Opposition and dissent Q&A

Question 1

What were those who signed the armistice and ‘Treaty of Versailles’ referred to as?

Answer 1

The November Criminals

Question 2

Why did the German population resent the signing of the the Treaty Of Versailles to such an extent?

Answer 2

Because they beileved they were winning the war as many newspaers had said, so made it seem as if the Weirmar govt. had betrayed them.

Question 3

What were the most resented terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 3

Reparations (Germany had to pay 132 million gold marks - set in 1921) and the War Guilt Clause - aswell as other terms that lost status for Germany and made them feel humiliated.

Question 4

Name 4 reasons why the government was opposed by both left and right extremists?

Answer 4

1)Treat of Versailles 2)liberal/democratic principles 3)failure to produce strong govt/leader 4)failure to unite Germany

Question 5

What happened in the Spartacist Uprising?

Answer 5

6th January 1919 - communist attempt at takeover in which thousands of armed workers that took over key buildings. Chancellor Ebert moved govt to Weimar. Friekorps crushed the rebellion.

Question 6

Who was leader of the Kapp Putsch?

Answer 6

Wolfgang Kapp

Question 7

How did the Kapp Putsch come to an end?

Answer 7

The trade unions ordered a general strike that was called to end the Putsch - Successful.

Question 8

What happened in the Munich Putsch?

Answer 8

8th November 1922 - SA surround beer cellar with officials in it, giving Hitler and Ludendorff oppurtunity to speak to the crowd.

Question 9

What was the results of the Munich Putsch?

Answer 9

Gave Hitler opputunity to have his ideas heard but he was sentenced to 5 years in prison during which time he wrote Mein Kampf. Putch taught Hitler to gain power through legal means.

Question 10

Name 5 different forms of opposition to the Nazi regime?

Answer 10

1)Anti-Nazi campaigns 2)Sabotage 3)Disobedience 4)Assasination atempts against Hitler 5)Church Opposition

Question 11

What number of memberships did the Red Shock Troops newspaper have?

Answer 11

Around 3000.

Question 12

In which ways did workers sabotage the Nazis?

Answer 12

Holding lightning strikes (1936 Autobahn workers) , working slowly, damaging machinery, reporting in sick when not.

Question 13

Who were the Edelweiss Pirates?

Answer 13

Anti-Nazi working class movement, painted anti-Nazi slogans on walls, made own youth policy with own uniform- were executed if caught.

Question 14

What did the White Rose Group do?

Answer 14

Exposed Nazi murders of Jews and urged non-violent resistence to the Nazis - caught and executed (beheaded).

Question 15

How many attempted assassinations took place in between July 1921 - July 1944?

Answer 15

15 known attempts

Question 16

What happened in the July Plot of 1944?

Answer 16

Stauffenberg left bomb in briefcase near Hitler in conference room but Hitler survive with minor injuries. Led to execution of 200 people said to be involved.

Question 17

What was the reaction to the removal of the Old Testament in the Bible by the Nazis?

Answer 17

Formation of the Pastors Emergency League, later becoming known as the Confessing Church- most members arrested and executed.

Question 18

Name two examples in which public opposition was accepted by the Nazis

Answer 18

1)When the Bishops were arrested in 1934 and public outcry led to their release. 2) Unenthusiatic response by crowds towards the invasion of Czechslovakia.

Question 19

Outline of the Basic Law

Answer 19

Free speech, freedom of press and no censorship.

Question 20

Basic law had a clause that could ban politcal parties that threatened the new democracy. Which party was banned in 1952 as a result of this?

Answer 20

The right- wing Socialist Reich Party - had a views similar to the Nazis.

Question 21

What was the response to the 1953 KPD communists demonstrations in Munich?

Answer 21

6000 protestors dispersed using water cannons.

Question 22

What was the ‘Year Zero’ policy and how did the youth react to it?

Answer 22

Was a policy that rejected any acknowleding of Germany’s Nazi past. Youth responded through slogans of ‘What did you do in the war daddy?’

Question 23

Give 2 examples of protests against global matters held in Germany.

Answer 23

1)FRG’S Military involvement with atomic weaponary 2) Protest against way USA handling the Vietnam War.

Question 24

Who were the ‘APO’?

Answer 24

Extra-Parlimentary Opposition = formed due to their being no representation for the young intellectuals who wanted more radical policies.

Question 25

What was the last major demonstartion the SDS took part in on 11th May 1968?

Answer 25

80,000 people joined to protest against the Emergency Law, which they viewed as a violition of the Basic Law’s human rights principle.

Question 26

What were the 1970’s biggest terrorist group called?

Answer 26

The Baader Meinhof Gang (as dubbed by newspapers) but actually called the Red Army Faction.

Question 27

Why did terrorist activity in FRG eventually decline?

Answer 27

Parly due to government action but mainly due to people not feeling that such method was achieving anything.