The Nazi Dictatorship 1933-39

Question 1

How did Hitler view other parties and the Nazi party?

Answer 1

Other parties: viewed them with contempt, seeing them as election machines, which represented narrow sectional interests rather than the interests of Germany as a whole.

Although Nazi party members were a minority of the population, Hitler claimed that they were the ‘racial core’ of the German people, believing it was made up of superior Germans. In the Volksgemeinschaft, there could only be the Nazi party.

Question 2

Describe steps taken to ban other parties

Question 3

Describe steps taken to ban other parties

Answer 3

1. KPD effectively banned after Reichstag fire. Most communists fled or put in conc camps.
2. SPD, which continued to voice opposition to Hitler, outlawed June 1933.
3. DNVP and centre party dissolved themselves on 27th June and 5th July.
4. 14th July 1933: the law against the formation of new parties outlawed all non-Nazi parties.

Question 4

Centralisation of Prussia?

Answer 4

Prussia so large it’s state govt could operate mostly independent from central govt. July 1932 Papen dismissed Prussian state govt and appointed Reich Commissioner. In Hitler’s cabinet this position was held by Goring from June 1933, paving way for centralisation of power throughout the whole Reich.

Question 5

Laws passed to centralise power?

Answer 5

31 March 1933: First Law for the Coordination of the Federal States dissolved existing state assemblies and replaced them with Nazi dominated assemblies.

7 April 1933: Second Law for the Coordination of the Federal States created the new post of Reich Governor to oversee the govt of each state. They were accountable to the minister of the interior and ensured state govts followed the policy laid down by Central govt.

30 January 1934: The Law for the Reconstruction of the Reich took the centralisation process a stage further. State assemblies abolished and state govts formally subordinated to the govt of the Reich. This meant role of Reich Governor was now redundant by Hitler didn’t abolish the posts. Rivalry between state govts and Reich Governors continued in the coming years.

14 February 1934: the Reichsrat was abolished. This was the parliamentary assembly to which state assemblies sent delegates. As the state assemblies no longer existed, it was logical to abolish it.

Question 6

What was the role of Gauletier?

Answer 6

Nazi party leader at regional or state level. The Nazi political organisation had leaders at national ( Reich) and regional (Gau) levels; so Gauleiters were therefore the 2nd ranking Nazi political officials.

Question 7

Control over the civil service?

Answer 7

Under Kaiser, higher ranks of civil service were recruited almost exclusively from the aristocracy and civil servants aligned with authoritarian values of 2nd Empire. Therefore, did not support WR and many welcomed Hitler’s appointment.
They thought conservative ministers in Hitler’s cabinet would restrain the Nazis and allow the civil service to serve the state same way the had under Kaiser.

In reality Nazis viewed the civil service as obstacle to dictatorial power, many forced to resign and replaced with Nazi party appointees.

Question 8

Position of SA before June 1934?

Answer 8

Jan 1933 SA was Nazi’s main instrument of terror. Once Nazis got into power membership increased from 500,000 to 3 million within a year.

Question 9

Position of SA before June 1934?

Answer 9

Jan 1933 SA was Nazi’s main instrument of terror. Once Nazis got into power membership increased from 500,000 to 3 million within a year. Feb 1933 SA and Stahlhelm merged and recognised as ‘auxiliary police’.

Question 10

Hitler not always in control of SA?

Answer 10

Although he benefited from SA violence, he was not always in control of it. SA violence against political enemies and Jews were unplanned and piecemeal. Feb to June 1933 Hitler allowed SA violence when Nazis where eliminating political opposition. However, he was careful not to allow attacks on the state. Attacks on army and police avoided as Hitler didn’t want to alienate the conservative forces that had brought him into power.

Question 11

Disagreement between SA and Hitler?

Answer 11

July 1933 after passing law against the formation of new parties, Hitler declared Nazi revolution over.

For Röhn, the revolution was far from over and the SA were determined to continue with violence until they got 2nd revolution. This would involve the SA which to become nucleus of new army to become nucleus of new army that would eventually absorb and replace the existing one. SA membership was 4.5 million Jan 1934 vastly outnumbering the army.

Question 12

Describe the events of the night of the long knives June 1934

Answer 12

1. Papen gave speech calling for end to terror and for Hitler to clamp down on SA calls for 2nd revolution.
2. Blomberg with Hindenburg’s support threatened to declare martial law and give army power to deal with SA.
3. Hitler launched night of long knives on 30th June 1934 giving the SS orders to eliminate SA leaders and other political opposition.
4. At least 84 executed and 1000 arrested. Victims included SA leaders like Röhm but also others like Strasser, Schmeichel and Gustav Von Kahr ( played key role in stopping Beer Hall Putsch)
5. Members of Papen’s staff executed. Papen spared but placed under house arrest, destroying any power he had left.
6. Hitler addressed Reichstag on 13th July, taking full responsibility for the executions. He said he was acting as the ‘supreme judge’ of the German people in order to save the country from SA coup.
7. This secured the army’s support. Hitler also gained public support for his decisive actions. SA membership decreased to 1.6 million by Oct 1935 and lost all political power.
8. SS now controlled the terror in more systematic manner.

Question 13

Impact of Hindenburg’s death August 1934?

Answer 13

Died 2nd August. Announcement that office of president and Chancellor would be merged within an hour of his death. On same day officers and soldiers of the army took oath of allegiance to Hitler.

On 19th August, a plebiscite was held to German people’s seal of approval of Hitler’s appointment as Führer and Reich Chancellor. 89.9 yes. More surprising that 10.1%, 4.5 million voters had courage to say no.

Final act in Nazi consolidation of power. Hitler asserted power of his own party and had became Führer

Question 14

Describe the SS?

Answer 14

Led by Himmler from 1929. After night of the long knives became main Nazi organisation for arrest of political prisoners. Himmler intended for the SS to be disciplined racially ‘pure’ and obedient. Violence and murder used as tools of state power.

SS conc camp guards intentionally brutalised to remove any empathy they may have for the prisoners. Conc camps = prisons where inmates forced to work.
Vast majority of inmates in early months of regime were communists, socialists and trade unionists. After 1936, regime reorientated to deal with ‘undesirables’. Habitual criminals, socials and non-aryans made up majority of conc camps to purify the race.

Question 15

Describe the SD?

Answer 15

Set up to investigate claims the party had been infiltrated by political enemies. After 1933, SD’s role was intelligence gathering, including monitoring public opinion and identifying who voted ‘no’ in plebiscites. By 1939 the SD had 50000 officers. As a Nazi party organisation, they operated separately from the Gestapo who were state ran. Staffed by committed Nazis rather than police and headed by Rein

Question 16

Describe the Gestapo?

Answer 16

Developed reputation of omniscience, with normal Germans believing the Gestapo had agents everywhere. In reality, only had 20,000 officers to cover the whole country in 1939. Most were office based and generally not members of the Nazi party. Instead they were policemen. They relied on informants. Nazi party activists were asked to spy on neighbours. Each street and apartment complex had its own ‘block leadership would report suspicious activity. Most informer were motivated by grudges rather than politics. Despite small size, Gestapo successful in instilling an atmosphere of fear in German public.

Question 17

Describe the courts and justice system?

Answer 17

Judges and lawyers generally very conservative but few belonged to Nazi party in Jan 1933. The long tradition of freedom from political interference for lawyers and judges posed problem for Nazis as violence of SA and SS clearly illegal and many lawsuits against stormtroopers were filed by lawyers. Hitler was also angered that supreme court acquitted all but Van Der Lubbe, who was executed 1934, in Reichstag fire trial.

Question 18

How did Hitler coordinate the justice system?

Answer 18

Merged various professional associations of Judges and Lawyers with the League of National Socialist Lawyers in April 1933. Clear to them that their career relied on doing the regime’s bidding.

Special courts set up in 1933 and People’s Court in April 1934 to run alongside the existing court system. These dealt with political crimes with 3 Nazi judges alongside to professional judges. There were no juries and defendants had no rights to appeal.

With these measures Lawyers and Judges fell into line. 1934-39 about 3400 tried by People’s Court. Most communists and socialists and many given death penalty, which was used increasingly in Third Reich.

Question 19

Summarise political resistance to the Nazis?

Answer 19

The parties of the left were expected to mount the stiffest resistance to Hitler. Hitler feared that unions would stage a strike to thwart Nazi takeover as they had done to end the Kapp Putsch in 1920. In the event the left didn’t pose a serious threat to the regime due to bitter divisions with KPD attacking SPD as ‘social-fascists’.

Question 20

Resistance from SPD?

Answer 20

Unprepared for Nazi takeover.
As party committed to working with legal framework of the state, they were not equipped to deal with party that didn’t respect the law.
SPD activists continued to campaign openly for the election in March 1933 and suffered SA violence as result.

SPD deputies bravely defied Nazi intimidation to vote against the enabling act in the Reichstag but once regime gained legal power to establish dictatorship began to crush to SPD. By the end of 1933, thousands of SPD activists had been killed or put in camps. The SPD leadership fled into exile.

Gradually the SPD adapted. Organised in exile by Ernst Schumacher from base in Prague, the party established small cells of supporters in factories. There were also some city based groups such as the Berlin Red Patrol. Propaganda pamphlets were smuggled across from Czechoslovakia. The fear of arrest by Gestapo limited scope of these activities

Question 21

Resistance from KPD?

Answer 21

With background in revolutionary politics, KPD was much better prepared than SPD to engage in underground activity.

However they were devastated by wave of repression when Hitler came to power. First party to be banned and Thälmann arrested at early stage. About 10% of KPD membership killed by Nazis in 1933.

Nevertheless the KPD established underground network in industrial centres. Revolutionary unions were set up in Berlin and Hamburg. They were broken up by Gestapo.

Question 22

Resistance from workers?

Question 23

Resistance from workers?

Answer 23

Before 1933 German working class was largest and most unionised in Europe. Unions linked to SPD and opposed Nazis. After Jan 1933, union resistance crumbled as they were absorbed into the German Labour Front and Nazi propaganda emphasised the importance of national rather than class solidarity.

Strikes were risky but did occur. Any expression of dissent seen as challenge by regime. 1935 = 20,000 striked and 4,000 given jail time. New Labour regulations passed in 1938 introducing severe penalties for absenteeism.

Question 24

Resistance from Protestant church?

Answer 24

The efforts to coordinate prot church into Volksgemeinschaft led to division within prot congregation.

The establishment of the pastors’ Emergency League in 1933 and it’s development into the Confessional Church in 1934 were in themselves acts of resistance. Led by pastors who weren’t Nazis and their refusal to being coordinated into Reich Church was due to 3 main factors:

1. They were trying to protect the independence of the prot church from the regime.
2. They were resisting the attempt to impose the Aryan paragraph which would involve purging any pastor who had converted from Judaism.
3. They were trying to defend orthodox lutheran theology which was based purely on the Bible.

In 1934 there was a struggle between confessional church and regime. Pastors spoke our against a ‘Nazified Christ’ from pulpits, refused to display swastika flags.

When two confessional church bishops arrested there were mass demonstrations in their support. Regime responded with increased repression. Dissenting pastors salaries were stopped and banned from teaching. By end 1937, 700 pastors had been imprisoned.

Although failed to silence confessional church the confessional church didn’t form full opposition to the regime. Majority of members professed loyalty to.third reich and Hitler. Leftnmore to individual pastors who risked their lives while church as whole was silent.

Question 25

Martin Niemöller 1892-1984

Answer 25

Was a prot pastor and held strong nationalist views. Initially welcomed Hitler's appointment but began to oppose Nazi efforts to politicise the Evangelical Church. He was an antisemite but opposed the Aryan paragraph because he thought Jews should be welcomed into the Christian faith. Cofounded the confessional church. Sent to conc camp 1937. In prison seen as Hitler's personal prisoner and allowed certain privileges. His experience in prison led him to repudiate his antisemitic views.

Question 26

Resistance from Roman Catholic Church?

Answer 26

When the 1933 concordat came under attack RC church found itself at odds with the regime. In 1937, the Pope issued papal encyclical 'with burning grief' against mounting pressure on Catholic church in Germany. It was smuggled into Germany and read from nearly every catholic pulpit. Charges against priests for 'abuse of the pulpit' became regular. Church didn't move beyond a narrow defence of its independence to a wider opposition to Nazism and Catholic resistance from ineffective and sporadic. Archbishop of Münster Clemens von Galen spoke out against atheism of leading Nazi ideologist Alfred Rosenberg in 1935. Issuing a pamphlet refuting Rosenberg's views, particularly his concept of the 'racial soul'.

Question 27

Resistance from youth?

Answer 27

By mid 1930a growing signs of disillusionment among official youth movements. Partly due to membership of BDM and Hitler Youth being made compulsory in 1936. Membership of these groups were huge strain on teenager's free time. This was an intentional policy point of Gleichschaltung on basis that people could be controlled easier by minimising their free time. Some didn't attend weekly parades or turned up and hummed banned songs. Some youths formed cliques. Some little more than criminal gangs but others were more political such as the Meuten gangs, which flourished in old communist strongholds in Leipzig in the late 1930s.

Question 28

Resistance from elites?

Answer 28

Opposition to Hitler from army and civil service came to a head in autumn 1938. For some time there had been growing unease within elites about drift of Nazi foreing policy. They agreed with Hitlers ling term aim to rebuild Germany's military strength and expansion in East but thought he was leading unprepared Germany into war. General Blomberg and General Fritsch expressed doubts to invasion of Czechoslovakia and Anschluss and were removed and replaced with more compliant generals. Sept 1938 Hitler ordered the army to prepare to invade Czechoslovakia. Head of Army Staff General Beck and other senior army officials sent envoy to tell.France and UK. They didn't want to risk war and agreed to peaceful German takeover of Sudetenland allowing Hitler to achieve another , 'bloodless victory'. The conspiracy to overthrow went quietly into the background.

Question 30

How did Schacht stimulate the economy?

Answer 30

Pumping money into economy to build homes and Autobahns. Stimulating consumer demand by giving tax concessions and grants to particular groups Giving subsidies to private firms to encourage them to take on more workers Putting controls on prices and wages to control inflation Introducing the 'New Plan' in 1934 to control Germany's foreign trade and improve the country's balance of payments Taking first steps towards rearmament using mefo bills.

Question 31

Describe the 'Hitler Myth'

Answer 31

Presented as: Hardworking, tough, and uncompromising in fighting and defeating Germany's internal and external enemies. A political genius who had mastered the problems faced by Germany in 1933 and responsible for Germany's 'national awakening'. And thrown of humiliating shackles of the Treaty of Versailles. Dynamic and forceful in contrast to weak Weimar era politicians. Lived simple life and devoted himself to his people. Guardian of traditional morality and justice. Reality: Hitler was surrounded by officials who competed to gain his attention. Hitler supplied the vision and his ministers put this into detailed policy. He was not very involved in decision making. Hitler stayed up late watching movies and got up at midday. Disliked reading official documents and rarely got into detailed policy discussions. Officials had difficulty to get him to make decisions.

Question 32

Construction of the Autobahns?

Answer 32

Visible sign of economic revival and national renewal by Hitler's govt. In reality, employed relatively few with peak of construction of employing 125,000. Construction slowed after 1938 and stopped altogether by 1942. Underused as few Germans had cars.

Question 33

The battle for work?

Answer 33

Nazi's first priority after coming to power was reduce unemployment. A project they labelled the 'battle for work'. Large sums of money were spent on building of Autobahns and public buildings and increased industrial production through loans and tax relief to private companies. They were fortunate that economy was already starting to recover when they came to power but their measures definitely reduced unemployment faster. In 1935, Reich Labour Service compelled young men to do six month's labour in farming or construction. Later that year conscription reintroduced.

Question 34

The 'New Plan' 1934?

Answer 34

As economy began to revive in 1933 and 34, foreign trade increased and led to imports growing faster than exports. This led to shortage of foreign currencies needed to pay for imported goods. Under the new plan, Schacht placed controls on imports and on access to foreign currency. He also initiated a series of trade agreements with foreign countries to supply Germany with food and raw materials. The supplying countries could only use the money to buy German goods.

Question 35

Mefo bills?

Answer 35

In order to finance rearmament the Nazis needed to borrow money whilst avoiding danger of inflation. Schacht used mefo bills to fund rearmament. The bills could be exchanged for cash at the Reichsbank. The companies were given incentive to deter investment by 4% interest per annum for 5 years. The expenditure therefore didn't appear on government's accounts so could keep rearmament secret.

Question 36

Issues caused by Schacht?

Answer 36

Food shortages > choice between guns and butter Rising prices and lower living standards 1935-36 Disillusionment with regime

Question 37

The four year plan?

Answer 37

Aimed to make Germany ready for war within 4 years. Although although Nazi quest for lebensraum in the east, four year plan first explicit indication that regime planning for war The priorities of the plan were rearmament and economic autarky by: Creating a managed economy with controls on labour supply, prices, raw materials and foreign exchange. Setting production targets for private companies Establishing new state-owned industrial plants such as Hermann Goring steelworks. Increasing production of key commodities such as iron steel and chemicals. encouraging research and investment in the production of substitute products such as rubber and extracting oil from coal, reducing Germany's dependence on imports.

Question 38

Economic autarky?

Answer 38

Results of 4 year plan did not match the propaganda claims. German industry, despite massive investment, did not meet the targets set by the regime and, in 1939, Germany still imported a third of its raw materials. In food production, there were similar failings. The reality was that the German economy didn't have the resources to achieve all of the regime's aims. In order to maintain the levels of consumption and avoid the risk of alienating the people labour and capital.had to be diverted from rearmament. By 1939, the German economy was under severe strain.

Question 39

Nazi policy towards management and the industrial elites?

Answer 39

Thyssen and Hugenberg helped Hitler in his bid to take power and Hitler was careful to reassure business leaders that they shouldn't be alarmed by the more socialist elements of the party programme. In early months of regime, many policies e.g. establishment of political stability, suppression of trade unions and revival of economy all benefited business. However, as Nazi economic policies developed many business leaders didn't like increased state intervention in economy with its controls on the supply of labour and raw materials and prices.

Question 40

Degree of recovery by 1939?

Answer 40

Flaws: Recovery had already began before Nazis took power. Many of the job creation schemes based on policies introduced by Bruning in 1930 Part of unemployment reduction gave from persuading married women to give uo their employment by offering marriage loans. Reintroduction of conscription in 1936 took large proportion of men out of the labour market. 3 million thought to be unemployed by 1936, too many to claim 'battle for work' had been won

Question 41

Living standards

Answer 41

Propaganda emphasised duty of Germans to make sacrifices for 'people's community' by accepting longer hours and wage cuts Despite attempts to hold down wages, incomes for many workers did increase 1933-39. Some employers paid bonuses to get around the freeze on wages to attract skilled workers. Prices: rose during 1930s and there were shortages of key commodities. German consumers able to buy enough food to feed families but could afford few luxuries. Consumption of cheap food such as rye bread and potatoes. Some Gestapo and sopade reports talk about discontent with regime. On other hand regime succeeded in persuading population to shoulder burden of rearmament without triggering mass opposition or wage explosion indicates success of 'battle for production' Propaganda campaign.

Question 42

The 'people's car'?

Answer 42

The volskwagen was a pet project of Hitler's. The car was promoted by the KdF through huge campaign advertising a 'car for everyone'. This persuaded workers to pay into savings scheme to buy one. The volkswagen was one of the great successes of Nazi propaganda, the more so since cars never went into full production during regime and only elite able to acquire the few models that were made

Question 43

How did the Nazis take control of schools through control over the teachers?

Answer 43

Under law for the reestablishment of a professional civil service in 1933 dismissed number of teachers for being political unreliable or for being Jewish. Teachers pressured to join the National Socialist Teachers' League, NSLB, but most teachers willing to join. Joachim Fest described teachers as one of most reliable sections of population Vetting of textbooks was undertaken by local Nazi committees after 1933. From 1935, central directives were issued by ministry of education covering what could be taught and by 1938 these rules covered every school year and subject.

Question 44

How did the Nazis take control of schools through control over curriculum?

Answer 44

The nazis aim to promote 'racial health' led to.increasijg emphasis on PE. In German lessons the aim was to instill consciousness of national identity through study of Nordic sagas In biology there was a stress on race and heredity. Also strong emphasis on evolution and survival of the fittest Geography used to develop concepts of lebensraum, 'blood and soil', and German racial superiority.

Question 45

How were universities brought under gleichschaltung?

Answer 45

Under law for reestablishment of a professional civil service in 1933. 15% of uni staff dismissed on political or racial grounds. Nov 1933 all uni teachers made to sign a 'declaration in support of Hitler and National Socialist State'. Students had to join German students' league although 25% managed to avoid. Students forced to do 4 months labour service and two months in an SA camp. Labour service would give Students experience of real life, considered by the Nazis to be more important than academic learning. Nazis had very little resistance from unis. Even in Weimar period unis had been dominated by anti-democratic and nationalist 'fraternities'. So Nazis simply had to tap into preexisting ideas and fuse with Nazi ideology.

Question 46

The Hitler Youth?

Answer 46

1933 all youth organisations apart from those linked to Catholic church due to concordat banned. 1936 Law for the Incorporation of German Youth gave the Hitler Youth status as official education movement and banned Catholic groups. Memberships made compulsory in 1939. In Hitler Youth there was a constant political indoctrination and physical activity. Boys taught motto 'live faithfully, fight bravely and die laughing'. The opportunity to take part in sports and camping trips made to group attractive to millions of German boys. By late 1930s the group became more bureaucratic and rigid and there were signs that enthusiasm was waning such as poor attendance at weekly parades. Boys resented the harsh resented the harsh punishments for minor infringements of the rules.

Question 47

What was the purpose of the League of German Girls (BDM)?

Answer 47

The BDM aimed to prepare girls for their roles as wives and mothers in Nazi Germany. It promoted physical fitness, domestic skills, racial purity, and loyalty to Nazi ideology.

Question 48

What were some rules and teachings of the BDM?

Answer 48

Girls were taught that their body belonged to the nation. They were encouraged to stay clean, fit, eat healthily, avoid alcohol and nicotine, and value racial purity. The slogan was: "Your duty is to be healthy."

Question 49

What work expectations were placed on girls after 1934 under Nazi rule?

Answer 49

Girls had to do a year of unpaid work in agriculture or domestic service, especially through the Reich Labour Service, before they could get paid jobs. This aimed to instill peasant values and loyalty to the community.

Question 50

Nazi policy towards women?

Answer 50

Nazis opposed the trend of greater emancipation evident in Weimar period. They viewed the declining birth rate in the 1920s with alarm as it undermined aim to expand their territory. Main priority therefore was to raise birth rate through range of policies: 1. Marriage loans introduced for women who left work and married an Aryan. For each child born the amount that had to be paid back reduced by a quarter. 2. Nazis awarded medals to women for 'donating baby to the Führer. 4 or 5 kids bronze, 6 or 7 silver and for 8 gold. 3. Birth control discouraged and abortion severely restricted 4. Women were encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle with good diet and exercise. 5. The German Women's league, DFW set up 1933 to coordinate all Women's groups under Nazi control. Had 6 million members by 1939. 6. Nationalist Socialist Women's Organisation, NS-F was an elite organisation to promote marriage family lovelife blood and race. Primarily used for propaganda and indoctrination that women should be child rearers and homemakers. The Reich Mother's service, RMD was a branch of the DFW aimed to train mothers. March 1939, 1.7 million attended its motherhood training services.

Question 51

The German Labour Front , DAF?

Answer 51

Established by may 1933 under leadership of Robert Ley. DAF took assets of banned trade unions and became largest organisation in third reich. Although membership was not compulsory its membership grew rapidly since only organisation representing workers. As a symbol of the Volksgemeinschaft DAF included employers as well as workers. The DAF replaced unions but was not a union, but had no role in bargaining over wages and had little influence over regimes policies. Also established subsidiary organisation, 'Strength Through Joy', to organise workers' leisure time. In 1936, the DAF started to vocational training courses to improve workers' skills. The DAF also built business empire including banks, housing associations, construction companies and the volkswagen car.

Question 52

Strength through joy (KdF)?

Answer 52

Set up by Robert Ley to organise worker's leisure time. The idea was that that worker's who had a joyful leisure life would be stronger and more efficient workers Aims the KdF: 1. Submerge the individual into the Volksgemeinschaft by regulating leisure amd work time. 2. To encourage spirit of social equality. All KdF activities organised on a one class basis. 3. To bring Germans from different regions together to break down regional and religious differences. 4. To encourage mental and physical health by making each youth in employment to do 2 hours exercise a week in their place of week. 5. To encourage competition and ambition through KdF national trades competition for apprentices to improve their skills. Through KdF offered subsidised holidays abroad, sporting activities and hikes, theatre and cinema tickets. KdF one of regime's most popular organisations. Offered opportunities to Germans not available to normal Germans before 1933, It was valued by worker's and helped to reconcile people even former opponents to the regime.

Question 53

Describe mass tourism through the KdF?

Answer 53

Cruises aimed to provide leisure for Germans and promote Nazi ideals. Promoted classlessness and unity values of the Volksgemeinschaft SS and Gestapo monitored for dissent and passengers had to behave modestly. Designed to show other nations how socially and technologically advanced Germany had become under regime and to remind Germans of how superior they are the people from other countries. Reality Cruises still too expensive for middle class and KdF officials. Only 10% from middle class Best cabins were reserved for party members Reports of excessive drinking and fighting. Worst perpetrator = Robert Ley! Nicknamed 'big wigs knocking shop' ie important persons brothel

Question 54

The Beauty of Labour (SdA)

Answer 54

KdF department devoted to improving workplace conditions. Aimed to get workers to work harder. They campaignned for better washing facilities in factories linking the belief of racial health. Encouraged provision of workplace sports facilities and for employers to provide hot meals. By 1938, 34000 companies improved conditions and facilities.

Question 55

Nazi policies towards the churches?

Answer 55

The Nazis didn't have coherent view towards churches. Hitler was raised catholic and.often spoke of 'positive Christianity'. Yet at other times stated he wanted to eradicate Christianity from Germany. Hitler was hostile to Christianity but careful early on and reassured church leaders that Nazism posed no threat to their faith. Other Nazis such as Robert Ley were atheist who wanted to replace Christianity with a Nazi faith. This lack of coherence is evident in their dealings with the church.

Question 56

Social policy towards prot church?

Answer 56

Main prot church was German Evangelical Church, which many Nazis saw as nucleus for a single national church. Evangelicals were conservative nationalists who saw Germany as prot state. Many were antisemites and anti communist. Therefore no surprise prot north and east were strongest Nazi supporting areas. Early months regime Nazi prot pastors staged mass weddings of SA brownshirts and their brides. The nazis made the 450th anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther into a national celebration.

Question 57

What was the Reich Church?

Answer 57

In 1933 regime began to 'coordinate' the evangelical church into a centralised Reich Church. Ludwig Muller,.a nazi nominee was appointed Reich Bishop and took over administrative HQ of evangelical Church with SA support. Muller abolished all elected bodies within the church and reorganised it on the Führerprinzip. The German Christians ( pressure group of nazis in evangelical church with 600,000 members and German Christian pastors wore SA or SS uniform and hung swastika flags in churches) celebrated by holding rally at sports palace in Berlin. Here they demanded that pastors who didn't swear allegiance should be dismissed as well as all non aryans. By end 1933 appeared Reich Church had been successfully coordinated into the Volksgemeinschaft.

Question 58

Ludwig Miller 1883-1945?

Answer 58

Prot pastor who had been associated with Nazis since 1920s. His appointment as Reich Bishop was imposed on the church by the Nazis but he failed to establish complete mastery of church due to his own political ineptitude and growing resentment at his appointment. Topped himself 1945 after Nazis lost.

Question 59

The confessional church?

Answer 59

Sept 1933 group of dissident pastors led by Martin Niemoller and Dietrich Bonhoeffer established Pastor's emergency league. Evolved into breakaway church called confessional church. With support of 5000 Pastors new church established to resist State interference with theology based purely on Bible. The establishment of this church highlights that regimes attempts at Gleichschaltung of prot church failed. The regime tried to weaken the confessional church by repression to exploit divisions in it. Also limited influence on youth by banning church schools in late 30s and making Hitler Youth mandatory. The regime also launched a church secession campaign to persuade party members to renounce their Church membership. The campaign had some success: By 1939 5 percent of the population listed as 'god-believers' but had renounced formal membership of church Party members not allowed to hold any office in prot or cath churches Stormtroopers forbidden to wear uniforms at services Priests and Pastors forbidden from playing any part in Nazi party Pressure to renounce their faith put on those whose employment depended on the regime e.g teachers and civil servants.

Question 60

Dietrich Bonhoeffer 1906-45

Answer 60

Co founded pastors emergency league and joined confessional church. Outspoken opponent of Nazification of Church and Aryan paragraph. Unlike Niemoller he retained his freedom and became involved with anti nazi elements among army officers. Arrested 1943 and killed by Gestapo 1945.

Question 61

Roman Catholic Church?

Answer 61

Presented far greater obstacle to Gleichschaltung than prots. Catholics were part of international church and took lead from Pope. In early 1930s Catholics voters were among the least likely to vote Nazis. On other hand, Catholics keen to be seen and accepted as part of German nation. This coupled with antisemitism that was prominent in the Catholic Church and hatred of communism meant they were willing to compromise with the Nazis.

Question 62

Concordat 1933?

Answer 62

When free trade unions were taken over by the DAF in 1933, catholic trade unions voluntarily disbanded. The regime and Vatican reached agreement in form of the concordat, under which: 1. The Vatican recognised the Nazi regime and promised that the Catholic church would not interfere with politics 2. Regime promised would not interfere in catholic church and that the church would keep control of its schools, youth organisations and lay groups. However Summer 1933, Nasis seized property of catholic organisations and forced them to close. Catholic newspapers had to drop word 'catholic' from their names. Gestapo put catholic priests under surveillance Many leading catholics killed on night of long knives 1934. E.g. Fritz Gerlich, lead editor of catholic journal critical of regime. Catholic hierarchy made no protest believing instead that continued declarations of support for the regime would be best way to protect the catholic church from the nazis.

Question 63

Conflict between regime and catholic church?

Answer 63

Some catholic priests in 1935 and 36 began to speak out against dangers of Nazi ideas. Leading this criticism was Clemens von Galen Archbishop of Munster. Regime responded by: 1. Permission to hold public meetings severely restricted 2. Catholic newspapers and magazines censored and had Nazi editors imposed on them 3. Goebbels launched a propaganda campaign against financial corruption in Catholic organisations. Many had funds seized and offices closed by SA. 4. Membership of Hitler Youth made compulsory. In 1937 Pope Pius XI issued encylical 'with burning grief'. Regime responded by: 1. Gestapo and SS agents placed inside Catholic organisations 2. Tightening on Catholic press. Pilgrimages and processions restricted and Catholic youth groups closed down. 3. Many monasteries dissolved and assets seized. Crucifixes removed from Catholic schools 4. Goebbels propaganda ministry published Many sex scandals involving Catholic priests. Around 200 priests arrested and tried on sex charges. 5. Finally Nazis began to close church schools. By summer 1939 all church schools had been converted into community schools.

Question 64

Degree of success of Nazi policy towards the churches?

Answer 64

Confused and inconsistent approach as leading Nazis differed in their attitudes towards Christianity. The Nazis failed to establish a single unifying movement prot church based on German Christian movement. By 1939 the concordat was effectively dead although Hitler held back from formally renouncing the agreement. Clear Nazis failed to align churches with Volksgemeinschaft and organised religion remained a powerful force in German society.