Part two: The rise of Hitler and the Nazi party 1933-1945 Flashcards
Why was Hitler so popular?
- After the Munich Putsch and Mein Kampf he ran in the 1932 election and increased his fame
- he was portrayed as one of the people who understood their problems as he was a worker and soldier
- He was a persuasive speaker, coming off as a great leader and promised things that suited each group in society
How did the SA contribute to Hitler’s appeal?
they used fear and violence to stand up to the communists and sabotage opposition parties
How did Hitler appear better than Weimar Germany?
He emphasised the failures of the democratic gov and his forceful style made him look decisive in comparison to the unreliable Weimar democracy
Who were the SA?
They were the stormtroopers formed by Hitler in 1921. Wore brown uniforms. Grew to around 3 million by 1934. Increased support for nazis during 1930-1932 elections using fear and violence.
Who did Hindenburg appoint as Chancellor in June of 1928 and then later in 1930?
Hermann muller but they disagreed on how to tackle the depression so then Heinrich Bruning
What percentage of the votes did Hitler win in April 1932?
36%
What did president Hindenburg do in June 1932?
He appointed Franz Von Papen as Chancellor as suggested by Kurt Von Schleicher who is not a member of the Reichstag
Who did Hindenburg appoint as Chancellor in December 1932?
Kurt Von Schleicher
What happened between May 1928 and March 1932 (control in reichstag)?
May- moderate parties win most votes
October 1929- Wall Street crash
Sep 1930- major gains by extreme parties
March 1932- no candidate wins 50% vote for president
Who resigned in May 1932?
Bruning
What happened in July of 1932 with Reichstag elections?
The Nazis become the largest party but don’t have a majority. Hindenburg refuses to make Hitler Chancellor. Papen continues to rule through presidential decree than the reichstag
Why does Hindenburg sack Papen in November 1932?
He followed Schleicher’s advice but Schleicher has little support from the Reichstag nor the German people.
What does Papen convince Hindenburg to do in January 1933?
To appoint Hitler as Chancellor and himself as vice-Chancellor
How did Franz Von Papen contribute to Hitler becoming Chancellor?
He ruled with the Cabinet of Barons who except for 2 were not members of the Reichstag. He disliked Hitler but agreed with Manu of his ideas and thought that he and Hindenburg would be able to control Hitler
How did Paul Von Hindenburg contribute to Hitler becoming Chancellor?
He was never fully supported by the Reichstag and undermined the Weimar Republic by appointing chancellors who were not in the Reichstag. He underestimated Hitler and thought that he and papen could control Hitler.
When did the Reichstag fire happen?
27th February 1933
Who was accused of causing the Reichstag fire?
Marinus Van Der Lubbe ( dutch communist) was arrested and executed
How did Hitler use the Reichstag fire to secure his dictatorship?
1.He accused the communist party of conspiring against the government and 4 thousand were arrested.
2. issued emergency decree to giving himself powers to imprison political opponents and ban opposition papers
3. Persuaded Hindeburg to call March 1933 election to secure more Nazi seats
What was the Enabling act and when was it passed?
1933 Act proposed by Hitler to destroy the power of the Reichstag and give himself total power to make laws
What were the terms to the Enabling Act?
- The Reich cabinet could pass new laws
- The laws could rule over the constitution
- Hitler would propose the laws so Germany would no longer be a democracy
Timeline for the elimination of political opposition and trade unions:
31 March 1933- regional parliaments closed down and reorganised with Nazi majorities
April 1933- Nazi opponents rooted from civil service and law
May 1933- Trade unions broken into and officials were arrested and taken to concentration camps workers now belonged to German labour front
22nd June 1933- SPD banned as they were “hostile to nation and state”
14th July 1933- Law against the Formation of New Parties banned all parties except for the Nazis
What was the Night of the Long Knives?
30th June 1934 Hitler invited Rohm and 100 SA leaders to meeting in Bad Wiessee to rid himself of their threat. They were arrested by the Stand taken to Much to get shot. After, Papen’s staff were arrested and he was put on house arrest. Schliecher killed.
Who were the SS?
Hitler’s bodyguards set up in 1925. Run by Schreck then Himmler. Wore black uniforms
Why were Rohm and the SA removed?
Rohm led 3 million SA which made him a serious rival as he disagreed with some of Hitler’s policies. Officers believed he wanted to make the SA the new army but Hitler needed the army’s allegiance. SS was more disciplined and its leader was closer to Hitler
What happened on 2nd August 1934 and what did it lead to?
President Hindenburg died and within hours Hitler merged the role of President and Chancellor, making a new office for the supreme leader- Fuhrer
He made the army swear allegiance to him and not to Germany
What did Hitler use propaganda to make himself look like?
To ensure that he looked all powerful and he was portrayed to have superhuman, heroic qualities as a result of the “Heil Hitler” campaign
What was the National Labour Service (RAD)?
It was started by the Weimar government but continued by the Nazis. From July 1935 all men aged 18-25 had to serve 6 months. Men worked on public work programmes and farms. The pay was low, hours long and work boring.
Which people were taken out of the job market?
- Jews were forced out of jobs
- Women were dismissed or left
- After 1935 many men over 18 were conscripted in armed forces
- opponents of regime were sent to concentration camps
What are some examples of public work programmes?
- Building new schools and hospitals
- Planting trees
- Building 700km of motorways
- Building and improving public buildings
What were the two main economic policies Nazis had to face because of the war?
Rearmament and sufficiency
Who was made minister of the German economy?
Hermann Goering in 1937
What was the Four Year Plan of 1936-40
- rearmament to provide weapons, vehicles and equipment for the expanding navy, army and air force
- make Germany self sufficient in raw materials and food to avoid another blockade
What was the policy of autarky?
Policy of self sufficiency which was a failure. Germany was still dependent for 1/3 of its raw materials.
How did the German gov try to achieve self sufficiency?
- Farmers given cheap labour from RAD but food production only grew by a little
- Partially successful campaigns to make Germans buy German goods
- Controls put on imports- luxury imported goods increased
- Scientists funded to find substitutes for resources Germany did not have e.g oil, rubber, cotton
Rearmament in Germany from 1933:
More jobs were created and prisoners in labour and concentration camps were used. Some businesses benefitted from designing manufacturing arms. 1939 met with labour shortages
What were the pros to Nazi economic policies?
-unemploymet was reduced as most men were in work
-large businesses benefited from wage restrictions and loss of trade unions
-RAD provided better transport, services and homes
-average weekly wages rose form 86 to 109 marks between 1932 and 39
What were the cons to Nazi economic policies?
-the cost of food rose cancelling out wage increases
-working hours increased
-available German products were sometimes inferior
-the Four Year plan led to food shortages in late 1930s
What was set up in August 1939 during the war?
Rationing system which became more severe come 1941 as the army was bogged down my Russia
Who was used as forced labour during the war?
Foreign workers from occupied countries, prisoners of war and inmates from concentration camps
What was the ‘Total war’ Germany was in during WW2?
Germany suffered from weapon and equipment shortages as the 4 year plan failed. The whole economy worked towards the war effort.
-All businesses not involved in war work or food production were closed
-Cinemas were used for propaganda films but other places of entertainment were closed
-services such as post were suspended
Impact of war on refugees:
Millions flew in from Poland, East Prussia and Czechoslovakia. From 1945 Russian troops entered Germany. Cities were put under more pressure
Impact of rationing due to the war:
From 1943 shortages of food and goods increased so rations reduced. By 1945 people relied on the black market or had to scavenge for food.
Impact of bombings due to the war:
Up to 500,000 killed and 70,000 injured during bombing raids. 7 million left homeless. Businesses affected as property and goods were destroyed.
Impact of labour shortages due to the war:
After January 1943, all men aged 16-45 and women 17-45 had to work. Hitler Youth and League of German maidens helped with farm work.
Why did Nazis have strict policies about women?
They had very traditional views about women. They believed that women’s role was to breed and raise a ‘master race of Germans’ to make Germany bigger and stronger
