitler and the Nazis, hoping they would gain more seats – not the communists.
- The middle-class: were generally quite traditional and were not convinced by the Weimar democracy. Hitler promised them a strong government and won their votes.
- Nationalists: they blamed the legacy of the Treaty of Versailles and reparations for causing the depression and so lent their support to the Nazis who had promised to make Germany strong again.
- Rural areas: The Nazis appealed to people in the countryside - especially middle class shopkeepers and craftsmen, farmers and agricultural labourers.
23
Q
What was the Concordat signed for?
A
In 1933 Hitler agreed a Concordat with the Pope, which said that he would not interfere in the running of the Catholic Church if it stayed out of political matters. Hitler didn’t keep his side of the bargain, however, as the Nazis attempted to infiltrate the Church and spread their propaganda.
24
Q
What was the Young Plan?
A
Date:
- Proposed August 1929, agreed January 1930
Amount of reparations to be paid:
- Reduced the total amount by 20 per cent. Germany was to pay 2 billion Marks per year, two thirds of which could be postponed each year if necessary
Amount of time over which they would be paid:
- 59 years, with payments to end in 1988
Loans made available to Germany:
- US banks would continue to loan Germany money, coordinated by J P Morgan, one of the world’s leading bankers
25
What were the Nazis’ racial beliefs?
The Nazis’ racial philosophy taught that Aryans were the master race and that some races were ‘untermensch’ (sub-human). Many Nazi scientists at this time believed in eugenics, the idea that people with disabilities or social problems were degenerates whose genes needed to be eliminated from the human bloodline. The Nazis pursued eugenics policies vigorously.
26
How did the Ministry of Enlightenment and Propaganda aim to brainwash people into idolising Hitler? (4)
> Censorship of the press. All newspapers were controlled by the government and could only print stories favourable to the Nazi regime.
> Control of radio broadcasts. People's radios were sold very cheaply so that most Germans could afford one. All radio output was controlled by Goebbels’ ministry through the Reich Broadcasting Corporation.
> Mass rallies. These public displays of support for Nazism involved music, speeches and demonstrations of German strength. The biggest one was held each year in August at Nuremberg.
> Use of sports events. Berlin hosted the Olympics of 1936, which the Nazis used as an opportunity to showcase the success of the regime and to demonstrate the superiority of the Aryan race. The victories of the African-American athlete Jesse Owens for the USA infuriated the Nazi leadership.
27
How did the Nazis receive opposition from the Edelweiss Pirates?
The main youth opposition group was the Edelweiss Pirates, based in the Rhineland. They reacted to the discipline of the Hitler Youth by daubing anti-Nazi slogans and singing pre-1933 folk songs. In 1942 over 700 of them were arrested and in 1944, the Pirates in Cologne killed the Gestapo chief, so the Nazis publicly hanged 12 of them.
28
What was the Enabling act?
The Enabling Act allowed the Reich government to issue laws without the consent of Germany’s parliament, laying the foundation for the complete Nazification of German society. The Reichstag no longer had a say on policies. The Weimar Republic was over.
29
Why was the League of German Maidens created?
> Its aim was to prepare German girls for future motherhood
> Girls wore a uniform of blue skirt, white blouse and and heavy marching shoes
> Girls undertook physical exercise, but activities mainly centred on developing domestic skills such as sewing and cooking
30
What was the impact of the increase in unemployment
- The rise in unemployment significantly raised government expenditure on unemployment insurance and other benefits.
- Germans began to lose faith in democracy and looked to extreme parties on the both the Left (the communists) and the Right (the Nazis) for quick and simple solutions.
31
What changed in leisure for women?
- There was a huge increase in the number of newspapers and magazines following the abolition of censorship, and many of these new publications were aimed specifically at women.
- In urban areas young middle class women began to go out to dance alone, with the American dance known as the Charleston becoming particularly popular in Berlin.
- Women were estimated to have made up around 75 per cent of cinema audiences during the 1920s. Films were cheap to watch, but only 2 per cent of small towns had a cinema so it was mainly urban women who benefitted from this
- Women began to take part in a greater range of sports, in particular athletics. In 1928 Hilde Krahwinkel won an Olympic gold medal in the 800m and in 1931 Cilly Aussem became the first German woman to win Wimbledon
32
Who lost from hyperinflation?
People on fixed incomes, like students, pensioners or the sick, found their incomes did not keep up with prices.
People with savings and those who had lent money, for example to the government, were the most badly hit as their money became worthless.
33
What was the economic recovery?
In 1923, the Weimar Republic was on the verge of collapse socially and economically. But surprisingly, this crisis was followed by a period of relative stability and success. The period 1924-1929 was a time when the Weimar economy recovered and cultural life in Germany flourished.
34
How did the Nazis influence German Art?
Hitler saw the Weimar art as ‘degenerate’ and over 6500 works of art were removed from display across Germany. Hitler encouraged ‘Aryan art’ instead, which showed the physical and military power of Germany and the Aryan race.
35
What was the crisis of hyperinflation?
Germany was already suffering from high levels of inflation due to the effects of the war and the increasing government debt.
‘Passive resistance’ meant that whilst the workers were on strike fewer industrial goods were being produced, which weakened the economy still further.
In order to pay the striking workers the government simply printed more money. This flood of money led to hyperinflation as the more money was printed, the more prices rose.
Prices ran out of control, for example a loaf of bread, which cost 250 marks in January 1923, had risen to 200,000 million marks in November 1923.
By autumn 1923 it cost more to print a note than the note was worth.
During the crisis, workers were often paid twice per day because prices rose so fast their wages were virtually worthless by lunchtime.
36
What was the SD?
The SD was the intelligence gathering body of Nazi Germany. The SD was separate from the Gestapo but is probably not as well-known as its rival for power. The SD stood for Sicherheltsdienst or Security Service.
37
What was the two threats did the Weimar Republic face?
Left-wing extremists - Spartacists
| Right-wing extremists - Freikorps
38
What was the Dawes Plan?
Date:
- Proposed April 1924, agreed September 1924
Amount of reparations to be paid:
- Stayed the same overall (50 billion Marks) but Germany only had to pay 1 billion Marks per year for the first 5 years and 2.5 billion per year after that
Amount of time over which they would be paid:
- Indefinite
Loans made available to Germany:
- Germany was loaned 800 million Marks from the USA
39
How did Nazis influence music?
In classical music, works by Jewish composers like Mendelssohn and Mahler were banned and the works of the German composer Wagner were promoted, gaining huge popularity.
40
What was the SS?
They were a private bodyguard for Hitler and other Nazi leaders - 500 men. Heinrich Himmler built it into an elite force of 50,000 aryans, physical standards were strict. They were ruthless very loyal. After the night of the Long Knives, Hitler made it into a separate organisation. They became the main means of terrorising or intimidating Germans into obedience. Had almost unlimited power to arrest people without trial, search houses or confiscate property. They also ran the concentration camps.
41
How did the Nazis receive by the Swing Youth and Jazz Youth?
During the war, ‘Swing Youth’ and ‘Jazz Youth’ groups were formed. These were young people who rejected Nazi values, drank alcohol and danced to jazz. The Nazis rejected jazz music as degenerate and called it Negro music, using their racial ideas against this cultural development. These youths were closely monitored by the Gestapo, who regularly raided illegal jazz clubs.
42
What were the weaknesses of the new constitution?
Proportional representation - Each party got the same percentage of seats in parliament as the percentage of votes it received in an election. This meant there were lots of small parties in Parliament making it difficult to pass laws and led to weak and often short-lived governments.
Article 48 - This gave the president the power to act without parliament’s approval in an emergency. However, it did not clearly define what an 'emergency' was, so the power was overused, which weakened Germans’ confidence in democracy.
43
Describe the term Empires disbanded from the TOV.
Germany lost 13% of its land:
- Alsace - Lorraine was returned to France
- West Prussia and Posen (polish corridor) were lost to Poland.
44
What did the army want from Hitler?
They wanted Hitler to expand the army and to buy new weapons. The army was opposed to being taken over by the SA.
45
Describe Nazi policies towards churches and religion
There were approximately 45 million Protestants and 22 million Catholic Christians in Germany in 1933. Hitler saw Christianity as a threat and a potential source of opposition to Nazism because it emphasised peace. The Nazis tried to control the Churches with policies and bargaining.
46
How did the Freikorps pose a threat and how was it prevented?
In crushing the communists the Freikorps had saved the government, but the terms of the Treaty of Versailles meant Germany’s army had to be significantly reduced and the Freikorps had to be disbanded.
During 13 - 17 March 1920, as a reaction to this, the right-wing nationalist, Dr Wolfgang Kapp led a Freikorps takeover in Berlin.
The regular army refused to attack the Freikorps; Kapp was only defeated when the workers of Berlin went on strike and refused to cooperate with him.
47
What was the Bamberg conference for?
The conference was in response to tension between the northern and southern sections of the party. Northern section wanted to appeal to socialists whilst the southern section wanted to appeal to racists and nationalists.
48
What were the most influential art movements?
- Dada. The Dada movement started in Zurich during World War One. It was a protest against the traditional conventions of art and western culture, in which the war had begun. Its output included photography, sculpture, poetry, painting and collage. Artists included Marcel Duchamp and Hans Arp.
- New Objectivity. The New Objectivity movement started in Germany in the aftermath of World War One. It challenged its predecessor, Expressionism, which was a more idealistic and romantic movement. Artists returned to a more realistic way of painting, reflecting the harsh reality of war. Artists included Otto Dix and George Grosz.
49
Describe the events leading to Hitler becoming chancellor?
1932:
April – Presidential election. Hitler came second to Hindenburg, who won 53 per cent of the vote to Hitler’s 36.8 per cent.
May – Brüning resigned as Chancellor. Hindenburg appointed Franz Von Papen, a conservative, as his replacement.
July – Reichstag elections. The Nazis became the largest party with 230 seats. Hitler demanded to be made Chancellor but Papen remained.
November – Reichstag elections called by Von Papen to try to win a majority in parliament. Nazis lost 34 seats but remained the largest party with 196 seats.
December – Von Papen resigned. Hindenburg appointed Kurt Von Schleicher, an army general, as Chancellor. Von Schleicher tried to split the Nazis by asking a leading Nazi called Gregor Strasser to be his Vice Chancellor. Hitler forced Strasser to decline.
1933:
January – Von Papen and Hindenburg turned to Hitler, appointing him as Chancellor with Von Papen as Vice Chancellor. They believed they could control Hitler and get him to do what they wanted.
50
What were the effects of WWI on Germany?
Physical Effects:
- Farming disrupted as farmers went into army
- Couldn’t import food as British navy blockaded German ports
- Starvation , vulnerable to disease
Political effects:
- Reichstag was weak
- Working class and middle class had no say in how Germany was ran
- No effective opposition against the Kaiser
- Opposition leaders arrested
- Germany ran asa dictatorship, weakened the Reichstag further
Psychological effects:
- Germans became bitter and angry
- Germans were once united and obedient but now squabbled and conflicted
Anarchy:
- Germany was unstable
- Violent demonstrations against the Kaiser
51
What were the reasons for supporting the army?
- Army were well trained
- Only organisation that has power to remove Hitler
- Had support of big business and conservatives.
- Efficient army was needed for Hitler to retake the land from the Treaty of Versailles.
52
What stayed the same for women in politics?
- Not all women participated: women’s voting turnout was 5-10% lower than that of men.
- Politicians stereotyped women: propaganda appealed to women as wives and mothers rather than asking for a vote to improve their lives.
- Women didn’t become very influential: made up around 5% ov ghe representatives in parliament
53
Describe the extent of support for the Nazi regime
Nazis were incredibly popular when they came to power and many Germans welcomed the stability and economic growth an authoritarian regime brought – something missing with the Weimar democracy. The Nazi regime restored Germany’s international prestige through rearmament and the dismantling of the Treaty of Versailles. The sheer scale of propaganda - especially that directed towards German children - meant that many more Germans became active Nazi Party members and were convinced of Hitler’s greatness.
54
How were teachers controlled to influence the young with Nazi beliefs?
All teachers had to join the Nazi Teachers’ Association, which vetted them for political and racial suitability.
55
What were the changes in the standard of living in 1924-29?
- Hourly wages rose in real terms (ie above inflation) every year from 1924 to 1930, with a rise of 10 per cent in 1928 alone.
- Pensions and sickness benefits schemes were introduced.
- Compulsory unemployment insurance was introduced in 1927, which covered 17 million workers.
- Government subsidies were provided for the building of local parks, schools and sports facilities, and there was a massive programme of council house construction.
56
What were the terms of the Treaty of Versailles?
```
B - Blame for the war
L - League of Nations
A - Armies
M - Money
E - Empire disbanded
```
57
Summarise the events of the Munich Putsch.
Hitler thought he would take advantage of this and plotted with two nationalist politicians - Kahr and Lossow - to take over Munich in a revolution.
Hitler collected the SA and told them to be ready to rebel.
On 4 October 1923, Kahr and Lossow called off the rebellion. This was an impossible situation for Hitler, who had 3,000 troops ready to fight.
Hitler and 600 SA members burst into a meeting that Kahr and Lossow were holding at the local Beer Hall. Waving a gun at them, Hitler forced them to agree to rebel - and then let them go home. The SA took over the army headquarters and the offices of the local newspaper.
9 November 1923, Hitler and the SA went into Munich on what they thought would be a triumphal march to take power. However, Kahr had called in police and army reinforcements. There was a short scuffle in which the police killed 16 members of the SA.
Hitler fled, but was arrested two days later.
58
What were the reasons against supporting the army?
- It was small
- Unknown how loyal they would be
- Some generals disliked Hitler.
59
How did the SA help increase the growth of support for Nazis?
- Intimidating the Nazis’ political opponents – especially the communists – by turning up at their meetings and attacking them
- Providing opportunities for young, unemployed men to become involved in the party
- Protecting Hitler and other key Nazis when they organised meetings and made speeches
60
How did Germany renegotiate the payment for the reparations?
They agreed to renegotiate payments and this led to two new repayment plans in the next 5 years:
- The Dawes Plan
- The Young Plan
61
What were concentration camps?
At first, they were temporary prisons. Then opponents were taken and tortured, hard labour and ‘re-education’. These concentration camps became scenes of mass genocide but they were not death camps until later on
62
What was the long term sucesses of the Munich Putsch.
- He was sentenced in April and out of prison by December. During his time in the comfortable Landsberg Prison, he wrote 'Mein Kampf' – a propaganda book setting out Nazi beliefs. Millions of Germans read it, and Hitler's ideas became very well-known.
- The fact that the judge had been so lenient with the sentence and that Hitler had served so little time suggests that some people in authority had sympathy with Hitler and what he had tried to do.
- Hitler realised that he would never come to power by revolution and that he would have use democratic means, so he reorganised the party to enable it to take part in elections.
63
How did Stresemann end hyperinflation?
Calling off the ‘passive resistance’ of German workers in the Ruhr. This helped Germany’s economy because goods were back in production and the Government could stop printing money to pay striking workers.
Promising to begin reparations payments again. This persuaded France and Belgium to end the occupation of the Ruhr by 1925.
Introducing a new currency called the Rentenmark. This stabilised prices as only a limited number were printed meaning money rose in value. This helped to restore confidence in the German economy both internally and internationally.
Reducing the amount of money the government spent (700,000 government employees lost their jobs) so that its budget deficit reduced.
64
What was the results of the Bamberg Conference?
Hitler insisted that policies which could be painted as communist, such as taking land from rich noblemen, would not be pursued.
However, the conference did reaffirm the 25-Point Programme, with its socialist ideas, as the party’s policy platform.
In addition, Hitler established the Fuhrerprinzip, or ‘Leader Principle’, the idea that the party’s leader was in absolute control and all members must follow his directions. No dissent from this was expected or tolerated.
65
What was the League of Nations 1926?
When the League of Nations was set up as part of the Versailles agreement Germany was initially excluded. By signing the Locarno Treaties Germany showed that it was accepting the Versailles settlement and so a year later was accepted as a permanent member of the Council of League, making it one of the most powerful countries in the League.
66
What was the Reichstag fire?
Reichstag building was set on fire, Dutch communist - Van Der Lubbe - was found in the building and was arrested. Hitler used this as evidence that the communists were plotting against the government.
67
What was the Nazi policy of persecution?
> Sterilisation - In order to keep the Aryan race pure, many groups were prevented from reproducing. The mentally and physically disabled, including the deaf, were sterilised, as were people with hereditary diseases.
> Euthanasia - Between 1939 and 1941 over 100,000 physically and mentally disabled Germans were killed in secret, without the consent of their families. Victims were often gassed - a technique that was later used in the death camps of the Holocaust.
> Concentration camps - Homosexuals, prostitutes, Jehovah's Witnesses, gypsies, alcoholics, pacifists, beggars, hooligans and criminals were often rounded up and sent away to camps. During World War Two 85 per cent of Germany's gypsies died in these camps.
68
How did Hitler become President?
President Hindenburg died. Hitler declared himself President. He was now the Head of state and the Commander of the army as well as Chancellor. Every soldier swore an oath of personal loyalty to Hitler. The German army had a tradition of discipline and obedience so the soldiers took this oath seriously. To break it would be the most serious crime.
69
What was the Night of the Long Knives?
Night of the Long Knives was purge of Nazi leaders by Adolf Hitler on June 30, 1934. Fearing that the SA had become too powerful, Hitler ordered his elite SS guards to murder the SA’s leaders, including Ernst Röhm. Also killed that night were hundreds of other SA leaders. He claimed that Rohm was shot as he was plotting to seize power.
70
Describe how the German Workers’ party developed and how Hitler became leader?
1919 – Hitler joined the German Worker’s Party (DAP), a right-wing group led by Anton Drexler.
1920 – Hitler became the Party’s leading public speaker and propagandist.
1920 – The group changed its name to the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) – or Nazis for short.
1921 – Hitler was elected Party Chairman and leader of the Nazis.
71
How did the Nazis reduce unemployment?
> He began a huge programme of public works, which included building hospitals, schools, and public buildings such as the 1936 Olympic Stadium. The construction of the autobahns created work for 80,000 men.
> Rearmament was responsible for the bulk of economic growth between 1933 and 1938. Rearmament started almost as soon as Hitler came to power but was announced publicly in 1935. This created millions of jobs for German workers.
> The introduction of the National Labour Service (NLS) meant all young men spent six months in the NLS and were then conscripted into the army. They were no longer counted in the unemployment figures.
72
What were the strengths of the new constitution?
A genuine democracy - Elections for parliament and president took place every four years and all Germans over 20 could vote.
The power of the Reichstag - The Reichstag appointed the government and made all laws. This was very different from its powers before the war under the Kaiser.
A Bill of Rights - This guaranteed every German citizen freedom of speech and religion, and equality under the law.
73
Why was the Hitler Youth created?
> Its aim was to prepare German boys to be future soldiers
> Boys wore military-style uniforms
> Activities centred on physical exercise and rifle practice, as well as political indoctrination
74
What was the creation of the Reich church for?
A state Reich Church under the leadership of the Nazi Bishop Ludwig Müller was established to unify the different branches of Protestantism. This enabled the Nazis to use a group called the ‘German Christians’ within the Reich Church to promote Nazi ideas.
75
What were the key Nazis beliefs from the 25-point programme?
A strong Germany - the Treaty of Versailles should be abolished and all German-speaking people united in one country.
Führer - the idea that there should be a single leader with complete power rather than a democracy.
Social Darwinism - the idea that the Aryan race was superior and Jews were 'subhuman'.
Autarky - the idea that Germany should be economically self-sufficient.
That Germany was in danger - from communists and Jews, who had to be destroyed.
Lebensraum - the need for 'living space' for the German nation to expand.
76
How was the school curriculum altered to influence the young with Nazi beliefs?
> History - lessons included a course on the rise of the Nazi Party.
> Biology - lessons were used to teach Nazi racial theories of evolution in eugenics.
> Race study and ideology - this became a new subject, dealing with the Aryan ideas and anti-Semitism.
> Physical Education - German schoolchildren had five one-hour sports lessons every week.
> Chemistry and Mathematics - were downgraded in importance.
77
How did Nazis get opposition from the church?
> Protestant: Many Protestant pastors, led by Martin Niemöller, formed the Confessional Church in opposition to Hitler's Reich Church. Niemöller was held in a concentration camp during the period 1937-1945 and a total of 800 clergy were sent to camps.
> Catholic: Despite the Concordat, some Catholic priests opposed Hitler. In 1937, the Pope's message 'With Burning Concern' attacked Hitler as 'a mad prophet with repulsive arrogance' and was read in every Catholic Church.
78
How did support for extremists rise?
During the economic depression between 1930 and 1933, many people were affected and poverty hit Germany hard. Extreme political parties offering simple solutions to their problems appeared at both ends of the political spectrum. Between 1930 and 1933, support for the extreme right-wing Nazis and the extreme left-wing communists soared.
By 1932 parties committed to the destruction of the Weimar Republic held 319 seats out of a total of 608 in the Reichstag, with many workers turning to communism. The communists had their own version of the SA, the Communist Red Fighting League, which broke up opposition party meetings. They confronted the police in street battles, and clashed with the Nazis’ SA as well. However, ultimately, the party that did better out of all this unrest were the Nazis.
79
What was the short term failures of the Munich Putsch.
- The Nazi party was banned, and Hitler was prevented from speaking in public until 1927.
- Hitler was tried for high treason (betraying his country) and sentenced to five years in prison.
80
What were Nazi policies toward employment for women?
Measures were introduced which strongly discouraged women from working, including:
> the introduction of the Law for the Reduction of Unemployment, which gave women financial incentives to stay at home
> not conscripting women to help in the war effort until 1943
However, female labour was cheap and between 1933 and 1939 the number of women in employment actually rose by 2.4 million. As the German economy grew, women were needed in the workplace.
81
What was the Munich Putsch - 1923?
Hitler tried to launch a revolution in Munich due to the hyperinflation crisis. Poor planning and misjudgement led to the imprisonment of Hitler
82
What happened on 11th November 1918?
On 11 November 1918 World War One ended when an armistice was agreed with the Allies (Britain, France and the USA) and Germany surrendered.
83
How did he use the Reichstag fire to gain power?
Passed a decree with Hindenburg which suspended all articles of constitution which guaranteed personal liberty, freedom of speech, freedom of press and freedom of assembly. It gave police the power to search houses, confiscate property and detain people without trial.
84
How did the standard of living for workers change?
> The Labour Front. This was a Nazi organisation that replaced Trades Unions, which were banned. It set wages and nearly always followed the wishes of employers, rather than employees.
> Strength Through Joy. This scheme gave workers rewards for their work - evening classes, theatre trips, picnics, and even very cheap or free holidays.
> Beauty of Labour. The job of this organisation was to help Germans see that work was good, and that everyone who could work should. It also encouraged factory owners to improve conditions for workers.
85
What were the Nazi views on women?
They were expected to stay at home, look after the family and produce children in order to secure the future of the Aryan race – the traditional role of the woman that had existed before the 1920s. Hitler believed women’s lives should revolve round the three 'Ks':
> Kinder - children
> Kuche - kitchen
> Kirche - church
86
What were the four members of society that the Nazi party were appealing to?
Socialists - farmers given pension, improved pensions
Nationalists - German-speaking people be united in a country, abolishment of the TOV
Racists - Jews should not be German Citizens
Fascists - creating strong, central government
87
What were the reasons against supporting the SA?
- Beginning to become uncontrollable, interfering with running of country and law courts.
- Disapproved of some Nazi leaders
- If Hitler used the SA to control the army, then he would have to listen ti their other demands.
- Hitler didn’t agree with many of the SA’s anti-capitalist demands.
88
Why were many Germans against the new republic?
Many Germans hated the government for signing the armistice in November 1918 - they called them the November criminals. The defeat in the war came as a huge surprise to the German people, and many ordinary German soldiers, which led to a theory that the brave German army had been ‘stabbed in the back’ by the politicians.
In early 1919 the victorious Allies met to discuss how to punish Germany and on 28th June 1919 the new German government was forced to sign a peace settlement called the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty punished Germany militarily, territorially and financially. Many Germans felt their country had received a very harsh deal in the treaty and resented the government for agreeing to its conditions. However, German government had been given an ultimatum – sign within five days or risk invasion.
89
What were the reasons for supporting the SA?
- Röhm was old friend of Hitler
- SA fought for Hitler in the Munich Putsch and later against communists
- Grown to 2,500,000 - larger than army.
90
How far did the Nazi party grow?
End of 1920 - 2,000
| November 1923 - 20,000
91
Describe the abdication of the Kaiser
On 3 November at the main German naval base in Kiel frustrated German sailors mutinied instead of following orders to attack the British Royal Navy. The sailor’s mutiny sparked rebellions all over Germany and in a matter of days led to the collapse of the German government which forced the ruling monarch, Kaiser Wilhelm II, to abdicate on 9 November. Kaiser then fled to Holland in exile. Following his abdication Friedrich Ebert, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) became Chancellor and took power over Germany.
92
What led to the Munich Putsch?
By 1923, the Nazi party had 55,000 members and was stronger than ever before.
The Weimar Republic was in crisis due to hyperinflation.
In September 1923, the Weimar government had called off the general strike, and German nationalists were furious with the government.
Hitler thought he would be helped by important nationalist politicians in Bavaria.
Hitler had a huge army of SA members, but he knew he would lose control of them if he did not give them something to do.
Hitler hoped to copy Mussolini - the Italian fascist leader - who had come to power in Italy in 1922 by marching on Rome.
93
What was the Kellogg-Briand 1928?
Germany was one of 62 countries that signed up to this agreement, which committed its signatories to settling disputes between them peacefully.
94
Describe the term Money from the TOV.
Allies claimed compensation for the damage caused by Germany in the war. The Allies proposed a sum of £6.6 billion
95
What was the ‘Stab in the Back’ myth?
Army leaders like Ludendorff and many other Germans believed that the Germans never lost the war. Ludendorff said that the army would have fought on to preserve the German honour, if only weak politicians hadn’t demanded peace. This myth developed saying politicians ‘stabbed the army in the back’
96
What was the impact of Stresemann’s policies on German relationship?
Locarno treaties - 1925
League of Nations - 1926
Kellogg-Briand Pact - 1928
97
What were the reasons for limited support for the Nazi Party?
- Stresemann’s policies (Dawes and Young plan) made Germans feel more prosperous.
- Germany was politically stable, Germans voted for moderate parties and not extremists like the Nazis
- Hitler was jailed and then banned from speaking in public until 1927 after the Munich Putsch. This prevented the party from campaigning effectively.
- The Nazi Party was under constant pressure from the Weimar authorities following the Munich Putsch.
98
What was the 25-point programme?
A list of policies it would put in place if they came to power.
99
What stayed the same in leisure for women?
- Most women continued to enjoy reading as their main leisure activity, with romantic fiction being their preferred genre
- Both working and middle class women enjoyed attending tea dances, where they could meet young men
- Women enjoyed needlework in the home
- Gymnastics was a popular sport amongst women. In 1914 88,000 German women were members of gymnastics associations and by 1930 this number had risen to 200,946
100
What were the changes in work for women?
- Women experienced pressure to return to their ‘traditional’ role as wives and mothers.
- However, attitudes towards women and work changed according to how well the economy did.
- During times of economic crisis, such as the hyperinflation of 1923 and during the Great Depression, women returning home were seen as a solution to the problem of unemployment.
- However, during the recovery of the mid-1920s women were welcomed into the workforce. The number of women in work was 1.7 million higher in 1925 than it had been in 1907.
- Women were increasingly taking on white collar jobs, though these were mainly done by single women under 25.
- Overall, the percentage of women in work only rose by less than 1 per cent between 1907 and 1925.
101
What was the impact of the depression on Germany?
In Europe, Germany was worst affected because American banks called in all of their foreign loans at very short notice. These loans, agreed under the Dawes Plan in 1924, had been the basis for Germany’s economic recovery from the disaster of hyperinflation. The loans funded German industry and helped to pay reparations. Without these loans German industry collapsed and a depression began. The most obvious consequence of this collapse was a huge rise in unemployment. Over the winter of 1929-30 the number of unemployed rose from 1.4 million to over 2 million.
102
Describe the events for the persecution of Jews
> Boycott of Jewish business
> Nuremberg Laws - Stripping Jews of German citizenship; Outlawing marriage and sexual relations between Jews and Germans: Taking away from Jews all civil and political rights.
> Kristallnacht - The SS organised attacks on Jewish homes, businesses and synagogues in retaliation for the assassination of the German ambassador to France by a Jew.
103
What were the advantages of the Reichstag fire?
The emergency decree lasted 12 years. It provided them with the excuse they needed to tighten the screw on the opposition. It was questioned whether the Nazis started the Reichstag fire.
104
What was the threat from the SA?
Although Hitler depended on the SA during his rise to power, they were becoming very large and powerful. The leader Ernst Röhm was becoming a potential rival. s
105
Describe the term Armies from the TOV.
Germany’s military had to be restricted. Limited to 100,000 soldiers, 6 battleships and the air force had to be disbanded.
106
What was the crisis of the occupation of the Ruhr?
Germany failed to keep up with its reparation payment and the French wanted to make them pay. Therefore Beligian and French troops marched into Germany’s most industrial region, Ruhr and occupied it. This was allowed according to the TOV so the Germans responded with passive res
107
What other violent threats did the Weimar republic face?
Nationalist terrorists assassinated 356 government politicians, including Walter Rathenau (June 1922), the foreign minister, and Matthias Erzberger who had been finance minister. Judges in their trials, many of whom preferred the Kaiser's government, consistently gave these terrorists light sentences, or let them go free.
108
What happened to cinema in the 1920s?
An ‘expressionist’ style became common in films. They often had unrealistic sets and exaggerated acting techniques.
Economic instability meant less money for the arts. The shortage of funding gave rise to the Kammerspielfilm movement, with atmospheric films made on small sets with low budgets.
Expressionist film-makers favoured darker storylines and themes, including horror and crime.
The most prominent film directors of the time were Fritz Lang and F.W. Murnau.
The most famous films of the period were The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari (1920), Nosferatu (1922 – based on the Dracula story), Phantom (1922), The Last Laugh (1924) and Metropolis (1927).
109
What changed in politics for women?
- Women participated in democracy
- Politicians recognised women
- Women became politicians
110
How was Hitler and the Nazis in constant presence of the public?
> The infamous Swastika symbol appearing on every government uniform and public building
> Pictures of Hitler displayed everywhere
> Germans having to greet each other with a ‘Heil Hitler’ raised arm salute
