Support-Nazi Germany Flashcards
(24 cards)
What was the significance of the elections in 1932 for the Nazis?
The two elections in 1932 put the Nazis significantly ahead of their main opposition and led to their rise to power in 1933.
July 1932- 37.3%
On 5 March 1933, -44 % - gave them 288 seats in the Reichstag- more than any other party
Why was widespread support essential to the Nazis?
Widespread support was essential for securing the Thousand Year Reich and retaining control over the German people.
What is active support?
Active support is openly demonstrated through acts like giving the Heil Hitler salute, hanging the swastika flag, or joining the party.
What is tacit support?
Tacit support is shown through conformity, where not opposing the regime implies support, even if it lacks enthusiasm.
What were the broad reasons for support among all groups?
The broad reasons for support included Hitler’s propaganda, successful economic policies, successful foreign policy, and the use of terror.
What contributed to Hitler’s broad appeal?
Hitler’s charisma, strong persona, and the belief in the ‘Hitler Myth’ contributed to his appeal among the public.
What role did propaganda play for the Nazis?
Propaganda was used to reinforce the regime’s successes and highlight the failings of their opposition.
What were the uses of propaganda?
Propaganda was used for both positive and negative purposes, ensuring people remembered the regime’s contributions and the treatment of their enemies.
What were the three stages of Nazi economic policy?
The three stages were Recovery, Rearmament, and Total War, each affecting reasons for support.
How did the Nazis address unemployment when they came to power?
When the Nazis came to power in 1933, they addressed the 5.5 million unemployed, generating support and loyalty.
What was the impact of Nazi foreign policy on support?
Nazi foreign policy initially generated support as it aimed to right the wrongs of Versailles, peaking in 1941.
What limited the support generated by foreign policy?
Support from foreign policy declined after 1942 as the war turned against Germany, leading to increased opposition.
How does terror relate to support for the regime?
Terror does not generate genuine support; it instills fear, which may lead to compliance but not true allegiance.
What is the effectiveness of terror in maintaining support?
Terror must be maintained at a certain level to be effective, as it does not create genuine support like other reasons do.
How did the Nazis utilize terror?
The Nazis effectively utilized terror as a police state, making it clear what would happen to those who disobeyed.
Military support
Largely Active- oath- large acceptance- only few rebelled eg bomb pots
But- link to opposition- more it looked like Germany losing war- more opposition- short lived
Support from the military and the support of Goring, Heydrich and Himmler was key, as in the period of 1933-34, the army had the power to be able to remove Hitler. However, once the power of the SA was diminished and it’s leaders removed during the Night of the Long Knives, Hitler was able to gain the support of the majority of the military. Added to the fact that he rearmed, expanded and gave them the chance to fight and achieve victories/ gave purpose.
Military support p2
In March 1935, Hitler felt confident enough to reveal Nazi Germany’s rearmament programme. The rest of Europe discovered that Germany now had 2,500 war planes and 300,000 troops. Hitler declared that compulsory military conscription would be introduced and that the army would be further enlarged to 550,000 men.
Waffen SS and Elite Corps were considered crucial for invasion and conquer of much of Europe
The Waffen-SS grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions during World War II. Combining combat and police functions, it served alongside the German Army (Heer), Ordnungspolizei (Order Police), and other security units.
Army as well as SS committed atrocities eg shooting civilians in Poland/ Ukraine- Bartov has argued even those who once supported SPD/KPD could become ‘brutalised and fanaticized soldiers’
Support Upper Classes
statistic-by 1937 they controlled over 70 per cent of production. Rearmament from 1935 onwards boosted profits of big weapons companies, and managers of the major industrial companies saw their incomes rise by 50 per cent between 1933 and 1939.
but short lasting- only as long as money is good
When Germany rearmed and went to war, industrial sectors of the economy experienced a high increase in production and income, so they were even more supportive of Hitler and the Nazi’s policies.
The Nazis were even able to please German aristocrats, with their proposals to expand east and reduce the population density, desire to return to traditional values, imperialist policies and German nationalism.
Businessmen also supported Hitler as he was in favour of private businesses. In contrast, the Weimar Republic increasingly nationalised businesses between 1928 and 1933.
However, as a result of the war, food production was half what it had been prior to the beginning of the Second World War. Despite upper-class people being wealthier, they still suffered from a lack of food during the war period.
Working class
-
The Nazis established Strength Through Joy (KdF) in 1933
The KdF aimed to make work seem more enjoyable and prevent unrest-By 1936, there were 35 million members of the KdF-It provided out-of-work leisure activities, trips and holidays to workers- Many saved 5marks a week to save for the Volkswagen Beetle - the people’s car
The Nazis created Beauty of Labour (SdA) programmein in 1934-The SdA aimed to provide better facilities for workers to improve their working environment- providing facilities such as toilets, changing rooms, showers and canteens-By 1938, around 34,000 companies had improved their facilities
The Nazis expected the workers to build and decorate the new facilities themselves for no extra pay/outside of their typical working hours
- but- Hitler banned all trade unions in May 1933 using the powers of the Enabling Act-Hitler replaced trade unions with the Labour Front (DAF)-It controlled the rights, hours and pay levels of workers
Women
Largely active- in political support groups that weren’t compulsory
Relatively short lasting- attitudes toward women changed during war- look at effects of war eg lots went to work at wanted to stay- created tensions in marriages, sexual promiscuity increased- could die at any moment,
Range of views on Hitler- Nazis reinforced improved provision for maternity/ family benefits-The Law for the Encouragement of Marriage (1933) gave newlyweds a loan of 1,000 Reichsmarks (around nine months’ wages).- For every child a couple had, they could keep 250 marks of the loan. A family with four children would not have to repay anything.
But resentment over removal of women from many areas of employment
yet often offset by creation of roles in the Nazi party- by 1935 about 11 mil of 35 mil women belonged to Nazi women’s movement- not compulsory- so showing genuine support
Nazi regime benefitted some women who had few qualifications but wanted involvement in political activism
Yet some women Nazi activists eg Sophie Rogge-Berne argued in 1937 it was misguided to remove women from professions
work p2
Tacit- better than depression
short lived- money
Workers remained more resistant to Fuhrer cult than middle classes under Volksgemeinschaft- benefitted less from economic recovery 1933-wages pegged, max length of working hours extended by 6 hours, contributions to GNP unacknowledged- yet most settled down to tacit support- drawn to KdF/ SDA- many believed Nazis were source of their economic recovery- convinced work was better- using depression as point of reference and not best years of Weimar Republic. Assembly line process made individual revolt more difficult/ remobilisation for war gave more work
Support- upper/middle classes p2
Industrialists- active eg Farben
Lots tacit- accepting due to communism fear
Seen as enthusiastic supporters- main reason they were voted in- initially supported out of fear of communism- industrialists in this class liked as there was more disciplined worforce with no bargaining tools- no trade unions- mobilisation for war= popular amongst major industrialised enterprises eg Krupp and I.G. Farben became fully implicated in worst excesses of Nazi occupation
peasantry/ small landowners
some active- worshiped
some tacit- those absorbed into working class
short lived- money
Small land owners-One hand…
Hitler built up blood and soil policy
but..
Peasantry probably benefitted least from 1933 economic recovery - had to suffer interference from state in form of Reich Entailed Law preventing subdivision from estates- but no direct opposition seen
Small business owners- those reasonably efficient thrived mid 1930’s but those failing went into wall- so successful artisanate worshiped and those who failed had to settle becoming working class and being Nazified through institutions aimed at this class- sentiment at least not communist- Rules on opening and running small businesses were tightened, which resulted in 20 per cent of them closing.
Farmers
short lived- as long as money good
largely active- greateful after depression
The Reich Entailed Farm Law protected farmers, by ensuring their land could not be confiscated if they went into debt passed for “the farming community as the blood source of the German people.”
The Nazis used the ideal of ‘Blood and Soil’ in their propaganda. They stated that farmers were among the most important people in German society, and that they should be treated accordingly. Farmers represented traditional Aryan values.
Many farmers appreciated these policies and were strong supporters of the Nazi regime. However, some found them restricting, as banks were reluctant to lend money to ambitious farmers. Many left the countryside for better pay in industry.
