Nazi Germany Flashcards
(31 cards)
The aftermath of WW1 and The Treaty of Versailles
Collapse of empires; new nations formed
Heavy reparations on Germany; economic crisis
Military restrictions on Germany; Rhineland demilitarised
War Guilt clause blamed Germany entirely
Rise of extremism; groundwork for WW1
Formation of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) + Hitler’s early role
Found as Germans workers party (DAP) in 1919, 1920 became NSDAP
Hitler joined in 1919, rose to leadership fast with strong oratory skills
1920- adopted the 25-point program, promoted nationalism, anti semitism + anti communism
1921- Hitler became party leader, established SA
1923- Failed Beer Hall Putsch- Hitler arrested, wrote MeinKampf
Prison term solidified ideology, NSDAP reorganised after release
Munich Putsch (1923) and it’s consequences
NSDAP attempted to overthrow Weimar Gov, led by Hitler + Ludendorff
Failure- poorly planned, crushed by police, 16 Nazi’s killed
Hitlers arrest- Hitler imprisoned, used trail as propaganda platform
Me in Kampf- manifesto outlining Nazi ideology + future plans
Publicity + strategy shift- gained national attention, focus shift to gaining power legally
Nazi propaganda + the use of scapegoats (Jews, communists)
Propaganda machine- led by goebbels, controlled media, film, radio + rallies
Scapegoating- blamed Jews, communists + other minorities from Germanys problems
Anti-Semitic messaging- portrayed Jews as economic saboteurs + racial enemies
Communist Fear- framed as a threat to German stability + order
Cult of Personality- glorified Hitler as Germanys saviour + unifying leader
Economic instability + the impact of the Great Depression
Post WW1 debt- burdened by reparations, early 1920’s- hyperinflation
1929 crash- US stock market collapse, triggered global economic downturn
Mass unemployment- German unemployment skyrocketed, rise in poverty + discontent
Weimar weakness- economic crisis undermined faith in democratic gov
Nazi opportunity- economic despair, Nazis exploited to gain support+ spread propaganda
Political manoeuvring + Hitlers appointment as Chancellor in Jan 1933
Weak Weimar- frequent gov changes; political instability
Back room deals- conservatives (Hindenburg) sought to control Hitler by making him chancellor
Election success- Nazis gained popularity, largest party in Reichstag by 1932
Fear of communism- Elite feared communist uprising, Hitler seen as controllable alternative
Hitler Appointed (Jan 30, 1933)- Hindenburg reluctantly appoints Hitler, underestimated his ambitions
Reichstag Fire + Enabling Act (1933)
Reichstag Fire (Feb, 27)- Parliament building set ablaze, communists blamed
Emergency decree- Hitler convinced Hindenburg to suspend civil liberties, arrest political opponents
Enabling Act (March 23)- granted Hitler dictatorial powers, pass laws without Reichstag approval
Legal dictatorship- Weimar constitution effectively nullified, Nazi consolidation of power began
Suppression of opposition- Communist party banned, political dissent crushed
Banning of political parties + establishment of one party state
July 1933- Law against formation of new parties, NSDAP only allowed
Dissolution of Opposition- communist + Social Democrat parties banned; leaders imprisoned
Trade Unions Abolished- replaced by Nazi controlled German Labour Front (DAF)
Centralised power- eliminated political opposition entirely
Night of The Long Knives (1934) + the elimination of the SA
June 30- July 2- purge of SA leadership to appease army + solidify power ordered by Hitler
Target: Ernst Röhm- SA chief, potential rival, accused of plotting a coup
SS Executes Purge- SA leaders + other political enemies killed, 85-200 estimated murdered
Army Loyalty Secured- German army swears allegiance to Hitler, ensured military support
Power consolidation- SS gained prominence, SA sidelined, secured Hitlers absolute control
Death of Hindenburg + Hitler becoming Fuhrer
Hindenburg death (Aug,2,1943)- leaving a power vacuum, president died
Hitlers actions- Merged presidency + chancellorship, declared himself as Fuhrer
Oath of Loyalty- German army + civil servants swore allegiance to Hitler
Dictatorship solidified- Hitler has total control over Germany, unchallenged in power
End of Weimar Republic- Nazi regime firmly established as a totalitarian state
Structure of the Nazi State + key institutions (SS, Gestapo, ministry of propaganda)
Fuhrer principle- centralised authority in Hitler, supreme leader of state
SS- led by Himmler, responsible for enforcement of Nazi policies, concentration camps + political repression
Gestapo- secret police, part of SS, used to spy on + eliminate political enemies
Ministry of propaganda- Goebbles, controlled media, art, education + public opinion, promote Nazi ideology
Hitler Youth + League of German Girls- organisations indoctrinating future gens with Nazi ideas
Reich ministry of the interior- oversaw Nazi police state, centralised control + surveillance across Germany
Role of key figures: Himmler, Goebbles, Goring
Himmler- head of SS and Gestapo, oversaw concentration camps + implementation of holocaust
Goebbles- minister of Properganda, controlled media, spread Nazi ideology, orchestrated public propaganda campaigns
Goring- Head of AirForce, founder of Gestapo, key figure in 4 year plan to prepare Germany for war
Censorship, propaganda, and the cult of personality
Total media control- Goebbles controlled newspapers, radio, films + art
Censorship- opposition voices silenced, books banned + burned.
Nazi messaging- promoted Aryan supremacy, anti-semitism + loyalty to Hitler
Cult of Personality- Hitler portrayed as saviour, constant public glorification by posters, speeches, rallies
Propaganda techniques- repeated slogans, mass rallies + manipulation of media to shape public opinion
Control through terror: Concentration camps and the police state
Police state- SS + Gestapo monitored citizens, arrest dissenters + eliminate opposition
Concentration camps- imprison political opponents, Jews, communists + other targeted people
First camps(1933)- Dachau first camp for political prisoners, later expanded to vast camp network
Fear + intimidation- torture, arbitrary arrests + disappearance used to install fear + compliance
Legalised terror- Reichstag Fire Decree allowed indefinite detention without trail
Aims + methods of economic recovery: public works, rearmament + autarky
Public works- Autobahn construction, reduce unemployment + boost infrastructure
Rearmament- big artillery expansion, violation of TOV, created jobs + stimulated industry
Autarky- push for economic self sufficiency, reduce reliance on imports through domestic production
4 year plan(1936)- Goering, focus on military production, synthetic materials + resource control
Propaganda impact- economic success to promote Nazi competence + increase public support
Four-Year Plan (1936) and the role of Goring
Aimed to prepare Germany for war + achieve economic self sufficiency (autarky)
Role of Goring- appointed to oversee plan, focus of rearmament, military production + synthetic materials
Failure to achieve full autarky- remained dependent on foreign resources, esp oil
Military expansion- increase production of weapons, vehicles + military supplies
Economic control- centralised control of key industries, state directed production + resources
Impact of Nazi policies on employment + workers rights (Strength through joy)
Employment boost- public works + rearmament, reduced unemployment significantly
Strength through joy(KdF)- state. Run propaganda, offered leisure activities, vacations + affordable goods to workers, boost morale + control
State controlled labour- workers rights limited, independent trade unions abolished, replaced by DAF
Wages + condition- employment rose, wages controlled, working conditions often harsh.
Workers as tools of the state- seen as part of Nazi machine, contributing to military + economic goals
Economic preparation for war
Rearmament- big expansion of military production, build a war ready economy.
4 year plan(36)- ensure self sufficiency in war supplies, focus on synthetic materials, oil, weapons
autarky efforts- reducing reliance on foreign resources, increase domestic production
Military industrial complex- close collaboration of gov, military + industries, prioritise war production
Labour control- workers mobilised for war production, stringent control over labour + limited rights
Prep for Blitzkrieg- focus on rapid largescale military mobilisation + logistics to support lightning war strategy
Nazi racial ideology + anti-semitism
Aryan superiority- belief in racial dominance of Aryans
Anti-semitism- Jews blamed for Germanys problems, seen as threat to racial purity
Racial hierarchy- Jews, Romani + others viewed as inferior
Social Darwinism- justified eugenics + elimination of ‘undesirables’
Nuremberg Laws(35)- discrimination against Jews, stripping citizenship + rights
Final solution- genocide of Jews, led to holocaust
Education + youth indoctrination (Hitler youth, League of German Girls)
Hitler Youth- organised for Boys, promote militarism, obedience + loyalty to Hitler
League of German Girls- for girls, focus on motherhood, homemaking + supporting Nazi ideals
Curriculum control- schools taught Nazi ideology, emphasised racial purity, nationalism + loyalty to fuhrer
Youth indoctrination- focus on physical fitness, military training + anti-semitism
Loyalty to Nazi state- groups aimed to create future gens loyal to Hitler + Nazi principles
Women’s roles under Nazi ideology: kinder,kuche, Kirche (Children, Kitchen, Church)
Kinder,Kuche,Kirche- emphasis on woman’s duties as mothers, homemakers + supporters of church
Motherhood- highest calling for women, encouraged to have big families, increase Aryan population
Restricted work roles- discouraged from working in professions, role in home prioritised
Marriage loans- incentives for women to marry + have children- financial loans, forgave after kid
Social control- subject to Nazi ideals, limited independence + reinforced traditional gender roles.
Control of the church + religion
Cooperation with Catholic Church- Reichskonkordat(33) aimed to secure Catholic Church neutrality, Nazi sought to limit influence
Persecution of religious opponents- Protestant + Catholic Church leaders who opposed nazis arrested or executed
German Christians- Nazi back movement to align Protestant churches with Nazi ideology, promoted Aryan supremacy + anti-semitism
Creation of the Reich Church- attempt to unify Protestant church under Nazi control, German Christian leadership.
Suppression of Religious Freedom- non Nazi religious groups prosecuted; religious schools + organisations tightly controlled
Life for ordinary Germans + minorities under Nazi rule
Propaganda created sense of national pride; economic recovery + public works provided jobs at cost of personal freedoms
Youth indoctrination- middle children into loyal nazis
Suppression of dissent- Gestapo surveillance, censorship, fear tactics silenced opposition
Minorities- Jews, Romani, disabled individuals, LGBTQ people faced discrimination, imprisonment + violence
Persecution intensified- Nuremberg laws stripped Jews of citizenship; camps used for political + racial enemies
Impact of Nazi policies on workers, women, and youth
Workers- employment increased by public works + rearmament, unions banned, replaced by DAF
Women- encouraged to focus on motherhood, barred from many jobs, rewarded to have big Aryan family’s
Youth- trained in Nazi ideology, physical fitness, military discipline
